Thus it was that Jafar al-Sharif acquired the second piece of the Crystal of Oromasd and the travelers completed the first half of their perilous mission. Though the visions Varyu had shown them filled them with fear, they nonetheless forced themselves to feel new hope—and in their future lay new challenges before their destinies could be fulfilled.
Chapter 8: The Sea Invasion
Emperor Hakem Rafi—for so he had styled himself—now controlled the largest dominion ever assembled on the face of Parsina. From the northern seacoast of Fricaz almost to its southernmost tip, the fragmented tribes and nations were subservient to his wishes. In terms of land area it was the most far-reaching empire; in terms of subjects governed, it was the most populous; in terms of potential wealth within its bord
