Narcissa had been spending too much time with Sahshir.

She was, officially at least, the leader of the Zigildrazians refugees. What she did affect how their subordinates behaved. And Sahshir was corrupting her, bringing her further and further away from Zigildrazia. King Sahshir had saved and drawn them out of Dinis, but now he was trying to cull their culture.

Even now, many of those who performed Zigildrazia's rites were in prison. They were awaiting execution for destroying an extension of themselves.

Alkela was grateful to him for teaching her sign language. That, however, still did not change his actions. As she opened the door, she walked through. Beyond, she found Sahshir looking through scrolls in his office. He looked up.

"Ah, Alkela, I take it you have the names and evidence for each accused, as I requested," said Sahshir. Alkela drew out the scrolls she had been handed, wondering why she was being trusted with this. Though, for now, that trust was not in vain.

Sahshir took it quickly. "Thank you. I would prefer to look over these if there is nothing else."

Alkela remained where she was.

"Yes, what is it?" asked Sahshir.

Alkela quickly made sign language, making her intentions clear. There had yet to be a place for the Zigildrazian warriors in the tournament. Sahshir raised where his eyebrows would typically. "So, you wish to compete in the coming tournament. Why?"

Alkela pointed out that most New Zigilus' warriors focused on the shorelines. Raiders from Sorn had menaced some of the fishing villages. Alkela had ordered the priests to spread the word of Zigildrazia while there, of course. However, it was anyone's game as to who would win this. "Well, I suppose someone from Zigilus should represent your people. With Narcissa out of the running, it is just as well."

And then Narcissa stormed into the room. She was carrying a sheet of parchment that she threw down on the table. "What is this?"

"Hmm?" asked Sahshir. "I feel it is somewhat self-explanatory, to be honest."

"You're banning me from the tournament," said Narcissa.

"And myself as well," said Sahshir. "As King of Kaltak, I cannot be seen to publically lose at anything. And you, as the leader of your people, have the same restriction. So does Belosh as well. Though I doubt he minds as much as myself."

"Are you insane?" asked Narcissa. "They've got a demi-god on their side! Isamu literally killed an entire army of bandits single-handed!

"We need every warrior we can get, or we won't stand a chance!"

"Yes, and if he wins, I can simply say it was only because I was forbidden from participating," said Sahshir. "If he loses, I can congratulate the warrior that defeated him. Thus assuring my people that he would have fallen to me if he had gotten past them.

"It's all about appearances."

"But I'm the best fighter of my people!" said Narcissa.

Alkela disagreed and made the appropriate signs. Narcissa sighed. "Alkela, you're good at fighting, but I have much more experience."

"Experience you gained because she had to remain behind," noted Sahshir. "You can hardly complain if she wants her own chance at glory."

"What were you even talking about with Belosh anyway?" asked Narcissa. "You went off alone with him while I entertained his personal guards."

"Nothing of consequence," said Sahshir. "Alkela, I expect you to deal the Western Kalthakians a well-deserved defeat. We've already shown them up by defeating Sorn without their vaunted help. Let us do it once again."

"What were you talking about?" asked Narcissa flatly.

Sahshir sighed. "Several things.

"Belosh is trying to arrange a closer friendship between our peoples and doing so on Tuor's behalf. In fact, all of this is because of Tuor; he arranged for them to offer help to us during the Macshore War.

"I gather that Tuor had hoped to establish a union between our factions. We would, naturally, have been the junior partners."

"But we won without them," noted Narcissa.

"Precisely, and Nayasha tells me that threw Tuor's plans off," said Sahshir. "Out of goodwill, I arranged this meeting to help salvage those plans.

"However, I am doing so as an equal partner. Nayasha has been dispatched back to Tuor's own domain, of course. He needs no representative when he is coming himself."

"So, what's the problem?" asked Narcissa.

Sahshir clasped his fingers over his iron hand. "As an equal partner, I am owed assurances that Western Kalthak will not betray me. One of those is a marriage alliance. I asked after Oresa, implying that I desired to wed her.

"I believe I predicted that I was going to be insulted. I was right."

"So he refused," guessed Narcissa.

