StarWind sighed and shook her head in a show of exasperation. “You really don’t understand the situation, do you? We already have the Katana. We already have the Council. I am looking for your help in getting them out to the plaza without having to destroy all of your Monitors.”
“Inconceivable,” scowled the colonel. “Do not expect me to believe your words when you would not even be able to find the Katana, much less destroy his escort and capture him.”
“Actually,” smiled StarWind, “His escort is still probably whole and standing outside the door to the garden. The Katana, however, I assure you is in our hands.”
The colonel’s eyes widened in surprise at the mention of the garden, but he was still defiant.
“Nevertheless,” he countered, “you cannot harm him. He is well protected by magical shields.”
“Omungan magic is feeble,” snipped StarWind. “Sakovans will not even be slowed down by such efforts. The Katana’s life is in our hands, as are the lives of the members of the Katana’s Council. As is yours for that matter, but we are wasting time here. Will you help end this situation in a painless way for all?”
“I cannot,” refused the colonel. “Even if all you say is true, I will not help you destroy this government. You may hold the reins of power at this time, but the Sakovans cannot stand up to the Omunga armies that will come and destroy you. A new Council will be chosen, and they will select a new Katana. Life will continue after you are defeated.”
“The Omungan armies will not defeat us,” retorted StarWind. “General Didyk is on a long march to starvation. Do you expect him to turn around and save the city? Forget it. His army will reach Alamar and surrender just as quickly as General Romero did. And what is left of Valdey’s army is fleeing for their lives. It will be over a week before the remnants of that army emerge from the Sakova.”
“Perhaps General Kapla will return and surprise you?” shrugged the colonel. “It doesn’t really matter which army crushes you and returns Okata to its rightful rulers.”
“General Kapla and his army are indeed marching on Okata as we speak,” smiled StarWind, “but that is not something you should crow about. He is coming to sack Okata if it has not already surrendered to the Star of Sakova.”
“Preposterous,” balked the colonel. “General Kapla is the Minister of Defense.”
“She is telling the truth,” Cherri said softly.
Colonel Zanta’s eyes widened as he stared at Cherri questioningly.
“That is why I am here today,” Cherri continued. “General Kapla sent a letter of resignation with the courier that came in the other day. I tried to deliver it to General Lafor this morning, but I found out that he had died. I decided to give it to the Katana and came here early this morning. I stopped in the general’s office first. I started crying when I thought about what he had done. I guess I lost track of time. It seems like hours have passed since then.”
“I wondered how you had managed to get into the palace,” Colonel Zanta sighed as if the Sakovan spymaster was not in the room.
“When I went looking for the Katana,” Cherri continued, “I saw this spy entering your office. I thought I could capture her, and that would somehow make up for what Kapla did. Why is everyone joining the Sakovans?” she sniffed.
“Not everyone,” comforted the colonel.
“Just about,” countered Cherri. “Every major city except Tanzaba has already defected. Our armies are gone. All that remains of our country is Okata, and now it is falling. What did we do wrong?”
“You allowed false Katanas and warmongers to lead your country,” replied StarWind. “You attacked a peaceful neighbor while allowing your citizens to starve to death. Do not cry for the fate of Omunga. It is a country that was ruled by cruel, heartless men. The Star of Sakova is different. She cares for her people, especially the ones who used to be Omungan. They are now well fed and cared for. The same will be true in Okata. Already she has ships loaded with food waiting off the coast. The famine will be just a memory by the end of this day.”
“Is that true?” asked Cherri. “Or just something to say to get us to do what you want?”
“It is all true,” StarWind said compassionately. “The Sakovans have never wanted ill for the Omungan people. You of all people should know that. Didn’t I expose myself to you as a Sakovan spy in an attempt to save Katana Maxim? Do you think I did that for selfish reasons?”
“What is she talking about?” asked Colonel Zanta. “How did you know she was a spy?”
“It’s true,” Cherri nodded. “The day Katana Maxim was assassinated, she came to me and asked me to get a message to the Katana. She told me that a high-level official of Omunga was planning on killing the Katana. She also told me about Master Malafar being held in the mage cells. Maxim knew what it meant when I told him.”
“In the garden!” gasped Colonel Zanta as the memories came back. “I remember that night. You and he talked in the garden. He got very upset and informed us that an assassination attempt was underway. He also said that you were to be admitted to his presence without question. I always wondered what you had said to him to make him know what was going on. If only you had given him more warning.”
“I know,” cried Cherri. “You can’t imagine how many nights I have cried myself to sleep over that. He was such a good Katana. He was the best we ever had.”
“He was the last Katana you ever had,” interrupted StarWind. “You let that murderous Alazar take over the country, but that was not bad enough. Now you have allowed an evil mage to rule over you.”
“Evil mage?” questioned Colonel Zanta. “What are you talking about?”
“Larst died the night before he was chosen Katana,” explained StarWind. “The historian, who had shadowed Larst’s every move for months before that day, was really an evil mage from distant shores. He assumed Larst’s identity and has been ruining your country and mine ever since. How can you Omungans be so foolish when it comes to choosing your leaders?”
