As the Danishmend Beylik falls into crisis, Kılıç Arslan II sets out to conquer Anatolia.  But fearful of the growing power of the Sultan of Rum, Nüreddin Zengi, the greatest force in the Muslim world, sets out to oppose him.  An alliance is constructed against Konya - an alliance that will stand for so long as Nüreddin lives...  And in Constantinople, Emperor Manuel Komnenos watches the events in Anatolia with growing trepidation, and decides to take a gamble on reversing the verdict of Manzikert.