The citizens of the Khadoran city of Sintula lined the streets and watched in awe as the soldiers marched by. The constant parade of soldiers, decked out in their colorful clan uniforms, went on for hours, as the forces of the Khadoran armies headed southward towards the Kalatung Mountains and the Sakovan border. The citizens cheered whenever a different clan’s colors came into view. In between cheers, the people talked among themselves, wondering where the thousands of soldiers were heading. Some speculated that they were bound for the Sakovan border to protect against a surprise attack from their new allies, while others shared the rumor that the evil invasion had begun, and the soldiers were going to help the Sakovans.
Unbeknownst to the citizens, the massive movement of forces was meant as a public display of disinformation. Emperor Marak had decided that the attack on Duran was meant to gauge his response. He had ordered the mobilization of the clan armies that had been in Khadoratung for training. Each Khadoran clan had sent two cortes at a time to the capital for required training. Emperor Marak had ordered those armies to march publicly towards the Sakovan border so that any spies within Khadora would be sure to see them. At the southern terminus of their long march, the Situ estate of Stony Brook, the soldiers headed westward through the forests to the western coast of Khadora. There they were loaded onto ships and returned to the capital under the cover of darkness.
* * *
Lord Sevrin of the Ragatha clan hurried out of his Khadoran mansion. He stepped onto the wide porch of the mansion and moved quickly to stand by the side of his Lord Marshal.
“It is the Seth clan judging by the blue and black colors,” Lord Marshal Orteka said as he nodded towards the road running past the Ragatha estate. “We have had no notice of a visit from them.”
“Lord Sydar rules the Seth clan,” commented Lord Sevrin as he pointed to a tall man riding in the vanguard of the approach column. “He appears to be among the delegation. Considering that he only has a single corte as an escort, it is safe to assume that this will be a friendly visit.”
“It is hard for old habits to die, isn’t it?” chuckled the Lord Marshal. “You and I still think the same thoughts when a different clan’s colors appear on the horizon.”
“It is hard,” smiled Lord Sevrin. “Khadorans have lived for so long under the constant threat of war with its neighbors that we are quick to forget that we are all brothers now. Perhaps that is not so bad. Some of the lords are having a hard time accepting Emperor Marak’s reforms. Who knows how long this peace will last? I wonder what brings the Seth to our home?”
“I will entertain the officers personally,” offered the Lord Marshal. “Perhaps I will pick up something that Lord Sydar does not wish revealed to you.”
“You are a good man, Orteka,” smiled Lord Sevrin. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I would be greatly pleased if you never find out,” chuckled the Lord Marshal.
The Ragatha lord and his military leader stood in silence as the visiting corte arrived. Orteka had already issued orders to a Ragatha corte to act as hosts to the visitors, and that selected corte greeted the visitors professionally. The cortain escorted Lord Sydar to the porch and offered introductions.
“See to our visitors’ needs,” Lord Sevrin said to his Lord Marshal. “Lord Sydar and I will be in the meeting room.”
Orteka bowed politely and left the porch while Lord Sevrin led his guest into the mansion. Lord Sevrin nodded to servants on his way to the meeting room and knew that refreshments would be served immediately.
“Welcome to my home, Lord Sydar,” Lord Sevrin greeted as they entered the meeting room. “What brings you to the Ragatha?”
“Thank you for your gracious hospitality,” smiled Lord Sydar. “I am on a short journey that happens to bring me by your estate. I felt that I would be remiss if I did not stop and talk with you for a while. I hope the timing is not inconvenient? I promise that I will not take more than a few hours of your time.”
“My day is yours to spend,” nodded Lord Sevrin. “A few hours of getting to know each other better will be well spent. The Assembly of Lords is excellent for allowing lords to meet one another, but there is never enough time at those gatherings to truly get to know your fellow lords.”
“Ah, so true,” smiled Lord Sydar. “And lately the Assembly of Lords has been rather hectic with all of the reforms that Emperor Marak is issuing. I suspect that a lord with multiple estates, such as you have, is probably having a very difficult time dealing with the new reforms.”
“The reforms are a drastic change in the way we conduct business,” nodded Lord Sevrin as he tried to gauge where the conversation was heading. “Are you having much trouble instituting the reforms?”
“No more than other lords,” Lord Sydar replied guardedly. “What do you think of the reforms?”
“I was hesitant at first,” replied Lord Sevrin, “as many lords were, but I see the wisdom in them. Our productivity has increased without slaves.”
“And what about the Chula?” frowned Lord Sydar. “Do you really expect them to be allies? Are you truly willing to trust those savages?”
“The Ragatha learned long ago that the Chula will leave you alone if you respect their land,” answered Lord Sevrin. “We have not had any trouble with the Chula in a long time. I am happy for it to stay that way.”
Lord Sydar frowned heavily as the servants entered with trays of food. He looked at the food and shook his head. Finally, he returned his gaze to Lord Sevrin.
“Your hospitality has been most gracious, Lord Sevrin,” declared the Seth lord, “but I have just realized that I had promised another stop today. Please forgive the short duration of my visit. I will try to visit again when more time is available.”
