You ask me to address the mursashu monopoly over the trade route to Oasis, but what would you have me do?

Do you want to compete? I am quite certain you already know: all non-mursashu attempts for a profitable venture to Oasis have resulted in failure. The arithmetic involved comes down to the nigh-impossible bottleneck of traveling through the Sands: until a merchant group can somehow either also gain access to Mur or establish a new stopping point in the Endless Sands for refilling water, it does not seem possible.

Do you want to sabotage? And then what? The Free Cities and the Empire of the Sun will not stand idly by if the flow of jade into the Central Valley stops. We know we cannot hide anything from the Empire. Can any of you shoulder the responsibility if a Titled One from the Empire comes asking questions?

Would you attempt to bind them with regulation and tariffs? Enforced how? What City would be willing to risk disrupting their trade with the mursashu when the rich are dependent upon them for jade?

My sincere recommendation is to accept their control over the import of jade and focus your efforts elsewhere.

— Excerpt from a note addressing a merchant group's petition, signed by the Trademaster of Klagynah.

----------------------------------------

Path to Mur's Center

The path down the street was longer than Molam expected. Part of him wondered if it was due to unfamiliarity, having only stayed with the caravan before when traveling with Mursa Khan. The direction and destination was clear: the golden runes floated down in the distance, but for some reason didn't become bigger as Molam rode forward. An unbidden thought leapt into his head – was he actually moving?

Soon, Molam found himself paying attention to the individual buildings as he passed them by. This building had a collapsed arch over its doorway. Another building sagged under the weight of its floors, the front wall all but disintegrated. His camel's trots echoed hollowly in the dead silence of the abandoned City, and Molam only had his muted breathing to accompany his thoughts. He nudged the camel forward, patting its neck. "It's just empty buildings," he said, if only to hear his own voice.

Figures emerged from the darkness, and Molam sighed in relief. Those torches were held by two riders instead of buildings. The wide street had ended in a gigantic plaza — also empty. The statues of the seven Gods stood atop a colossal fountain standing in the middle of the plaza. Unlike the rest of the City, the statues showed no signs of wear or tear. The closest one, God Gered, stared down the street and seemed to be carved with a smile. Molam found it to be more akin to a leer, wondering if he was being affected by the abandoned City's gloom.

"Ah, Molam. Glad to see you can follow a straight line." Mursa Shang's voice echoed towards him. The Mursa stood in front of the fountain, beckoning with a lazy hand. Molam squinted past the Mursa to see the golden runes floating over the middle of the fountain. They spelled out the word for tranquility in the Old Tongue. "I was beginning to worry you had gotten lost."

"I was only taking my time admiring your ancestral home," Molam replied. The two riders shifted their camels to the side so Molam could approach. "I take it you want me to have a look at the Curse's source."

The Mursa gave him an appraising look. "Did Mursa Khan tell you about that too?"

"No," Molam answered honestly in front of the Mursa's Sight. After a moment of calculation, he added, "I just know what a certain dragon is keeping here."

Mursa Shang's inspecting gaze became sharper. "And you know this… how?"

"I could reveal my source, but that would be too high a price to stomach," Molam answered cheekily. Noticing the Mursa's continued use of the Sight, he also said, "But don't worry. It's not from a mursashu." That should alarm you even more. Keep on prodding, he thought. I want to know how much this information is worth to you.

But Mursa Shang did not. After a moment of silence, the Mursa seemed to remember they were here for something specific. "We'll need to go on foot from here," said the Mursa as he slid down from his camel, handing the reins to a rider. "The camels won't approach it."

He's not willing to play, thought Molam in disappointment. But he could respect that; it's what kept conversation and negotiation interesting with people like Mursa Shang and Madam Scarlette. He also slid down his camel, landing on the dusty ground with a thump. Patting the animal with gratitude, he put the reins in a rider's outstretched hands, then walked towards Mursa Shang.

The Mursa was drawing another rune in the air — Purify. He flicked it towards the fountain, where it took on a blackened hue. "Make sure the animals don't drink the water until it's completely purified," he instructed the riders. "And tell Tabytha to only fill up our water containers when the rune is the same color as the other one. Mursa has spoken."

"Yes, Mursa!" answered the two riders in unison.

