Part 8 (2/2)

You follow Tamina, coming to a narrow bridge. As you cross it, there's an angry rumble. Pieces of rock crash down around you, falling away into the deep chasm.

”The digging is undermining the city!” you say.

”It's the G.o.ds,” Tamina cries. ”Nizam must have breached the Chamber of the G.o.ds!”

You get across the bridge and emerge from the tunnel. You stand before a vast room with a floor of golden sand. This is the home of the Sandgla.s.s of Time.

94.

Both choices are risky, but you'd rather take your chances with the main roads. The Valley of the Slaves is notoriousa”and you have enough trouble as it is.

”We'll need some sort of disguises,” you tell Princess Tamina. ”We're both much too recognizable.”

”We're not exactly traveling with extensive wardrobes,” she points out. ”All I can think to do is to dress you in my clothes.”

You gape at her. ”Dress like a girl? And what will you wear?”

She shrugs. ”I'll think of something.”

You notice a caravan off in the distance. Many travelers come here on their way to market. Maybe you can trade with them for some clothinga”perhaps even travel with them, helping you disguise your ident.i.ty even more and offering you some protection.

On the other hand, no one will be out looking for two young women traveling together.

Tamina is waiting. Which is it going to be?

Swap clothing with her and 65.

Wait for the caravan and 68.

You start to pace, connecting your thoughts. Through a window you notice an archer up on a nearby roof. He wasn't there before.

It wasn't Tus behind all this. It was Nizam! He never tried to take the robe off Sharaman. His hands should not have been burned.

You take off running.

Vwip! An arrow grazes your side, but you don't stop.

”Dastan!” your uncle calls behind you. ”Wait! I can speak to Tus!”

You don't slow down. You race through the crowded marketplace.

You hear footsteps behind you and see crossbowmen on the roofs above you. A two-tiered a.s.sault! Another arrow comes at you. You drop to your knees and slide, feeling the arrow's breeze as it whistles by. It clatters to the ground beside you.

You leap up and start running again. Now you see a squad of soldiers coming toward you! Your eyes flick left, then right. Nowhere to go.

You rush straight at them.

GO TO PAGE 57.

You're wasting your time fighting this one guard. You have to find your brothersa”and your battalion.

You put all your weight behind your next blow, and the Alamutian topples over. You spin around and race away, your eyes scanning for your Persian comrades.

As you sneak through the city, you are greeted by horrific sights. Carnage is all around youa”b.l.o.o.d.y evidence that the battle has been a ma.s.sacre. While you were fighting the sandstorm and hiding in the tunnels, Persians and Alamutians were losing their lives in great numbers.

This was precisely what you'd hoped to avoid. It is why you came up with an alternative plan. Maybe if you had gone with your gut, all this could have been avoided.

Then you see Roham, one of your men. He seems dazed, but unharmed.

”Prince Dastan,” he calls when he sees you, ”I've been searching all over for you.”

”What is the news?” you ask as you hurry to him.

The look on his face makes you wonder if perhaps you don't want him to tell you.

109.

”I have to stop Nizam,” you say. ”I'm all that stands between him and the crown, and he's made certain that I appear guilty of my father's death.”

You can't bear to look at the disappointment and defeat on Tamina's face. Maybe once you confront Nizam you can find the Dagger for her.

You say your good-byes to Tamina, Amar, and Seso. Then you mount Aksh, all the turmoil weighing heavily upon you. You have no idea what you're going to do once you get back to Nasaf.

It's a long, hard ride. Your thoughts are no clearer as you approach the city walls. With every mile you've traveled, the more your anger has taken over. When you arrive, you learn Tus is dead. No doubt the result of Nizam, you think. Your anger deepens.

You know where your uncle will be: in the royal compound. It would be easy to sneak in and confront him with such knowledge. It's the middle of the nighta”perhaps the element of surprise will allow you to get the best of him. Maybe even find the Dagger.

But maybe it would be better to wait and gather information. Nizam might not even still be in the city. You'll need to find a place to hide. After your childhood in the streets, that shouldn't be too hard.

If you confront him now, 24.

If you find a place to hide out and wait, 40.

You drag the princess to Nizam. ”Princess Tamina,” your uncle says, ”so nice of you to join us.”

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