Breaking…

Ever since Jai was young, he had learned to be skeptical of people, especially those closest to him. After all, your enemies can't betray you—only your allies can. If one wanted to last in the game Jai played, one had to master the art of never fully trusting anyone. It was a harsh way to live, but it had its perks.

Unfortunately for Jai, he had grown too comfortable. Zai had been with him for years—they had fought together, bled together, and shared a bond forged in countless battles. He had saved her life numerous times, and she had his back just as often. Then there was General Hammed, another comrade in arms. Hammed had served under Jai in Ghyaz before being promoted to command one of the Sands. And finally, there was his uncle, General Karim (his mother's brother), whose loyalty to Jai was beyond question. These three were his most trusted allies.

The rebellion would have been impossible without them. But that didn't mean bad eggs couldn't slip into their ranks. Jai was determined to root them out.

It all started when Jai took a fragment of Commander Farid's memory using Abaddon's powers. The demon of possession had infiltrated Jai's mind during their encounter with it weeks ago. Although Abaddon couldn't extract all of Farid's memories, it managed to retrieve fragments from the weeks leading up to their fight.

The revelations were startling.

After retiring from military service, Commander Farid had been reactivated during Jai's rebellion—thanks to Sum. Farid, it turned out, was not just a veteran commander but also an active member of Sum, even after his supposed retirement. Through Sum, Farid had provided Bale with Farouk's location, ensuring that the god Sword freed Farouk from his imprisonment. He later met with the "Old Dog" himself, working as both a supporter of Farouk and a spy for Sum.

Farid's memories also revealed how Sum operated. They communicated through a sophisticated network that allowed members to report without ever meeting in person. When Jai saw how Farid had been placed with Farouk to monitor him, he became certain Sum had infiltrated his own ranks as well.

At first, he suspected Hammed or Karim. But there was no concrete evidence to prove either of them—or anyone else—was a traitor. Jai could have used Abaddon to probe their minds, but the demon had warned him that the process was dangerous. It involved forcibly breaking down mental defenses, which fried the subject's brain, sometimes even leaving only fragments of corrupted memories behind. The human mind, after all, was uniquely powerful and well-guarded.

Since he couldn't rely on Abaddon for answers, Jai devised his own plan. He wrote a letter himself and used it to spread the rumor that the Prince of Wize was in Bintan. Jai already knew Kin was alive and still in Wize. He had tracked down the slavers who had found Kin in the desert and sold him. Armed with this information, Jai spread the rumor strategically, ensuring it reached every major player: the Sultans, Hadia, Eru, Omi, and even Sum.

The effect was immediate.

Soon enough, every faction began making moves. From the Sultens to Omi's military leaders, Eru's spies, and even Sum's operatives—each scrambled to verify the claim.

Jai wasn't certain whether they all believed Kin was alive, but they suspected enough to investigate. By using their name in false information, Jai sowed doubt within their ranks. Were they being betrayed? Or manipulated? The only way for them to know was to trace the note's origins.

Meanwhile, even if Sum had refused to make their move, Jai would simply leak more secrets under Sum's name, enough to keep the factions scrambling. It turned out, though, that he didn't need to go that far. Sum had already sent someone to investigate the rumors. Jai had cleverly left breadcrumbs leading them to General Hammed.

When Hammed reported to Jai that he had caught the rat, Jai was curious. Who had been working for his enemies? To his shock, it was someone from the House of Yaya in Jubai—an elder, no less. This elder, who had sworn loyalty to Jai, alongside everyone else in the Yaya household had betrayed him.

After the capture, Hammed had interrogated the traitor extensively. When Jai arrived at the holding cell, he immediately absorbed the elder's memories. To his annoyance, he could only access a few days' worth, but even that provided valuable clues. Among them was a note found on the elder.

At first glance, the note appeared mundane, but Abaddon detected a divine essence within it.

"Permit me," the demon said, enhancing Jai's vision.

With Abaddon's help, Jai read the faint remnants of its entries. Most of the earlier writings had been erased, but the last entries remained:

The first said: The prince has been spotted in Dura. It seems General Farouk is returning to Jubai with him.

One read: I'm very close to the culprit.

"Hermes, the messenger of the gods," Abaddon commented as they read the message. "It seems the leader of Sum carries a rather convenient blessing." 

"Messenger of the gods, huh?" Jai mused.

"Do you have any idea who this leader might be?" Abaddon asked.

"Not a clue. But it's only a matter of time," Jai replied.

With the information in hand, Jai returned to his generals. General Karim and his men had arrived at Hadia, and reinforcements were en route. Jai himself had traveled with Generals Hammed and Zai.

"It seems it's time," Jai announced, his voice commanding their attention. In his tent, were the Generals working for him. They were:

General Hammed, Commander of the sixth sand

General Karim, who was also Jai's uncle. Commander of the eighth sands.

General Zai, Commander of the Seventh Sands.

These three turned towards Jai immediately as he spoke.

All eyes were on him as he continued, "Tell the men to prepare. We are taking Hadia before morning comes"

"Zai" he turned to the general who was busy playing with a small dagger.

"Yes your highness" she replied, the dagger falling immediately. Jai didn't mind her clumsiness and spoke. "I have a special mission for you," Jai said.

"Oh, Zai smiled. I was beginning to get bored". She replied.

"Hammed", Jai turned to the man towering above the other two, his expression like that of an angry wall and his bald head ever shining. "Get your men ready to enter the city".

"General Karim," he said turning to his uncle. "You and your men can begin the celebratory feast." Jai said with a smile.

"What?" General Zai retorted. "Without us".

"Jai turned to her with a stern gaze making her keep quiet.

"Now for your special mission…" Jai said as he continued