章 630: Requiem

" Pie Iesu Domine,

Dona eis requiem. Amen."

-    Requiem Mass

The winter winds howled through Constantinople, carrying an icy chill that bit into the bones of men standing resolute against the season's harshness.

The winter winds howled through Constantinople, carrying an icy chill that bit into the bones of men standing resolute against the season's harshness. In the Forum of Constantinople, a formidable assembly of four thousand troopers stood at attention, their presence drawing curious glances from the city's residents. A hushed silence pervaded, broken only by the sharp commands of commanders, the whistle of the wind, and the metallic symphony of clanking armour.

In a matter of weeks, Constantinople had transformed from a bustling construction hub into a military rallying point. Farmers, their fields lying fallow in the winter cold, joined as logistical support, swelling the assembly's numbers threefold.