With just those words, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

It wasn’t immediate—more like a ripple through still water—but Kai saw it. Hands brushed against hilts. Fingers tightened around spear shafts. The Sand Knights standing along the stone walls didn’t move, not yet, but they were ready. One wrong word, and they’d strike.

Kai didn’t move.

He simply sat there, letting the weight of his words linger in the thick, charged air. Letting the tribal leaders stew.

He didn’t know what they were thinking—whether it was shock that an outsider had dared speak to them like that, or if some part of them was actually considering whether he was telling the truth. Either way, he didn’t particularly care.

Trying to speak gently wouldn’t work. Not with a council with their own motives. Diplomacy wouldn’t hold here. Respect, in this land, was carved with steel and certainty.

He would play their game. But on his terms and soon the silence cracked.

Adil leaned forward. “What arrogance,” he spat. “You come into our land, speak before our council, and dare act as if you’re above us?”

Kai tilted his head. “I believe it was you who compared me to a robber, Councilman. If anything, that’s cause enough for a duel.”

Gasps whispered through the room.

Adil’s smile thinned, sharp and eager. “Then I would welcome it.”

His hand dropped to the hilt of his sword, but before he could rise, another voice cut in—measured, firm.

“Stop it.”

Maari’s hand rested lightly on Adil’s shoulder, but there was no mistaking the strength behind her words.

“This won’t give us the answers we’re here for,” she said, and looked at Kai calmly. “We came to speak. Not to fight.”

Adil stiffened, clearly biting back a reply. But he sat down again, reluctantly. Maari gave him a final glance before returning her focus to Kai.

“Count Arzan,” she said. “I apologize for Adil’s behavior. Tensions are high after the orc attack. I’d like us to start again.”

Kai gave her a respectful nod, but his eyes didn’t lose their edge. He knew conversations like this could go wrong at any time. Therefore, he waited for the women to speak.

She continued, “First, allow me to thank you. The men you saved—they were from my tribe. Every single one of them. And for that, we are grateful.”

“It was my duty. Innocents in danger deserve protection, no matter whose land they’re in.”

Adil snorted under his breath, but Kai didn’t so much as glance at him. Maari ignored him as well and pressed on.

“I never doubted that Lancephilians had honour,” she said. “But I also don’t understand why you and your party are here. In the Ashari Desert. At a time like this.” She paused, then added more pointedly, “You’re aware, I assume, that the desert’s been… turbulent.”

Kai nodded once. “From what Ansel told me, it’s been turbulent for a decade now.” The statement alone earned a few furrowed brows. “I’m here for a business tied to that. Something… deeply personal.”

Khalid spoke for the first time. “What do you mean? I asked Ansel myself, and he avoided the question. What business brings a Lancephilian all the way out here, so far from his own lands?”

“That business,” he said, having no reason to lie. “Is my mother’s inheritance. She was a Magus. And her legacy lies at the heart of orc territory—a tower she built herself, housing ancient artifacts, research, and sources of power sought after by every Mage across the world.”

He let the silence sit.

“I’ve come to reclaim it.”

The words dropped like a stone in water.

“What?” Khalid asked.

Ansel, standing behind Kai, met the look squarely and gave a single, solemn nod. “It’s true.”

For a few seconds, no one spoke. The room was a still sea of calculating stares. Kai could feel them thinking about every word of his, scanning his face to see any deceit. So he waited.

Saif, one of the quieter leaders, finally broke the silence. “We’ve never seen such a tower. You say it’s here in the desert? In the orc territory? If that were true, surely someone would’ve seen it by now.”

“It’s protected. My guess is that there are powerful illusion seals masking its presence, enchantments in simpler words. I’d wager the whole region around it is warded—people might have passed by a dozen times and never known it.”

Maari turned her head slightly and exchanged a glance with Khalid.

She looked back at Kai. “Even if we believe your words—and I don’t doubt you’re lying—what exactly do you need from us? From what you’ve said, you already know where the tower is. So why are we needed?”

“Yes,” Kai said, “I know where it is. But like I mentioned—it lies within orc territory. I could get to it far easier with the support of the tribes.”

