Book excerpt: The setting for the story is in the Middle East more than one thousand years ago... when magic was still in the air. The story opens with Prince Malu fleeing for his life on his twentieth birthday. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion with visitors from several nations attending was turned into a terrorist attack by the Caliph of Oman and his men. They disguised themselves as guests and entered the palace. Then just when Malu's father, Ahmed Ben Crishna, King of Armapour was about to present Malu to the representatives of the various countries the attack began. The King is killed immediately. Queen Melina, Malu's mother, helps him to escape. She is killed with an arrow intended for Malu. Malu flees on a horse that was a birthday present from his mother. Malu pushes his mount as far and as fast as he is able, but cannot seem to shake the two relentless pursuers. The chase continues until Malu enters mysterious mountains that are rumored to harbor demons, evil spirits, lions, cobra, and other dangers. The men pursuing him are afraid of the mountains and give up the chase. Malu wanders into the mountains. He has no food or water and the only weapon he has is a saber, a birthday present from his father. Malu is so weary that he dismounts and falls asleep on the hard ground and dreams of all that had happened. He awakens and is attacked by bandits. Just when one of the bandits is about to deliver a killing blow to the unconscious Malu he is shot dead with an arrow seemingly to come from out of thin air. Kumar King of the forbidden city of Shayandra and his men had been watching Malu's progress since he entered the mountains. Kumar killed the bandit. When Malu finally regains consciousness he is surprised to find Kumar and his men have the bandits at their mercy. He is greeted by Kumar and asked to identify himself. Malu tells Kumar that he is the Prince of the kingdom of Armapour. Kumar takes Malu into the forbidden city of Shayandra. Malu meets Helita, Kumar's granddaughter, who later becomes the love of his life. Kumar decides to tell Malu the story of Shayandra. Malu learns that the city and its people have been under a curse for more than a thousand years. The curse fell upon them because a prior king of Shayandra had desecrated the tomb of an Egyptian Lion God. Not long after the tomb was desecrated the Lion God was reincarnated and now this half man, half lion monster, now lives in these mountains with his evil spirits and demons. The curse demands that every hundred years on the anniversary of the desecration a human sacrifice must be made to Lion God or all the people of Shayandra would die. This person must be a first-born of the royal family Shayandra. It was now the time again for the sacrifice and Helita would be the next victim. Kumar then tells Malu that the legend of the curse told of a prince, a savior, who would come some day and break the curse. Kumar tells Malu that he believes that Malu is that prince. Of course Malu does not believe it. Malu has already fallen in love with Helita and cannot stand the thought of her dying; so he agrees to help. He tells Kumar that what he feels he must do is free Armapour from the Caliph. Kumar convinces Malu to help the people of Shayandra by promising to raise an army and march on Armapour, once the curse broken. Kumar's words were, "we will turn the sands of Armapour red with the blood of your enemies." (This is where the title of the book originates.) If you like magic, flying carpets, secret passages, enchanted weapons, love, intrigue, and war; this story is for you.