The King, young Shah Naser, takes to the throne of Persia at a turning point of history: he inherits an enchanted medieval world of harems, eunuchs, and treasures as well as a palace of secret doors, sudden deaths, and hidden agendas. Within the court is danger enough: outside all manner of change threatens--industrialization, colonization. Russia and England conspire to open the King's empire; his mother and his vizier take opposing sides. The poor...