“I am surprised that you remember me,” Talli replied as he tried to be sociable.
“I rarely forget a face,” Katzu responded. “You are avoiding my question.”
“A Torak caravan was attacked,” sighed Cortain Talli. “We managed to defeat the attackers.”
“I have heard rumors of Torak caravans that have gone missing,” declared Katzu as he gazed at the carnage. “It would appear that gray warriors attacked you. I hope your losses were not too severe?”
Cortain Talli’s mind whirled with the knowledge that Katzu represented the Lords’ Council and that a member of that council had just attacked the caravan. He was not sure if Katzu would carry news of the encounter back to the capital. Lord Marak would be furious if everyone knew who his enemy was before he knew.
“The battle turned in our favor,” Talli finally replied. “I do hope these Imperial troops were not sent out to aid in the battle?”
“They are my escort,” answered Katzu. “I must mediate a border dispute. I sense that there is more to what is happening here than you care to tell me, Cortain. You are aware that I am a representative of the Lords’ Council?”
“I am very aware of that,” nodded Talli as he realized that any of the Imperial soldiers would be free to tell of what they saw. “In fact, your arrival presents me with a problem. May I speak to you privately?”
Katzu frowned, but he nodded as he dismounted. Cortain Talli led him off to the side of the road. Katzu waited patiently for the Torak cortain to speak.
“This is the fourth Torak caravan that has been ambushed,” Talli began. “The wagons and cargo are not being stolen. They are being destroyed. All evidence of the ambushes is swiftly removed. The last ambush was not totally in secret. One of our men escaped and reported it. This time we stationed two cortes of men in the forest beforehand. We were very successful in destroying the attackers. In fact, we took two of them captive.”
“Then you have had a great day,” shrugged Katzu. “I sense different feelings from you, though.”
“Indeed,” nodded Talli. “These are not gray warriors at all. They are clansmen disguised as gray warriors.”
“That is inexcusable,” Katzu scowled. “What clan would allow such a despicable act?”
“That is where my nervousness comes in, Katzu,” explained Cortain Talli. “I am supposed to personally deliver that information to Lord Marak. If you and the Imperial troops report what you have seen here today, Lord Marak’s enemy will be forewarned. That would put the Torak clan in grave jeopardy.”
“I think it would serve notice on your enemy that you are not to be trifled with,” argued Katzu. “I do not see the problem?”
“What if I told you that the clan that these gray warriors are from,” Talli asked softly, “sits on the Lords’ Council?”
Katzu’s face grew pale and his veins bulged. “I would demand a full investigation and an appropriate punishment for your lies,” Katzu answered sternly. “Do not besmirch the reputation of the Lords’ Council.”
“I do not wish to,” Cortain Talli said nervously, “but I have my Vows of Service to Lord Marak to uphold. If I could prove to you that a member of the Lords’ Council ordered this attack, would you agree to hold off telling anyone until Lord Marak approves it? Surely you can understand the gravity of such a thing.”
“Any member of the Lords’ Council could crush the Torak clan without using more than a portion of his army,” nodded Katzu. “What proof do you have of this allegation?”
“I just began interrogating one of the prisoners before you arrived,” answered Cortain Talli. “He admitted that he was a soldier in the Nordon clan. Their uniforms are hidden in a cave beyond the ridge. I sent a man over there to investigate.”
“Bring me the prisoner that you have not interrogated,” demanded Katzu. “Do not speak to him.”
Cortain Talli nodded and walked over to the second prisoner. He grabbed his arm and brought him to his feet. The man looked around as he was guided towards Katzu. He saw the Imperial troops and shook his head.
“I am Katzu,” the mediator declared when the prisoner was halted in front of him. “I am a mediator for the Lords’ Council. What clan do you belong to?”
“I have nothing to say,” scowled the prisoner.