"Good. Now, come with me." Mursa Shang pointed to the other side of the fountain, indicating Molam should follow him. They each took a lit torch and walked around the fountain, Molam doing his best to not look at each of the statues.

Goddess Sholt and God Ttyulong were both depicted with passive disinterest, but God Epidr's eyes had been carved to look as though they followed the onlooker. The other Gods — Goddess Ustl, Goddess Thraw, and God Yven were facing the other way. God Gered's statue seemed to ponder the fountain itself.

Upon clearing the fountain, they continued walking down the plaza. The street was wider now, and Mursa Shang walked ahead of Molam in silence. Eventually, the Mursa spoke up first. "How do you know what's being kept here?"

His curiosity must be eating away at him, thought Molam. Mursa Shang wasn't a fool; a direct question like that could do nothing to hide his intent. "I don't think it concerns you," Molam deflected. "I already confirmed that it wasn't told to me by one of your own."

"I'm not interested in being led along." The Mursa's tone became hard. He turned around, looking down his nose at Molam. "How do you know? Only a Mursa or their chosen successor would know what lies at the heart of Mur. Mursa Khan, for all his faults, wouldn't have said anything to you. And you've never met Mursa Allyce."

"I could tell you if you meet my request from earlier." Molam dangled three fingers in front of the Mursa. "Primrose, Kalle, and Shurra. All three of them will be treated as friends of the mursashu even if I should die."

"My answer is still no. Your life has value, at least until you help us cleanse Mur." Mursa Shang considered Molam, then added, "The best I can do is accept them into my caravan should they want to join, and I assure they would be given considerable treatment given their —"

"Don't you sell me that as anything similar to what I wanted," Molam cut him off. He opened his mouth to say something rude, then checked himself and lowered his tone. "That's just using them to further your own ends."

"I don't see how that's any different from what you're currently doing," the Mursa answered mildly. "Did Primrose volunteer to come to the Endless Sands? Of course not. And let me guess — you forced Kalle to come, didn't you? You don't strike me as stupid, but you brought a Northerner here despite knowing how Oasis will see him." The Mursa leaned forward, leering at Molam. "Perhaps you should be honest with yourself instead of this cheap attempt to convince yourself you're looking after them. Did you think you were better than me? At least I don't pretend to be their friend. I'm far more honest than you, now that I think about it."

That's not true. Molam balled up a fist. He's trying to throw me off with something that doesn't matter, he reminded himself, tamping down his boiling emotions. It's not true at all. He put on an indifferent tone. "It seems you still harbor a grudge over me asking you for three seats. Are you still trying to separate me from those I can trust?"

Mursa Shang didn't respond immediately. Then he closed his eyes, turned away from Molam and continued walking down the street. "To think the first time I'd catch you in a lie it would be something as disappointing as this. Those two trust you enough to risk their lives coming all this way and you can't even give them your trust."

Something bristled within Molam. Words, colored more by emotion than thought, almost spewed out of his mouth. He breathed deeply, taking in the dusty dryness of an abandoned City. Don't react, he reminded himself with his mentor's words. The fool reacts, and in doing so becomes predictable. Do not act the fool. Think through what you should say, or whether you should respond at all. Save your strength for only that which matters.

On the second breath, he followed Mursa Shang. Something about the man's gait seemed different — more measured, controlled. The man was waiting for Molam to catch up. Molam smiled grimly. No, more than that. He's waiting for me to say something.

But what to say, if anything at all? To address the Mursa's erroneous assumptions? To bring the topic back earlier? No, that wouldn't do: the Mursa hadn't taken the bait on how Molam knew what was being kept in the heart of Mur.

Silence then. Let the Mursa believe what he wanted. Molam didn't need to dignify it with a response. Yes, he almost nodded to himself. I've already given Kalle a chance to leave us in Klagynah. Primrose could have left anytime. I'm not forcing any of them to come with me. This is entirely their choice. Primrose and Kalle were here because they wanted to be here, and he was doing the basic decency of trying to ensure they had others to rely on if he should fall. That should be worth far more than his trust.

The street ended into a smaller circular plaza. An ancient Mansion loomed out behind it, the tall spires all but crumbled and a large hole in the circular roof. But they weren't here for the City Lord's Mansion. Molam's eyes were instantly drawn to what lay in the middle of the plaza.

