Immortal and Undefeated

We continue defense preparations, nerves on a knife's edge. Kanbei could arrive at any moment.

Days pass and the tension in the town keeps increasing. There is no way to win and everyone knows it. Should I try and sneak away if the winds blow foul? Would Arslan leave? Probably not.
I continue surveying where else we can shore up defenses from atop the town hall. Then, a cloud of dust from the northwest catches my attention. Kanbei? No, not enough dust to be him or his army. I walk to the edge of town to meet this group and find it's Carnassa and her people. I direct her to the town center where she can finally take over control of this place.

---

The next day Feng Da wakes up the group. He explains a man bearing Kanbei’s black “X” on a yellow background is here to negotiate. He would like to talk to us, specifically. I walk downstairs to gather around a table with everyone, Kanbei’s representative and Carnassa included.
Yosio, the representative, fails to keep a smile off his face while staring at Carnassa. “Carnassa, it’s been a while. You’re looking well.”
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage. I’m quite certain we’ve never met before.”
“Oh Queen, you wound me.” Yosio’s face is obnoxiously confident looking.
Carnassa gives him an awkward look while the offer to meet with Kanbei was repeated. “That seems like an obvious trap,” Carnassa says.
Feng Da speaks up. “If there is a chance for peace, then I think we should try regardless.”
The group looks uneasy as we debate further. If a peaceful solution could be reached, then we wouldn’t have to test his immortality. But this is most definitely a trap. I’d seen the same tactics used to eradicate pirates. I try to convince them not to go, or at least that the meeting ground should be closer to us. Something. I stare long and hard at Arslan, but he’s determined to go.
Much to Carnassa’s dissatisfaction, the group agrees to meet with Kanbei. I remain behind.

---

The others are gone for a while before I can no longer sit still. If it is a trap, then I can at least try to save them since they wouldn’t listen to me. Carnassa watches in silence as I mutter to myself and leave her with Yosio.
“Damnare stultorum. Stultus!” I utter as I leap into my horse’s saddle and spur the beast into a gallop, heading north to the meeting point.
I slow when I see a small plume of smoke in front of me. I circle to the west side of the fire pit, silhouettes of my foolish companions visible—but thankfully still alive. They are circled around a seated figure, evidently talking. I dismount, leave the horse hidden and creep several paces closer. I strain, but I can’t make out what they’re saying unless I risk being caught. Kanbei could take that as an assault, ensuring his attack.
I wait, jaw clenching tight and eyes fixated on the scene. No one makes a move. I pull my eyes away and scan the rocky field around them. There are plenty of places to hide for an ambush.
No one.
Nothing.
Then my companions move, reaching for their horses. Burning sands, I curse and scramble to beat them to Ulaanbaatar.
I make it, hopefully without any of them noticing. I realize that I have no clue where Carnassa is now, so I ask around. I greet the group as they ride in. “Where is Carnassa?” Spark asks. I point and lead the way to the Temple of Acharya.

---

“What caused the split of the Horselords?” Spark demands of Carnassa.
Carnassa stands up from one of the pews. She blinks. “Did you actually meet him?”
The group nods and most chime in a “yes”.
Fwip repeats Spark’s question again.
“His…instability,” Carnassa says. “And slow descent into madness.”
The group continues to ask questions about Kanbei’s actions before the separation. I tilt my head. The way they’re saying his name is different like it was— oh. Khan Bei. Carnassa’s expression turns more wary with each question, and she says nothing for a while.
“What did he say?” Carnassa asks. The group looks a little confused. They begin to relay information, and as they do Carnassa begins to look frantic. “The madness has spread,” she whispers at first. She then begins yelling. “He’s got you! You’re on his side!” She looks terrified for her life. By the sun’s heat, what's gotten into her? She looks ready to bolt.
“Let her out,” I say, “clear a path.” She's terrified of us, and blocking her here is not going to instill trust in us again.
Carnassa bolts out and runs frantically to the town hall. “She could turn the town on us,” Yawei points out. Feng Da takes off after her. No, no, no, it'll be worse to agitate her further. I throw my hands up and glower at Yawei, then set off to try and stop Feng Da.
I reach the town hall and witness Carnassa fruitlessly attacking Feng Da with her short sword, trying to get past him into the building. Ono steps out behind Feng Da and grabs Carnassa, her screaming our betrayal as she’s hoisted inside.
I let out a deep breath. This isn't a great look for the Horselords new ruler, or for us.