He stood alone on the path, still gazing down at the platform. The stone had been covered once more and only half a dozen guards remained. The men stood in pious silence, facing outward. Judging by their faces, they would have preferred another duty. Other than them, and the guards at the inner gate, the previously packed canyon was now deserted. Ilaha had retreated into the caverns – to rest, he said – before a later meeting with his commanders. In the moment of the vision, Gutha had felt so convinced, so sure; and he could not forget that voice. At the end, when every last warrior had knelt before him, Ilaha had walked past with a victorious look upon his face. Was it aimed at Gutha himself – the satisfaction of showing him the true power of the sun god? Or was it solely because he knew now the other ethnarchs could not resist him? It was then that the doubts struck. Amongst all the hundreds of men serving the likes of the hostile Enzarri and Mushannaf, the traitor had come from Kalderon’s ranks?