“Let me make something clear to you,” Katzu said calmly, “I represent the Lords’ Council. Not even a lord sitting on the Lords’ Council would dare to defy me without full approval of the entire council. Your Vows of Service cannot even shield you from answering me. The Lords’ Council supersedes your vows. Now, I know that your uniforms are already being gathered from the cave beyond the ridge. Make this easy on yourself. Answer my question.”
The prisoner turned and glared at the other prisoner. Katzu’s hand grabbed the prisoner by the chin and turned the man’s head to face him.
“You will look at me when I am speaking to you,” demanded Katzu. “I am only going to ask my questions once. If you do not answer, I have the authority to force you to answer. Trust me, you do not want me to use that authority. Answer.”
“I am a soldier in the Nordon clan,” the prisoner said softly.
“Under whose authority are you acting at this moment?” asked Katzu.
“Direct orders from Lord Marshal Orik,” answered the captive.
“Is Lord Patel aware of these orders?” asked Katzu.
“He is,” nodded the prisoner. “He was present when Lord Marshal Orik sent us off.”
“And what exactly where your orders?” pushed the mediator.
“We were to wait at the Nordon estate outside of Deep Bend,” answered the prisoner. “When we were notified that a Torak caravan would be coming, we were to dress like gray warriors and destroy it.”
“Destroy it?” asked Katzu.
“Aye,” nodded the man. “Kill everybody and destroy the wagons. We are supposed to hide the evidence so that nobody would know that the caravan ever existed.”
“Do you know why the Nordon clan is doing this?” asked Katzu.
“No,” the man shook his head. “They don’t tell us the whys of things. They just tell us what we are to do. What will happen to me now?”
“That is up to Lord Marak of the Torak clan,” shrugged the mediator. “Go back and sit where you were before.”
“Do you understand the predicament that I am in?” asked Cortain Talli.
“I do,” nodded Katzu. “I probably should take this matter before the Lords’ Council immediately. To have this type of behavior from a lord sitting on the council saddens me greatly. This is not the Khadora that I love.”
“Technically,” smiled Cortain Talli, “no clan has asked for mediation in this matter. Would it be permissible to ask for your vow of silence until Lord Marak learns of this treachery?”
“And what can Lord Marak do?” questioned the mediator. “The Torak clan is not going to stand up to Lord Patel. He would be crushed too easily.”
“I cannot say what Lord Marak will do with the information,” shrugged the cortain, “but I feel he has a right to know before this is made public. It is Torak bodies and cargo that have littered this road three times before. If Lord Patel knows that his identity has been revealed, his armies will march on the Torak clan immediately.”
“You are correct about Lord Patel’s reaction,” frowned Katzu. “If I brought this matter before the Lords’ Council, the Torak clan would be wiped out before the matter was resolved in Khadoratung.”
“And that would not be fair,” Talli pointed out.
Katzu nodded as he thought. Finally he said, “There has been no request for the services of this mediator. I am privy to certain knowledge of events in this part of Khadora, but I see no immediate need for me to act upon that knowledge. I will instruct my Imperial escort that discussion of this incident is not in the best interests of Khadora at this time. Tell Lord Marak to contact me when he learns of this treachery.”
“It shall be as you say, Katzu,” bowed
Cortain Talli.
Katzu returned to his escort of Imperial soldiers. He mounted his horse and waved his escort forward as the Torak soldiers cleared off the road. Within minutes the Imperial troops had passed out of sight. A Torak soldier carrying a green and white uniform ran up to Cortain Talli.
“He told the truth,” gasped the soldier. “There are enough uniforms in there for an entire corte. Were those Imperial troops that I saw down here?”
“They were,” nodded Cortain Talli. “We need to clean this area up before somebody else happens along. Send the caravan to the campsite they had chosen. We will meet them there later.”
The cortain signaled for another soldier. He gave orders to drag the dead into the woods and bury them. Then he ordered the two prisoners bound and placed in one of the wagons.
It took almost an hour to clean up the ambush site and catch up to the caravan. When the Torak cortes arrived, Cortain Talli walked over to the air mage.
“I need to send a message to Fardale immediately,” declared Cortain Talli. “Can you do that?”
