“Your claim is no older than mine,” retorted Lord Marak, “and my Clan also has a claim.”
“Will you two stop fighting!” exclaimed Glenda. “I have lived a nightmare under this man for fourteen years and the two of you act like his death is your property. No claim can take precedence over mine. Perhaps I should kill him myself.”
Lord Marak and Ukaro stared at Glenda with open mouths. Neither of them had ever heard an offensive word out of her mouth before and they were shocked.
“Does it really matter who kills Lord Ridak?” Glenda continued. “Marak, do you believe that I would love you any less if you were not the one to kill Lord Ridak? Or you, Ukaro? Let the fates decide what happens to Lord Ridak. This family has been torn apart enough already. I will not permit the two of you to argue over who shall have the pleasure of killing that man.”
Both men lowered their eyes, but it was Lord Marak who spoke. “I have to go to Lituk Valley in two days to meet with an emissary of the Lords Council. Lord Ridak seeks to regain title to Fardale. After he fails he will be coming to Fardale to forcibly take it back. I do not seek to deprive you of your revenge, Father, but it is a problem which I must deal with and I do not wish to take the chance of losing you again.”
“You will not lose me to the likes of Lord Ridak,” nodded Ukaro. “You are the Torak and you must do what you must do. I offer my services to the Torak for the upcoming battle. I do not insist that you take my offer and I will not take offense if you deliver the killing blow, but if there is a possibility of him being taken alive, I would like to take him captive.”
“I will keep you informed of the situation,” agreed Lord Marak. “If he can be captured, he is yours to do with as you wish. I am sorry for bringing this cloud into your day of sunshine. I must go and prepare for my journey.”
Lord Marak rose to leave and Glenda rose and embraced him. Ukaro rose and hugged both of them and then Lord Marak turned and left. His mind was lost in thought on the journey back to Fardale and he appeared at the main gate before he realized the trip was over. He saw the Squad of Imperial Soldiers had arrived and hurried to Lord Marshal Yenga’s study.
“I will be departing immediately,” Lord Marak informed his Lord Marshal. “You must finalize plans for their attack. Lord Ridak is to be captured if possible.”
“Do you think all of the Situ estates will be involved?” asked Lord Marshal Yenga.
“Absolutely,” confirmed Lord Marak. “Lord Marshal Grefon will not want to take any chances of me escaping.”
“I would like permission to station troops outside each of their estates,” requested Lord Marshal Yenga. “If they pull the armies out of the estates, I can take each of them with a single Corte apiece.”
“Can we afford the reduction in strength?” queried Lord Marak.
“They will all be Ragatha Cortes,” explained Lord Marshal Yenga. “We will still have enough to accomplish our goal. I feel it is necessary to stop someone else from moving in and seizing the estates.”
“Very well,” conceded Lord Marak. “They must be kept out of sight and they must wear Torak uniforms when they take possession. Do we have enough uniforms to accomplish this?”
“The Seneschal has never stopped making them,” smiled Lord Marshal Yenga. “We have enough to outfit every man in each of the four Clans if necessary.”
“Good,” nodded Lord Marak. “Have them wear their Ragatha Clan uniforms up to the time just before they take possession. I also want Cortain Tagoro’s Corte to accompany me to Lituk Valley. They will not be permitted on the estate, but they can wait nearby. I do not trust Lord Marshal Grefon to act honestly.”
“As you command,” smiled Lord Marshal Yenga.
Lord Marak went out and introduced himself to the Squad Leader of the Imperial troops. As soon as Cortain Tagoro’s Corte was ready, the column moved off towards Lituk Valley. The ride was slower and more comfortable than Lord Marak’s last ride to Lituk Valley. The Imperial troops were friendly and curious about the new uniforms of the Torak Clan, but they were also alert and professional. They had no objection to riding with a Corte of Lord Marak’s men and even suggested a place for the troops to wait while the meeting went on.
The party set up camp within sight of Lituk Valley, but outside the boundary of Lord Ridak’s estate. Patrols of Situ soldiers came right up to the boundary all through the night and Lord Marak instructed Cortain Tagoro to move his men to a more hidden spot as soon as Lord Marak left with the Imperial Squad.
