A man thinks himself the greatest until he meets one greater than him
Sage Scholar
Tez' Mu watched through the dense foliage as the lone horse with its cloaked rider passed under the tree he was crouched on. He leapt down, landing right in the saddle behind the rider, just as the figures of Kal' Yu and the others blocked off the road in front.
The rider panicked, but before he could whip the horse to turn it around his heart almost stopped as he felt the cold hard edge of a dagger against his throat.
"Silence, Lord Gu," his breathing hitched as the person behind him spoke in a low voice that set the airs on his neck on edge, "Or are you ready to meet your ancestors?" the tone was chilling, that of a grim reaper who wouldn't hesitate to slit his throat immediately.
"What—what—what do you want?" Lord Gu's teeth chattered as his hands, already slick with cold sweat, slipped from the reins. Before he could react, the others closed in. Sari' pulled up alongside and seized the reins, just as Tez' Mu and Kal' Yu hoisted the statesman off his horse and onto the sun-baked dirt road, where Na' Raa, who had dismounted, threw a bag over his head and wrapped a long essence chain around his midriff.
The arrest was seamless. They bundled their prisoner back onto his horse and rode swiftly from the scene, raising dust to cover their tracks. Taking a sharp turn at an intersection, the party went off course, riding deep into a shrubby forest where a cleared path led to a small wooden shack.
Tez' Mu alighted as soon as he rode up, nodding in recognition of the two knights manning the shack. He scanned the surroundings, and then the shack itself, which stood concealed in a dense part of the wood, hidden beneath a layering of cycad leaves, with only the door being exposed.
Lord Gu's feet scraped against the ground as he was hauled by Kal' Yu and Yanak through the shack's entrance, his knees buckling when he was finally forced down. The floor was cold against his robes, dust swirling up from the impact of his trembling frame.
Tez' Mu entered after them, sighting the chair that had been placed in the middle of the room. He smirked at Kal' Yu's efficiency and gave him a grateful smile as he strode over to take his seat.
The heavy sound of boots thudding against the ground echoed in Lord Gu's ear. He turned his head frantically as he attempted to shake off the bag over his head as panic took root in his chest.
The chair creaked as Tez' Mu sat down. Lord Gu's breath hitched. He could feel his captors around him, and he was petrified with terror.
Then, the voice came. Low, smooth, and ice cold.
"Lord Gu," Tez' Mu drawled, the barest trace of amusement in his tone. "Where exactly were you going?"
Lord Gu tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry as sand. "I—I don't—"
A boot connected with his shoulder, just enough to send him tilting dangerously before another unseen hand yanked him back upright.
"Try again," Tez' Mu said, tone hard. "This time, with less stuttering."
Lord Gu sucked in a sharp breath. His heart was hammering so hard he swore they could hear it. The weight of the bag over his head made his fear feel even more suffocating. They knew. Ancestors, somehow they knew.
"I was—I was merely traveling."
A soft chuckle. "Of course," Tez' Mu said, voice dripping with mockery. "A harmless noble taking a ride at dawn, accompanied by no guards, moving in secrecy. Do you take me for a fool?"
Lord Gu shook his head frantically, the bag brushing against his damp forehead. "N-no, my lord. Never."
A moment of silence stretched, long enough for Lord Gu to start second-guessing his own words. Then, the chair creaked again, as if Tez' Mu had leaned forward.
"You were headed to Kehir, weren't you?"
Lord Gu froze. The breath in his lungs stalled, his mind scrambling. How did he know? He hadn't told anyone—had been so careful.
A sharp tug at his collar made him jerk forward, the unseen force holding him just close enough to feel the quiet threat in the air.
"I will only ask this once," Tez' Mu murmured, voice now void of any pretense of patience. "What message were you bringing to the rebellion?"
Lord Gu's panic had reached fever-pitch, and he exclaimed so loudly Yanak drew his sword. "Rebellion!?? N—no, my lord! I'm not going there—I'm not joining them!"