Sahshir had become increasingly insecure. Apparently, he felt that, as a King, he was obligated to find an appropriate match. Alkela didn't see why he cared; he was lucky to have gotten as far as he did. In Zigilus, he'd have been sacrificed for his appearance if he had even made it past infancy. He really should just take the victory.

"Nothing so direct, of course," said Sahshir. "No, he revealed that her heart was taken by... one of the guards; what was his name?"

"Isamu?" guessed Narcissa. It was a wild guess, but probably correct. Monks were celebrating, and no self-respecting Princess would marry a Dren. Their skin was like mud.

"Yes, him, the idiot with no sense of his rank," said Sahshir.

"The one who killed an entire army of bandits singlehanded," said Narcissa.

"I've heard that I routed the assembled legions of Dinis and the armies of Typhos by myself," noted Sahshir. "That does not make the story true."

"Fair enough," said Nayasha. "So, what is this all about?"

"Simple enough, we'll just have to destroy Isamu," said Sahshir. "If Oresa is no longer in love with Isamu. Isamu is disgraced, so living him would be contemptible; Belosh will be out of excuses."

"But it's just an excuse," said Nayasha. "He'll find another one."

"Yes, but then it will be plain to everyone that he has insulted me," said Sahshir. "And I will have an excuse to cut off all ties." Ah, this would be one of those things where Sahshir took a stand on principle. Thereby instantly destroying every plan, including his own.

"Tuor won't like that much," said Narcissa.

"Tuor is no longer my father nor King of this land," said Sahshir. "I am not beholden to him, and if I am not afforded my rights, I see no reason to join his schemes."

Stolen novel; please report.

"Why do you even care about Oresa?" asked Narcissa, mirroring Alkela's thoughts. "You don't even know her."

"I don't," said Sahshir flatly.

That was...

That was an unexpectedly honest statement. Alkela was impressed.

"...Okay," said Narcissa.

"Narcissa, I don't care about anyone," said Sahshir. "If my closest companion were to die before me, I would feel nothing for them. Only what I, personally, had lost.

"My concern is for my duties and responsibilities.

"And one of those responsibilities is protecting the dignity of my position. An insult to me is an insult to all of Eastern Kalthak.

"I shall lay all of the West to waste before I brook an insult to East.

"Is there anything else?"

They were going to have a war, weren't they?

"...Perhaps you should get a second opinion from your god," said Narcissa.

"I suppose Baltoth may that I consult him on this," said Sahshir. "Very well, you've convinced me. I will speak with Kushina at once."

And he stood to walk out.

Alkela followed him at a distance, moving quietly and softly to stay out of sight. Sahshir seemed preoccupied and did not pick her up. He made his way out of the palace and turned right to walk toward the Shrine of Baltoth. Sliding aside the door, he entered it. Alkela moved next to the door and listened.

"Sahshir, you haven't visited in some time," said Kushina's voice.

"I will be looking over the evidence against each accused and will make a judgment in time," said Sahshir. "For now, I must consult you on something of great import."

"I guess by your tone that you seek Baltoth's word and not mine," said Kushina. "Very well, how may I help you?"

"I find myself at a crossroads," said Sahshir. "Tuor, the Disciple of Baltoth, desires closer relations be made between East and West. Yet King Belosh has shown me no respect. I am asked to make an Alliance without the traditional exchanges. This I take to be an insult and a grievous one.

"I must obey the will of Baltoth. Yet, I must also defend the honor of my people.

"How, then, am I to answer such an attack?"

"You can make no direct revenge upon Belosh or his kind. Not without deviating from the constraints of honor," replied Kushina. "Therefore, your revenge must be done indirectly, with words rather than the blade.

"You must-"

Then another door opened, and a set of footsteps, those of a child, rushed in. "Kushina! Kushina!"

"Sister, I am meeting with Sahshir and cannot be disturbed," said Kushina. "That is to say, the King."

"But Kushina, the other children are telling lies about me," said her sister. What was her name again? "I need to get my bow so I can shoot them."

"Schzara, responding to insults with murder is not Baltoth's way," said Kushina. "If they are lying about you, you should find out the truth."

"The truth?" asked Schzara.