“Give me just a few moments and you can deliver the message directly to Lord Marshal Yenga yourself,” nodded the mage.
* * *
The Council Room was large and immaculately white. A long white marble table occupied the center of the room with six chairs around it. Occupying the six chairs were the most powerful lords in all of Khadora. They were the Lords’ Council.
“Unless there is any other pressing business,” said Lord Mirakotto, “I think we should adjourn for today.”
“We still have not addressed this business with Lord Marak,” interjected Lord Patel. “The longer we let this type of behavior fester, the harder it will be to remove it.”
“What is there to discuss?” questioned Lord Mirakotto. “The man is death waiting to happen. Why waste our time in this chamber discussing him?”
“None of us has gotten to where we are by leaving loose ends hanging,” argued Lord Patel. “All we have to do is issue a decree from this body to remove the Torak clan from Khadora. We can outlaw it.”
“We cannot,” Lord Woton shook his head. “Only the Emperor can disband a clan.”
“But this body actually certified this Torak clan,” protested Lord Patel.
“Lord Woton is correct,” shrugged Lord Mirakotto as he smiled at Lord Patel. “The Lords’ Council can recognize a new clan, but once we have done so, only the Emperor can dissolve it. Look, I agree that Lord Marak must be dealt with, but I wonder if the Lords’ Council is the proper venue? The Torak clan is a small bothersome group at the very edge of Khadora. Historically the frontier has been a land of misfits whose only purpose was that of a buffer zone to protect the Imperial Valley from intruders. Without Lord Marak, the Torak clan will cease to be a problem.”
“And without the Torak clan, Lord Marak is harmless,” countered Lord Garic. “Removing either will end this foolishness about freeing the slaves. Lord Marak is but a gnat.”
“And not worthy of the Lords’ Council’s time,” nodded Lord Mirakotto as he fixed his gaze upon Lord Patel. “His fate awaits him no matter what this body decides.”
“Perhaps you are right,” nodded Lord Patel as he caught his colleague’s meaning. “Perhaps you and I can discuss this outside of chambers, Lord Mirakotto?”
Lord Mirakotto shrugged and adjourned the meeting.
Chapter 9
Khadoratung
The barge from River’s Bend docked at Khadoratung and the group disembarked. They moved together to the edge of the market place. Lord Marak stopped and pointed to a tall white structure visible over the top of the row of inns bordering the market place.
“That is the Imperial Palace,” Lord Marak said. “I will be spending my days inside it. Unfortunately, they do not welcome Sakovans and Fakarans. I will send one of my men out to the market place daily. We can keep in touch that way. There is a large park between this market place and the Imperial Palace. Perhaps that would be a good place to meet?”
“I would prefer something a little less visible,” frowned StarWind. “A Torak soldier meeting with foreigners might invite suspicions. Have your man walk idly through the market place and then select an inn for his midday meal. That will give us ample opportunity to speak to him.”
“So it shall be,” Lord Marak nodded distractedly as his head swung around and scanned the crowd.
“Is something wrong?” asked HawkShadow. “You appear apprehensive.”
“I was supposed to meet one of my air mages here,” frowned Lord Marak. “I wanted her to enter the palace as one of my staff. I want to keep in contact with Fardale.”
“You have mages in Khadoratung?” questioned Mistake.
“Not really,” answered Lord Marak. “Kasa sent a group of them to Chantise to start a mage school. One of them was to meet me here.”
“I could be your mage,” offered StarWind. “I mean as far as getting messages to Fardale. I can use the air tunnel.”
“As can I,” interjected Mistake boastfully. “I bet I hold the record for the longest air tunnel. Ghala is much farther from Fardale than the Sakova.”
“Thank you,” grinned Lord Marak as he saw a young fair-haired woman approaching him, “but Latril has found me. I will leave you three to do whatever it is you do best.”
Botal had his squad form a protective wall around Lord Marak and Latril as the mage joined the group. The Toraks strode across the market place and along a wide avenue towards the Imperial Palace.
