Aakuta: the Dark Mage (33 page)

“Certainly not,” answered Lord Marak. “I never said that I came with only a squad. That is merely what your spies tell you I am traveling with. I came with two cortes. And if you are expecting your reinforcements to arrive tonight, I have more bad news for you. They have been delayed. They will arrive in the morning.”

“So you will live just a little while longer,” shrugged Lord Patel.

“Then I shall spend my time amusing myself,” smiled Lord Marak. “I will have answers out of you, Lord Patel, or I will kill you. It will not take me until morning to decide whether you live or die. Answer my questions truthfully or you will die. Why did you have your troops attack my caravans?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” lied Lord Patel. “I think you have lost your mind.”

“Tsk, tsk,” taunted Lord Marak. “A member of the Lords’ Council telling a bold faced lie. How unbecoming. You should be aware that your last attack failed. The ambushers are dead with the exception of two prisoners.”

“Prisoners?” echoed Lord Marshal Orik. “You are lying.”

“Am I?” retorted Lord Marak. “How then did I know that you were using Deep Bend to attack me from? How did I know that the troops were yours, Lord Marshal? How did I discover that Lord Patel was present when they received their orders?”

Lord Marshal Orik’s face clouded with concern, but Lord Patel laughed.

“This is the story that you are going to tell the Lords’ Council?” countered Lord Patel. “Some gray warriors attacked your caravans and said that they were my people? That is your excuse for attacking Deep Bend? You have much to learn about politics, Lord Marak. When it comes to your word against mine, yours doesn’t count.”

“So you admit trying to ruin me?” asked Lord Marak. “You see my only problem as proving your treachery? Is that it?”

“Isn’t that enough, Lord Marak?” countered Lord Patel “You have no one but yourself to blame. You are the one who is stirring things up with your calls to abandon our slaves. Did you really expect that we would stand by and let you ruin this country?”

“Lord Patel…” interrupted Lord Marshal Orik.

“You just don’t understand the nature of power, Lord Marak,” Lord Patel continued. “The people who rule Khadora will never stand for your kind. If I hadn’t attacked you, someone else would have. It really doesn’t matter which one of us gets to you first.”

“Lord Patel…” interrupted Lord Marshal Orik.

“Your kind come and go, Lord Marak,” Lord Patel said. “And you are always indignant about it. You just don’t understand. We live because we have slaves. Without them, we would perish.”

“Did you authorize the attacks on my caravans?” Lord Marak loudly asked.

“Yes,” shouted Lord Patel. “Yes, I ordered your precious caravans attacked. I ordered your men to be killed and the wagons burned. Now you know the truth, Marak. What are you going to do about it?”

“I am here to demand restitution,” declared Lord Marak.

“For the Torak clan?’ laughed Lord Patel. “There is no Torak clan, you fool. My armies are headed for Deep Bend as we speak. When they have finished there, they will attack River’s Bend, and then Fardale and Woodville. And for fun on their way home, I have authorized them to destroy Raven’s Point. It is over, Lord Marak. You and your men here are all that is left of the Torak clan. If you run now, maybe you will survive, but I doubt it.”

“I have a different solution in mind,” Lord Marak said threateningly. “You will swear Vows of Service to me, and recall your armies.”

“You are mad,” scowled Lord Patel. “Why would I ever do such a thing?”

“To live,” Lord Marak replied. “If you refuse, I will have little option but to kill you and everyone on this estate. Then I will burn it to the ground to mark the end of the Nordon clan.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” shouted Lord Patel. “You would be hunted down and killed by every clan in Khadora.”

“I don’t think so,” smiled Lord Marak. “If it is just my word against yours, and you are dead, I suspect the Lords’ Council might believe my version of events.”

“They would not believe you even then,” snapped Lord Patel. “There is no love for you on the Lords’ Council. I am not the only member seeking to kill you. They will never believe your word.”

“Then I shall have to present my other witness,” grinned Lord Marak. “A witness that they will believe. He will detail your treachery for everyone to see. The name Nordon will be infamous. Perhaps I should even let you live to witness it. The humiliation will make you wish you were dead.”

“What other witness?” asked Lord Patel.

Lord Marak snapped his fingers, and Gunta went to the door. He opened it and signaled. The Lords’ Council mediator stepped into the room.

“Katzu?” questioned Lord Patel. “What are you doing here?”

