Pataran was lost in his thoughts when from the corner of his eye he noticed Apollas turning away from the tents window.

"He is coming."

Pataran listened and could hear heavy footsteps from the outside of the tent.

The door was violently flung open and Belator the Bull along with his generals entered the tent.

"Who of the two of you might be Apollas? Is it the old man or the tender boy?"

He bellowed as he entered the tent. Knowing the answer he walked right up to Apollas and drew himself to his full hight. Presenting his full frame he towered almost a full head over him.

"Your the wolf? I expected you to be taller. But maybe you haven't reached your full height, seeing as you are not a man yet."

Apollas stared into the bulls eyes, he could see the anticipation, he wanted nothing but the smallest of reasons to slaughter the man who dared question him.

The bulls greatest weakness was his anger, he made mistakes in anger, this Apollas knew and so he turned away from him without acknowledging the insult.

"Call in the chiefs and generals, we can finally plan for battle."

He ordered his guards, who were on the brink and ready to slaughter the bull and every Lukka around.

After exchanging hateful stares with the Lukka generals they left.

"Outside!"

Apollas commanded the Lukka generals, they turned to Belator whose nostrils flung wide open grasping for air. With a motion of his head he commanded them to leave.

"Can we discuss the course of attack now? Or are you prepared to challenge me tonight?"

Belator struggled to suppress his rage, but he saw now the wolf was not intimidated by him and he did not intend to split their war party. Not before the battle was over.

"You know our people have to combine their strength to conquer the Egyptians, leadership has to be united and I am unquestionably the most fit leader."

"Our people and allies are still in doubt. Some of your allies too it seems."

Pataran answered.

"Let the boy speak old man, your time is passed."

"I am leader of the Sherden and I have seen your failure in battle."

Belator bellowed in laughter.

"Ugarit lies burned to ashes! You would be wise to check your tongue old man."

"Spare us! You can tell that to your men! Know your failure. You foolishly tried to challenge a king as equal. With chariots. Do not take us for fools, we know what happened and so do the pthers."

"I fought in the manner of civilized men! You savages wouldn't understand! That's why you are not fit to lead! You don't comprehend the art of war."

"And what has your precious Hittite art given you, but defeat?"

"Hattie has been forsaken by the gods, my people are punished for their insolence and by Teshub I will leave them to their punishment and instead bring civilization to the savages. For pure order to prevail."

"My men will not follow a Hittite!"

Apollas answered.

"The double headed Lion will starve before the fattened sheep. Only one leader can prevail if you want to conquer the south."

Belator retorted.

"That may be so, but for now, it would be wise to not distract our attention from the walls of Kition."

Pataran threw in.

"I can see you won't succumb to reason. But maybe a gamble then? The king has recently married the daughter of a rich northern tribes leader. The dowery is supposed to be a golden sword rumored to posses magical powers. Why not have a race? A golden sword to determine kingship."

"This is ridicules! Our men won't follow a sword."

Pataran replied, seeing through Belators distraction. Unable to convince through the virtue of his leadership, he saw his last chance for leadership over the Nine Nations in a gamble.

"We agree to the race."

Apollas answered, baffling Pataran.

"You can't make this decision."

"It's this or a fight. In any case the decision depends on my ability or do you intend to challenge the bull, Pataran?"

"You know I never ran from the enemy."

"That's why I leave the decision to you Pataran. But consider. If talk about a race get's out to the men, the thing on their mind will not be if we can take Kition. But who will take Kition."

Pataran realized the consideration behind Apollas decision, casting aside the doubt in their warriors hearts and filling them with the excitement of competition could be a wise move.

"It's the race then, I put my trust in you Apollas."

"I don't know if you are wise or just a coward boy, but this will make a fitting tale when the time comes to tell of my reign."

"The sword is not yours yet bull."

Pataran answered.

"Not yet."

"Not ever. If we don't carefully plan our attack. Kition is a fortress surrounded by mountain ranges, with only a small strip of land between sea and wall. We have not conquered them yet."

"Only a matter of time. Still let's have a look at your maps, you seem to be well prepared, Sherden."

"The new king needed to make an example when he took the throne. Went hard on criminals, took the drawing hand of the illegal mapmaker Fatar."

Apollas rolled out three different maps showing the walls of Kition in different levels of detail.

"Lucky for us. Even though these maps are drawn with the left, they reveal the cities defenses to the last detail."

"Your gods favor you Sherden, don't expect them to stop me though."

Feet could be heard from outside of the tent. The leaders of the other tribes alongside their highest ranking generals entered the tent to join them.

The Sherden general Aesthes stepped forward.

"Our scouts have made a discovery, a group of merchants have spotted our ships, they harbor at a village close by, we should strike before they break through to Kition and betray our position."

"Well then let's send out a party, is it an armed convoy?"

Pataran asked.

"No just two ships, probably transporting Egyptian grain."

"Then make it quick. Your troops have to be back tomorrow, we can't waste any more time."

"No."

Apollas objected.

"We will let them pass, give them an opportunity to slip through to Kition, but don't make it too obvious."

"What are you talking about boy? We intend to lay siege to the city why would we let supplies inside?"

"Grain doesn't matter. The siege on Kition can't be a lengthy one. In four to five days time the Hittite troops will arrive, if the city isn't sacked by then, we have to fight on two fronts. No, we will let the traders through, let them see our ships and then we will give them a full day and night at Kition."

"This makes no sense boy. Listen to the old man. You said it yourself, time is of the essence."

"I know and if we let the traders through and give them a day and a night in Kition, then in four days time, a Hittite army will arrive here only to find the smoldering remains of a city once called Kition."