The heat of the midsummer sun beat down upon the long column of soldiers as they slowly made their way south down the Anatolian peninsula. The blistering heat made wearing the heavy coats of mail and padding beneath nearly unbearable for many of the Crusader knights.
“Have you ever felt heat like this?” Geoffrey asked Rodrigo, who rode beside him. The sweat from his brow left brown trails down his face as the three rode in formation behind clouds of dust kicked up by the columns of horses and men ahead of them.
“Never,” said Rodrigo. “Here.” He reached down into a saddlebag and withdrew a white cloth, which he handed to Geoffrey. Rodrigo had removed his mailed hood and coat, which lay behind him on the saddle. On his head he had wrapped layers of white cloth, creating a makeshift turban,