Lord Sevrin’s brow creased with confusion, but he nodded to his guest. “Very well,” he said. “I hope the stay was long enough to refresh your mounts.”
Lord Sevrin escorted the Seth lord out of the mansion. The Seth corte immediately broke camp and hurried to their horses. Within moments the Seth clan turned onto the new road leading to Woodville.
“That was rather short for a visit,” commented Lord Marshal Orteka after the Seth column had disappeared from view. “What was it all about?”
“Darned if I know,” frowned Lord Sevrin. “One minute we were chatting amicably, and the next he was leaving. All we talked about were Marak’s reforms. What did you learn from the soldiers?”
“Not much,” answered the Lord Marshal. “The visit was too short to learn anything. All that I could find out is that the purpose of their journey is to visit other clans. There is no destination for the trip.”
“Something does not smell right here,” frowned Lord Sevrin, “but I cannot determine what it is.”
“Perhaps we should contact Woodville and alert them?” questioned Orteka. “That does seem to be the way they are heading.”
“They won’t go to Woodville,” Lord Sevrin shook his head. “That is a Torak estate. They also won’t go to Fardale for the same reason. Whatever Lord Sydar is up to, my acceptance of Marak’s reforms turned him off. I suspect that he is looking for lords who object to the new reforms, but I cannot fathom why.”
“I do not think we can ignore it,” stated Orteka. “Any dissent against the Emperor right now could be harmful.”
“I agree,” nodded the Ragatha lord. “Send a message to Lord Marshal Yenga at Fardale. Tell him what we suspect, and warn him that the Seth will most likely appear at Glendale next.”
“You think they are heading towards the Litari?” asked Orteka.
“Where else can they go on the road to Woodville without going to a Torak estate?” posed the Ragatha lord. “Yes, I think Lord Burdine of the Litari will be the next host to greet Lord Sydar.”
“I will get an air tunnel to Fardale up immediately,” nodded the Lord Marshal.
* * *
The Marshal of the Litari estate stiffened when he saw the Seth clansmen approaching.
“Here they come,” Garlo said softly to the Litari lord. “It looks like Yenga was right about their plans.”
“At least he was right about their destination,” nodded Lord Burdine. “Are you sure that the men can pull this off?”
“They will be the epitome of soldiers who cannot stand the new reforms,” assured the marshal. “They will say nothing direct that could possibly embarrass us before the Emperor, but their dissatisfaction will be obvious. If the Seth are looking for clans who don’t like the Emperor’s reforms, they will find comfort here.”
“And if it something else that they are after,” frowned Lord Burdine, “we will end with egg on our faces.”
“The risk is worth it,” shrugged Garlo. “Yenga believes that the Seth are up to something nasty, and I trust his judgment. If this turns out poorly, place the blame solely on me.”
“Nonsense,” balked the Litari lord. “Emperor Marak knows that I have come to support him fully. That is the only opinion that I care about. I alone will be responsible for the charade we present today.”
The two leaders of the Litari clan waited silently for the Seth column to arrive. The host corte moved in quickly to gather the Seth horses and direct the Seth soldiers to an area where they could refresh themselves. Marshal Garlo waited until Lord Sydar was introduced before bowing in a show of respect and leaving to mingle with the visiting soldiers.
“Your men are very efficient,” complimented Lord Sydar as Lord Burdine led his guest to the meeting room.
“Marshal Garlo is an efficient trainer,” smiled Lord Burdine as he indicated that his guest should sit.
“More efficient than the trainers in Khadoratung?” asked Lord Sydar.
“In Khadoratung,” replied the Litari lord, “they teach methods for working with other clans. That is of little interest to the Litari. Marshal Garlo trains our men to work efficiently with each other. A clan is only as good as its troops. What brings you to Glendale?”
“I am just traveling along the road past your holdings,” smiled Lord Sydar. “We never had the chance at the Assembly of Lords meetings to get to know one another. I thought that it was time to do so.”
“Well,” Lord Burdine replied cautiously, “I welcome your visit. We do not get many visitors down here on the southern frontier, but I am sure you know that. Your own holdings are on the frontier if I remember correctly.”
“There is nothing wrong with your memory,” smiled Lord Sydar. “The Seth lands lie between the Macara River and the western coast. It is a sparsely inhabited area, especially if you discount the Chula tribes that infest the mountains and forests.”
“Our new allies,” Lord Burdine snorted derisively. “It is hard to imagine the things that are asked of Khadoran lords these days.”
“Precisely,” replied Lord Sydar as his face split into a grin. “I find it hard to swallow many of the new decrees. I can’t imagine that many lords are happy with them.”
“I should suspect not,” shrugged Lord Burdine, “but what can be done about it? The Lords’ Council backs the Emperor completely.”
“The Lords’ Council is selected by the Assembly of Lords,” reminded Lord Sydar. “I suspect that if there is enough outrage at the new reforms within the Assembly of Lords, things could very well revert to as they were.”
“Do you really think that is possible?” asked Lord Burdine.