As Lord Marak was escorted towards the mansion at Lituk Valley, Lord Marak gazed around at the soldiers of the Situ Army. While there were sneers from some of the officers, most of the soldiers were more curious about the rise of one of their own than they were about facing the Torak Clan in battle. Obviously, the officers had been briefed about a potential conflict and the common soldiers had not.
Lord Ridak and Lord Marshal Grefon stood on the porch alongside the emissary from the Lords Council. The faces of the two highest ranking Situ men were masks of hatred. The emissary smiled politely and introduced himself. No greeting came from Lord Ridak or Lord Marshal Grefon and Lord Marak offered none in return. The emissary led the group to the Meeting Chamber and took the chair at the head of the table. Lord Marak sat across from Lord Ridak and Lord Marshal Grefon. The Situ guards were told to leave the chamber and were replaced by Imperial Soldiers.
“This meeting has been called by Lord Ridak of the Situ Clan to dispute the legality of ownership of the Fardale estate,” began the emissary. “Do both parties agree to be bound by the ruling of this mediator?”
“Of course,” spat Lord Ridak. “I have called for this session. The question is whether a man without honor like Marak will acknowledge your decision.”
“The Torak Clan is willing to accept the judgment of the Lords Council,” nodded Lord Marak.
“What is the Torak Clan?” asked the emissary. “I do not recognize your colors or your Clan.”
“I am Lord Marak of the Torak Clan,” declared Lord Marak. “I have exercised my rights under law as the Lord of an unaligned estate to create a new Clan. The black and silver are my colors. The Sword of Torak is my symbol. I ask the emissary of the Lords Council to recognize the legality of the Torak Clan and its ownership of the Fardale estate.”
“Recognition is normally reserved for the Lords Council,” the emissary pointed out, “and the reality of Fardale being an unaligned estate is the question for which we have assembled today.”
“You, as mediator and emissary, are the Lords Council here today,” smiled Lord Marak. “As such, your recognition is the same as recognition by the Lords Council. I request that you recognize the Torak Clan and myself as the Lord of the Clan when you have determined my ownership of the Fardale estate.”
“Very well, Lord Marak,” agreed the emissary. “If you succeed in proving that Fardale is an unaligned estate, I will grant you the recognition you request but, I warn you, the use of the Torak Clan name and colors will not be accepted if you lose.”
“Unless I possess another unaligned estate,” smiled Lord Marak.
The mediator cocked his head and studied Lord Marak for a moment. “That is not an issue which will be addressed today,” decided the emissary. “We are here to discuss only Fardale. Lord Ridak, state your complaint.”
“My complaint is simple,” Lord Ridak began. “Marak is a soldier in the Situ Army and the son of a Situ slave. He was given the position of Lord of Fardale as a temporary measure until such time as I could find a suitable replacement for Lord Lashendo who died unexpectedly. He has taken the position under those arrangements and has since ignored all requests and pleas for communication and payments due to the Situ Clan. He has negotiated settlements with other Clans without informing me, the Head of the Situ Clan. He has made sworn members of the Situ Clan swear allegiance to him in violation of their Vows of Service to me. He has forcibly ejected my Lord Marshal from my Fardale estate. He has invaded my home and stolen a
prisoner and killed two guards in the process. He has refused my direct order to relinquish control of Fardale and, finally, he has attempted to break ties with the Situ Clan and institute himself as the Lord of a new and fictitious Clan. I demand the Lords Council restore my property and deliver Marak to me for punishment.”
“Very well,” nodded the emissary. “These are very serious charges, Lord Marak. Unless you can refute these charges, the Lords Council will have to do as Lord Ridak requests. What do you have to say?”
Lord Marak looked down at the notes he had scribbled and addressed the emissary. “I was a soldier in the Situ Army when I was offered the position as Lord of Fardale,” he began. “My mother used to be a Situ slave here in Lituk Valley. She is no longer here and she is no longer a slave. The fact that she is not here is known to both Lord Ridak and Lord Marshal Grefon. While Lord Lashendo did die unexpectedly, my appointment was not temporary. If it was meant to be temporary, I was lied to because I was told that it was permanent.”
“That is not true,” interrupted Lord Ridak. “I never told him the position was permanent.”
“Lord Ridak,” scolded the emissary, “please hold your tongue. Lord Marak will refute your charges. You will get a chance to argue about his statements later. Continue, Lord Marak.”
