18 November 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2560: The Abundant Plains of Trans-Oxania

This post was inspired by today's 5-minute writing prompt in the Freewriters Community - 18 November 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2560: abundant

It's very loosely inspired by the story of the fall of the Khwarismian Empire.

Enjoy !

Image created by AI in NightCafe Studio

Three horsemen rode out from the East. Their ponies were hardy, shaggy little sturdy beasts, and so were the riders. Wrapped in furs, their lances tipped with tufts of horsehair, and wicked composite bows hanging from their saddles.

They rode through the land, observing everything. The abundant crops, fields full of livestock, the fat and happy peasants. Finally they arrived at the walled city and asked to see the ruler.

The shah of the city looked down his nose at these short, smelly, unkempt horsemen, and asked "What could you possibly want here ? What could you possibly offer in return ? Go back to your own land !"

The leader of the horsemen stepped forward. "We offer peace, and open trade routes to far Khitai. As for what we want; why, the opportunity to take a small share of that trade as our commission."

It was a sophisticated argument, for a savage. Sadly, the shah didn't see this. He just saw a barbarian who hadn't removed his cap in deference, as custom demanded. He nailed the horsemen's caps to their heads, and sent the heads back to their khan. Without bodies or ponies.

It only took a year, and the shah's land had only one form of abundance; burned cities with a pyramid of skulls next to each.