"It's one thing to know of it, but it's another to see it," he muttered, stepping up next to Mursa Shang. Molam peered around the plaza with his torch raised. "This must be the source of the Curse."

The two of them stood in silence as they looked at the white bones laid out in a spiral shape, carefully assembled by whomever had brought them here. Molam knew without analyzing that the skeletal remains were almost complete, missing only the head. On the rare occasions IceMourne visited RainBringer, she spent the time lamenting her inability to find DuskWing's skull despite so many years of searching.

But even coiled up, Molam could appreciate the corpse's size. It spoke to how large DuskWing, the previous dragon of Summer, had been when he lived.

The Mursa's arm barred Molam from getting closer. "Unless your Domain is different, you don't want to get closer. The Curse is strongest around it."

"Noted."

"Can you cleanse it?" asked the Mursa.

"I should be able to," Molam replied, wary. Is he trying to get me to do it now? "As I told you before we left, we'll need a powerful spirit capable of cleansing this."

"The one you think is somewhere in Oasis."

"Yes," Molam confirmed. "Nothing can be done about this until we find it." And I'm not going to give you what you want until I'm done getting what I want.

But the Mursa wasn't done. "I brought you here hoping you could at least try. I understand you might be worried I won't uphold my end of the deal if Mur is cleansed today, but the mursashu wouldn't abandon the one who freed our home." When Mursa Shang turned to face him, Molam was surprised to see a wetness in the man's eyes. "Please," the Mursa bowed his head. "I only ask that you try."

Molam didn't know what to say. Negotiation is finding out what they want and offering it to them on your terms. There was an opportunity here. Mursa Shang hadn't taken the bait about how he came to know about IceMourne and DuskWing's remains, but this he needed. No — wanted. Not even for Molam to produce a result.

Just to try.

And yet… something about the earnest sincerity in the Mursa's voice stayed Molam's tongue. Molam's instincts told him he could demand what he wanted earlier and possibly even get it. But was that how he wanted Mursa Shang to see it? That Molam forced him into a friendship with the others?

"If it would put your mind at ease… I can do something," Molam answered slowly. "But before that, I want you to bind yourself to never reveal to anyone else what I am about to show you here."

Mursa Shang raised a finger, drawing a quick line of runes in the Old Tongue. "I bind myself to silence for any actions you take regarding cleansing Mur," the man promised. The line of runes curled into a tiny circle around the tip of his finger, which he pointed towards his heart. It sank there, a golden brand on his chest, before dissipating from sight.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"You didn't even hesitate," Molam admired begrudgingly. "Then I suppose it's my turn."

He reached into his arm guard to pull out an orange feather, revealing a bright glow that chased back the deepening darkness of the night.

"Is that…?" asked Mursa Shang, but Molam gave him a look that made him fall into silence.

"I won't answer questions. You asked me to try and that's all I'm going to do." Molam pulled out a dagger lent to him by Primrose, drawing the blade across his thumb. Stowing the blade away, Molam pressed the bloody thumb to the feather. "I hope you aren't afraid of fire."

Flames erupted all around them, a blazing inferno that lit up the night sky. Mursa Shang stumbled backwards, yelping in surprise. Upon seeing Molam's relaxed state, the man collected himself and waited. "I'll assume this is expected."

Molam hadn't been sure what to expect either, only knowing that this was what he was told to do. "Fiery One," he murmured under his breath, making sure Mursa Shang could not hear. The spirit wouldn't appreciate him sharing its name.

The flames coalesced at the name, twisting into the phoenix's form. It flapped once, then soared through the air around the plaza, before coming down to land on Molam's arm.

I had in mind to ask you if this was worth a summon, but I see what you have here. The spirit's voice filled his thoughts, and did not wait for him to reply. Alas, poor DuskWing! I named him friend, Molam. A dragon of infinite wit, of most excellent character. He was the oldest of his kind and bore the most undesired of the Gods' gifts so his brethren could choose better. The living may call it the Plague, but us primordials know better: the goal of life is death.

"I'm sure you have quite the history, but you can find the time to mourn later." Molam stroked the phoenix's neck. Though it was a living blaze, the warm flames that made up its feathers only felt slightly warm to the touch. "My…ah, friend here," he indicated to an awestruck Mursa Shang, "was hoping to try and cleanse this City of DuskWing's Plague."

