Chapter 2:
Daylight was fading over the town walls and the light from the fires of the Turk camps could be seen atop the distant hills. Patrols walked the streets of Nicaea, wary of spy activity and the town gates were closely guarded in case any attempts were made to sabotage them. The town was deathly quiet as peasants and soldiers alike feared a night attack from the Turks. Minutes passed, then eventually hours, and soon, the sun returned. It slowly edged up over the hill upon which the Turk camp was situated and brought light to the people of Nicaea once again. No spies were found; no scouting parties were spotted; no skirmishes from the Sultan's army were sent. There was some relief to be found among the peasants who were grateful that the Turks had not killed them in their sleep.
Theodosius walked towards the gatehouse just after sunrise to get his night watch report."Nothing all night sir," one officer told him as he entered the room. "it seems as if they intend on starving us out."Theodosius looked out the window towards the Turk campsite."How can you tell?" he officers all looked at each other worryingly, as if the truth was hard to bear."They look like they have settled on the hill and, from what we've discovered, plan on staying there until we surrender or become so weak that taking Nicaea will not cost the Sultan anything great." Theodosius looked down at the ground, fearing the answer to his next question."What about reinforcements from Constantinople; Have we received any word of their arrival?"The look of despair in the officers' eyes gave the captain his answer. There was a long grim pause."I see." he said finally, "We're on our own here."
Suddenly, people began shouting outside. About what, nobody inside was sure, but they had a good idea. The Turks were beginning the siege. Theodosius and the officers burst out of the gatehouse to see militia and archers running in all directions in order to reach their assigned positions. It was chaos outside: everyone's voice was drowned out by the sounding of trumpets, the beating of drums, the clashing of sword and spear against shield, and the chanting of the advancing Saracen militia. They numbered roughly a thousand strong with several hundred archers behind as support. A unit of Sipahi, no doubt the general was amongst them, was leading the attack. The rapid march of the Saracens caused the dust beneath their feet to erupt into the air, causing a sort of smokescreen, partially covering them from arrow fire. Then the marching stopped, as did the chanting, and the instruments. All was quiet until the Saracen general rode in front of his army and called out in a hoarse voice. He spoke in Arabic, a language nobody on the walls of Nicaea knew. Another voice called, but this one was in Greek. There was a translator with the general, who did not seem to know any Greek at all.
" الناس نيقية! لا يريد لي سلطان الأكثر كريمة وسخية الدم دم يسيل. على الرغم من قائد الخاص بك تصريحات مهينة للمبعوث لدينا، وعلى استعداد لتقديم حتى الآن فرصة أخرى." **
"People of Nicaea! My most gracious and generous Sultan does not want blood to be your commander's insulting remarks to our emissary, He is willing to offer yet another chance." **
"أي رجل على استعداد للاستسلام وترك البلدة دون أن يصاب بأذى قد تفعل ذلك. السلطان الوعود التي لا ضرر سوف يأتي لك. إذا كان أي منكم لديه إحساس، وسوف يتخذ القرار الصائب." **
"Any man willing to surrender and leave the town unharmed may do so. The Sultan promises that no harm will come to you. If any of you have sense, you will make the right decision." **
"لديك حتى حلول الظلام." **
"You have until nightfall." **
The General reared his horse around and rode back behind the wall of Saracen Spearmen. The translator followed with haste. On the walls of the town, the cries of the peasants and soldiers spread around like a disease. Theodosius thought about the General's words. He was not fooled. He knew.
Anyone who left the town was doomed to die. No matter how fast they ran.
** I do not speak/write Arabic, and used Google Translate to get the words. If any of it is incorrect I apologise for that.