Chapter SevenNot far from Aleppo, a squad of Islamic Army fighters had escorted Mustafa Hilal to the mountain lair of Ayatollah Qom Diabolus. They had been summoned to attend a hearing of a case involving a family who had been accused of harboring infidels. Complicating matters was the fact that it involved one of Hilal's most trusted soldiers. Mohmad Aladdin had been one of those who trained the mercenaries of the Hammer of Allah, which made the offense all the more serious.
They arrived at the entrance to the cavern where they left their weapons with a security squad. A cleric led them into the winding tunnel which brought them to the throne room. The air was thick with the odor of burning pitch, bated with the scent of frankincense. They followed the imam into the great chamber, whose