“Do you have proof of these words?” asked the colonel.
“The proof awaits you in the plaza outside this palace,” replied StarWind. “Why do you think we have not just killed the Katana? We could easily take this city by force with General Kapla’s army, but the Star of Sakova has ordered otherwise. She wants the people of Omunga to see who has been leading them to ruin. We are commanded to bring the Katana and the Council to her. That is why I am talking to you. I would prefer not to kill several hundred good men to meet my obligations. Will you help?”
Colonel Zanta sat open mouthed as he digested StarWind’s words. Visions of intelligence reports flashed through his mind as he tried to find a single lie in the Sakovan’s words, but he could not. Finally he turned to Cherri.
“Didn’t General Kapla send orders for General Didyk to march to General Romero’s aid?” he asked.
“He did,” nodded Cherri. “I did not know of the letter of resignation at the time, or I would have asked the Katana to stop it. It was obviously to get Didyk’s army out of the way so Okata would fall easily.”
“As was the death of General Lafor,” added StarWind. “He was murdered to leave the Imperial Guards without leadership. They will probably rally to General Kapla when he arrives. If not, they will have no direction to defend against a well-trained army such as Kapla’s.”
“They are worthless,” nodded Colonel Zanta. “The Monitors would be the only real defense, and you are trying to declaw us.”
“I am,” admitted StarWind. “The Monitors are the best-trained group in Omunga. Still, I know that they would eventually be defeated, and that would be a shame. The Star of Sakova does not intend to be a conqueror. She intends to unite the Sakovans and the Omungans and rule over a combined people. She does not want to destroy the Monitors. She wants them to survive intact. They will be needed to rebuild the country after the war. Is she wrong for wanting that, Colonel?”
“No,” admitted Colonel Zanta, “but I find myself in a r
ather awkward position. The Monitors are sworn to protect the Katana with their lives. How can I possibly turn him over to his enemies?”
“The Sakovans already have the Katana,” answered StarWind. “His shields are gone, and he is magically frozen. You do not have to turn him over. What we want, Colonel, is to take him outside to the plaza. We do not want to kill your men to accomplish that. I see no conflict for you. The Katana will be in no greater danger outside than he is at this very moment. Therefore, your actions will not be endangering him in any way.”
“But you will kill him outside,” protested the colonel. “Your twisting of words will not change that.”
“We could easily have killed him already,” StarWind pointed out. “What is the name of your Katana?”
“What do you mean?” questioned the colonel. “He is Larst, or at least that is how we know him.”
“Then I will make a vow to you,” smiled StarWind. “I give you my promise that Larst will not be harmed if you facilitate the trip to the plaza. It is now in your best interests to accommodate us.”
“More word twisting,” sighed the colonel. “I understand what you are saying, but I have my vows to consider.”
StarWind walked to the door and cracked it open. She peered into the corridor and then turned her attention back to the colonel.
“I have done all that I can,” StarWind declared. “The decision is now up to you, Colonel. You have the chance to avoid a great deal of bloodshed if you wish. You will either go immediately to the garden and facilitate the moving of the Katana to the plaza, or blood will begin to flow through the halls of the Imperial Palace. I cannot help you make that decision. I am leaving now. I ask you not to try to capture me, but rather spend your time figuring out how you will decide. Your time is critically short. If you are not at the garden door in a few minutes, the battle will begin. Save your men, Colonel.”
StarWind slid through the door and a loud click sounded in the room as the door locked.
Chapter 36
Citizens’ Voice
Cherri slipped the rope off her hands and jumped out of her chair. She raced to the door and tried to open it.
“She locked it,” frowned Cherri.
“She is a clever woman,” nodded Colonel Zanta. “I have to figure out just how clever, and do so quickly.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cherri as she left the door and returned to her chair.
“She makes a compelling case for doing exactly what she requests,” explained the colonel, “but it goes against everything that I have always believed in. How can I throw away the traditions of a thousand years?”
“Traditions are nice,” Cherri replied thoughtfully, “but they became traditions because they worked at the time. Omunga has never experienced times like these. Perhaps it is time to do what is right and not what we have always done.”
“You sound like you believe this Sakovan spy,” commented the colonel. “I am sure that she is trained to make people believe her.”
“Maybe she is,” shrugged Cherri, “but that does not stop anyone from analyzing the facts. I do know that the rest of Omunga has gone over to the Sakovans. Even General Kapla realized that Omunga was doomed. He would never have defected otherwise.”
“True,” nodded the colonel, “but that does not excuse me to do the same.”
“No it doesn’t,” agreed Cherri, “but think about what does. This Katana has ruined Omunga with his policies. He not only started a war that is literally tearing this country apart, but he intentionally starved his people. Who can justify following such a madman?”
“You think he intentionally starved the people?” asked the colonel.
“I am sure of it,” Cherri nodded vigorously. “General Kapla told me that the Imperial Guards had been issued orders to stop the Sakovans from supplying food to the Omungan cities. I am not sure if you realize it or not, but the Sakovans were sending caravans of food to each Omungan city. They did not do it for Okata because of the risks with the large armies being here. Why would a leader do such a thing to his own people?”