The sentence had barely left his mouth before Adil let out a short, mocking laugh. “Ah, right. You say you’re stronger than all of us combined—but now you need our help to find a tower that doesn’t exist?”

The sarcasm in his voice hung heavy in the air. He quickly followed the statement with a loud laughter.

“You’re funny.”

Kai inhaled sharply. This man is so annoying, he thought to himself but maintained a neutral face as much as he could. “I can handle the orcs. I could even face their overlord, if I have to. But they’re not what they once were.” His eyes flicked around the table. “They’re aided by artifacts. And as you all know—they’ve grown far stronger than they have any right to be.”

Adil snorted. “Whatever. None of this benefits us. You want us to follow you into sandstorms and the orc territory for what? Will you let us take a share of this supposed ‘inheritance’ when we get there?”

Kai ignored the scoffing tone, choosing instead to speak to the room as a whole.

“I said this before,” he replied. “And I’ll say it again—it’s in your favour to help me.”

“How?”

Kai’s response was cool, almost bored. “If you were smart enough, you’d have realised it by now.”

The words landed hard.

Adil’s expression twisted into scorn, but no retort came. Tension gripped the room, but this time, someone else cut through it—Maari.

“You mentioned the tower is full of artifacts,” she said slowly. Her eyes narrowed, her mind clearly already working through the implications. “Does that mean the orcs…?”

Kai gave her a small nod, grateful that someone at the table wasn’t entirely thick in the brain department.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I suspect,” he said. “I believe the orcs broke into the tower. Somehow, they bypassed the seals. What you’ve seen them wield—blades that cut steel, stones that shoot out mana attacks, cloaks that protect them from any of their attacks—all of that… It’s not random. It was part of my mother’s inheritance. All of it.”

Gasps rippled through a few of the council aides in the background, barely restrained.

And then, at last, Councilman Husam who had kept silent till now spoke.

“But the orcs believe those artifacts are gifts,” he said. “Blessings from Belkhor—their god. They believe the overlord was chosen to receive them, and he doles them out to his most loyal.”

Kai frowned at the ridiculousness of those words. He almost said it outright—that the orc faith was blind, built on myth and delusion—but he held his tongue. Words like that would only close ears, not open them. From what he knew from Ansels, the tribals were as much into gods as the orcs.

“That’s what they believe. But what they believe doesn’t change what those artifacts are—or where they came from. They’re not gifts. They’re stolen. And the longer the orcs have them, the more powerful they become,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “I believe you’re not dealing with scattered battle brained creatures. You’re dealing with a rising force armed with magic no one had ever seen before in the desert. I suspect that they haven’t even scratched the surface of the tower. Once they do, they might be several times stronger.”

Finishing those words, he simply turned to Feroy.

Without a word, the Knight gave a short nod, stepped out of the chamber, and returned moments later carrying something heavy in his arms.

He laid the axe down in the center of the council table with a solid thud.

The light from the hanging lanterns glinted off its curved edge. Seals shimmered faintly along the haft and blade. The reaction was immediate. Every council leader leaned forward. Their eyes widened.

Adil went as far as to touch it, his fingers brushing the handle. “So it’s true… You retrieved an orc artifact,” he muttered. “I heard you found it after killing those words, but this looks far more stronger than what I envisioned.”

“It’s not an orc artifact,” Kai said and pointed at the weapon. “It’s human. Look at the enchantments. Study the structure. And try to compare it with the crude weapons orcs wielded ten years ago. You’ll find no similarities.”

The council fell silent again. They moved to stare and inspect the piece of weapon in front of them and Kai let them.

Until Husam spoke.

His thick brows furrowed as he ran a callused hand across the axe’s engravings. “Count Arzan… I believe you’re right.”

“I’ve had suspicions before,” Husam continued slowly, “but this confirms them. This isn’t orc craftsmanship. Not even close. These patterns…” He traced one with his thumb. “I’ve seen them in Lancephil. And one more time in a northern kingdom—Zerha. The style is exactly that.”

Khalid stiffened. “Are you certain, Husam?”

The man looked up, his eyes sharp. “Are you doubting my knowledge of weapons?”

Khalid leaned back immediately. “Obviously not. You’re the most knowledgeable here in that field.”

