The war continues. Once again, the Catholics gather huge armies of crusaders and try to crush the Venedian alliance. Once again, cities burn and crops are trampled; women and children cry; and men with weapons in their hands meet the enemy and die in battles. To hold out, the Venedians need help from allies, and the knight Vadim Sokol brings from the steppes the Polovtsians and the Black Hoods, and from the shores of the Dnieper—Russian detachments. The punishing sword of retribution falls upon Poland and the Holy Roman Empire. The armies of the opposing sides collide, and the battle begins that will determine whether the Venedians will be able to live on their own lands or flee.