Chapter 2, pgs. 24-54 Summary

This chapter opens with a discussion of the raids of Ghengis Khan in 1204 and his strategy of killing the leaders whenever he conquered an area. He met with fierce opposition from the Tartars and finally ordered the slaying of all adult Tartars. Among the survivors was a dwarf named Vuldai who were re-educated and became part of the Kahn fighting force. After Kahn's death, the Tartars were sent to conquer Poland, Hungary and Russia. They easily conquered Kiev and began their move on Poland. Vuldai and his men destroyed Polz. They reached the Vistula River in January 1241, where a boy named Jan observed them in the Forest of Szczek.

The village the Mongols were planning to attack was ruled by a knight named Krzysztof. Zygmunt was a liege of Krzysztof. He was supposed to protect the village of Bukowski...