A nail-biting finish to the al-Andalus trilogy as Ahmed searches for a way to get his family out of the beleaguered city of Córdoba.

But is it too late? Córdoba is surrounded. The people are starving and dispirited. Al-Mansur, the despotic ruler of al-Andalus is dead. Rule and order have collapsed and the city is in a state of anarchy. Anything could happen.

For two years they have struggle to survive in the besieged city, with no food, little water and no hope of escape. Now when Ahmad hears that Córdoba is about to surrender to their enemies he knows he must come up with a plan to escape or they will all be massacred by the Berber soldiers. But the city is impenetrable and no-one can come in or go out.

The situation looks hopeless, but then one night, a Jewish friend tells him that he knows of an old escape route, but it is not without significant danger.