“The orcs could never forge such weapons,” Kai said, taking the opportunity to speak up. “And it’s laughable to think their god would arm them with human-made arms. No—these were taken. Ripped from the tower my mother built. This axe—everything they’ve been using against you—none of it belongs to them.”

He sighed. By the looks on their faces, he could tell that they were actually starting to believe in his words. Even if it hadn’t reached trust, they had started to suspect the source of the orc’s sudden strength.

“They’ve turned my mother’s legacy into a war chest. And unless it’s stopped, they’ll keep raiding, keep growing stronger, until no tribe, no alliance, no men can face them.”

The way the tribal leaders looked at him changed—just slightly. The doubt hadn’t vanished. Still, belief hadn’t taken root. And from the far end of the table, Adil’s lips twitched. His frown twisted deeper as he looked between the others.

“You all aren’t actually buying into this bullshit, right?” he snapped. “A Mage tower in the middle of the desert? Really?”

His voice rang through the hall, tight and full of scorn.

“We’ve lived our whole lives in this sand. If something like that existed, we’d have seen it.”

He gestured toward the axe, then toward Kai.

“These artifacts? Could’ve come from anywhere. The orcs probably looted some kingdom armory. Or better yet—maybe the orcs just locked up some blacksmiths and Mages and forced them to work. That’s more believable than some lost tower suddenly belonging to a foreign count. I’m pretty sure this man is just trying to use us and Khalid’s brother is involved.”

He pointed directly at the back of the room at Ansel.

Kai didn’t even need to glance to feel the tension suddenly spike.

Adil’s voice sharpened even further. “It’s all too convenient, isn’t it? This outsider shows up, and who’s right behind him? Ansel—the same man who ran off years ago.”

Ansel’s hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight.

“You come back,” Adil said, sneering, “serving a foreign lord. And now that same lord talks openly about using the tribes to take on the orcs—how long before he tries to use us to rule what’s left?”

Ansel stepped forward, teeth gritted. “What did you say?”

“I said,” Adil growled, “you’re the one who ran. And now you return, helping a man who spins tales and drags us into war. What proof do we have that you’re not just setting us all up to die so he can claim the desert?”

All tribal leaders looked at Adil as if they hadn’t expected him to go this far. Even Maari’s brow tightened—but it wasn’t Kai who spoke next. It was Khalid.

He stood up, drawing a short sword from his side, rage covering his eyes. The blade caught the light and he pointed it directly at Adil.

“I’ll cut your tongue out if you ever question my brother’s integrity again. And I mean, ever.”

Adil didn’t back down.

“I’m questioning yours, too. This whole thing—this tower, these artifacts, this convenient inheritance—it reeks of power play. And it stinks of fear.” He looked at the others on the table. “You all just want to believe it because you’re scared of how strong the orcs are now.”

“Power play? What a load of bullshit!” Khalid didn’t move the blade. “My tribe Rahzet gave all of you shelter when we built this city. We helped form this council. And we let every one of your tribes retain their warriors, your strength, your power.”

He stepped forward, slow and firm, still holding the blade between them.

“If I or anyone in my family wanted to rule over the rest of you, we would’ve already done it.”

Adil’s lips curled, and the fury in Khalid’s tone silenced the rest of the room.

“You don’t get to stand there and throw mud just because you’re afraid of losing your authority,” Khalid growled. “Ansel may have left—but he never stopped thinking of the tribes. Even when you forgot what unity was.”

The leaders looked at each other with nervous eyes, clearly not expecting such a display. And honestly, even Kai hadn’t expected Khalid’s outburst—at least not like that. If things escalated, it looked like the man would fight Adil to death—

Before things could spiral further, the remaining three leaders moved swiftly.

Maari stood, placing a hand on Khalid’s arm and quietly urging him back. Husam rose as well, his large frame moving between them with the quiet authority of someone who’d defused more than one political standoff. Even Saif motioned Adil to sit down, his narrowed eyes reminding him of the danger in pressing further.

Khalid sheathed his blade slowly. And Adil sat, stiff and sour.

But the tension didn’t leave.