This is nothing like what his Domain was like in life, the phoenix replied. If it was, the two of you would already be dead. As for the lingering remnants of his regret… I can try. You do understand this will require a payment?

"I was hoping to negotiate with you on that. Can it be paid by someone else?" Molam nudged his head towards the Mursa.

I am amenable to it. And who is this? I don't believe you've announced my presence.

Molam resisted the urge to give the phoenix a backhanded response. It's important that the Mursa believes this is a greater spirit. "This is Mursa Shang. He asked me to try and cleanse, well, this." Molam gestured at the City around them, ignoring the Mursa's speechless expression. "And Mursa Shang, this is a spirit. The greater spirit of fire, to be exact."

Mursa Shang sank to his knees. "The First Flame," he murmured, bowing his head. "The one who lights the way."

Oho, you could learn a thing or two from this one. The phoenix's flame-feathers fluffed up in approval, surveying the kneeling Mursa. Now that is the correct way to speak to a regal one such as I.

"Bah." Molam clicked his tongue, then grinned. He bowed, angling his body forward. "Like this?"

The sudden movement made the phoenix squawk ungainly as it flapped a wing to stabilize itself on his shoulder.

"Very regal," Molam observed innocently as he stood up from his bow.

Very funny, the phoenix hopped onto his head. Did you want my help or not? Ask them if they're willing to pay.

"Oh. Right." Molam turned his attention back to the kneeling Mursa. "My spirit friend here says they're willing to try getting rid of the Curse, but spirits require payment to do anything. In this case… a cherished memory, proportional to the effort."

Mursa Shang looked up, deep in thought. His swept-back black hair glistened in what meager light they had. "What does that mean?"

Molam hesitated. How to explain this? "I can only say that… It's like forgetting something. But in this case, you don't even know you've forgotten it. Because you'll never remember it again, even if you see it again and it should seem familiar."

And let him know I might fail. This is not a cleansing, but a burning. Different from cleansing itself. The phoenix stretched its neck. And, the memory will not be returned even if I fail.

"The spirit also wants to clarify that cleansing isn't something it does, but it will try to burn away the Curse. And if it fails, your memory won't be returned," Molam spoke to the Mursa. "Will you do it?"

"Can I choose the memory?"

He can offer, but I decide if it will suffice.

"You can offer, but the spirit decides if it's enough to fulfill your request," Molam conveyed. He added, "It's… probably faster if you just let it ask you for a memory, then you decide if you're willing to part with it. And, you can stand up now."

Mursa Shang obliged, getting back to his feet. He bowed to the phoenix. "I'm afraid I don't know what would suffice, great spirit. Please tell me what you want."

The phoenix pointed its beak towards the mursashu — three glowing golden orbs seemed to fall out of his chest in the same manner as when a Priestess conducted funeral rites. A tilt of the phoenix's neck and the three orbs came floating in front of it.

It peered at an orb, then its next words were spoken to include the Mursa, who jumped in surprise at the sudden voice in his head.

The day Mursa Gailscha chose you as her successor.

"I — what?" Mursa Shang seemed alarmed before he collected himself. "No," he said hurriedly, "not that one."

The orb floated away to be replaced by another in its place.

The day your apprentice drank too much and called you father.

Mursa Shang's face blanched. "I didn't know this would be such an invasion of privacy," he muttered, glancing furtively at Molam. Molam kept an impassive face, hoping it looked as though he heard nothing. Perhaps the Mursa would believe that Molam wasn't privy to this conversation. "Not that one either."

The final orb floated up, a golden glimmer in a sea of flame.

Your last meeting with Flangel the Wise and his advice to you.

"No."

Molam raised an eyebrow. Even the Mursa seemed surprised at the forcefulness of his outburst.

"Great spirit," he bowed his head, addressing the phoenix with a respectful tone again. "I cannot part with any of those memories. They… make me who I am. I beg of you; can you please ask for something else?"

These are the only memories commensurate with the task you request.

Molam knew Mursa Shang would attempt to bargain before the man asked.

"Would another spirit ask for something… different?"

