Below, an ocean of steel and leather stretched in the ancient ravine of Rostam. The Arabs, Mongols, Teymour the Lame, and his creatures had come together in a joint pact. The Persians had counted on fighting three separate groups of assailants that had appeared to have no natural cohesion and were continually at odds. Now they faced a formidable and united army.

“What are these monsters?” the Shah asked. “They howl like wolves and their shiny chests are like fish scales.”

The general’s voice was calm, with no trace of consternation. “We won’t know until we get closer.”

The Shah stared at the molten sea at his feet. The situation was more dangerous than he had predicted. He did not know whether to thank or curse his belief in the supernatural, which had caused the hairless eunuch to influence him into bringing Gold Dust along. Now, even if she proved to be the sole cause of a spectacular triumph, he wished her safe in Pearl Hall. He slapped the rump of his horse. The Imperial Guards stirred their mounts and freed a passage for the Shah to approach his favorite.

Dazzling with color and with the fierceness of her convictions, Gold Dust announced, “My shah, it’s proper that I ride by your side.”

The Shah’s horse stood nose to nose with the sultana’s stallion. The king lifted his visor and locked his gaze with that of his favorite. In her defiance, she had bared her face and uncovered her hair, and she was more beautiful than ever. He could not bring himself to reprimand her. In an act of surpassing tenderness, he touched the tip of his sword to her epaulet.

She detected the scent of mint on the blade.

“Stay in the rear at all times!” he commanded.

Sacrificial sheep were brought and their throats slit to run sanctified blood over the path of the soldiers. The Holy Book was held high over the heads of the advancing men. Cries of “God is great!” bounced off the rocky cliffs.

General Afrasiab decided to keep his silence. It was not judicious to inform the king that his stare had traveled the distance and penetrated the helmets and masks of the creatures. To reveal what lay under these guises would only add fear and weaken the king’s resolve. General Afrasiab turned away from the tribe of the Wolf-Men, who had yellow blood and were known to go through the ritual of sharpening their teeth at the age of eleven to initiate their boys into manhood and cannibalism to prey on people from other lands.

The center column of the Persians charged. One wing ready at the left, the other at the right, waited their time to move in to reduce the threat of hand-to-hand conflict between the center columns of the Persians and the enemy.