Island of Darkness (37 page)

“Because I have the ability to bring food here,” explained Lyra, “and I have not done so. Your people are starving because of me. I cannot do what is expected of me. I just can’t.”

“You have a story to tell,” the woman said softly. “My name is Shel, and I am a good listener. Tell me what troubles you.”

Lyra sniffed and gazed into the woman’s eyes. She tried to smile as she saw a bit of Rhodella in the woman’s face.

“I don’t know where to begin,” admitted the Star of Sakova.

“Start anywhere,” urged Shel. “Why have you come to Gatong?”

“I came to speak with the mayor or the general,” confided Lyra. “I am supposed to strike a bargain with them, but I cannot.”

“Strike a bargain with Mayor Robit and General Papper?” questioned Shel. “What can a young girl offer to men of power? Do not tell me that you are so desperate in life as to offer yourself? Do not do so, child. Whatever your problems are, we can work them out. Tell me what your needs are.”

Lyra wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at the woman. She took a few moments to compose herself before speaking. Shel waited patiently.

“My journey here concerns the needs of the citizens of Gatong,” Lyra declared. “I have the ability to send large quantities of food into the city. That is what I have come to offer to the mayor.”

Shel looked quizzically at the young woman. Her eyes narrowed appraisingly as she studied Lyra’s face.

“But you want something in return for the food?” asked Shel. “What is it that you seek from Gatong?”

“That was the plan,” admitted Lyra, “but I cannot do it. I should have sent someone else to negotiate.”

“And why can’t you do it?” asked Shel. “The people of Gatong are starving. If you have food to share, you must do so.”

“And I will,” promised Lyra. “I would not be human if I refused to deliver the food after seeing the citizens of Gatong.”

“Then everything is wonderful,” probed Shel. “Why do I suspect that you see this gift as a failure for some reason?”

“Because it is a failure,” explained Lyra. “The food that will be delivered had a price attached to it, but I cannot ask for payment now. Excuse me, please.”

Lyra walked to the door of the house and stepped outside. She inhaled deeply as she wove an air tunnel and directed it towards the sea. It took her a few minutes to locate Emperor Marak’s ship off the coast, but she quickly delivered the order to bring the food into port. When she turned to reenter the house, she found Shel standing behind her.

“Was that magic?” asked Shel. “Or are you crazy?”

“I am not crazy yet,” Lyra answered as she slid past the woman and returned to the table.

She sat down and grabbed a piece of dried meat from the pile of rations on the table. She ate slowly and was only peripherally aware of Shel sitting opposite her.

“Is there really a ship of food coming into port?” asked Shel.

“There is,” nodded Lyra. “There will be enough food to feed the city for a few days. There will be other ships following it.”

“Who are you?” inquired Shel as she stared at Lyra.

“My name is Lyra,” answered the Star of Sakova. “I grew up not too far to the north of here.”

“At the Academy of Magic?” gasped Shel. “I remember the ruckus when the academy was attacked. There was a young woman named Lyra who escaped. That is you, isn’t it? That is how you know magic.”

“It is me,” conceded Lyra.

Shel’s mouth opened wide and her eyes grew large as she stared at Lyra.

“Rumors say that young Lyra went on to become the leader of the Sakovans,” Shel said softly. “Is that what your problem is? You were supposed to offer food to the city in return for peace? Is that your plan?”

“That was my plan,” admitted Lyra. “The Imperial Guards will no longer allow our caravans to deliver food to Omungan cities, so I arranged to have it sent by ship. I was supposed to get the mayor to pledge to stay out of the war in return for food. I have failed.”

“Posh,” replied Shel. “You have not failed at all. It will still take some time for that ship to dock. I will take you to Mayor Robit myself. I am sure that he will agree to your conditions. The people of Gatong do not care for war in any event. What has he got to lose?”

“Why would he make any agreements when he will get the food anyway?” asked Lyra. “Besides, I cannot negotiate such a thing when I already know that the food is coming regardless of what he says.”

“You did not ask for any conditions when your caravans came here,” stated Shel. “Those caravans saved many people. Your ships will save many more. How can any Omungan want to kill people who are so generous?”