“I was requested to mediate a dispute between the Nordon and the Torak clans,” answered Katzu.

“Are you also a witness?” Lord Marshal Orik asked in an unsteady voice.

“I am, Lord Marshal,” frowned Katzu. “I had the misfortune of stumbling upon a certain caravan ambush.”

“And you heard what has been said in this room?” Orik inquired.

“I have been outside waiting to be called in,” nodded Katzu. “I am afraid that I heard more than I ever cared to hear.”

Tears welled up in Lord Patel’s eyes as he avoided Katzu’s gaze. He stared at the floor in front of his feet and shook his head.

“Mediator,” he said, his voice cracking, “will you please wait outside while I discuss terms with Lord Marak.”

“As you wish,” nodded Katzu as he turned and left the room.

“You could have spared me that, Lord Marak,” Lord Patel said softly. “You had the right to kill me or my men for what I did to you, but to damn the Nordon name for all time is beyond revenge. I offer you my life as restitution. Kill me and take Deep Bend for your own, but I beg of you to keep the Lords’ Council out of this affair.”

“Deep Bend is already mine,” Lord Marak stated.

“It won’t be tomorrow,” interrupted Lord Marshal Orik. “Practically my whole army is bearing down on it.”

Lord Marak ignored the marshal. “Lord Patel,” he said, “my demands are not onerous on you. I ask you and all of your people to offer Vows of Service to me. I will demand that you free your slaves, and that you treat your people with respect.”

“Vows of Service?” echoed Lord Patel. “I cannot do that. The one thing that must survive this foolish thing I have done is the Nordon clan. I cannot offer you Vows of Service. I will not let this clan be taken over by the Toraks.”

“Let me try this again,” smiled Lord Marak. “I do not intend to dissolve the Nordon clan. I do not intend to replace you as lord of the Nordon clan. I do not plan to take away your seat on the Lords’ Council. The vows will be made to me and will be irreversible, but they will also be secret. No one outside our clans need know what has happened here tonight.”

“What?” asked Lord Patel. “How can you do such a thing?”

“Is it legal?” asked Lord Marshal Orik.

“It is quite legal,” nodded Lord Marak. “Would you be surprised to know that I already have this arrangement with four other clans?”

“Which four?” asked Lord Patel.

“The Situ, Sorgan, Ragatha, and Litari,” answered Lord Marak. “Each and every member of those four clans have sworn Vows of Service to me.”

“Yet they all act independent,” frowned Lord Patel. “How can this be?”

“They are fairly independent,” shrugged Lord Marak. “Each of those clans has attacked me and lost. I made the same offer to each, and each has been pleased with the results. They are more prosperous than ever. Only Lord Quavry was dissatisfied.”

“How did you find out about him?” asked Lord Patel.

“The Sorgan informed me,” replied Lord Marak.

“So they truly value their vows to you then,” remarked Orik.

“You make it seem so workable, Lord Marak,” sighed Lord Patel. “You make it sound like the Nordon will do well, but we are patriots. Your reforms make me sick to my stomach. I do not think I could live with them.”

“I assure you that you can, Lord Patel,” countered Lord Marak. “The other lords felt the same as you, but they were pleasantly surprised by the results.”

“I suppose you will demand my vote on the Lords’ Council to end slavery,” scowled Lord Patel.

“Not until you believe I am right,” promised Lord Marak. “Besides, we have more urgent matters to attend to than slavery right now.”

“Like what?” questioned Lord Patel.

“There are clans in Khadora who are planning to spread chaos,” explained Lord Marak. “I know who these clans are, but there is nothing that we can do to stop them right now. The addition of your Nordon armies will help.”

“With the five clans you already hold,” frowned Lord Marshal Orik, “why would you need the might of the Nordon?”

“Because even the Nordon are small in comparison to our enemy,” answered Lord Marak.

“Small?” blustered Lord Patel. “I have twelve cortes on their way to Deep Bend right now, and another two dozen that will be leaving tomorrow to finish off the Torak clan. Who are these powerful lords?”

Lord Marak winced at the mention of the two dozen additional cortes. He had made a grave miscalculation. He had assumed that the other Nordon estates would remain defensive.

“The Vessi, Glamaraldi, and Lejune clans are hosting Jiadin warriors,” declared Lord Marak. “Their purpose is not yet clear, but I believe they plan to take over as much of Khadora as possible.”

