Last King of Kings

Chapter 36: The city of ghosts

It was clear to Rostam that those men didn't want to bleed and die for something that didn't matter to them. The half-assed defence they put up and how they didn't even deploy any advanced siege engines, like trebuchets on walls and towers, it was clear they're only acting so against their will. Maybe forced by their duty, maybe forced by their generals. It didn't really matter, as when it'll come to the actual engagement, they'll most likely flee or surrender. But Rostam hoped such engagement wouldn't have to even begin. He hoped they'll surrender much earlier at the sight of the siege engines and the massive army coming onto them. Trebuchets were already built and were throwing whatever projectiles they could find. Battering ram was almost finished and the siege towers were half-done. It was only a matter of time, and time was something Rostam didn't at the moment lack.

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"Bring them over here and then load these supplies onto the wagon. They'll come in handy. Also, don't forget to clear up the guardhouse and the armoury – we can't have enemy finding here anything useful."

The evacuation of Hira was in full swing. People weren't happy about it, obviously, but did in the end obey Bahman and his army and started gathering their belongings. People who owned any cattle or other animals had them pull wagons with their belongings, while poorer ones had to rely on wagons and carriages the army brought with them. And as such, a lot of belongings got mixed up on the already full wagons. Bahman was overseeing the whole operation, making sure nothing goes forgotten and everything useful is taken with them. As people were finished and prepared to leave, he made few final arrangements, to make sure everything is in order, and then, left. The once populated city of Hira looked like a ghost town now, empty and forgotten. Bahman estimated Arabs will arrive here only few day after, so he had to hurry. He hoped Arabs won't pursue them over the Euphrates. Then, leading his twenty thousand soldiers and several thousand inhabitants, they set off to the east.

Khalid stopped about two kilometres from Hira, observing the city and waiting for the rest of his army to group up. He received the promised reinforcements and was now marching on Hira with 25 000 men, promising all of them the pillage and loot of the city. The only thing he found strange was the fact that no one was patrolling on the walls and that, although the city gates were open, no one seemed to go in or out. He found it strange, to a point that he was curious about it. He sent scouts to see what is going on. While he waited for them, he reorganized his thoughts. This has to be Hira. It was in far too good condition to be some ruined, not inhabited anymore city. But it was strange. Far too strange. He became nervous.

"General, the scouts have returned."

After a thirty-minute wait, that felt more like an hour long wait, the scouts finally showed up. Their facial expression was full of confusion and nervousness. Khalid began to sweat.

"General, the city... is empty."

Khalid's face was full of confusion as he looked up in the scouts eyes.

"Empty? What do you mean by "empty."? Elaborate."

The scout became visibly more uncomfortable, as if fearing for something. He gulped.

"The city is empty. People are gone. There's no one in there. Not soldiers, not inhabitants, not even cattle. Everything is gone."

Khalid's face of confusion quickly changed into a horrified expression. He was in turmoil. His soldiers were promised the loot and the pillage of the city. They were all eager to do so. How exactly was he supposed to tell them their right of pillage wasn't going to apply here? The city was theirs, but at what cost? He decided to go and explore the city from the inside. He took the army with him, hoping something of value was left there for the soldiers to salvage. They marched right into the opened gate, which still bore the banner of the Sassanids. As they approached the gate, it was already blindingly obvious. The city was empty. They went in, looking around and sticking close to each other. The haunting atmosphere the city had was a strike to the soldiers morale. Some crows were sitting on the roofs or the battlements, while rats and mice squeaked around in very distinctive and recognizable sound. Doors creaked in the wind, rubble fell from the wall and the trees whispered. The city's ghost-like atmosphere was haunting every one of the soldiers. Even Khalid. What happened here? Where are the people? Did they just leave one day with all their belongings? Or did they died off in some horrible incident? Maybe plague? Or maybe some massacre? And if they did, how long ago? Considering basically every valuable thing was gone, it must've been long time ago. The soldiers had the same thought. Some thought of the more natural causes, like water poisoning, harvest failure and incoming famine, while others thought of the more supernatural causes. That this city was cursed, or maybe haunted by a ghost, or even multiple ghosts. Some though someone controlling dark magic sent a spell on this city, basically purging the whole population and enslaving their dead bodies. This was, of course, completely baseless and just untrue. But the fact the soldiers thought it was more powerful than facts and logic, leaving Khalid's army demoralized and wanting to leave. Their wish had not been answered, as Khalid ordered them to search the city thoroughly and to make sure they leave nothing behind. Then he ordered to set up camp here, to take control of the battlements and to make Hira their temporary base. Then he ordered a letter to be written and sent to Abu Bakr, containing the information that Hira has fallen. Just so Caliph is pleased. The campaign was fulfilled and soon would the order from Abu Bakr come. The order to march on the Romans.

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