The Akari were bad enough; what could the denizens of Seranthia expect from the ruthless warriors of Raj Hazara? What were these creatures they rode? The drunks and children told tales of the barbarians who hated the idea of walls, or any kind of structure at all for that matter, and travelled the world tearing down any sign of civilisation they found, slaying all they came across. The learned men knew in their hearts the darkness that lived within the core of Tingara, and the evil that had been done in the Tingaran Empire's name. Any conqueror of Seranthia would have a score to settle.

The fear was the great leveller. It could be felt throughout the market houses in the financial centre, in the docks and taverns, and in the Imperial Palace itself. The rough men of the streetclans armed themselves, and the ships of the imperial fleet took stations outside the harbour, ready to face any attack from the sea. The city's landward gates had been closed long ago.

Seeking solace, many of Seranthia's residents headed for the Imperial Palace. There were so many of them that the Grand Boulevard became choked with their numbers. They knew the Primate was in residence. Why didn't he speak?

By the middle of the night, they gave up waiting for the Primate to show himself, and went home.

At dawn, the desert warriors attacked.

55

55

FROM his vantage high in the Imperial Palace, Primate Melovar Aspen could see everything.

He liked being at a height. There was something about looking down on the people scurrying like ants below that lifted his spirits. He imagined a bird of prey must feel the same way, wheeling and spying out the land before seeing a victim and then hurtling down, flying through the air with claws extended to suddenly strike, before flying up into the air again to devour its prey.

Melovar often visited the Imperial Palace's highest room when he was feeling troubled. It reminded him of his workroom in Stonewater. The view from here wasn't quite so impressive, but it was high enough for Melovar to watch his doom unfold.

From his vantage he could see over the Wall, and his gaze was on the west as he watched the battle outside the gates of Seranthia. The Primate almost laughed; he had been deceived, or perhaps he had deceived himself. While he had been busy worrying about the Alturans and the Halrana, a greater enemy was rising in the south, closer to his borders, with only Petrya between them. He was going to be defeated by an enemy he knew almost nothing about. Zavros would smile and say something about the power of knowledge.