“Any news from Fardale?” Lord Marak asked Latril.
“Not as of last night,” Latril answered. “I have not had a chance to check with them today.”
“What of the mage school?” asked Lord Marak. “Has a location been found?”
“Oh yes,” beamed the young woman. “We purchased an old estate just on the outskirts of Chantise. The old mansion is very large and can easily house several hundred students. The property has very poor soil, but it is extensive and affords many areas of privacy for our practice sessions with battle magic.”
“Private enough to avoid new students learning of our activities?” inquired the lord.
“Yes,” Latril nodded. “We tested it thoroughly. We can practice in peace and no one will know.”
“Excellent,” smiled Lord Marak. “You will be posing as my personal assistant while we are in the palace. You will be by my side most of the time, but you need to find a place that will allow safe use of the air tunnel.”
“Perhaps our quarters will have a window,” responded Latril. “That is all I would need to remain in contact with Fardale.”
“I suppose that we will not have a problem,” remarked Lord Marak, as the group entered a large park and the Imperial Palace came into view. “It is a massive structure.”
Latril gazed across the park at the huge white building. Her head panned left and right as her eyes sought the ends of the palace.
“It the largest building I have ever seen,” she said. “Our whole clan could reside within its walls.”
“Considerably more than the Torak clan could fit inside,” chuckled Lord Marak. “Hundreds of clans have quarters inside the building. While the smaller clans may only bring a squad with them, some of the largest are reported to have escorts of three cortes or more.”
“Have you ever been inside?” Latril asked.
“No,” Lord Marak shook his head. “I have been to Khadoratung before, but never inside the Imperial Palace. It shall be a learning experience for all of us.”
As the small Torak group passed through the park and approached the Imperial Palace, Lord Marak became aware of people pointing towards him. Lord Marak subconsciously stiffened his posture as Botal led the group through the gates and along the path leading to one of the entrances. When they reached the entrance door there was a squad of Imperial troops waiting there. Botal halted the small column and Lord Marak stepped forward.
“I am Lord Marak of the Torak clan,” Marak announced to
the squad leader of the Imperial troops.
“I do not recognize your colors, Lord Marak,” the squad leader replied as he signaled to one of his men. “Please wait off to the side while I get confirmation of your clan.”
One of the Imperial soldiers disappeared through the doors. Lord Marak could only nod as Botal gave orders to the Torak soldiers to move off the pathway. The Toraks waited humiliatingly as other clans arrived and were admitted to the Imperial Palace. Lord Marak could not miss the snickers and soft jeers that were offered among members of the other clans as they passed by. After what felt like an eternity, the soldier returned and spoke to his squad leader. The squad leader approached Lord Marak.
“I apologize for the delay, Lord Marak,” smiled the imperial squad leader. “I am sure you can understand the need for security here in the Imperial Palace. I see you have one member of your group that is not in uniform. She must wear something identifying her with your clan.”
“I am sorry,” blushed Latril as she reached into her pouch and extracted a small pin of black and silver. The pin identified her as a member of the lord’s staff, and she pinned it to her tunic.
“You must wear the pin at all times within the walls of the palace,” warned the squad leader. “I will have a man show your party to your quarters, Lord Marak. Be advised that weapons must be left in your quarters until you are ready to leave the palace. There are no exceptions.”
Lord Marak nodded as the squad leader summoned one of his soldiers.
“Show Lord Mark and his party to his quarters,” the squad leader instructed the soldier. “It will be in the left wing, just past the Situ clan. It has not been marked yet.”
The Imperial soldier saluted the squad leader and led the Toraks through the doors of the Imperial Palace. Lord Marak’s mind dismissed the humiliating experience the moment they entered the palace. His eyes widened as he viewed the massive entry foyer. A broad expanse of white marble floor extended to each side as far as he could see. Many other doorways entered the foyer from outside, and Lord Marak could see groups of new arrivals passing through each one of them. Huge marble columns soared upward to hold a ceiling many levels above the entrance level.
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