Kai could feel it—settled like dust in the lungs. The illusion of unity had cracked. And now that he was looking closely, he realized it had never been particularly strong. This council was already fractured. Distrust ran deep.

Still, at least now he knew where Khalid stood.

Once the quiet returned, Ansel stepped forward. “I didn’t run away,” he said. “I left the desert because I saw what was coming. I saw what the orcs were turning into—what the tribes couldn’t face alone. I left to ask for help.”

His gaze moved around the table.

“For ten years, I searched. I begged. I bartered. And in the end, I found Lord Arzan—someone who had his own reasons to fight the orcs. And he agreed to help. He didn’t have to. He doesn’t owe the desert anything.” He paused, then added pointedly, “And from what I’ve seen of his strength—if he did want to take control of the tribes, we wouldn’t be having a meeting. He would have taken what he wanted.”

Adil snorted. “We don’t need an outsider’s help. We never have.”

“Are you sure?” Kai asked almost immediately. He looked across the table now, speaking to all of them. “Because from where I stand, you weren’t even able to stop the orcs who came to abduct your people.”

That landed hard. Several tribal leaders’ faces tightened, and Adil’s eyes narrowed—but none of them spoke.

Maari, after a beat, said, “Yes… but we’ve sent out scouts to track them. To learn where they’re keeping the ones they took.”

Kai turned toward her.

“And do you believe,” he asked, “that you—and your Sand Knights—will find them in time? And be able to rescue them?”

Maari’s jaw tightened. Her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. The silence said everything.

Kai leaned forward and softened his voice.

“You may be proud warriors. But the orcs aren’t what they once were. Their strength isn’t just brute force anymore—it’s stolen magic. And it’s growing.”

“Still… it’s our problem.” Husam’s grumbling voice earned his attention and Kai didn’t refute.

“It is. And I’m offering you a chance to solve it.”

Kai exhaled slowly and placed his hands flat on the table.

“Let me make it simple. I’m not here to take your lands. I don’t want to rule over your tribes or make you bow to me. What I want—what I’ve always wanted—is a long-term relationship built on trade. Mutual gain. Not subjugation.

“I have no interest in holding power here. Your region’s valuable with the beasts, yes—but it’s also laced with mana-bane terrain. That alone makes it less attractive to most Mages.”

That part, at least, was true on the surface. But deep inside, Kai knew he was half-lying. One thing in the Ashari Desert did interest him.

The Sand Knights—how they adapted to this land without relying on external mana and their mana techniques. Also, the desert was a graveyard for careless Mages and that made it an ideal training ground to forge stronger Mages.

But this wasn’t the time to speak of it. Trust hadn’t been earned yet. And for now, silence was strategy.

“What I’m looking for,” he continued, “is to reach my mother’s tower, take my rightful inheritance, and retrieve the artifacts stolen by the orcs.” His gaze swept across the table. “The tribes could help in that. And in return, I’ll ensure the safe return of those who were abducted and if it comes to that, face Khorvash.”

He leaned back, letting the confidence in his voice carry the truth. “You’ve heard what happened with the three orcs. You’ve heard how my people handled them.”

Husam nodded slowly. “We have. But three orcs and an entire warband are very different things.”

“They are. But I don’t believe the outcome will change.”

Maari studied him with narrow eyes. “You’re very confident in your strength.”

“I have to be,” Kai replied simply. “I’ve survived battles against enemies far stronger than any Duneborn. Even in this land—even here—where my magic is restrained, I can assure you, I’m not defenseless.”

Maari gave a nod, tilting her head and looking at other tribal leaders.

Adil, of course, didn’t believe a bit of his words.

“And how do we know that’s not just talk?” he snapped. “What if we believe you, agree to your proposal—and the moment the orcs come, you run? We’re still subservient to them, just to survive. We take the blow for your gamble.”

“Do you need a demonstration?”

That silenced Adil for a moment.

It was Husam who spoke next. “What kind of demonstration?”

“I’ll fight all of you. The entire council.”

Stunned silence swept across the room and Kai continued.

“I’ll take on each of you in the ring. At the same time. If I win, you’ll know I’m not lying about my strength. And if I lose…” He shrugged. “I’ll leave the desert. You’ll never hear from me again. So, how about it?”

***

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