The phoenix peered at the Mursa. Normally I would be insulted. But I have pressing matters to attend to on the other side of the world. Are you trying to waste my time?

Mursa Shang flinched, bowing his head even lower. "I wouldn't dare. I apologize, for you arrived at my request. But I… cannot part with any of those memories."

Molam poked the phoenix's wing. "I guess that's that. Overlook his transgression for me, will you? He's an important part of my plans."

After a moment, the phoenix shrugged. You knew he could not, it accused Molam in private. A flap of the wings sent the three glowing orbs back to the Mursa, who seemed relieved when they re-entered his body. No, more than that, it continued, pondering. You summoned me specifically because you wanted him to witness it, even though it means you cannot summon me for another moon. If there is a third intent here you may as well say it.

"You could always stay," Molam proposed under his breath so Mursa Shang couldn't hear. "I could use your help."

No. I have finally found traces of the spirit I have been looking for, but the aura only shows where it has been, not where it has gone. Your lazy mentor has refused to leave their Library and the sleepy one shows no desire to interact with the world, leaving me to do this all by myself. If we are to reunite, the wandering one needs to be found.

Molam sighed. He had expected such an answer, but it was a different feeling to be rejected outright. "I understand."

Preening itself haughtily, the phoenix said, I know you must miss being in my glorious presence, but I make no apologies about denying it to you. The feather I left with you is still quite special so long as you avoid fighting a Titled One. As no request was fulfilled this time, I can return some aura to the feather, but the restriction remains lest the Gods decide I am flouting their Mandate. Anything else before I leave?

"No, but maybe you can confirm to Mursa Shang that the spirit I'm looking for will better align with his needs," said Molam. "He might need some convincing."

The phoenix glared towards Mursa Shang. If you want to cleanse this City, help Molam find the spirit he is looking for. Cleansing is within its nature. Then you can decide if you are more willing to pay what it asks of you. May you find warmth in life.

Then it took flight, bursting into flames that dissipated into the night. A solitary flame-feather drifted down towards the feather in Molam's hand, melding together.

As Molam tucked the feather back into his arm guard, he felt the Mursa walk close. "I assume you remember that you can't reveal anything, but you have my permission to confirm to the other two Mursa that you've personally witnessed me interact with a spirit," said Molam. Fiery One knew him too well now, but Molam didn't mind. He could think of no realistic reason for it to ever betray him.

"That I will. They would be relieved to know that you can deliver on that, at least." Mursa Shang seemed hesitant, but then asked, "If you don't mind, I'm curious about what you said earlier. About the payment. You said it as though you've experienced what it's like to give up a memory?"

Molam shrugged. "I can't remember what it was, nor that I ever had it. I only know that it must have existed because there's some evidence, but the idea that it was part of my memories seems as foreign as if you were to tell me we met a long time ago." At least that's how he understood it.

"That's hard to imagine," pondered Mursa Shang. "It somewhat makes me more relieved I didn't agree."

"That's only because you still remember it now. When it's gone, you won't remember why you were so against it in the first place."

"Well, that's oddly… true," the Mursa agreed. He turned to stare at the bones of DuskWing, a forlorn expression on his face. "I think," he said, "this cost should be collectively borne by the three Mursa, at the very least."

Molam did not voice his immediate thoughts on that. "Shall we go back?" he asked Mursa Shang instead. "I'm hungry, and it's been a long day."

More importantly, he wanted to revisit why there was one marking on the list of names he kept among his notes. There was a circle around the name Jiovanny and his own handwriting: Don't forget the sweets.

He didn't remember writing it, but now he suspected why.

----------------------------------------

Mursa's Tent

Jyuni lifted the tent flap for her Mursa, stepping to the side as he walked in.

"Did Molam fail?" she asked. Though her ability to sense aura wasn't anywhere close to Cholani's, she had sensed the burst of flame earlier. A torrential amount.

And yet the sickening sensation of DuskWing's Curse still permeated the City.

Her Mursa set down his empty waterskin and strode towards the teapot, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"Ah," Jyuni realized. "That tea is probably lukewarm by now. I'll brew a new pot."

"It's fine." Mursa Shang waved her off, then downed a cup of tea before pouring himself another. "I'm just thirsty. I need to think."

