The gardens of the Hasafa Clan were nice.

A water clock was at work within the courtyard. Fish swam in and out of the rocks within the water. Meanwhile, the rose bushes were more beautiful than any Samrasa had seen. They were almost comparable in beauty to Lord Munsuf himself. Samrasa was sitting across from him now. Less so his twin brother, who came forward and bowed, going by the name Vandias. This man had fought in the wars; he had scars that his brother did not. He was a man of little use to his masters. It was a shame what had to be done.

"...Well, brother?" asked Munsuf.

"I am very sorry, Lord Munsuf," said Vandias. "However, Jaha has not allowed your daughter to become her avatar."

"What?" said Munsuf, staring incredulously at him. "She was rejected?! Why? My daughter is the same vision of purity."

"I do not know," said Vandias. "However, Sarafi seems to think it was because she didn't want to be the priestess. Lady Jaha does not like forcing someone to be something they aren't."

"You mean to say that my daughter doesn't want to be the Avatar of Jaha?" asked Munsuf. "But what more prestigious position could she take?"

"None, for a Hasafa," said Vandias. "It is possible Sarafi does not want the prestige. She prefers spending time with her friends from the other houses."

A charitable way of saying Sarafi had been rejected outright. A shame; Samrasa had been hoping to keep the temple to Jaha intact for a time. He'd always tried to preserve the art whenever possible. But when it directly depicted a Goddess, as all of Jaha's art did, it meant the temple had to be hollowed out.

How Samrasa wished religions used more symbolism.

Symbolism was easy. All you had to do was reinterpret to mean something about man's greatness. Or as a metaphor for the eternal search for the unknown.

"But there must be an Avatar of Jaha, mustn't there?" asked Samrasa. "We need one to ensure the legitimacy of our future actions. The chaos caused by religious strife must end. And the Goddess of Peace is a critical tool to that end.

"Already, the worshippers of Barden have spoken out against our efforts. And others have done the same."

"...King Samrasa, with respect, is it appropriate to speak of gods as though they were tools?" asked Vandias. "Let alone within the domain of a God?"

Ah, a man who was not afraid to speak his mind. "Do they regard us as anything different?" asked Samrasa. And there was little he could say to that; the history of divine atrocities was long. "Munsuf, are there any other possible candidates for the position of Avatar of Jaha?"

"There are others," said Munsuf. "None closely connected enough to ensure succession, however. It is custom that the Avatar of Jaha is wed to the heir apparent of the Hasafa Clan."

"And who is the present heir, now?" asked Samrasa thoughtfully.

"My son, Nendas," said Vandias. "He is training extensively for war and hopes to join in the battle against the rebels of Kulat. As soon as their justification for putting down their 'rebellion' of course." The sarcasm was slight but noticeable.

"An admirable desire," said Samrasa, considering what angle to approach this from. How to begin the destruction of a religion?

The first step was always to get them to abandon their identity. Convince them to give up some sacred tradition or principle and then do it to another and another. Eventually, the god they worshipped was little more than a hollow excuse. All to hold ceremonies they did not believe in. From there, you could convince them the entire institution was a glorified means of theft.

Then the battle was won.

But before you could give up their silly superstitions, you had to get them to be willing to change them. Once the masses would alter their religion's central beliefs on a whim, they would abandon them. Then you could simply make it official. "The Avatar of Jaha is traditionally always female, are they not?"

"Yes, and they hold great sway over how the Clan is run," said Munsuf. "Usually, they are chosen as a wife to the heir to ensure power is centralized."

"It is to ensure Queen Jaha has a clear say," said Vandias, what might have been irritation in his voice. "What you describe is merely a later invention, Musuf. Jaha originally did not marry the heir but merely remained enshrined as a source of guidance."

Ah, so here was a man who believed and understood his faith.

That was the first person you needed to remove. If worshippers did not understand their faith, they would compromise it. Once they did not believe it, you could substitute just about anything for the god.

And if it was neither understood nor believed, then the cult was at an end.

Of course, the religious would say that not believing meant you were not part of their group. One look at the quality of the priesthood disproved that for Samrasa when he was young. A great many fat men who had many mistresses and cared nothing for their supposed deity. Yet, they were setting policies for the faithful they manipulated.

There were few of those left.

Samrasa had crucified most of them.

"Whatever you wish to believe, brother," said Munsuf. "If my daughter had been chosen as the Avatar of Jaha, she could have married Nendas, and the problem would be ended. Officially Nendas would be the Head of the Clan, but in practice, all power would be hers."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Yes, because power is the only important thing," said Vandias in a half-joking tone. Only it was hiding disapproval, not agreement. "Duty and honor are tools by which the dull-witted may be manipulated."

So he was a romantic as well. Samrasa was not a romantic and decades of rule had taught him that principles were a liability. Only Munsuf laughed at that, perhaps in self-hatred, threatening to unravel his use.

Vandias grew more dangerous by the moment, and something would have to be done. Samrasa doubted removing Jaha would be possible with this man, especially since he felt confident enough to question him openly.

"Do you normally let your subordinates speak this way to you?" asked Samrasa, irritated by the statement.

"I apologize, King Samrasa," said Munsuf. "My brother has antiquated ideas of how one ought to rule. He believes that the lies we tell the populace ought to come true. He needs to understand the necessity of our actions.

"However, he has an excellent talent for negotiating with the lower orders.

"And his advice is often useful. To say nothing of his skill at the battle."

"When every man imitates our actions, the world will end in fire and ruin," noted Vandias. "Can you say the same of my beliefs?"

