Musa

**Musa of Adisa** is a leader in the Resistance and is known as The Beekeeper.

## Personality

Musa has an air of casual indifference about him, a glint in his eyes, and a wily smile. He is often seen flirting and laughing, constantly teasing and poking fun at others. Helene says he "lives and breathes impudence." He wears arrogance like armor, but is quite vulnerable underneath. He takes advantage of Elias' jealousy over his close friendship with Laia by irritating him. Despite his estrangement from his wife, Princess Nikla, he obviously still cares for her. Upon learning of her death he cries, his grief raw and unabashed. Helene realizes that Musa's heart is just as shattered as her own. Above all, Musa is kind. He looks out for Helene when she is almost consumed with grief, often appearing with a meal and insisting they eat it in the sunshine.

## Physical Description

Musa is aa young, handsome, dark-skinned Scholar. He has a soft voice. He has black hair that's half pulled up and the rangy body of a swordsman. His forearms are tattooed with various symbols. He has a chiseled face with fine features. Musa has a brilliant smile and smug grin.

## Biography

Musa is the Prince Consort to Princess Nikla of Marinn. They married young, when he was eighteen and she was nineteen. When Nikla's brother died of illness and Musa's father, the palace healer, couldn't save him, Nikla was overcome with grief. She allowed ghuls to consume her mind. She jailed Musa's father, who died in prison, and took his lands and title. Since then, Musa and his wife have been estranged. His father used to harvest half the honey in Marinn. His family has lived in Adisa for more than two hundred years.

Musa is known as the Beekeeper because he has a swarm of wights that he can control. They often act as his spies and aid him in fights. The wights seem to have a "vicious protectiveness that wights aren't know for" and look out for Musa.

### *A Reaper At The Gates*

Musa arrives at the cell in the Marinn prison where Laia and Darin have been place under arrest by Princess Nikla. He offers to help them escape. Laia recognizes him as the man who had been following them from the Empire to Marinn. In exchange for getting Laia and Darin out of prison, he wants Darin to make weapons for the Scholars and Laia to help him resurrect the northern Scholar's Resistance. He knows about Mazen and Keenan's betrayals. He knows that Keenan is actually the Nightbringer. He then promises to take them to the Beekeeper.

Once at his safe house, Musa reveals to Laia that he planned her and Darin's capture as a test of their character. He made sure Captain Eleiba knew they were coming into the city. He knew Laia would never let her people suffer while she cowered, and he knew that he could get her out of prison. When Laia furiously accuses him of letting the refugees' tents burn, he tells her that Eleiba has already replaced their tents. He tells Laia that he can be her ally or her enemy. He says that if she works with him, she can succeed in her mission to bring down the Nightbringer while also helping the Scholars. He wants them to work with the king of Marinn. He asks Laia what she wants, and when she says she wants eyes on the Nightbringer, he surprises her by telling her that the Nightbringer has been in Navium for the past month.

### *A Sky Beyond The Storm*

Musa remains at the court of the Martial Empire as an advocate for the Scholars. He helps Helene to work through her grief over losing Avitas, and she helps him with his over Nikla. Musa has helped Helene by charming the Illustrian Paters. It was his suggestions to break up the estates of Keris' top allies and award them to Scholars and Plebeians who fought in the Battle of Antium. Marinn's new king reinstated his lands and title. He has also stopped using the wights as his spies, no longer wanting to know everyone's secrets.

## Powers

Musa has the ability to control wights. They often act as his spies and help him in fights. Elias notes that the wights seem to have a vicious protectiveness towards Musa that they aren't normally known for. His magic also makes him immune to Laia's.

## Trivia

* Musa is highly skilled in battle, earning a compliment from Quin Veturius himself, and awing Helene.
* He can speak the multiple languages of Marinn's trading partners, including the Karkauns.
* Musa reveals that he doesn't actually like bees very much, claiming they always sting him.
* "I adore Musa of Adisa... He’s a sort of older sibling figure to Laia, and serves as an important side character in *Reaper*. He takes on a bigger role in *Sky* — but is as irreverent and arrogant as ever." - Sabaa Tahir on Musa in an interview with EW, saying the fandom's love for Musa surprised her but is not unjust.
* Rehmat reveals that Musa was a possible warrior and carries Rehmat inside him.