“Grandmaster, the princess knows about my mission. She told me to kill the nobles who sent me after her. She said I must prove my devotion to her by bringing her their heads.”

Zael’s brow furrowed deeply, and he leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard as he processed the information. His silence stretched long enough to make Valaia shift uncomfortably on her feet.

“Interesting,” he finally said, his tone calm yet calculating. “She knows your mission. Not just that she’s toying with your mind, warping your memories?”

She nodded. “Yes, Grandmaster.”

Zael crossed his fingers together, making a v-shape. “This changes things. If she wields such power and has already demonstrated her control over you, we must tread carefully.”

“What do you mean?” She asked, confused.

Zael rose from his chair, walking slowly around the chamber, his hands clasped behind his back. “The princess has revealed her hand. She’s toying with you, Valaia, but also testing you. If she truly wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have made it back here. No, she’s playing a longer game, one that we are only beginning to see. And in such a game, antagonising her outright would be… unwise.”

“You mean… you want me to obey her?” She asked, incredulous.

He stopped, turning to face her with a stern expression. “I mean, it’s best not to get on her bad side. If she can make your memories vanish with a thought, imagine what else she could do. The nobles who sent you knew this risk. They sent you as their pawn, and now they cower behind their walls while you bear the brunt of the princess’s wrath.”

“But the nobles are our allies,” Valaia countered, her fists clenching. “If I obey her, I’ll betray them. What does that say about us? About me?”

“It says,” he replied evenly, “that you are alive to fight another day. Let the nobles play their political games—they’ve already shown how little they value your life by sending you on this mission in the first place. We must think of the Dunes’ survival, not their petty squabbles.”

Zael stepped closer, his voice softening. “This doesn’t mean we abandon our mission entirely. Keep your position close to the princess. Gain her trust. Observe her magic and its full extent. If she truly becomes a threat to us, we’ll act. But until then, we must remain in the shadows, as we always have.”

Valaia swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “I understand, Grandmaster.”

Zael placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression grim. “This is not an easy path, Valaia. But it’s the one we must take. Trust your instincts, but remember, your loyalty lies with the Dunes. Do whatever it takes to survive. You’ll do as the princess asks, Valaia,” he said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

Valaia’s brow furrowed, a flicker of defiance sparking in her eyes. “But Grandmaster,” she began, “doesn’t this go against the creed’s code? To kill the ones who hire us… it’s treachery. The nobles entrusted us with this mission.”

Zael let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples. “I understand your hesitation,” he said slowly. “But this situation is… unique. Our survival often requires bending the rules, Valaia. This is for the benefit of the creed, not just you.”

Her jaw tightened as she stared at him, the moral conflict raging within her. “If we betray our clients, who will trust us after this? How will the Dunes survive if our word means nothing?”

Zael straightened, his voice hardening. “Do you think the nobles would hesitate to betray us if it served their ends? They sent you on this mission knowing the risks, knowing the power the princess wields. Now, she holds your life in her hands, Valaia. She could unravel everything we’ve built with a single thought. And if she turns her wrath on us, those same nobles won’t lift a finger to defend us.”

Valaia bit her lip, the truth of his words sinking in. “So I’m just supposed to kill them to appease her?”

“Yes,” he said bluntly, “but this is not just about obedience. You still have a mission to fulfill. While you’re earning the princess’s favour, you must uncover proof of her dark magic. The rumors have reached far and wide, and if they are true, she poses a threat to more than just the creed. We need leverage, Valaia, and you are our only way to obtain it.”

She nodded reluctantly, the fire of determination returning to her eyes. “I’ll do it,” she said. “I’ll carry out her orders, but I won’t let her control me again. I’ll find the proof you need.”

Zael’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good. Remember, Valaia, this is bigger than any one of us. The Dunes have survived for centuries because we’ve adapted. Do not let guilt cloud your judgment. Do what needs to be done.”

One thing was clear: she would not let herself be a pawn again. This time, she would play the game on her terms.