Gregor, master of the palace guard, is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri with the task of rooting out the insurgence and crushing it.

In the first episode of this epic saga inspired by the Mamluk slave-dynasty of Egypt, Gregor (Rufus Wright) - Master of the Palace Guard - is charged by Sultan Al-Ghuri (Raad Rawi) with the task of rooting out an insurgence and crushing it.

Tumanbay, the beating heart of a vast empire, is threatened by a rebellion in a far-off province and a mysterious force devouring the city from within.

Music - Sacha Puttnam

Sound Design - Steve Bond, Jon Ouin

Editors - Ania Przygoda, James Morgan

Producers - Emma Hearn, Nadir Khan, John Dryden

Written and Directed by John Dryden

A Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4.