By the next morning, the defenders of Nikomedia were stunned to see that the enemy camps outside the city walls were nearly deserted. The smoke that had once billowed from countless fires had all but vanished. No more troops marched in or out of the compounds. It was clear—the Sultan had abandoned his goal of taking Nikomedia before reinforcements arrived. His new focus was obvious: intercepting Giovanni's army before it could make a difference.
By midday, several lieutenants, growing increasingly concerned about Giovanni's fate, began urging Helios to send troops to harass the Turks' supply lines. But Helios refused.
Only a few hours later, a band of Turkish cavalry appeared on the horizon. Then the trap became clear. The Sultan's "retreat" had been nothing more than bait—meant to draw the defenders out. The riders circled the walls slowly, mocking the Romans by waving severed heads mounted on poles, laughing as they jeered at the soldiers who remained behind their stone defenses.
