A new novel from the master of alternative historical fiction Harry Turtledove! For the first time in Russian, the prehistory of the famous “Vides cycle”! The pious priest Rshava, a faithful servant of the bright god Phos, zealously fulfills his duty and dreams of one fine day putting on the robe of the patriarch. But the bloody civil war that broke out in the empire and the attack of cruel nomads threatens Rshava's ambitious plans. Humbly turning to Phos, the priest hopes to save his life, but the dark god Skothos unexpectedly responds to his prayer, who endows Rshava’s words with deadly power...