Tez' Mu smirked as he abruptly released his firm hold on the old lord's collar, sending him stumbling as he attempted to regain his balance.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked, his voice barely audible. Lord Gu was sweating through all his pores. Beneath the bag, he frowned. The voice…it was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it. The speaker was young, though, he thought frantically, his brain zooming into overdrive. A young man..? With such power? Asking about the rebellion?
!
At a nod from Tez' Mu, Na' Raa yanked the bag off the lord's head. He gasped, glancing around wildly, before his eyes fell on the seated figure before him, his red hair falling around his shoulder in a cascade that resembled burning flames. Tez' Mu was leaning forward, resting his chin on his right hand propped on one knee, while his left held the other.
Lord Gu paled even further. Of all the people to capture him, it just had to be the Head of the Onan Desar.
"Hello, Lord Gu," Tez' Mu suddenly grinned, his white teeth flashing. Lord Gu scrambled back despite his bound hands.
"Please—" he was sweating buckets, "Have mercy, my lord!"
Tez' Mu chuckled, leaning back to cross one leg over the other. "Please," he rolled his eyes, "Have I done anything to you—" he paused, then grinned wickedly, "—yet?"
Beside him, Sari planted his face into his palm. But Lord Gu was, according to himself, in dire straits.
"My lord," his voice was hoarse now, "I beg of you—please—please don't hand me over to her majesty!"
Tez' Mu quirked an eyebrow. "Why not?"
Lord Gu's mouth was drier than the Najan desert by now, "She's going to kill me!" he shouted, edging forward on his knees, "And not just me! My entire family!"
Tez' Mu sneered. "You should have thought of that before deciding to abandon the capital."
Lord Gu's face contracted in pain. "I wouldn't have fared better if I remained either. My city is the melting pot of imperial and Kest conflict. I've been receiving letters—shot into my manor by arrows—from the rebels. They're threatening me and my family!"
Tez' Mu put his hand over his mouth as he yawned without caring about the man who was reeling like a spool of wool.
"And then?" he asked, his patience thinning.
Lord Gu suddenly tilted himself forward, bending till his head touched the ground. "I'll heed your orders, my lord! I'll do whatever you say! Just please, don't hand me over to her majesty!"
Tez' Mu smirked as he rose, pulling Sari's sword from its sheath, shocking his servant and everyone else in the room.
"Then be prepared to die," he dropped the chilling line as he raised the sword.
"Ke!" shocked beyond words, Sari did not know when the old term slipped out. Lord Gu himself was already halfway across the gates of the afterlife even without help.
Tez' Mu brought the sword down so fast that the steel sizzled with his aura even though he didn't plan it. But Lord Gu's head didn't go flying. A loud clang echoed in the shack, and the shackles broke into a hundred pieces.
"Nice," Na' Raa said with a huff, crossing her hands as she raised her nose in the air, "Say goodbye to my help from now on—or get me another one. I'll prefer northern iron," she muttered out of the corner of her mouth.
Tez' Mu snorted.
Lord Gu collapsed into a trembling heap on the floor.
The ride back was subdued, the pounding of hooves on dirt the only consistent sound amidst the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant cry of a bird. The road twisted beneath their horses' hooves, dust rising in sluggish clouds as the group rode back towards the city.
Kal' Yu was at the front, his reins held loosely in one hand, his other gesturing as he spoke to Na' Raa and Yanak. Sari, as always, kept just a little behind them, his head slightly inclined, catching every word the others exchanged.
"I'm just saying," Yanak grumbled, adjusting his grip on the reins, "we should've taken the eastern pass. Less open ground."
"But too many watch points," Kal' Yu countered. "Do you think the Dowager doesn't have eyes on the roads?"
"She might. But this one curves around too much. If we were being tracked—"
"Then we'd have seen them," Na' Raa cut in, impatient. "We aren't fools."
"No, but we're tired," Sari murmured, his voice even. "And tired men make mistakes."
Tez' Mu barely heard them. He rode in near silence, his fingers drumming lightly against his saddle. He was considering his next steps, weighing the threads of deception and strategy. Lord Gu was already on his way to Darin, escorted by two Onan Desar knights. Eima, rescued during a staged prison riot, had been sent alongside him, hidden among the departing convoy. Her weakened state would make travel difficult, but she would be safe under Offal' Kest's protection, far from the Dowager's reach.
