Part 4 (2/2)

Or do you try to find the missing princess? 72.

s.h.i.+ek Amar is enjoying your astonishment. ”I crafted our lurid reputation to fend off the most insidious evil stalking this forsaken land. Taxes!”

You gape at him, trying to figure out if he's serious or not. He is.

”You think these hardworking, albeit slightly smelly desert boys want to win a race only to see their purse halved by some Persian bean pusher?” he says. ”No sir! So I came up with a campaign to generate a bit of false notoriety. Now the tax collectors steer clear of me and my customers. And everybody's happy.”

The ostriches cross the finish line. Half the rowdy crowd cheers and the other half boos. A fight breaks out, and Amar's men swiftly move in to stop it.

Amar shrugs. ”Of course, there is the small matter of blood feuds. Ancient hatreds, honor killings . . . They're easily stirred up.”

You watch as Amar's guards confiscate weapons and toss them to a slave guarding a locked cage filled with swords, daggers, clubs, and other deadly instruments. These are not men you want to cross.

98.

”I should really get back to my men,” you say. ”It sounds as if the storm has pa.s.sed.”

”Are you sure you want to risk it?” Yusef asks.

You push up the trapdoor. ”See?” you say to him. ”All clear.” You climb out and find yourself just at the edge of Alamut's city walls. You can hear the horrific sounds of a vicious battle raginga”the crash of steel against steel, shrieking horses, war cries, and cries of pain.

You grip your sword. You hope your battalion was able to take cover in the sandstorm, and that your brothers were able to breach Alamut's defensesa”all without you.

The gates have been battered open. You quickly charge up the sun-bleached steps, ready to face the fray.

120.

”Tamina!” you cry. You rush to her and kneel down beside her. ”Tamina, can you hear me?”

She doesn't respond. You turn, thinking you might have something in your saddlebag to help her with when . . . Thunk!

You don't know what she hit you with, but it packed a wallop. You fall over as she says, ”Yes, Dastan, I can hear you.”

That's the last thing you hear. Everything goes black.

92.

The sounds of clas.h.i.+ng steel and shouts surround you as the Persians and the Ha.s.sansins fight. It's total chaos. The air fills with blood, dirt, and cries of pain. You clutch a sword in each hand, lunging and thrusting. You have your eye on the Ha.s.sansin with the bandolier.

You fling your sword at him, striking true. He topples over, and you yank off the bandolier. You hurl a grenade and it explodesa” just in time to save Sheikh Amar from a halberd-wielding a.s.sailant.

You're about to throw another when you turn and discovera” Tamina is gone!

”Tamina!” you call frantically.

”Find her,” Amar says.

You nod and toss the bandolier to Seso. ”Forget the knives, throw these!”

Seso smiles and begins hurling the grenades to create a wall of fire, blocking the Ha.s.sansins.

You rush back inside the farmhouse, but she's not there. You hear something moving overhead. You dart back out and pull yourself up onto the roof.

That's when you see it. A crack in the seemingly solid rock face that rims the village.

Yes! You found it! The secret entrance to the Guardian Temple.

GO TO PAGE 124.

That's strange, you think. Why would there be sand in a dagger?

Even strangera”images appear around you. The fight you just had with the woman rewinds in front of your eyes.

”I don't believe this,” she says. Just as she did a minute ago!

You hold up the Dagger. ”Thisa”this turns back time!” you sputter.

”Give that back!” she shrieks. But her injured ankle prevents her from getting to you. You turn and race away. You have to get this Dagger to your father and brothers. This could have a decisive effect on the invasion!

You make your way out of the tunnel and emerge in the city.

And find a complete and utter ma.s.sacre.

Your brothers are both dead, and there have been many other casualties on both sides. You get word that the terrible toll of the battle caused your father so much despair that his heart failed. He is dead, too.

You gaze down at the Dagger in your hand. You know what you need to do. You press the jewel to turn time back and make a new choice.

And hopefully a new destiny.

2.

The dancing ends and a meal is served. All through the meal your every move is watched. You feel a bit like an animal on display, as if you're being studied. Tamina speaks softly with different members of the group, but you can't understand most of what they're saying. You're relieved when it's time to go to sleep.

You wake up feeling groggy, with a pounding headache. What kind of tea did they give me? you wonder. You try to reach up to rub your face but discover you can't. Your hands and feet are bound. ”Tamina!” you cry.

You are soon surrounded by the Shaks.h.i.+. ”Where is Tamina?” you demand. ”Untie me!”

The leader comes forward, waving a rattle at you. The others murmur in growing excitement Now you understand! The princess sold you out! She told them you were a demon and that you were holding her captive.

You struggle to untie yourself as they paint symbols all over you. Soon they are chanting and drumming. Some sort of ritual is taking place, and you are at the center of it.

As the leader of the group stands over you wielding a sharp, two-bladed ceremonial sword, you have the terrible realization of what they have in mind.

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