Three cups of tea later, the Mursa sat down. Jyuni brought him a bowl of stew, which the cooking mursasho had brought earlier. It was still warm.

She sat down opposite her teacher, waiting patiently for him to organize his thoughts. Jyuni had learned a long time ago that Mursa Shang hated being disturbed while he had that far-off look in his eyes. But more importantly, for her talkative teacher to be pondering in silence was often a sign that he had learned something of grave importance. The last time he had worn that look, they had learned of Falysos City's intention to improve their silverworks industry by starting a mine at the base of the Argentine Mountains.

"I'm disappointed, relieved, and devastated at the same time," her Mursa finally said. He had yet to dig into his stew. "This has been quite an evening. Which piques your curiosity the most?"

"Relieved is good, right? You better not be disappointed in me or the food." Jyuni pushed his spoon closer meaningfully. He often forgot to eat when thinking, and she’d promised Taycho that his mursasho's efforts wouldn't be wasted. "Or should I ask for whatever has devastated you? Bad then good?"

"Now that I think about it more, they're linked. I'm relieved to tell you that Molam can certainly utilize spirits. I can't elaborate on anything as I promised secrecy, but a critical part of what we need has been confirmed. And before you ask, no, we still need to find this spirit he spoke of before we can cleanse DuskWing's Curse." He picked up the spoon, tapping it against his bowl. "Well, that's somewhat of a lie. I'm devastated because I lacked the resolve to try. Then again, it's never a good idea to pay for something that might not work out." Mursa Shang rolled his shoulders back, stretching his neck. "I wish I could tell you more, but we'll see. I expect that I'll need to make a similar decision again in the future when we return with the spirit we're looking for."

Jyuni waited for more, but her Mursa offered no more elaboration on the matter. "So…" she said conversationally, "Are you disappointed in yourself then?"

"What? Oh, no. I'm devastated, and there's certainly some disappointment, but that's not who I'm really disappointed in. You see… I'm disappointed in Molam. Bewildered, even." He paused, then added, "I caught him in a lie."

Now this was curious to Jyuni. The sort of things people would lie about were often the most telling aspects of their character. Jyuni remembered spending much time with her Mursa going through conversations with Molam, looking for any weakness they could use. "What did he lie about?"

"He…" Mursa Shang ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep sigh, "he doesn't trust Kalle and Primrose."

"What?" The idea seemed so foreign to Jyuni she couldn't help her loud outburst. She lowered her voice, but so many thoughts were tumbling through her head. "That can't be. He forced you to allow him to bring them."

"To be exact, maybe he doesn't fully trust Kalle and Primrose?" Mursa Shang clarified in a tone of uncertainty. "It's confusing precisely because his actions would normally indicate a degree of trust. Or… reliance." He shrugged, "Either that, or I saw wrong. There was only the barest hint that Molam was lying, and I was so surprised at the time I forgot to probe further." He finally spooned up his stew; Jyuni expected it was cold, but the Mursa didn't seem to care. "Almost as though he's trying to convince himself. But that doesn't make sense either. He's certainly going out of his way to keep them protected by asking me to declare them as friends of the mursashu."

"Will you?" Jyuni asked.

"Not without good cause," her teacher ate another spoonful of stew. He made a face. "Jyuni, this stew—"

"Will be finished by you or I'll have Taycho turn you into stew next." Jyuni gave him her best smile. "More importantly, isn't your next question usually something like…" she put on her best impression of his voice, "now Jyuni, remember what I always tell you: information is useless unless you think about how to best use it."

"I do not sound like that," Mursa Shang complained.

"When Zaem perfects that tool for recording voices I'll give you the chance to hear yourself." Jyuni wagged her eyebrows at him.

Mursa Shang ate several more bites under Jyuni's watchful gaze, then sighed. "You're right, however. We need to keep this close to our chest. I don't know if it's true that Molam is lying about his trust in Primrose and Kalle; we'll need to verify it and any further implications. We have quite some time to observe them. And if it's true… I can think of how we can use it to pressure Molam some more. Or at the very least, separate him from Primrose and Kalle if we ever need to isolate him."

He fell silent, then chuckled under his breath as he spooned some more food. "He doesn't trust them. Amazing. I cannot imagine choosing to live life in such isolation."