The Thunderclouds of Burundai and Kadan are broken and scattered. Pronsk and Izeslavets have survived several assaults and held out thanks to the selfless courage of the Rus’ people and Egor’s quick wit! But four of Batu Khan’s thunderclouds have already laid siege to Ryazan; Chinese engineers are already building trebushchets and mangonels and whirling catapults for the decisive assault on the city… And three thunderclouds of the best Mongol commander Subedei are hurrying over the ice of the Oka toward Pereyaslavl-Ryazansky! They rush to meet the host of the great Vladimir prince—coming from Kolomna to help the people of Ryazan…