Island of Darkness

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “Do not even think of deposing another one,” warned StarWind. “I am sure that the army generals would seize control of the country.”

  “That is a problem for the future,” nodded Lyra. “At least I understand now that I did not misjudge the man. Ready my caravans for Alamar. The sooner we get there, the less chance that the Imperial Guards from Okata will have to arrive before we do.”

  * * *

  Temiker led the gray-hooded Ukaro through the streets of Alamar towards the western gate. They were heading to the fields outside the walls when they were forced to pause at the main road leading through the city. Three wagons loaded with Sakovan food proceeded along the street. Citizens poured from the buildings and cheered as the wagons passed. A huge crowd flowed into the street and joyfully followed the caravan. People waved to the Sakovans and called them by name. It was a carnival atmosphere that pervaded the city. Farther down the street, the local Imperial Guards cheered and cleared a path to the marketplace.

  On the steps of the Imperial Guard headquarters, a captain from Okata watched the display as his squad led their horses towards the stables behind the building. He shook his head in disgust and entered the building. He walked across the floor to the counter and demanded to speak with General Manitow. The Imperial Guard behind the counter gave him directions, and the captain strode off purposely. He passed along a corridor and entered a large office. He saluted as the general looked up.

  “I am Captain Gachiral,” he declared. “I have been sent from Okata with directives concerning the Sakovans.”

  “What are the directives?” asked General Manitow.

  “The Katana has declared that the Sakova must be conquered,” stated the captain. “Already the armies are positioning for a push into the Sakovan heartland. You are instructed to secure the city of Alamar, and await the arrival of the army of General Romero. He will be here within the week.”

  “Is the Katana aware that the Sakovans are supplying us with food?” asked General Manitow.

  “He is aware,” nodded the captain. “He has ordered that all such caravans be followed to determine the location of the Sakovan stronghold. The sooner we find StarCity, the sooner we can crush it.”

  “Are they mad?” retorted the general. “Without Sakovan food our people will starve to death. Those caravans are the only thing feeding the people. Surely you misunderstood the orders that you carried?”

  “I understand the orders perfectly,” countered the captain. “Why should we live on handouts from the Sakovans when we can seize all of their food? The starvation of the people only accentuates the need for haste in finding StarCity.”

  The general shook his head with dismay. He could not imagine such an order coming down from Okata, yet he could not defy the Katana. Desperately he sought a way to stall the effects of the orders.

  “I am not convinced that you have carried this message in its entirety,” stated the general. “I demand that you return to General Romero and confirm the orders of the Katana.”

  “There is no need…” began the captain.

  “That was not a request, Captain,” bellowed the general. “You will return to General Romero and verify these orders. I want the Katana’s orders in writing. Do you understand?”

  “I understand perfectly,” spat the captain as he saluted.

  The captain turned and strode out of the office. General Manitow rose from his chair and began pacing the floor. Finally, he marched out of the Imperial Guard headquarters and walked to the marketplace. He saw SpringThaw sitting on the seat of the lead wagon and walked over to her.

  “General,” SpringThaw greeted warmly. “Your soldiers are very efficient with the distribution. The people have learned not to push and shove. It is a testament to your leadership.”

  “Thank you, SpringThaw,” replied the general, “but I carry grave news. The Katana is moving to halt these shipments.”

  “Why?” frowned SpringThaw. “I cannot imagine that he would prohibit free food for his people. It makes no sense.”

  “I agree,” sighed the general as he felt that his thoughts were on the edge of treason. He knew that he dared not disclose too much to the Sakovans.

  “What will happen if we continue the caravans?” asked SpringThaw. “The people will not last long without regular shipments.”

  “You will be risking your life and the lives of the other five Sakovans,” frowned the general.

  “Your men would kill us?” SpringThaw asked with confusion.

  “This is not my doing,” the general tried to explain. “An army from Okata will be arriving here within the week. While I am in charge of Alamar, General Romero leads an army of the Katana. His Imperial Guards will chase you all the way back to StarCity. Is there some way that I can contact you in the Sakova?”

  “Why would you want to contact us?” FalconEye asked skeptically as he stepped out from beside the wagon.

  “Because I cannot believe the orders that were delivered,” stated the general. “I have sent for confirmation so that you have time to get home safely. I plan to speak to Mayor Reaker about this matter. Perhaps he can talk some sense into the Katana.”

  “So you would like to let us know when it is safe to resume deliveries?” inquired SpringThaw.

  “Precisely,” nodded the general. “I do not want to see harm come to you, but I cannot go against direct orders. Is there a way to get word to you?”

  “There is,” FalconEye interjected before SpringThaw could speak. “If you can find a mage in this city who has the capability to send up a strong light into the night sky, I am sure that we will see it.”

  “There is a magic school in Alamar,” nodded the general. “I believe that you came to see me the first day with their master. His name is Temiker.”

  “Ah,” smiled FalconEye, “he was the citizen who led us to your headquarters. Yes, I remember him. Can he do such magic?”

  “I would presume so,” shrugged the general. “I know little about magic, but I understand that he is very talented.”

  “Then we shall await the night light,” smiled FalconEye. “Thank you for the warning.”

