“How do we do so?” asked the colonel. “I know nothing of magic.”
“Just remove them,” Lyra smiled.
While the colonel was removing the garrotes, Lyra turned to the crowd of citizens.
“You have heard the offer of the Councilors,” she said loudly. “What do the people of Okata want?”
The crowd was torn. Some called for their execution, while others wanted to spare them. Finally, an old woman separated from the crowd and approached the Councilors. The crowd fell silent.
“I think that joining the Sakova is our best path,” the woman said loudly. “Were the Council to make it official, it would be a fitting end to Omunga. I would urge my fellow citizens to allow this. I would also like to stipulate one condition. Each of the Councilors must swear under the threat of death that they will no longer seek public office, or seek to influence the public in any way. They have led us down a poor path and must not be allowed to ever again.”
The crowd roared with approval and Lyra nodded to the First Minister. He cleared his throat and turned to face his fellow Councilors. In as dignified a manner as he could muster, the First Minister called a meeting of the Katana’s Council to order. He put forth a motion to surrender the country to the Star of Sakova. It passed unanimously. He also gave the oath required of him by the citizens and waited until each Councilor did likewise. He then formally ended the meeting with an announcement that the Katana’s Council was disbanded. He turned and bowed low to the Star of Sakova.
The entire Council mimicked the manner of the First Minister and bowed to the Star of Sakova. The people cheered wildly, but Colonel Zanta shouted orders to his men. Each of the Monitors suddenly dropped to one knee and bowed their heads to the Star of Sakova as the colonel pledged himself and his men to her service. The crowd suddenly realized that the country had indeed changed hands. The people in the front row bowed to the Star of Sakova. With a rippling effect, the entire plaza bowed to their new leader. Tears came to Lyra’s eyes as she raised her face upward and issued a prayer of thanks to Kaltara.
THE END
Maps and information can be found at http://www.rstuttle.com/
You can contact the author at: [email protected]
Island of Darkness Page 49
