As Rincewind involuntarily becomes a guide to the naive tourist Twoflower, they find themselves forced...

In Ancient Akkad, Mathayus grows up as the proud son of Ashur, a captain in the world-renowned military corps of Black Scorpions, first-rate bodyguards, most of which are send to courts wide away. Precisely by objecting to young Mathuyas joining the corps, Ashur incurs the undying enmity of ruthless generalissimo Sargon, gets killed and the orphaned knave is shipped off to a desolate training camp for three years by king Hammurabi's clemency. When he returns as qualified guard, Sargon has bloodily seized the throne and demands cruel proof of blind loyalty. Mathuyas refuses, becoming a chased hero. With youth friends, the resourceful Greek Pollux and various mercenary warriors, he embarks on a daring quest to obtain a legendary sword from Sargon's magical ally, the war-goddess Astarte.