“Omungans will do what the Katana demands,” answered Lyra. “That is how it has always been.”

“Do you believe that we Omungans are evil?” asked Shel.

“Of course not,” frowned Lyra. “Why would I think such a thing? I grew up as an Omungan. The Omungans in the east have welcomed me to their cities, but Gatong is not the east. The Katana’s rule is much stronger here.”

“Do you send food to the eastern cities of Omunga?” asked Shel.

“Every day,” nodded Lyra. “Actually, they are no longer Omungan cities. Zaramilden, Duran, and Alamar have become Sakovan cities.”

“You conquered them?” gasped Shel.

“No,” Lyra replied swiftly. “There have been no battles in this war except with the armies invading the heart of the Sakova. The cities of the east have long felt abandoned by the Katana. There were rather eager to join the Sakova.”

“And you were hoping to do the same here in Gatong?” asked Shel.

“My hopes were not that high,” replied Lyra. “I do not expect the western cities to go against the Katana. My hopes were that the Imperial Guards stationed here would stay out of the war in return for free food. If I could get such guarantees from Fortung and Gatong, my people could focus on the armies of Okata.”

“You would be asking these cities to turn their backs on the Katana,” mused Shel. “That is a hard thing for a general to do. You cannot expect them to remain idle while you attack Okata. They will be called to attack you from behind. Surely you realize this?”

“I suppose you are right,” sighed Lyra. “For generations the Sakovans have hidden in the Sakova and the Omungans have tried to destroy them. This time is different. The current Katana appears to care about nothing other than the complete destruction of the Sakovan people. We have no choice but to fight.”

“And you are eagerly seeking a way that you can win,” nodded Shel. “That is understandable.”

“No,” Lyra shook her head. “We will win this war. What I am trying to accomplish is minimizing the number of Omungans that must die for our victory. We have no quarrel with the people of Omunga. We would be ecstatic if they would merely overthrow their Katana and leave us in peace, but this is not going to happen. The next best solution is to destroy only the main armies of the Katana that seek to destroy us. That is why I want as many cities as possible to stay out of this war.”

“And what will you do with your new Sakovan cities after the war?” asked Shel. “Will you abandon them?”

“No,” Lyra answered. “Those people freely chose to become part of the Sakova. They will be treated as part of the family they have become. Even those cities that we must conquer will be treated with respect and welcomed into the Sakova.”

“Come,” Shel said as she rose from her chair. “We have little time to catch the mayor before your ship arrives.”

“It is too late,” Lyra shook her head. “I cannot put up a false front when I know that the food is coming no matter what the mayor says.”

“Posh,” smiled Shel. “You will come with me and tell the mayor what you just told me. There is no need for deception. Be honest about what you want. He can only say no, but you lose any chance to keep Gatong out of this war if you do not at least ask.”

“Alright,” Lyra sighed as she rose and followed Shel.

The Gatong woman guided the Star of Sakova to the mayor’s building. The walk was short, but Shel said hello to dozens of people before they reached the building. They entered the building, and Shel announced that they wanted to see Mayor Robit. They were directed along a short corridor where two Imperial Guards stood sentry outside a door. Shel led the way through the doorway.

Inside the room a balding man sat at a large desk, and an Imperial Guard general stood before it. The balding mayor looked up with curiosity at the intrusion. The general turned and stared at the two women. His eyes grew large and his jaw dropped as he stared at Lyra.

“The Star of Sakova!” shouted the general. “Seize her.”

Lyra’s heart rose to her throat, as she stood frozen staring at the general. She heard the scuffling of feet behind her, but she could not move. Suddenly, a heavy weight hit the back of her head, and her vision spun into darkness.

Shel gasped as the two Imperial Guards caught Lyra’s falling body. They quickly dragged the Star of Sakova from the room, and Shel shook her head sadly.

“How did you recognize her?” asked Mayor Robit.

“She was wanted after the attack on the Academy of Magic,” replied General Papper. “A picture of her was distributed at that time. I would never forget her face.”

“I can’t believe that you memorize the pictures of all law-breakers,” scoffed the mayor.

