Zu tried not to let his expression change. "Then you'll allow me to inspect your libraries?"

"I am not ready to grant such a concession. But I am willing to discuss the arrangement. I see now your humble demeanor is indeed not a mockery after all, but a genuine lack of the rigidity that so often plagues interactions between powers. What else does your Empire have to say of our proposals?"

"Well, obviously you'll have to acknowledge the Otterman Empire as an allied state with whom you will start no conflict," Zu said, inventing the most innocuous but imperious demand he could think of. "Your borders must remain open to trade, and taxes will not exceed those which are imposed internally. If our rates differ to any great extreme, there should be a new delegation to discuss it."

He fell silent, run out of officious sounding things to say. What were ambassadors supposed to do, anyway? He felt like there should be more partying involved. But it seemed like it may be beneath his supposed dignity to suggest he and the Cougar Patriarch go out drinking together. Perhaps he'd try it in the next loop if things went poorly this time around.

"You will recant your claims upon the western rivers?"

Zu frowned. The Mari clan valley lay to the west. "The western rivers should retain their current ownership."

"And you will stop pressing upon the north?"

"There are only so many concessions we are willing to make," Zu said. "The lands to the north are ours by right. If you wish to purchase them, we are reluctantly willing to negotiate, but I am not here to blithely surrender all that we have fought so long to reclaim."

Mutters arose from the advisors. One leaned over to Viha and whispered something, scowling darkly in Zu's direction.

Zu sat back, content to let them discuss among themselves. It would be too suspicious if he gave away too much, no true Otta emissary would surrender on every point.

"What would be the price your Empire demands for ownership of our northern lands?" Viha put slight emphasis on the word our.

"You'll have to work out the specifics when Othima gets here," Zu said, waving a hand. "I'm mostly here to inspect the library."

"The Cougar library is not one we lightly open to visitors." One of the councilors spoke up for the first time, a thin-voiced man who pointed at Zu imperiously. "Even our wards must prove themselves worthy before gaining access even to their meanest records. And you wish to search it all?"

"I do. I understand the sanctity of your secret knowledge, what clan would not protect what is theirs? But I will not be searching it all, you understand. A glance should suffice to ascertain whether it is among the knowledge we require."

"Could you not simply send us a copy of these documents, and if any are duplicates we shall return them?" asked the female advisor.

Zu sat up straighter, affronted. "You would have our engravers and illumanists toil in vain for days over tomes which may not even be required? Why do you think I was sent? It is of the greatest import that we provide exactly and only that which is required. Such scripts are not offered lightly!"

"Nor, I suppose, should they be lightly refused?" asked the thin-voiced man snidely.

"Indeed they should not. You have the right of it."

"Lord Viha, can you not see? This is but a transparent ploy to attain access to our secrets. The Otterman Empire is no longer content with stealing our lands, they wish to steal our knowledge as well!"

"I shall make you a deal, then. Give me ten minutes to search your library, and I should be able to learn what I need to."

The room fell silent. It was a long time before Viha finally spoke.

"No."

The word fell into the chamber, echoing with finality.

Zu stood. "Then you leave me no choice. By the power vested in me, I declare your library forfeit." He turned to go. If negotiating wouldn't get him what he wanted, then he'd take it by force instead.

The doors were closed, but a phoenix-enhanced kick slammed them open. The guards grabbed their weapons and jumped to stop him, but Zu was ready. He spun between them, spinning low to the ground as he ducked and pivoted on one leg, then rolled and jumped to his feet on the other side.

A spear sliced through the back of his left shoulder, another nicked his right calf. Zu ran for the library, gathering power as he prepared to leap and kick that door open as well.

Then the weight of Viha's presence slammed into him and he collapsed to the ground under the strength of it.

He couldn't breathe, couldn't move, could only stare blankly up at the overpowering being floating lazily through the air toward him.

Viha Cougar was on a whole other level.

"You are no longer welcome here, Zuma Otta," intoned the patriarch.

Zu couldn't respond, gasping helplessly as the air was crushed relentlessly out of his lungs. He felt the strain physically, his arms too weak to lift, his heart straining to continue to beat.

"Leave."

Zu would have tried to reason with him, or perhaps he would have given in to cowardice and fled for his life. But he couldn't even do that.

He lay there, vision darkening, and died without being able to lift a finger.

Ruxja's blades pressed against his throat. "What did you do?" he demanded. “Was this your doing?”

Zu reacted instinctively, now that he could move again. Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death slid easily from its sheath, stabbing back and up, into Ruxja's heart.

The Cougar warrior slashed reflexively, scoring deep cuts across Zu's chest and neck.

Wildly, Zu spun, lashing out at everyone nearby. Avashir closed the distance, slicing deep into Zu's wrist. His hand went limp, Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death falling from his grip.

Bleeding out, his panic joined by confused adrenaline, Zu continued forward to slam his fist into Avashir's face. Avashir caught the blow, redirected it, and slammed his knee up into Zu's stomach. Zu choked as the wind was knocked out of him, inhaling his own blood instead of fresh clean air. Ah, yes. Ruxja had slit his throat. He remembered that now.

As he collapsed to the ground, body convulsing, Zu thought that this whole dying thing was really beginning to get old.