Chapter 18
The barbarian army was now so close to Ruby City that the island, floating in the sky above, cast its shadow over them. This gave the warriors an even more grim and merciless appearance
The sultan Sabahattin surveyed his large clan with satisfaction. The archers’ quivers were full, the soldiers’ swords gleamed brightly, and sunlight danced on the metal tips of the battle spears. But these were not the sultan’s greatest pride and joy: it was the iron birds resting alongside the forest of tents that made his chest swell with confidence. The grass beneath them was flattened, and soon turned yellow and dried out. Not even the warriors dared venture too near the winged terrors. In the evenings, they regaled each other around the camp fires with horror stories about how their ruler
