The sky gradually darkened.
Hymns sung in chorus echoed through the streets and alleys of Damascus. The celebrating procession drew many local Christians together to rejoice in victory.
Some bold, shrewd Saracen and Jewish merchants also seized the opportunity to begin doing business.
The practical significance of taking Damascus naturally could not compare to Lothar's conquest of Egypt. Of the three Crusader kingdoms overseas, Egypt was unquestionably the largest and most weighty.
But Saladin's defeat and death, along with Lothar's coronation as emperor, meant that the Ayyubids, the Crusaders' greatest enemy, had completely fallen apart.
The future conquest of the overseas lands, victory and glory, was now within easy reach.
And with their purses no longer empty after their long, grueling marches through the desert, the Crusaders naturally had every reason to indulge themselves in Damascus, a city as dazzling as paradise.
They sang, drank, and sought pleasure as though celebrating a grand festival.
In a relatively secluded tavern.
A drunken knight suddenly climbed onto a table. Spreading his arms, he shouted in heavily accented Highland Germanic, "Tonight, every Christian's drinks are on me!"
Cheers erupted. Generous people always won affection, and this nouveau riche-looking knight had clearly rendered considerable service and received a hefty reward from Lothar.
He pulled out a handful of gold coins bearing Lothar's likeness from his bulging purse. These "Golden Lothars" were exquisitely made and of full purity, hard currency in any land.
"Thank you for your generosity, honored knight."
The knight waved a hand with restrained dignity and raised his cup. Tossing money around in public and earning everyone's respect made him feel lightheaded. "What we should be thanking even more is the Lord of Hosts and His Majesty the Emperor. He gave us food and clothing, and brought us victory and glory."
"To