"Yes, figure out the weaknesses in their character," said Kushina. "The things about them that they want to ignore. Then show it to them. That will destroy them far more effectively than any lie they could tell about you."

"Thanks, sister, um, Sahshir; I'm really sorry about interrupting," said Schzara.

"Now, I believe I was advising you?" said Kushina, probably turning back to Sahshir.

"I believe you already have," said Sahshir. "Thank you very much."

Alkela glanced up and saw a messenger rushing toward the door. Sitting down crosslegged,

Alkela pretended she was there as a guard. Aside from the low-cut nature of her kimono, she'd be fine. The man passed her without noticing and opened the door, rushing in before kneeling. Sahshir glanced up and saw Alkela at once.

"King Sahshir," said the samurai.

"Yes, what is it?" asked Sahshir.

"Pardon the interruption. But Isamu has been sparring with many of our warriors," said the samurai. "So far, he and his friends are undefeated. We are being made to look like fools."

"Very well," said Sahshir. "Kushina, assemble the sword trainees in the training ground outside here." Then he moved by Alkela without a word, and Alkela followed through the streets. As they did, people bowed as Sahshir walked by them, almost on reflex.

Men looked at him now with respect and adoration, albeit dangerous. When Alkela had first come here, there was far more uncertainty.

The city barracks was a large, one-story building with a tiled roof and mud-brick walls. Outside the gate, the sound of fighting could be found within. Coming to the door, a guard kneeled.

"King Sahshir, how may I help you, sir?"

"Make no announcement of my arrival," said Sahshir. "I wish to observe those of Western Kalthak in action."

"How will you disguise yourself," said the man.

"I won't," said Sahshir. "Where are Isamu and his companions?"

"Within the training hall," said the man. "They are..."

"Yes?" asked Sahshir.

"Undisciplined but not unskilled," said the man. "They insisted on bringing the Princess in with them. She may train, too, but I've seen no sign of it. Mostly, it is the Dren, Isamu, and the monk."

"Then we'll see how they are progressing," said Sahshir.

Alkela took a moment to appreciate that Sahshir was pretending she did not exist. Alkela preferred to be beneath notice. Still, as they walked through the halls, they entered the training room. Within it, Isamu was dueling with the Dren and the monk. Several men were lying at the far end, unconscious. Several others were healing them or standing at the ready.

"Come on, Urus, Cadas put up a fight, will you," said Isamu, spinning his blade casually. "I've already defeated the others!"

"Don't take me lightly, Isamu," said Urus.

"Urus, Cadus, be careful," said Oresa, who was passive and weak like always. She was healing some of those who had been hurt.

On it went as the battle went on. Now and then, when an injury was sustained, Oresa was called on to heal it. There wasn't any discipline about it. Apparently, Oresa was used to heal wounds in training. Urus and Cadas seemed to pay her thanks, but Isamu hardly noticed her. But the way Oresa looked at Isamu was clearly starstruck.

Why would be the question Alkela would ask?

"Hold on, we're being watched," said Isamu, turning to where Sahshir was. He was coated in sweat from his efforts.

"You train a great deal, don't you?" asked Sahshir.

"Skulking in the shadows again?" asked Isamu.

"The King of Kalthak is expected to win battles," said Sahshir. "Everything else is secondary."

"That's some code to live by," said Isamu.

"And what code do you live by?" asked Sahshir. "You, who shows no respect for rank or others?"

"I don't believe in anything but what I see," said Isamu.

"And what do you see here, in this place?" asked Sahshir.

"Nobody worth fighting at the moment," said Isamu. "Urus and Cadas are better than most of the others. Why are you interested in trying your luck?"

"Perhaps I am," said Sahshir. "But not here. I will have a place prepared."

Sometime later, Sahshir and Isamu stood at the center of an outdoor training ground. The two stood in stances before one another, eyeing stances. Men were standing by and watching, and several passerbys came to look at it.

"You really want to make a public spectacle of your defeat?" asked Isamu.

"Only a fool declares victory before his last stroke has fallen," said Sahshir.

"Guess that makes you one with all the airs you're putting on," said Isamu.

"...Believe what you will," said Sahshir.