"Of course, I can't, brother," said Munsuf. "My point is that such things require a balance. Peaceful, good people need ruthless, violent people to ensure they can remain so."

"No, they don't," said Vandias. "I assure you, ordinary people would get along just fine if all the raiders and thieves of the world died out. Conversely, the raiders and thieves would eat each other and become mere animals. Until they became farmers."

"Yes, but the real problem is getting rid of all the raiders, isn't it?" asked Samrasa, coming to dislike the man more by the moment. The way he spoke with confidence irritated him, and his clear intelligence was worse. No intelligent man had any business believing in that divine nonsense.

"You see what I must contend with?" laughed Munsuf.

"You have an understanding of philosophy?" asked Samrasa of Vandias. Munsuf chafed at the snub. Yet he could not move against Samrasa without going through Vandias.

"I studied it in Kulat before tensions began to grow between our nations," said Vandias. "I would have gone to Tarasif, but I thought all the burning books would limit the study's usefulness."

"That is an unfortunate necessity, I fear," said Samrasa, deciding to shift the subject. "Kulat was part of Tarasif's dominion for centuries. Even before the Sarafian Empire rose to power. However, motivating the people to march to war is difficult pragmatically. One needs a cause to pursue the interests of the state."

"Perhaps you should examine what those interests are," noted Vandias. "And how they benefit the state."

Ah, so that was it.

Vandias was the leader in all but name. This kind of open confidence could not be held by one who was a subordinate. And with good reason. There was a dangerous man and a powerful ally for Munsuf. He would make the Hasafa a formidable enemy in time as Samrasa's influence grew. It would be a shame to kill one so beautiful as Munsuf.

Fortunately, Munsuf seemed to chafe under his brother's dominance. He lacked the will to make his own decisions and resented his brother. Or so Samrasa guessed.

"I shall do so," said Samrasa. "Please, leave us."

"Forgive me, King Samrasa, but I am an advisor to the Lord of the Hasafa," replied Munsuf's brother. "I can be dismissed only by him."

Munsuf said nothing.

"Your loyalty do you credit," said Samrasa. "But I have likewise dismissed by advisors, save one of the most trusted. And I would speak with him alone."

Munsuf had both their gaze on him. Now was the critical moment. If Munsuf dismissed his brother, Samrasa could manipulate him for his good. If he stayed, things would be problematic.

"I have no enemies here, brother," said Munsuf.

"Is it truly wise to dismiss your counsel when discussing matters of-" began the brother.

"I don't need you," said Munsuf. "For this." He added.

"As you wish," said the man.

Vandias bowed, then he turned and left.

It had happened too easily.

There was the most problematic of soldiers. Vandias was the kind who questioned authority and valued higher ideals. Samrasa had been forced to make himself a kind of god to substitute for religious fervor. His word was divine law now, by another name. A necessary convenience and people like him broke the image.

"You have a very dangerous brother, Munsuf," said Samrasa simply. "He knows how to ask inconvenient questions."

"Yes, I am well aware," said Munsuf, pleased to be treated equally. He seemed to be searching for common ground. "And now that Jaha has all but put her support behind him, we have a problem."

"You believe Nendas will not serve our purposes?" asked Samrasa, seeking to drive a wedge between them. Say 'our' purposes to imply a unity of sorts.

"Nendas is very much his Father's son," said Munsuf, playing to Samrasa's words. No doubt he was trying to seem important. "He believes in right and wrong, good and evil, and no compromise. He prays daily to Jaha, trains regularly, and studies a great deal. If he took power, he would do what he thought was right.

"I had hoped Sarafi would be a check on him. He has a soft spot for her.

"But that is no longer an option."

Munsuf was trying to imitate Samrasa to appear in control. And it occurred to Samrasa that though he was thirty and full-grown, he appeared like a boy in a man's body. Best to play to that desire for approval, to fill a Fatherly role. "Nendas... how good is he?"

"His instructors all have the highest of praise for him, and the servants love him," said Munsuf. "He could be a valuable asset if he could be caged. They say he is wise and mature beyond his years.

"But I fear I may have to destroy both of them first."

That was a clumsy statement, revealed too quickly, and Samrasa doubted he had thought of it before.

Either way, Munsuf was already at the point where he'd kill them both. He was just too intellectually feeble to realize it. Samrasa guessed there was some jealousy. He had seen Nendas once or twice, for he remained here while his Father went out on Munsuf's business. The boy eagerly desired to please, but he was also serious and aware of his surroundings.

In some ways, he was akin to Munsuf as he had been at that age, but with a work ethic and discipline, Munsuf had lacked. Perhaps that was why Munsuf wanted him destroyed.

No Master wanted to feel less accomplished than his servant. And the best way to avoid being surpassed was to destroy those who would surpass you. Still, Munsuf could have been more useful beyond destroying his clan. He could be used to cage the bird and locked in place until its wings atrophied.

To use Munsuf was to destroy him. And to use him would also kill Nendas and his Father. But if the order of events could be arranged, Nendas could also be used. Samrasa had long ago learned that true art lay in making use of them while you destroyed them. He had become very good at it. "Let's not be too hasty.

"I am certain a real use of them could be made. We need only manipulate events, so their destruction serves our purposes."

"Oh really?" asked Munsuf, eager to be let in on the plan. "And what do you have in mind, my King?"

Samrasa told him his plan, and Munsuf hung on his every word. This one would be enjoyable prey to catch even if he was older than the usual sport. And he might catch a younger one at the same time.