The rain was beginning to fall heavily now, beating down in large drops with increased frequency. As they came to a crossroads in the town, Prince Ahmad and Umar bin Ibrahim stopped to consult with Jafar al-Sharif.
“Exactly what are we supposed to do here?” Umar asked.
Jafar shrugged. “I don’t know precisely. The journal merely says we must go through this city in order to reach the peak of Mount Nibo. Maybe there’s a road on the other side of the town that leads up the mountain.”
They continued along their way, but when they reached the far wall they confronted a sheer cliff rising hundreds of cubits above their heads. The escarpment was totally unscalable, and the town backed right up against it. Aside from returning out the gate they’d come in, there appeared to be no way of leaving
