The emperor Valens's widow prepared the defence, and also reinforced the city with Arab warriors, who performed excellently in combat.[1][2][3] It is said that the Goths were impressed when one of the Arab warriors stormed out of the city naked, slaughtered enemies, and drank blood from the neck of a decapitated Goth.[2][3] Other sources maintain that the Goths actually abandoned the attack because they were greatly outnumbered.[4][5]