Chapter 5
Back across the valley, in a place known to few, the man they called Layth concluded his evening prayers with a silent list of requests to his God. As usual, one of them concerned himself. The rest were all curses.
When he had finished, he turned to face the other Lions, some of whom were still kneeling and whispering their own private requests to the Almighty. But the two lines of men soon broke and formed a circle, rearranging their limbs to sit cross-legged on the rough hard ground. Often at this time he would speak to them – of violence and worship, martyrdom and purification – in his gentle, melodious voice. He electrified them, and made them ready to die – for God, they thought, but in reality for Layth.
But tonight he could no longer ignore their growing anger. It had b