  General Manitow nodded grimly as he turned and left.

  “That was clever of you,” whispered SpringThaw. “Now I understand why you were sent with me. I probably would have answered in such a way that the general would know that we have spies in his city.”

  “You did well,” FalconEye smiled thinly. “We should return to the Sakova with haste. I think there was much more that the general did not share.”

  “The wagons are empty,” SpringThaw declared. “There is no reason to delay other than to watch the happy people getting their share of food.”

  “I think we can dispense with that on this trip,” FalconEye responded. “I will tell the others that we are leaving.”

  Within minutes the Sakovans were ready to leave. The Imperial Guards were surprised to see the Sakovans leaving so early, but they swiftly created a corridor through the crowd for the wagons. The people waved and shouted thanks as the Sakovans left the marketplace and rode out of the city. Within an hour, the caravan was out of sight of the city.

  “We are being followed,” warned FalconEye.

  “Imperial Guards?” asked SpringThaw without turning around.

  “Yes,” answered FalconEye. “It is a group of around twenty. They are trying not to be seen, but I have counted them. Turn to the north.”

  “That will take us to the coast,” frowned SpringThaw. “We will be trapped there.”

  “We cannot lead the Imperial Guards to StarCity,” explained FalconEye. “If we are to die, it will be in Omunga, not the Sakova.”

  “Do you think they will attack us?” questioned SpringThaw.

  “As soon as they realize that we are not heading for the Sakova,” nodded FalconEye.

  “Can we defeat them?” asked SpringThaw.

  “We have wagons,” FalconEye shook his head. “We cannot outrun them. If we stop to unhit
ch the horses, they will attack before we finish the job.”

  “But we have bows,” argued SpringThaw.

  “As do they,” FalconEye pointed out. “We are also not in the Sakova. There are no trees to hide behind here. Oh, we can give them a fight, but they are wearing armor and we are not. They can stand off at a distance and rain twenty arrows upon us. They can also choose the time of the attack. If we were in the Sakova, we might have a chance. Out here in the open we have none.”

  “Then why not lead them into the Sakova?” asked SpringThaw.

  “It is too far,” explained FalconEye. “We would have to rest the horses before we reached the fringe of the Sakova. These men will not pass up that opportunity to kill us.”

  “Even if it means not finding StarCity?” questioned SpringThaw.

  “Yes,” stated FalconEye. “They are not patient men. Their impatience is why I was able to spot them so easily. The sooner we lead them astray, the safer the secrecy of StarCity.”

  “I understand,” SpringThaw nodded sadly. “Even our general direction out of Alamar has already told them too much. I will turn gradually to the north so they do not notice it right away. You should alert the others to what is going on.”

  * * *

  Ukaro knelt in the field of watula and slowly ran his hand up the withered stalk of grain, his fingers pausing at each decayed area. He snapped the stalk between his fingers and brought one end to his nose. His split lips curled with distaste.

  “These plants have been poisoned,” he announced as he stood up.

  “Obviously,” nodded Temiker, “but by what? I have never seen such a disease before. I do not think it is natural.”

  “It is not,” agreed the Chula shaman. “It is magical in nature. Look at these burn marks along the stalk. It is as if a mist of acid was sprayed upon the plants.”

  “But for all of the fields to be infected,” argued Temiker, “someone would have noticed the person spraying the plants.”

  “Not necessarily,” countered Ukaro. “The infected areas are even now producing more acid. The winds will carry droplets to the next field. Someone merely needed to start the infection going. The wind will deliver it around the country.”

  “How do we counteract it?” asked Temiker. “Is that even possible?”

  “It is possible,” nodded Ukaro, “but it will not be easy to explain to the farmers. All of these fields must be destroyed as the first step to a fresh crop.”

  “Destroyed?” echoed Temiker. “Do you mean to burn the fields?”

  “We must,” nodded Ukaro. “All traces of the poison must be eradicated. The fields can be replanted after the soil is treated to remove the residual poison.”

  “That could take several seasons before the fields produce again,” frowned Temiker. “Even the Sakovan supplies will not last long enough to forestall the starvation.”

  “I know magics that will speed the growth of new fields,” offered Ukaro. “I will explain them to you, and you can teach them to your students.”

  “And what will stop the winds from carrying the poison back to the new fields?” inquired Temiker. “We cannot stop the wind.”

  “The poison needs live plants to propagate,” explained the Chula. “We can build a large wall around the new fields. Stone is preferable, but wood will do if it is not live. It must be a barrier tall enough to diminish the amount of poison drifting in from infected fields. The crops must be watched very carefully. At the first sign of infection, the bad crops must be destroyed immediately. It will not be easy, but these fields can be productive again.”

  “That is the most encouraging thing I have heard in a long time,” responded Temiker. “I know the people in Alamar. They will donate their time to help these farmers.”

  “I will take some samples back to the schoolhouse with me,” Ukaro said as he snapped off several stalks and wrapped them in a cloth. “Perhaps we can find a solution that can counteract the poison. If we can, the fences will not be necessary, but you should plan to erect them until we find that solution.”

