Prince Ahmad himself spent much of that time writing letters. In his finest hand, with calligraphic skills honed at the madrasa in Ravan, he explained the desperate situation that confronted mankind and implored the royal personage who would be reading the missive to aid in the coming battle in the name of Oromasd, creator of the earth. He signed each letter with his full name and title, and stamped each one with his personal seal. The letters were then distributed to his men, who swore to present them to as many kings as they could reach in the upcoming months.
With Ahmad’s mission being the most crucial, it was agreed that the prince’s group would leave the oasis the next evening; his men would disperse on their own missions at their convenience. Umar also consulted with the scribes at
