Lords of the East - Library

[Zim]

Konya 1187

For a short period of time, all of Konya fell silent. The streets were empty, and even the traders closed up shop. The bulk of the town's inhabitants gathered on or near the southern walls, eyes and ears straining to see or hear that which travelers reported was coming their way. Then a shout arose from the crowd. Ever so slowly, banners came into view, and the slow rythmic thud of soldiers marching in step grew louder and louder, until even those not content to gawk silently could not hear themselves or their companions speak. Over the next few hours thousands of Roman troops, spearmen, swordmen,archers, and cavalry ranging from humble Hippotoxotai to Kataphratoi in their gleaming armor passed by a scant several hundred yards from the city walls, marching to the northeast.They were followed by a supply train guarded by heavy cavalry, then lastly by merchants and camp followers of every nationality, hoping to profit from the army on it's infrequent rests from marching, or simply to benefit from its protection for a time as they traveled to far off markets.

Then as swiftly as they appeared, the army vanished over the horizon. For some time silence fell again over the city, until the very banner was out of sight. Then the air was filled with the sounds of rumors as the townspeople discussed what they had witnessed and debated its purpose. Some, noting the direction of its march, thought the army intended to conquer Tbilisi and the rest of the old Georgian province. Others thought the Emperor was sending the force as an honor guard for that same city as it seemed it may replace Baghdad as the center of diplomacy. A traveler from Constantinople asserted that the army was marching for far off India, to conquer land and bring back Elephants for the Imperial armies. Only a scant few pragmatic souls dared share their opinion that with two massive warring nations on their border, that maybe the forces were being sent to guard the borders and ensure them against the parties of raiders that arise during war, and to keep the Empire safe from invasion in turbulent times.