  “I will speak to the mayor about it,” promised Temiker as his attention was distracted by a group of Imperial Guards riding past the field.

  He stared at the small group of men as they rode by. Most of the men were bandaged from what appeared to be recent wounds, as blood had soiled more than one uniform.

  “What disturbs you about the soldiers?” asked Ukaro as he saw the Omungan mage watching the Imperial Guards.

  “For one,” frowned Temiker, “they appear to be skirting around the city. They have seen recent action so they should be returning to the city, but they are not. In fact, they are taking pains to avoid it.”

  “There is more to your worry than that,” probed the Chula shaman. “What is on your mind?”

  “I am worried about what that recent action might have been,” admitted Temiker. “There is little organized theft in the eastern provinces. The only foe I could imagine for those troops are the Sakovans. There was a caravan in the city this morning. They should be on their way back to the Sakova by now.”

  “Then it seems that Omunga has declared war on the Sakovans,” growled Ukaro. “Perhaps we should destroy those white-clad fools.”

  “No,” Temiker said swiftly. “The situation here is tense enough as it is. We shall not act on our imaginations. Let us return to Alamar and find out what has happened.”

  Ukaro growled again as Temiker led the way across the field. By the time they reached the road, the Imperial Guards had faded into the distance. Temiker walked quickly as he led the way towards the gates and entered the city.

  “Perhaps you should wait at the schoolhouse,” Temiker suggested as he halted in front of the Imperial Guard headquarters. “I doubt the Omungans would appreciate another distraction right now.”

  “I will stay with you,” replied Ukaro. “I want to know what happened.”

  Temiker sighed anxiously as he nodded and walked up the steps and into the building. General Manitow was in the large foyer talking to another officer. Temiker headed directly for him with Ukaro a few steps behind.

  “General Manitow,” interrupted Temiker, “I just saw some Imperial Guards outside the city. They appeared to have been in a recent battle. Do you know anything about that?”

  The general turned with annoyance on his face. He stared at the mage and his features softened.

  “In battle?” he said distractedly. “No battle has been reported to me. What makes you think there has been a battle?”

  “Many of them were bandaged,” reported Temiker. “There was blood on their uniforms and they appeared to be avoiding entrance to the city. They came from the north.”

  “How many soldiers?” asked the general.

  “Around a dozen,” answered Temiker.

  “There were twenty of them this morning,” stated the officer who had been speaking with the general. “I think your fears are justified after all. Our food deliveries are over.”

  “Send out men to bring those soldiers back here,” General Manitow snapped. “Use force if necessary. I ordered that captain to return directly to General Romero. I did not give him leave to organize attacks in my province.”

  “As you command,” saluted the officer.

  “I also want a squad to look for the Sakovan caravan,” continued the general. “Send a healer with them.”

  “Are they to be arrested?” asked the officer.

  “No,” sighed the general. “They are to be aided. I doubt that we will find them alive, but we must try.”

  Chapter 10

  Honor the Dead

  MistyTrail leaned over and gently shook Mistake. She placed her hand lightly on Mistake’s lips, and the Fakaran thief opened her eyes and stared questioningly at MistyTrail. The unspoken question was answered by the dull sound of voices coming from below. Mistake immediately sat up.

  “How long have they been here?” whispered Mistake.

  “They just arrived,” MistyTrail wh
ispered back. “It sounds like only two of them. The first floor must have been flooded during the night because they were complaining about cleaning it up.”

  “Only two?” questioned Mistake. “Maybe we can overpower them and flee.”

  “Not a good idea,” advised MistyTrail. “Two others are coming by boat. I guess that old rowboat is not the only boat they use. Mistake,” she frowned as she continued, “I think they use this house to keep watch on the sea. I do not know where we are, but I suspect that it is someplace where strangers are not welcome. We need to sneak out of here.”

  Pounding footsteps on the stairs made both women reach for their knives, but the noise stopped on the floor below them.

  “It’s dry up here,” shouted the second story man. “I am going to open the shutters and let things dry out.”

  “How can we sneak out?” whispered Mistake. “There is only one staircase. Don’t you think they will come up here and open these shutters too?”

  “Then we best move quickly,” MistyTrail decided as she rose and tiptoed to the clothesline.

  She gathered their clothes and stuffed them into Mistake’s pack. She handed the pack to Mistake and then picked up her own and strapped it over her borrowed red uniform. Mistake rose and untied the long rope they had strung up for a clothesline.

  “We can’t lower ourselves by rope,” warned MistyTrail. “It will dangle directly in front of the window downstairs.”

  “There is always a way,” grinned Mistake as she moved silently to the front window. “I hope you are agile. Find the middle of this rope for me.”

  MistyTrail frowned with confusion as she took the rope and held the two loose ends together. She played the twin strands between her hands until she came to the middle. Mistake silently opened the shutters and reached for the center of the rope.

  “Hold my legs,” she whispered to MistyTrail as she climbed out the window and stood on the sill facing the building.

  MistyTrail wrapped her arms around Mistake’s legs while the thief reached for the peak of the roof. She looped the center of the rope over the peak. She then pulled just enough rope through the window to allow each strand to rest on different sides of the peak.