“Of course not,” balked the general, “but this one was different. She managed to slip through our fingers in Gatong. I was severely reprimanded by General Didyk personally for that failure. When it was later learned that she was truly the Star of Sakova, I was forced to give up all of my dreams of ever commanding a major army. Perhaps her capture now will redeem me.”

“You are a fool,” spat Shel as she stared at the general with disgust. “Our people are starving and all you can think of is your personal career?”

“Don’t think I have forgotten who escorted the enemy into this room,” snapped the general as he whirled to face Shel. “It is strange to see the Star of Sakova escorted by a citizen of Gatong. Perhaps you are a Sakovan spy.”

“Nonsense,” the mayor blurted out. “Shel is a fine upstanding citizen of Gatong. I doubt that she even knew who the woman was.”

“Oh, I knew who she was,” asserted Shel. “She didn’t tell me at first, but I figured it out. She wanted to talk to the mayor about peace so I brought her here. I wish I had not.”

The general’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Shel. The mayor saw the coming confrontation and swiftly intervened.

“Wait outside, Shel,” ordered Mayor Robit. “I need to speak to the general in private. Do not leave this building. I have questions for you before you will be allowed to leave.”

“As do I,” snapped the general as Shel quietly exited the room.

The general closed the door after Shel left. He returned to stand in front of the mayor’s desk.

“Allowing such attitudes in the citizenry is not healthy,” the general warned Mayor Robit.

“Shel is known to just about every citizen in Gatong,” shrugged the mayor. “She is often outspoken, but she is easily mollified. To stifle her speech would be to invite trouble. Forget about her. What do you plan to do with the Star of Sakova?”

“I am not sure,” answered the general. “She is a prize indeed, but I must be careful. My first instinct is to transport her to Okata and present her to the Katana personally, but there are potential pitfalls in that plan.”

“Pitfalls?” echoed the mayor. “What could possibly go wrong?”

“I want the credit for capturing her,” explained General Papper. “I need the recognition if I am to rejuvenate my career. If Didyk, or any of the other generals, learn that I am bringing her to the Katana, I suspect that they would seize her and claim the credit themselves.”

“What other options are there?” asked Mayor Robit. “I doubt that you could entice the Katana to come to Gatong during a state of war.”

“That would never happen,” agreed the general. “I could execute her here in Gatong and deliver the body to the Katana. That way her capture and execution would be a matter of public record. Didyk would have no chance of stealing the limelight.”

“That would work,” frowned the mayor, “but I sense that you are not entirely happy with that choice. What are the negatives?”

“She is the leader of the Sakovans,” declared the general. “As a military man I know that her mind holds a wealth of strategic information that could potentially shorten the war. She must be interrogated.”

“So you question her before you execute her,” shrugged Mayor Robit. “I do not see the problem.”

“I could attempt to get the knowledge out of her,” conceded the general, “but they have more persuasive ways of extracting information in Okata. They can use magic to force her to divulge everything. I do not quite understand the methods that they use, but they are extremely effective. This is something that I must dwell upon. The wrong step at this point will ruin my career, but the right move may well vault me onto the Katana’s Council. I will be in my office. Do not disturb me unless the matter is crucial.”

“Inform me of your decision before you do anything,” replied the mayor. “My help in this matter may improve your position.”

General Papper nodded and strode out of the room. He left the door open and Shel peeked her head into the doorway.

“Come in, Shel,” waved the mayor. “I will keep this brief.”

Shel shuffled into the room and stood nervously before the mayor’s desk. She had seen the look on the general’s face as he left, and she did not care for it. She was apprehensive about the forthcoming questions from the mayor.

“You came close to being imprisoned,” declared the mayor. “General Papper is not one to toy with. I would advise you not to mention this episode to anyone. Is there anyone else in Gatong who knows that the Star of Sakova is in the city?”

Shel breathed a sigh of relief at the tone of the mayor’s voice. Even as she felt her apprehension diminishing, her anger began to surface.

“She came her in peace,” declared Shel. “You did not even let her talk before you attacked her.”

“I did nothing,” replied the mayor. “The general recognized her as the enemy and had her arrested. I see no fault in his actions. Does anyone else know that she is in Gatong?”