Murderous intrigue brings Aelric - Blake's engaging, murderous antihero - to Damascus as the triumphant Muslim caliphate sweeps up from Arabia to threaten Constantinople itself.  Aelric knows the secrets behind Greek Fire - the flame-throwers that have kept what is left of the once-mighty Roman empire safe until now.  And he has very little choice about sharing them with the new rulers.  Or so they think . . . for Aelric has not lost any of the cunning and courage that so far, have kept him alive.