“Thank you,” nodded Lord Marak to the emissary. “As for failing to make payments to the Situ Clan, none have yet become due. We are still harvesting and the crop has not been sold. I was given control over Fardale because Lord Lashendo had gotten himself into a position where he could not fulfill his contracts. I assume Lord Ridak expected me to fail and blame me for the embarrassment. I did not fail, however. Fardale is no longer unable to fulfill its contracts. In fact, we have a surplus of grain which has not yet been contracted for.”
Lord Marak paused to study the fury on Lord Ridak’s face as he sipped a glass of water. “As for communications,” continued Lord Marak, “there have been bandits in the hills between our two estates. We were not able to communicate with Lituk Valley and, I might add, Lituk Valley was unable to communicate with Fardale. We have not received one messenger from Lituk Valley since the day I assumed command of Fardale. In contrast, the one messenger we did manage to get to Lituk Valley was taken prisoner and tortured. I admit to breaking into Lord Ridak’s mansion and rescuing my Cortain from his dungeon. It was unfortunate that his jailer and torturer refused to yield peacefully and had to be killed. If I was intent on killing Situ Clansmen, I would have killed Lord Marshal Grefon. I spoke with him in his study during the rescue. I left him with no more than a bruise upon his head.”
Lord Marshal Grefon's face was a mask of rage and the Situ Lord Marshal’s fingers were white as he clenched the edge of the table. Lord Marak smiled at him and continued. “I did have some border disputes with my neighbors in Fardale. A Lords Council emissary was called in but we negotiated a settlement before his arrival. We had agreed to keep the settlement private and it did not involve a lessening of Fardale’s worth or value in any way. Lord Marshal Grefon attended the meeting with the emissary and tried to replace me as Lord of Fardale. I was polite to him, but firm in my resolve to maintain the confidentiality of the agreement with my neighbors. I ignored his attempt to replace me after the emissary from the Lords Council clarified that my pronouncement from Lord Ridak did not allow for me to be replaced as Lord of Fardale. He returned with me to Fardale and proceeded to make threats to me. When he threatened the life of my mother, whom I believed to be still in Lord Ridak’s possession, I ordered him to get off the Fardale estate immediately.”
“Wait a minute,” interrupted the emissary. “You stated that an emissary from the Lords Council proclaimed your pronouncement as irrevocable?”
Lord Marak withdrew the pronouncement and handed it to the emissary. “He did,” affirmed Lord Marak. “You will note that the pronouncement gives me absolute control over Fardale. As such, I have demanded that each of my subjects swear a Vow of Service directly to me. Not one of them owes any allegiance to Lord Ridak, and certainly not to Lord Marshal Grefon.”
The emissary held up his hand for silence as he read the pronouncement. He scribbled notes furiously while nodding occasionally. Finally, he frowned and looked up. “Lord Ridak,” he began, “this pronouncement gives Lord Marak absolute control. You have no authority over his dealings in Fardale and you can not replace him as Lord. Certainly, Lord Marshal Grefon has no right to be on the estate without the blessing and welcome of Lord Marak. The only control you have over Lord Marak is his Vows of Service and you will have to show that he has broken them to remove him as Lord of Fardale.”
“What are you talking about?” stormed Lord Ridak. “I do not give absolute control to anyone. I certainly would never give it to the son of a slave.”
The emissary showed Lord Ridak the clause and his signature. “It appears that you have done just that,” decreed the emissary.
Lord Ridak shot a killing glare at Lord Marshal Grefon and then returned his gaze to the emissary. “Even still,” he scowled, “this does not give him the right to seize my estate. If entering my home and killing my men does not constitute a violation of his Vows of Service, I can not imagine what does.”
“Two valid points,” agreed the emissary. “Lord Marak can you explain your reason for seizing Fardale and raising your own banner over it?”
“Certainly,” Lord Marak nodded. “The Cortain whom I was forced to rescue from Lord Ridak’s dungeon was sent here to ask for military help to ward off an attack on Fardale. Instead of supplying the military help which would keep Fardale safe from invasion, the messenger was jailed and tortured. Fardale was left to fend for itself like an abandoned estate.”
“Are you certain that Lord Ridak or Lord Marshal Grefon were aware of the attack?” questioned the emissary. “Perhaps the messenger never delivered his message.”