"Isamu, be careful," said Oresa, voice concerned.

Isamu finally glanced back and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Oresa. I'll win."

"Is it wise to be so confident when facing an accomplished swordsman?" asked Sahshir.

"What, you scared?" asked Isamu.

Murmurs of anger came from the men. Sahshir had become a legend lately, a man who wounded gods. A being who had torn off his own arm rather than suffer an insult to his Kingdom. This kind of blanket accusation was not going to end well.

Sahshir drew his sword. Then he handed it to Alkela, much to her surprise. "Far from it."

Alkela took the Sword of Order and felt a rush through her. Holding it made her feel a bit odd like she was wholly disconnected from this world. An impartial observer, knowing all and seeing things far away. Yet the moment passed.

"What, why are you throwing away your sword?" asked Isamu. "What are you giving up?"

Sahshir ignored him and made his way over to a child who had been training. Kneeling by him, he put out a hand. "You, boy, give me your bokken."

"My bokken?" asked the boy.

"Yes, I will use it instead," said Sahshir.

"But King Sahshir..." said the boy.

"All is as Baltoth wills it," said Sahshir.

The boy gave it to him, and Sahshir drew it up. Walking past, he turned back to Isamu and took a stance. Isamu looked angry. "A wooden sword? You complain about me being confident, and you won't even use a real weapon?"

"If I am overconfident, you need only defeat me to prove it," said Sahshir. "If I defeat you, then I was correct in my assessment of you."

Isamu paused. "...Fair enough."

Then Kushina came forward between them to do the rites.

"Warriors of Baltoth, prepare yourselves and let the better one be chosen," said Kushina.

"Is it really fair for Isamu to fight him when he has nothing but a wooden sword?" asked Cadas.

"No," said Urus in deadpan. "Isamu is done for."

"Don't worry, Urus; Isamu said he'd win," said Oresa. "When he looks confident like that, he can't lose. And he said he'd win. When he says that, it means he really believes it. He never goes back on his word."

The signal was given. This was going to be good.

"Let's go!" cried Isamu. He surged forward, blade swinging.

Sahshir stepped aside from Isamu's blade and brought his bokken around. It struck Isamu in the back of the neck, and he fell forward to hit the ground hard. Alkela laughed hysterically and wished people could hear her do it. That was the problem with not being able to make a sound.

"Isamu!" cried Oresa, running forward.

"Extraordinary," said Kushina. "It appears that merely saying one shall be victorious does not lead to victory. No matter."

"Sahshir! Sahshir! Sahshir! Sahshir!" came the call.

The men of Eastern Kalthak cheered in unison as Sahshir returned the blade to the boy. He then began to walk away. Alkela filed in behind him alongside Kushina as Isamu rose up again. "You...

"Come back here! We're not done!"

"The duel is over," said Sahshir. "Were I wielding the Sword of Order, your head would be at your feet. Win the tournament if you wish to prove yourself more than a braggart."

"You... I'll be there, you bastard!" snarled Isamu.

"Of course, you will," scoffed Sahshir.

And then he handed the wooden blade back to the boy. "Practice your stances. All of us have duties to fulfill."

Then he walked off and was followed.

"What made you so certain of your victory?" asked Kushina.

"He dueled an entire barracks of experienced troops, so he was tired," said Sahshir. "Isamu was also overconfident, and the fact that I had taken a bokken made him regard me as overconfident.

"All this combined to ensure he was off his game while I was fully focused. I was nearly hit by his opening attack, actually."

"And what if he had beaten you anyway?" asked Kushina.

"Then, we truly would have been inferior to Western Kalthak and would need to know as much," said Sahshir.

"You may have made a powerful enemy today," noted Kushina.

Sahshir laughed. "Truth be told, I was trying to break his neck. If I'd cut it in half with the Sword of Order, there might have been an incident. However, I am well enough content with displaying my superiority at his expense."

Alkela liked this side of Sahshir, actually. She wished they'd spent more time together.

"I'm pleased to see that you have found contentment in life, son," said a familiar voice. "Less so that it happens in a way that could start a war."

Tuor, the Disciple of Baltoth, turned a corner. So the cosmic killjoy had finally arrived, had he?