Merikh coughed, silently cursing the lack of force in his voice. The sand of the Kavir Desert coated his face. He winced when his dry lips cracked. Damn these soldiers. A sip of water wouldn’t have killed them. Sadly, it wouldn’t kill him either. The Royal Guard had other plans for that. Someone shoved him hard in the center of the back. With his arms looped over a pole and bound behind him, he couldn’t protect himself. He hit the loose scree at the foot of the landslide. Pebbles abraded his cheek. More sand found its way into his mouth and he fought not to gag. He bit back a groan as one of the soldiers kicked him in the side before yanking him to his feet. “Hah, some god.” The soldier spat on the ground in front of Merikh. “Aesma Daeva is nothing but a demon and you’re a fool for following him.” “I am the Lord’s priest, his loyal disciple, here to do his will.” His voice cracked with strain as the men dragged him up the rocky incline. The soldier on his left shoved him towards the opening that showed dark in the middle of the cliff.
