In 643 A.D. the armies of Islam have spread across Persia, bringing faith and flame. Seeking vengeance for the betrayal of his king and his men, a Persian officer hunts after a treacherous sorcerer only to discover his target might hold the potential to thwart the much larger enemy.Sorcery and antiquity collide as warrior and mage seek aid from the far past of Persia's might.To draw upon that aid, however, first the game of kings must be played and won. The game is chogan, where the mallet holds sway and a goat carcass is in play."Carcass and Mallet" is a novelette of 15,000 words. This and 15 other dark fantasy and horror tales involving the John Dee character are available in the collection, "Sands of Time."