Ancient Babylon is a world of silent wars and unseen battles.

Atarah barely survives the horrors of betrayal, abandoned by the one who should have protected her. Rescued from the brink by the military, she soon realizes her tormentor was entangled in something far more dangerous. As the truth unfolds, she faces an impossible choice—and begins to realise that only she can act.

A supporting novella and teaser, this is an extraction of one of the subplots—nearly word for word—from Rise of the Magi, Book Two of the epic espionage mystery quadrilogy Priests and Magi. It contains a couple of reveals from the main novel, offered in minimal detail to preserve emotional impact. The story unveils an aspect of the dangers hidden beneath power and loyalty in the mid-6th century BCE.