“I have since talked to my Cortain and he informed me that he did relay the message before he was tortured,” affirmed Lord Marak.
“But you did not possess that information when you seized the estate,” the emissary pointed out.
“That is true,” conceded Lord Marak, “but I did possess other information. Marshal Tingo of the Ragatha Clan informed me that Lord Marshal Grefon invited the Ragatha to attack Fardale in hopes of removing me from power. Lord Marshal Grefon assured Marshal Tingo that Lituk Valley would not raise a finger to defend me. As far as I am concerned, it was at that moment that the Situ Clan forfeited all rights and claims to the Fardale estate. If the Lord Marshal wishes to contradict my statement, I can produce Marshal Tingo for his testimony.”
“You can produce the Ragatha Marshal for testimony?” quizzed the emissary.
“Yes,” declared Lord Marak. “He is still the Marshal of Woodville, but he works for me now. The Ragatha Clan forfeited Woodville to me following their defeat.”
“What?” shouted Lord Ridak. “Are you trying to get us to believe that you defeated the entire Ragatha Clan Army? This is preposterous. I can not listen to any more of these lies.”
The emissary rose and signaled for the Squad Leader of the Imperial troops. “Squad Leader, we need to speak with Marshal Tingo of Woodville, unless you have gathered information on this subject.”
Lord Marak picked up on the meaning of the emissary’s words and realized that the Imperial troops performed more than one task. They were used to gather information for the mediators. This explained their overt friendliness and was a fact which Lord Marak would never forget.
“Lord Marak speaks the truth according to what Marshal Tingo revealed to me,” the Squad Leader reported. “Woodville is now a Torak estate and Marshal Tingo is the Marshal.”
The emissary nodded and the Squad Leader returned to his post. “That certainly is justification of abandonment,” observed the emissary, “but you are still a subject of Lord Ridak’s and, as such, you are subject to the Vows of Service you have sworn. I am afraid that you have merely enlarged the Situ holdings to incl
ude Woodville.”
“Not exactly,” warned Lord Marak as he looked into Lord Ridak’s eyes. “I have never sworn Vows of Service to Lord Ridak or anyone else.”
Lord Ridak launched himself to his feet and the Imperial guards stiffened and prepared to intercede. “I will not listen to any more lies,” screamed Lord Ridak. “A man who disavows his own word and steals my lands does not belong in the same room with me.”
The Imperial Squad Leader moved and stood behind Lord Ridak and the emissary stood and indicated that Lord Ridak should sit back down. After Lord Ridak was seated and calm restored, the emissary turned to Lord Marak. “Can you prove your statement?” he asked.
“The important question is whether Lord Ridak can prove that I did,” declared Lord Marak. “As Lord of Fardale, I keep written records of every Vow given. Does Lord Ridak have the same? I arrived in Lituk Valley with my mother when I was six years old, the normal time for swearing. My mother was forced into slavery by Lord Ridak and I was hysterical for days. I was put in the care of Flora, the minder for the household, and she took care of me and comforted me. When I recovered, no one thought about my swearing. It was taken for granted that I had already sworn. Flora was the only person who knew, but she was afraid of Lord Ridak’s wrath if she mentioned it, so she did not. I beg the emissary from the Lords Council to remove this woman from the premises when he leaves. Now that I have disclosed her secret, her life will be forfeit if she is left here.”
The emissary nodded to the Squad Leader and he left the room and returned with Flora. Flora cringed when asked about Lord Marak’s swearing and she pointedly avoided looking at Lord Ridak, but she confirmed Lord Marak’s story in a sobbing voice. The emissary ordered the Squad Leader to remove the woman and pack her belongings.
“This has been a most unusual case,” summarized the emissary. “Without Vows of Service to Lord Ridak, Lord Marak has done nothing wrong. He is legally entitled to the Fardale estate without compensation to Lord Ridak in any manner. He will need to compensate Lord Ridak for the removal of his minder, but I feel his voluntary service in the Situ Army should be sufficient for that compensation. As I have promised, the Lords Council recognizes the Torak Clan and it will be so recorded in the records of the Lords Council. This is my ruling on this matter. As I have said, so shall it be recorded before the Lords Council. This case is closed.”
Young Lord of Khadora Page 32
