Shadow and Flame

Night falls at a remote caravanserai on the spice road, and the desert chieftains come in, lured by the glamour and guile of a traveling company of acrobats, conjurers, dancers and wrestlers.
One of the performers is fire juggler Tai Emreth -- and he’s in great danger. Alak Zhar is in the great yurt, and the Zhar has a nasty reputation for reaching out and stealing whatever, whoever, he wants. 

But tonight's performance is the price of Tai’s liberty. He's determined to go on despite warnings from a mysterious stranger. The man moves like a panther, has the eyes of a hawk and the voice of the old, wicked cities of the west. Tai is immediately fascinated -- who is this one who calls himself Giero, what does he want, and what might he give? Giero melts back into the shadows -- and time is up.
The music begins, the audience is waiting for the young fire juggler who's been given an immense build-up. Tai steps into the lights, sets eyes on the High Chief from the fortress of Murkul-zahd ... and realizes he's made a terrible mistake. 
Exotic fantasy, swordsteel and mayhem, from long-time favorite Mel Keegan.