The thought eased some of the tension in Tez' Mu's chest, though he knew it was only a temporary respite. There was still much to be done. Now, he had to return in secret to the Ru manor, rest briefly, and then face the Dowager.
His report would be simple. A defecting lord captured. A victory, small but palatable, designed to keep the Dowager from prying too deeply into his real movements. A delay in her scrutiny. But she was sharp. How long would she believe him?
How long could Lord Gu's influence in Darin remain hidden?
He clenched his jaw. There was no room for hesitation now.
His fingers tapped against the pommel of his saddle as they approached another bend in the road. The trees thickened as the road curved westward, their shadows swallowing the light.
Kal' Yu, still caught in his debate with Yanak, turned his head slightly. "My lord? What do you think?"
Tez' Mu shifted his gaze back to the road. "I think we need to move faster."
***
Tez' Mu stepped into the chamber of the Ru manor, his boots quiet against the polished wood floor. The air carried the faint scent of parchment and ink, mingling with the subtle smokiness of the lanterns flickering against the walls. He had just returned from an audience with the Dowager, and for now she was satisfied with his actions.
But it wouldn't last.
The congressmen of Darin sat in the room, stiff-backed and wary. Their gazes, sharp with calculation, flicked between each other and the young lord who had brought them here. The three men, rescued by Kal' Yu from Offal' Kest's clutches, now found themselves at Tez' Mu's mercy. They had yet to decide whether that was a blessing or a curse.
Across from them sat Muyo' Ai, his expression composed but his presence weighty. He had been silent, judging the congressmen with half-closed eyes.
Tez' Mu crossed the room and sat at the only chair in the room. Eyes flicked to him as he cleared his throat.
"I did not pull you from Offal' Kest's grasp so you could sit in another prison. You are here because I intend to end this war before Ochelon is torn apart beyond repair."
One of the congressmen, a man with graying hair and narrow eyes, scoffed. "End the war? With what? You speak as though you command a force large enough to shift the tides."
Another congressman, younger but just as skeptical, crossed his arms. "And if you mean to surrender Darin to the imperial court, you waste your breath. Offal' Kest may be ruthless, but at least we know what he fights for."
Tez' Mu met their gazes evenly. "If Darin falls under the imperial army's boot, there will be no land left to negotiate for. If Offal' Kest wins, he will not stop at Darin. He will march on the capital, and Ochelon will burn. The Dowager knows this. The rebellion knows this. The only ones still clinging to the illusion of a single, decisive victory are fools."
The room fell silent. The weight of his words settled like dust on parchment. The congressmen exchanged uneasy glances.
It was then that Muyo' Ai spoke. "He is right."
The governor of Uimal did not raise his voice, but he commanded the men's attention at once.
"I have sworn my name to Lord Mu because he does not deal in illusions." Muyo' Ai said. "He does not make promises of grandeur or empty victories. He calculates, he acts, and he does not move without knowing where his feet will land. That is why you should listen."
The congressmen straightened subtly. A man of Muyo' Ai's stature could never give his allegiance lightly.
Tez' Mu allowed a small pause before speaking again. "I do not ask for blind loyalty. I ask for understanding. If we move now—before Offal' Kest consolidates, before the Dowager sends more troops to crush Darin outright—then we can force an end to this war on terms that do not leave the land in ruin. This is not about who wears the crown. This is about ensuring there is still a kingdom left to rule."
One of the congressmen exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "And how do you propose to do this?"
Tez' Mu straightened, meeting each of their gazes in turn. The three congressmen leaned forward.
"The first step is to end occupation," Tez' Mu began, resting his elbows on his knees. "The Imperial Army's occupation is not just a show of force—it is terror. The people are suffering. I've already sent Offal' Kest my plan for retaking Uimal. That leaves Guho. The key to taking it lies with its lord. He is on his way to Darin as we speak. If he surrenders to the rebels, his people will follow. There will be no need for slaughter."
