held high positions within the clergy. Towards the end of the kingdom, Bushtabhar also gained the reputation of a temple enclave and, according to legend, was almost entirely occupied by sacred buildings. Unfortunately, little of all this has survived to the present day.’ The priest’s face clouded over and he looked around wistfully. ‘Just as Arayse was lost, so too did what they had built over the centuries turn to dust. Legend has it that the desert swallowed up everything connected with the magic of embers, leaving no trace behind. The truth, however, is difficult to ascertain due to the extremely limited sources. The next known records concerning Bushtabhar date from the period after the enclave was incorporated into the territories of Atlantis and contain a description of the temple ruins found on the shores of the lake. Well, and here we are. A new sanctuary dedicated to Solas was erected on this very spot, but no one dared to move the shrines of Direl and Tanatos, which were the only ones to have survived intact.’ Galis concluded his account.
‘Very interesting. I didn’t expect this place to have such a long history. Bushtabhar must therefore be littered with ruins.’ Darius looked at the temple in a slightly different light.
‘And that is the mystery of our enclave,’ the Archdeacon smiled somewhat mysteriously. ‘Everything I have spoken of is known from the chronicles and legends preserved in the archives of neighbouring states. They come from various places and periods, but their mutual consistency confirms their authenticity. Meanwhile, only the walls of a single sanctuary remain from the temple enclave.“ He shook his head wearily. ‘Many have searched for the remains of the others, but they always returned empty-handed.’
‘Oh, the irony, a mystery buried beneath the sands.’ Bleist smiled wryly.
The priest did not have time to reply, for a commotion broke out at the entrance. The faithful suddenly crowded the doorway, even though there weren’t many people inside. A few of them were also casting panicked glances towards the Guards. Their unnatural behaviour was obviously drawing attention. Darius merely
