In such ease, then, did Hakem Rafi, the scourge of Parsina, make his conquests. Now was it his turn to live at leisure while the rest of the world cringed in desperation and prayed to Oromasd for redemption.
In the now-sleepy Central Sea port of Attan, a town once esteemed as the cultural heart of the civilized world, the priest Arianos made the preparations his mentor, Umar bin Ibrahim, had suggested to him. The path was not an easy one, but Arianos had never shirked his duty to Oromasd.
Much of his time was spent in discussion with the captains of the ships docked in Attan’s harbor, many of whom were reluctant to deal with him.
“What profit is there in ferrying refugees?” a captain would say. “I need wages to pay my crew and supplies for all on board, passengers and crew, to eat.”
“A