"The Dowager is beyond reason." Tez' Mu continued, "She is no longer governing. She believes she can crush the rebellion in one decisive blow, but that is impossible. War will only prolong suffering, and the people will bear the cost. Our goal is to sway the lords of the Scith. The more who join us, the weaker her claim to the throne."
Muyo' Ai gave a small nod of approval. The congressmen seemed more engaged now, sensing a tangible path forward.
"Not every soldier fights willingly for the empire." Tez' Mu went on, his voice stronger, "Not every citizen trusts the Scith. We will spread whispers, rumors, truths that the Imperial Court refuses to acknowledge. We will let the people ask: Where is the king? Why does the Dowager refuse to acknowledge the rightful heir? Why does she rule with iron and blood?"
The last of the congressmen, a man with deep-set eyes, nodded but growled. "But why should we put our trust in you, young lord? Why throw ourselves into another scheme when all we have known is betrayal?"
Tez' Mu turned to him, his gaze sharp. "Because this will work," he said simply. "This war is fought not just with swords, but with the weight of belief."
"Subtle words spread faster than decrees," Muyo' Ai added softly. "Soldiers in the capital, merchants in the markets—they need to hear that the Dowager's cruelty has consequences. That this war has another side."
The old congressman exhaled sharply. "You ask us to become deceivers?"
Tez' Mu tilted his head. "I ask you to tell the truth. Just in the way they need to hear it."
The men exchanged wary glances, but Muyo' Ai nodded, his sharp eyes gleaming with understanding.
"You will each begin crafting letters, slogans, whispers of doubt." Tez' Mu spoke again, before the men could cut in. "Every line must be precise, every rumor must be well-placed. The empire is not unshakable—only the minds of its people keep it standing. We must chip away at its foundation."
Muyo' Ai nodded. "I will begin at once."
His voice rang with quiet conviction, the voice of a man who had already chosen his master. The congressmen hesitated for only a moment longer. Then, as though compelled by some unseen force, they each gave slow, measured nods.
Tez' Mu rose and turned on his heel, the discussion settled. But as he reached the door, a movement stopped him. He turned back to find Muyo' Ai bowing low after him. And, to their own surprise, the congressmen followed suit.
For a brief moment, Tez' Mu's breath stilled. Then he inclined his head, acknowledging their unspoken submission, before walking away.
Outside, the wind carried the distant murmurs of the city. And somewhere beyond the horizon, war loomed, waiting for the hand that would guide its course.
***
The first letter sent out was written in Tez' Mu's own hand, addressed to the lady of House Il. Tez' Mu sat in his study in the Mu Manor, appending his name at the bottom of the paper with a flourish. Raising his head, he re-read it once, smirking.
To Lady Il,
We are in a partnership, aren't we?
I will wait for you at the Mu Manor, first hour of saorxi.
Come alone.
"Annir?" he called, as he sealed the envelope shut. The door creaked open, and Annir stepped inside, bowing.
"My lord?"
"Send this to House Il," Tez' Mu said, yawning as he stretched, "Be discreet."
Annir glanced up at his master as he collected the envelope, his face breaking into a cheeky smile. "Say less, my lord." he grinned, "No one will know."
Tez' Mu nodded in satisfaction. "Good boy."
As soon as the stable boy exited the room the large frame of Kal' Yu replaced him. He bowed shortly, keeping his eyes on Tez' Mu's face.
"You sent for me, my lord?"
Tez' Mu rose. "Na' Raa seemed convinced that the Onan Desar would be on board with my plans, so today we'll find out."
Kal' Yu raised his eyebrows. "You're heading to the barracks?"
Tez' Mu nodded.
With a bow, Kal' Yu gestured towards the door. Smirking, Tez' Mu passed him on his way out of the room.
The Onan Desar barracks were tucked into the deep western area of the palace, just behind the armory and a large signaling tower. The force were on the fields, doing drills, overseen by a stern-faced senior officer with his arms crossed over his chest.
As soon as Tez' Mu and Kal' Yu stepped onto the field, all the officers halted in their movements, going rigid as they all turned around, facing him. A stillness swept through the field, like a thread pulled taut. The clink of steel, the thud of booted feet, even the rhythm of breath—all of it stopped.
