Umar gave him a reassuring smile. “The very fact that you feel this guilt is a good sign. A truly evil man would give it not a thought. But then, the prophet Muhmad wouldn’t have chosen you for this mission if you weren’t someone worthy to fulfill Oromasd’s plan.”
The priest spread his hands apart. “The fear you’re feeling is one that’s faced all soldiers from the beginning of time—how to reconcile the killing of the enemy with the divine law not to kill. There certainly is no easy answer, other than becoming a hermit and living apart from all men forever. I myself killed several brigands in the ambush in the woods, so my sins are many times yours. I know the moral dilemma you face, because I’ve dealt with it myself.
“For one thing, you must realize that the ultimate decision is not in y
