White smoke from the burning stable billowed out, obscuring most of the area. Horses scrambled and shrieked amidst the flames, drowning out the sounds of the battle between Leif and the Damascus gate guards.
The soldiers far from the gate had no idea what was happening, while the supreme commander of Damascus, Artuk, was at the Mosque for prayers.
The only saving grace was that this Mosque was relatively close to Bab Shurqim.
When Artuk heard the visitor was another soldier from Bab Shurqim, he was initially reluctant to see him. Just ten minutes earlier, a soldier from the same gate had interrupted his morning prayers to report a trivial matter.
'Couldn't it have waited until after prayers?'
"We're under attack! Commander Artuk!"
"What?"
"We are being attacked!"
"Attacked? Who's attacking?" Artuk thought the soldier was talking about the fire.
"Us! Us! Listen! The sound of hundreds of warhorses thundering toward us!" the soldier yelled.