“One might try to justify it by saying that it would hurt the enemy,” frowned the colonel, “but that is hardly plausible with a starving population. Do you think the spy was telling the truth about the Katana and the historian?”
“I do know the historian that she was referring to,” replied Cherri. “He was always alongside Larst before he was chosen Katana. Isn’t it strange that he disappeared the night before the vote? Isn’t it also strange how Larst, who had been a vocal proponent of peace, declared war as one of his first orders? Yes, Colonel, I think she is telling the truth.”
“I don’t want to believe it,” replied the colonel, “but I cannot escape the truth of her accusations. It is good to hear your reflections, Cherri. I wanted to make sure that I was not so taken by the spy that I alone had come to such conclusions. We need to get to the garden immediately.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Cherri.
“I am going to comply with the spy’s request,” decided the colonel. “I may hang for it, but the truth must be known about this Katana. Besides, I can see no way to stop the Sakovans from killing the Katana if they already have him. I will agree to take the Katana outside, but none of the Sakovans will be allowed to leave this palace. They will pay with their lives if anything happens to the Katana. Bang on the door and scream. Someone will hear us.”
* * *
HawkShadow slid behind the door in the Council Chamber as SkyDancer made the blindfolded and gagged Councilors form a line. Without warning, she pulled the door open. The Imperial Guards outside the door jumped in response.
“Put your weapons down,” ordered SkyDancer as she started leading the Councilors out of the room. “I have a knife at the throat of the First Minister and a magical garrote on each of the Councilors. If you harm me, they will all die.”
SkyDancer did not give the Monitors time to react. She herded the Councilors into the corridor and turned towards the front doors of the palace. The Monitors quickly followed along, one of them turning and running towards the office of the colonel.
“Stop,” shouted one of the Monitors. “You are not supposed to leave the room. Where are you taking them?”
“Outside,” SkyDancer said simply as she continued to move the men along the corridor.
After everyone had moved several dozen paces along the corridor, HawkShadow slipped out of the Council Chamber wearing the uniform of a Monitor. He checked the corridor and then ran towards SkyDancer. He pulled his sword as he slid to a stop next to SkyDancer and held the sword to her throat. Several of the Monitors gasped in fear of what the female Sakovan would do.
“You dare to harm me?” snapped SkyDancer.
“I have not harmed you,” replied HawkShadow. “I am stopping you. Colonel Zanta has agreed to have the Councilors taken outside to the plaza, but you are not allowed to leave. I am to take you to his office.”
“That is unacceptable,” retorted SkyDancer. “I don’t trust you to escort them outside.”
“You have no choice,” countered HawkShadow as the other Monitors looked on in confusion. “Either you agree to our generous terms or you die here and now. The choice is yours.”
“I will kill them all,” threatened SkyDancer.
“The choice is yours,” HawkShadow repeated. “Colonel Zanta said it was not negotiable.”
“The Councilors will be taken out just as they are?” asked SkyDancer.
“Exactly as they are now,” nodded HawkShadow. “Not a single Monitor will touch them other than to guide their steps.”
“Very well,” sighed SkyDancer as she took her knife away from the throat of the First Minister.
HawkShadow reached over and took the knife from SkyDancer’s hand. He turned to the group of Monitors and nodded at them.
“Carry out Colonel Zanta’s order,” HawkShadow commanded. “Move the Councilors into the plaza and guard them there. Do not try to remove thei
r blindfolds or gags. Especially keep your hands away from the magical garrotes.”
“Some of us should accompany you to the colonel’s office,” one of the real Monitors said.
“This Sakovan will not cause me any troubles,” HawkShadow shook his head. “Carry out the Colonel’s orders and be quick about it.”
HawkShadow prodded SkyDancer with his sword and she obediently turned and walked away from the Councilors. The Monitors watched them disappear around a corner.
“That guys has a lot of guts,” said one of the Monitors. “Bet he gets a promotion out of this. Who is he?”
“Never saw him before,” shrugged another Monitor. “Probably from Zanta’s personal guard.”
* * *
The Monitor ran through the corridors of the Imperial Palace. He heard shouting and banging as he rounded a corner and slid to a halt outside of the colonel’s office. He shook his head in confusion when he saw the door key still in the lock. He reached down and turned the key. The door unlocked, and the colonel pulled it open immediately.
“Thank you,” nodded the colonel as he pushed past Cherri and into the corridor. “Come with me,” he ordered the Monitor. “We must get to the Katana.”
“But there is trouble at the Council Chamber,” responded the Monitor.
“That can wait,” Colonel Zack said as he started running. “Come on. There is not much time before the fighting begins.”
The colonel and the Monitor ran through the maze of corridors to the Katana’s private garden. They came to a halt as they entered the corridor leading to the garden and saw a dozen Monitors standing before a splintered door.
“What is going on?” demanded the colonel.
“Someone must be inside with the Katana,” reported one of the Monitors, “although we checked the garden before allowing the Katana to enter. We have attempted to break the door down, but something is stopping us from entering.”
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