“Bah,” scowled Lord Patel. “Those three clans put together would not even keep my armies busy. You are making something out of nothing.”

“How many Jiadin?” asked Lord Marshal Orik.

“Around eighty cortes,” Lord Marak replied.

“Eighty cortes?” gasped Orik. “That is a very large army.”

“Each,” added Lord Marak.

“Blessed Khadora!” swore Lord Patel. “It will take more than us joining together to confront that. We must inform the Lords’ Council.”

Lord Patel halted as he heard his own words. He sighed heavily and sat down on the bed.

“Are you well, Lord Patel?” asked Lord Marak.

“Well enough to see what a fool I have been, Lord Marak,” sighed Lord Patel. “I have let my ego get the better of me. Bring in the mediator and let him hear the details of our agreement.”

“Secrecy is a part of our agreement,” frowned Lord Marak.

“I know, I know,” nodded Lord Patel. “The only way to ensure secrecy with a mediator involved is to make him vow secrecy as part of the settlement. Bring him in.”

Lord Marak nodded and Gunta went and returned with Katzu.

“Katzu,” began Lord Patel, “Lord Marak and I have reached an agreement. We want you to bind that agreement and swear an oath of secrecy regarding the details. Will you do it?”

“If the agreement is accepted freely by both parties,” nodded Katzu. “It must also be a legal settlement.”

“It is,” sighed Lord Patel. “Before we explain it, Katzu, I want to apologize to you personally, and to the Lords’ Council via you, although they will never learn of it. My behavior has not been befitting a member of the Lords’ Council. I hope you will forgive me and not think poorly of the Nordon clan because of my errors.”

“If your apology is sincere,” smiled Katzu, “then I will have little choice but to forgive you. A great Khadora is what we all seek. Sometimes we are blinded as to which path we should take to get there.”

Lord Patel smiled at the mediator as Lord Marak explained the agreement. Lord Patel and Lord Marshal Orik gave their Vows of Service.

“Now you must have your troops recalled, Lord Marshal,” stated Lord Marak. “We have avoided bloodshed here, it must not be allowed to occur elsewhere.”

“I hope we are not too late,” frowned Orik. “My twelve cortes had vowed to press on through the night. I fear what may happen to the two cortes of Torak troops.”

“Fear also for the Nordon troops,” retorted Lord Marak. “I told you of my other clans. They have eight cortes near Deep Bend right now. They are waiting for the Nordon attack.”

“Mercy!” swore Orik. “You are a devilish foe. I will get a rider out immediately.”

“Get his vows first, Lord Marak,” warned Lord Patel. “Nobody should leave this estate without giving his vows first.”

“A good point,” nodded Lord Marak. “We must also schedule trips to your other estates to make sure that all of the Nordon swear. No word of this agreement must reach the ears of other clans.”

“None whatsoever,” agreed Lord Patel. “I can suffer my role under you as long as everyone else is ignorant of it.”

“I think you will grow to like it,” grinned Lord Marak.

HawkShadow stood unmoving in the dark forest as the legions of Nordon soldiers rode by. His hand eased the bowstring back as he took aim at one of the men at the rear of the column. It was a much greater distance than HawkShadow would use for an assassination, but he did not care if his arrow killed anyone. Wounding a Nordon at this point was as good as killing one. His task was to create havoc and stall the Nordon march to Deep Bend.

While the arrow was still on its way towards the Nordon column, HawkShadow nocked another arrow and released the bowstring. A scream erupted from the rear of the column as HawkShadow let fly his third arrow.

Without waiting to see the effects of his attack, the Sakovan assassin turned and ran through the dark mass of trees. His feet moved mechanically over the memorized terrain as his path zigzagged towards the river gorge. Already he could hear the galloping of hooves behind him as the Nordon troops reacted to the attack. HawkShadow panted heavily as he raced away from the mounted column, the sounds of his pursuers coming closer at an alarming rate. HawkShadow wondered if he had cut this one too close.

As sweat soaked his body, HawkShadow leaped into the air and grabbed onto a low branch of a large tree. He pulled himself up and reached for the next higher branch. The sounds of pursuit pounded loudly in his head as he reached the third branch and grabbed onto the rope he had tied there earlier. He untied the rope and grasped it with both hands as he pushed off with his feet. The air rushed by the Sakovan as he flew over the river. He involuntarily raised his feet, although he was a good several paces above the surface of the water.