Ptolemy sends Bart to fight against Barbary pirates and desert raiders. He fights against the jackal-headed djinni Jabor, and takes part in the Battle of the Cataracts. Afterwards, Ptolemy gives Bartimaeus a week off – his first experience of pure free will on Earth. Ptolemy visits the Other Place and is seriously weakened. Later that year Ptolemy is assassinated by Roman magicians. Affa, Penrenutet and Teti are also killed. Bartimaeus survives.