[RamsHead]

Ama’ushumgalanna opened the wooden door and closed it behind him. He was in an underground room. It had a pair of torches at the door he just walked though and another pair flanking Sissassuss’s chair. The circular room was large enough to allow shadows to dance on the edge of the room. The Sauromancer approached the God of C’tis, who seemed to be waiting calmly in his chair. The earthen floor was soggy and he could hear water dripping from the ceiling.

"You sent for me, my lord?"

"Yesss, Ama, I have two tasssksss for you," Sissassuss replied with his usual hiss. "Firssst, I want you to get the Conclave to ssset sssome ssslavesss to ssstart digging a hole jussst outssside the sssity."

"A hole?" asked Ama, clearly confused.

"Yesss. It doesss not matter where, just ssso long asss it isss outssside the sssity. I want it big and deep."

"Is there anything in particular that we are digging for?"

"Not really. The sssecond thing I want you to do isss deal with a rebel in the Conclave."

"There is a rebel in the Conclave?"

"Yesss, the Sssauromanssser isss attempting to sssow dissscord in the Conclave. He mussst be ssstopped. C’tisss isss at too a fragile posssition at thisss time to have dissssent amongssst high ranking officialsss."

"Who is he?"

"You may know him asss Ama’lishia."

"My brother?! You must be jesting! My brother has always been loyal to the nation!"

"Your brother hasss grown jealousss of you. He believesss that creating unhappinessss in the Conclave will resssult in you being forsssed to leave my ssside. He wantsss your posssition. Your brother’sss loyalty isss not to the nation but to himssself. He mussst be dealt with."

"I will talk to him."

"No! You will...," Sissassuss paused for a moment, trying to think of the right word, "passsify him."

Ama, looked at the ground, trying to make a decision. He kept staring and pondering. Certainly he was not going to do what he was thinking. He had no choice though. Or did he? Finally he raised his head and met Sissassuss’s gaze.

"Very well, my lord." Ama’s words came quickly. He immediately turned and left the room.

Dingir appeared from the shadows at the God’s side.

"Are you sure it was wise to send him to deal his brother?"

"We will find out sssoon enough. I mussst make sure that Ama will remain loyal to me and the nation. He hasss become powerful, and I would hate to have that power backfire."
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Ama’lishia had been working late that night. He was getting drowsy at his desk when he was startled by someone entering the room. He looked up and saw his brother.

"Ushum! What brings you to my office so late at night?" Ama’lishia stood up and extended his hand.

"I hear you have been trying to undermine the nation," Ama’ushumgalanna said with a somber look on his face.

Ama’lishia’s smile faded away, and he lowered his hand. "Sissassuss is doing the undermining. He is destroying C’tis, and you are helping him to do this."

"So you admit it?"

"What? Admit to trying to save the nation? Of course I admit it. Listen brother, you have to quit helping him."

"He is the God of C’tis."

"So says he! Open your eyes and ears. Do you not see the riots in the streets? Do you not hear the C’tissians cry for the lost Council? The evidence of our nation’s undoing is all around us! Sissassuss is destroying all that we hold dear about C’tis. Join me, Ushum, and we can bring peace and order back into the Swamp Kingdom."

"I will not betray Sissassuss."

"So instead you betray your nation?! Loyalty is nice, but blind loyalty is for fools. If you will not move from Sissassuss’s side, then I guess I will have to save C’tis myself."

"I can not allow you to do that."

The two brothers stared at each other for a moment. They both knew what was coming. Ama’lishia knew he could not overpower his brother.

"Guards!" Ama’lishia cried out, hoping they would scare his brother away. Ama’ushumgalanna just stood there though.

"They have already been dealt with," Ama’ushumgalanna said grimly.

Ama’lishia paused for a second, thinking about what he should do. Then he through a fist at his brother, hoping to knock him to the floor. Ama’ushumgalanna dodged the attack and grabbed his brother’s wrist. He quickly placed his other hand on Ama’lishia’s shoulder.

"Ahhh! What are you doing?!" Ama’lishia cried out in agony.

"The Hand of Death destroys all," replied Ama’ushumgalanna in a heartless voice.

Ama’lishia looked at his brother one last time and saw a void where there used to be a person. He had become a mere instrument of destruction for Sissassuss to use. Then, everything went dark.