Then, as one, the Onan Desar moved.
Swords slammed against chests, fists pressed to hearts, and a single, earth-shaking cry split the air:
"The Onan Desar welcomes the Head!"
It was deafening. A wall of sound crashing into Tez' Mu, rooting him to the spot. He had read reports, signed orders, relayed commands—but he had never stood in front of them like this.
His lungs froze. His heartbeat stumbled. This was his force?
He had known they were elite. He had known they were disciplined. But seeing them—all of them, three hundred and fifty lethal warriors, forged through fire and brutality, acknowledging him in a single breath?
Behind him, Kal' Yu stood at attention. Tez' Mu inhaled deeply. He could not afford hesitation. Not now.
Not when his success hinged on this force.
Slowly, deliberately, he lifted his chin and stepped forward. A wooden platform loomed ahead. On it, a few older officers stood—trainers, men who had shaped this force into what it was. Their eyes flicked to him. Tez' Mu met their gazes as he ascended the platform. No one spoke to him.
Tez' Mu turned to the force. For the first time, he stood before the Onan Desar—not as a name on their orders, not as a title on parchment, but as their Head.
"Stand down," he said, his voice steady.
A breath of silence followed, then a clatter of movement as all weapons were lowered.
Tez' Mu clasped his hands behind his back. "From this day forth, I shall issue my commands to you directly." His voice carried over the grounds. "You will heed them as you would any given before."
There was no reaction from the warriors. Tez' Mu's lips curled slightly.
"That is all. Dismissed."
The field remained still for a moment—then, like the release of a bowstring, the warriors moved, returning to their drills with seamless precision. Steel met steel, and the lead instructor stepped forward again and resumed shouting orders.
Tez' Mu inhaled slowly. This was it. No turning back now.
The heavy doors of Tez' Mu's office swung open, and the senior officers of the Onan Desar stepped inside. Their gazes were sharp, their stances unwavering. These were the men and women who had shaped the Onan Desar into the force it was—merciless in training, relentless in duty.
One of them, a grizzled officer with arms like iron bars, inclined his head ever so slightly. "My lord, if we may seek clarification."
Tez' Mu leaned back in his chair, resting an elbow on the armrest as he studied them.
"You have declared your intent to issue commands to the Onan Desar directly," the officer continued. "Might we inquire as to the nature of these orders? The more we know, the better we might prepare."
Tez' Mu tilted his head, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. His fingers tapped idly against the desk.
"No."
The silence that followed was absolute.
The officers exchanged glances. One cleared his throat. "My lord?"
Tez' Mu straightened, his expression unreadable. "You are warriors, not scribes. Your duty is to obey, not to question." He let the words settle, then added, almost lazily, "Or has the Onan Desar grown soft?"
That struck a nerve. A flicker of indignation flashed through their eyes, but none dared challenge him outright.
Tez' Mu stood, stepping around the desk. "When orders come, you will follow them. That is all you need know." He met their gazes, unwavering. "If that is insufficient, you are free to relinquish your posts."
No one moved.
Tez' Mu exhaled, nodding slightly. "I thought not."
With a sharp bow, the officers took their leave. The door had barely shut behind the last of them when it creaked open again. Na' Raa strolled in, hands tucked behind her back, her steps unhurried, as though she had merely wandered in by chance.
She stopped a few paces from his desk, tilting her head with the sharp-eyed amusement of a hawk at leisure. "You know precisely how to handle them," she remarked, her tone carrying the faintest edge of admiration.
Tez' Mu did not reply. Instead, with the faintest flick of his fingers, he summoned a sheaf of papers from his spatial ring. They appeared in his hand in an instant, rustling softly as he set them upon the desk.
The parchment bore no seal, no declaration in bold ink, yet every word upon it was deliberate. Na' Raa's gaze flicked to the documents, her smirk deepening. Even at a glance, she could see it—the hand of Muyo' Ai and the Darin congressmen was unmistakable. There were no blatant calls to arms, no open defiance, yet beneath the layers of formality, every line whispered of shifting tides.
Tez' Mu lifted the first sheet and began reading, his jaw clenched. The game was in motion.