REALMS OF DISCORD

SHHH!!

"Did you hear she performed uzazi last night?" Luvahle whispered to Kori, who was waiting to take her seat in the dimly lit assembly room. She placed her papers in front of her and glanced up at Luvahle, who stood a few steps away from the round table with three empty chairs.

"Who performed uzazi?" Kori asked innocently.

"Who else but the emperor, looking for a new heir," he replied, moving closer, assuming her interest would pique with this new information.

"I believe whatever Sato does is her business, and we shouldn't pry. We all know how sacred the uzazi is," Kori said, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Leaning closer to Luvahle, she added with a hint of concern, "Who told you this?"

He leaned back in his chair. "My network spans the entire country, my beautiful Kori. Nothing or no one can escape these keen ears of mine." He proudly pulled on his ears for emphasis.

"What gossip did your network bring you this time?" Mambo entered the room, her staff in hand, her expression as unsmiling as ever.

Luvahle cleared his throat, swiftly changing the subject. "Oh, I also discovered that one of the returning refugees comes from an upper-class background."

Everyone, including Selia, who had just walked into the room, halted in their tracks, sharing a disoriented look. They understood the gravity of Luvahle's revelation.

"Are you certain about what you're saying?" Mambo took her seat at the head of the table. Selia positioned herself beside Mambo, caught between Kori and Luvahle. "How is it that I haven't heard anything about this?"

"Oh, Mambo, you need to know where and what to look for. Besides, when has the ear that the motacillidae landed on ever lied to you?"

"Who is it? Do you know their identity?" Kori whispered urgently, not wanting this information to reach anyone outside that room.

"My network hasn't gathered all the details yet, and we don't want to create unnecessary emotions. The last time something like this happened, it led to the worst day in Kringa's history."

"But it's an intriguing story that holds significant historical value for our land. We should definitely share it with Sato," Selia broke the lingering silence in the room.

"You're right, being the emperor's right hand, or is it Mambo?" Luvahle looked between the two with a knowing smile. "But we can't present an incomplete story to her. I need a few more days to gather all the necessary information, and then I'll inform you. She'll respond better when you tell her."

"Why can't it be you? You discovered the story, you're verifying it, and she trusts you too. That's why you're at this table right now."

"I have no problem sharing what I've gathered with her. I just don't want to skip the established order of doing things," Luvahle explained.

They all scoffed and dismissed his reasoning.

"Can we move on to more important matters?" Mambo spoke up once everyone had settled in their seats. She rifled through her papers, searching for something. "I trust your shipment arrived undisturbed," she directed her question to Luvahle.

"Yes, everything arrived intact," Luvahle confirmed.

Mambo shifted her focus to Kori. "What are your tech samples?"

Despite her typically rough tone, it was evident that Mambo was going easy on her. She continued asking questions about the shipments that arrived and those scheduled for the next shipment day. Luvahle appeared visibly uneasy.

"Are we here to discuss paperwork, or do we have more pressing matters to attend to?" Luvahle interjected, growing impatient.

"At this moment, I don't think anything is more significant than the story you just shared," Selia replied, her voice filled with contemplation. "I'm not sure if I believe you or if I'm simply in shock."