“I am Zuma Otta,” announced Zu Mari. “I have come in place of, uhh…” what was her name? Oh well. “…the ambassador lady, who’s running behind schedule.”

“Zuma?” Ruxja Cougar’s feline ears twitched with suspicion. “Why would an apprentice be sent on such an important negotiation?”

Zu shrugged. “The main ambassador lady is very busy, so I’m here instead.”

“This insult will not stand!” shouted Ruxja. “The Otta clan treats us so lightly? You realize this will mean war!”

Zu tilted his head up, staring down at Ruxja with all the haughty disdain he could muster. “Now it is you who offers insult,” he said stiffly. “I am no apprentice. I will have audience with your leader, and I will have it this very day.”

Ruxja quailed beneath the force of Zu’s absolute conviction. “I apologize,” he said, bowing humbly. “You are right. I am not the one to be making such proclamations. I will warn you, if you approach the great patriarch with that attitude, you will start a war. And you had best have a good explanation for why you’re here instead of Othima. We were promised respect, and if you intend to break your empire’s word, be warned that you cannot take us so lightly. Even if your masters will crush our clan into dust, we do have our pride.”

Zu scowled. Empire? That sounded… rather ominous. And one that could crush one of the Eight Beast Clans so readily? Ah, well. As long as Zu got what he needed from the Chartreuse Cougars before they were obliterated, he wouldn’t interfere in their affairs.

Little Otter poked Zu’s neck and squeaked hungrily.

“Do you have anything I could feed Little Otter?” Zu asked. “She’s still growing and needs a lot of food.”

Avashir’s hand tightened on his sword hilt. “You push too far, Zuma Otta.”

“And you have yet to introduce yourself, Avashir Cougar.”

Avashir’s face made a strange expression that Zu couldn’t interpret, while everyone else stared at Zu.

“Avashir is not a Cougar,” Ruxja said disdainfully. “He is of the Xelayi, utterly insignificant. Do not pay him any attention or honor him so highly.”

Ah. So that is why Ruxja retained leadership despite being obviously the inferior warrior. Avashir wasn’t main line, perhaps not even branch line. If the Cougar clan accepted trainees from the Tori family, perhaps the Xelayi family were another like that.

But, ultimately, the relationship between Avashir and Ruxja didn’t matter. Zu was here for knowledge. And, he supposed if the opportunity arose, he’d also try to clear up that silly misunderstanding about him being a power-hungry despot eager to conquer the world.

Conquering the world? Pah. As if he would stoop so low. Conquering the heavens was the only challenge truly worthy of Zu Mari! The world could live or die by its own devices, he had no interest in ruling it. This world was nothing but the crucible in which Zu Mari would forge himself into a god among gods, a king among deities, an emperor above the heavens. Ruling any part of the physical world would be such an unbelievably tedious waste of time he laughed aloud at the thought.

“Do not mock me!” Avashir glowered at Zu. “I am proud to be of the Xelayi! You would do well to offer us more respect.”

Zu waved a hand. “Oh, Xelayi, Cougar, Tori, it’s all the same to me. I need to speak to your leader, not waste time bantering with the escort. So, if you’d please?” he gestured ahead to the path.

Visibly gritting his teeth to prevent lashing out, Avashir turned stiffly and started back down the path the way they’d come. Luzi and the blue-tunic warrior fell in on either side of Zu, giving him plenty of respectful distance, while Ruxja brought up the rear.

Zu sighed in relief. Finally! It had taken long enough to convince them to escort him.

“So, what’s your name?” he asked the blue-tunic warrior walking stiffly at his left. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

“Kiru Tori.”

“Oh, a relative of Ozyri?”

Kiru showed the first sign of interest, turning to meet Zu’s eyes. “He was my closest cousin. Have you met him?”

Zu didn’t suppose there was a good way to say ‘I fed your cousin to a carnivorous demon tree to steal his time loop artifact’, so he shrugged instead. “I’ve heard of him.”

“So he’s alive?”

“Last I knew.”

Kiru scowled deeply. “Of course he is.” Bitterness tinged his voice so strongly that Zu was taken aback.

“I thought you said you were close.”

“Close in age and skill, perhaps. Ozyri is going to get himself killed one day, and I can only hope he doesn’t bring any dire trouble down on the rest of us in the process. He’s a hotheaded…” Kiru visibly calmed himself, stopping before he said anything too damning in front of the important ambassador Zu was pretending to be. “He needs a strong hand to keep him in check,” Kiru concluded carefully, sneaking glances sideways at Zu to observe his reaction. When Zu didn’t speak, Kiru went on. “I believe he may be a great asset one day if he learns to control himself. Right now, I fear for him and I fear for the consequences of his actions.”

Well. Zu smiled. That was one worry that wouldn’t come to pass. Ozyri wouldn’t be causing anyone any harm again. Zu had made certain of that.

“What happened to not bantering with the escort?” Ruxja growled irritably.

Zu turned to nod at him, then quickened his pace, forcing the rest of the patrol to hurry to keep up. Avashir grumbled something inaudible, but hastened to stay in the lead.

A distant flicker of movement showed Death Shadow keeping pace with them.

And they drew nearer and nearer to the edge of the loop bubble.

Zu could already tell they’d reach the edge before arriving at the village. He considered for several minutes what he should do, but finally came to the conclusion that he’d need to let the bubble down so they could escape. As they walked, he slipped a hand into his pocket and pressed a finger into the artifact, drawing the time field back into it.

The world lurched as the amber walls shrank to nothing, slamming into Zu and his escort. He hastily reactivated the bubble, expanding it as far as it would safely reach. He could continue to do this in stages until they reached the village. He wasn’t sure he wanted to go anywhere in enemy territory without the loop active. Too many people around here were too strong! It wasn’t fair, but Zu Mari wasn’t going to be deterred. He’d find a way forward.

“What did you just do?” demanded Ruxja Cougar, crossing his twin swords at Zu’s throat. “Are you the one who trapped us in this weird gold bubble?”

Zu swallowed, suddenly wishing he’d been able to start the new loop a bit further back. This was not going to be fun.