“Who can say?” shrugged the Seth lord. “It is my understanding that a group of lords is planning to protest the new reforms at the next meeting of the Assembly of Lords. If the topic were to come up, would the Litari be in favor of supporting it?”
Right to the point, Lord Burdine thought as he smiled and nodded. “I could support that move if it could be done in such a way that would not bring harm to the Litari clan,” he answered, knowing that that was impossible because the Litari clan was secretly sworn to Emperor Marak. There was no possible way that Lord Burdine could support such a move without bringing harm to the Litari clan.
“Excellent,” grinned Lord Sydar. “No harm will come to the Litari from this movement because many clans will be speaking out against the reforms. The Litari will be just another voice added to the call to abolish the reforms. There will be too many of us for the Emperor to take any punitive action.”
“Are you sure others clans will be willing to risk the Emperor’s wrath?” probed Lord Burdine. “What other clans feel as we do?”
“I will not say who the other clans are,” frowned Lord Sydar. “I am sure that you can understand why, but there will be enough to make a difference. That I can assure you.”
“I guess that I will have to take your word for it,” shrugged Lord Burdine. “I will watch you closely at the next meeting. When you make your proposal, I will be ready.”
“Oh,” smiled Lord Sydar, “I will not be making the proposal. No, that is truly the way to grab the Emperor’s attention. Other clans who are already on the poor side of the Emperor will make the proposal. All we have to do is support it when it is made. It is much safer that way.”
“You have thought of everything,” noted Lord Burdine.
* * *
The Chula shaman timed his arrival on the coast of the Island of Darkness perfectly. Several hours after nightfall, he paddled his canoe to a desolate strip of beach where the jungle came close. After hiding his sleek craft deep in the jungle, Calitora stripped off his pack and transformed himself into a black jaguar. He picked the pack up in his mouth and padded softly through the dense foliage. Before the sun rose in the morning, the shaman had transformed back into his human form and found a suitable place on the peak of the tallest mountain.
The first thing the shaman did was to weave an air tunnel to Changragar. He notified the shaman at the temple that he had arrived on the Island of Darkness. When the sky lightened, Calitora had a beautiful view of the large island. He could see each of the major cities as well as the sea surrounding the island in every direction. More importantly, the main city of Motanga, Vandamar, sat very near. He could clearly see the temple and shipyards. Scores of huge ships not only filled the harbor, but lined the coast as well. If the Chula shaman had had some method of magnifying his vision, he would have seen a woman sitting on the beach in the predawn light. The woman was staring at the sea as if expecting some wisdom from its gray tumultuous waves.
Lady Mystic sighed heavily and wiped the tears from her eyes. She noticed the sky lightening and realized that another day was coming. She didn’t care. Every day would be much like the last one for the rest of her life. Her body cramped from sitting in one position for too long, but she did not adjust her position to ease the discomfort. Instead she let her mind dwell upon the pain. In fact, she focused her attention on it, welcoming it. The pain was a sensation, the only sensation, in her entire body. She closed her eyes and tried to look inward, urging the pain onward. She wanted to feel something instead of feeling numb and dead as she had ever since Aakuta’s death.
“Someone told me that I might find you here,” a voice shattered her introspection.
Lady Mystic’s eyes opened slowly, her mind being dragged away from its fixation with her pain. She saw the bottom portion of an elegant robe. Her eyes slowly panned upward until they reached the man’s face. She hissed.
“Not exactly a warm greeting,” shrugged the man. “You do have a home in the city. Why don’t you use it?”
“Why don’t you?” Lady Mystic spat. “Go away and leave me alone. I detest you and will not tolerate your gloating.”
“Gloating?” balked the man. “I am trying to be friendly to you.”
“I don’t want your friendship, Xavo,” snarled Lady Mystic. “Leave me before I kill you.”
“You are powerful,” retorted the mage, “but in your condition, I doubt you could hurt a krul. How many days have you remained on this beach? How long since you have eaten something?”
“Why do you want to know?” snapped Lady Mystic. “Are you trying to figure out when I will die of starvation so that you can come and watch? Leave me alone.”
“Why are you so hostile towards me?” asked Xavo. “I have never harmed you.”
“You are a fool,” scowled Lady Mystic. “You killed Aakuta. That is enough for me to hate you. Be glad that I am weak. That is the only thing saving your life right now.”
“I did kill Aakuta,” shrugged Xavo, “but that was my job. You would have done the same if you had had the chance.”
“How dare you say that?” Lady Mystic shouted as she struggled to get to her feet. “I loved Aakuta. I would never have killed him.”
“You betrayed him,” Xavo reminded Vand’s daughter. “Not once, but twice. I should think killing him would have been far less offensive to him.”
Lady Mystic fell face first onto the beach as her legs refused to hold her body. She started crying hysterically. Xavo knelt next to her and gently placed his hand on her back.
“Are you hurt?” he asked softly as he gently turned her over onto her back. “I know how to heal. Just tell me what is broken, and I will mend it.”
“My heart is broken,” cried Lady Mystic, “and you cannot heal it. Go away and leave me alone. Please, go away.”
Xavo stared at the woman. He knew Lady Mystic to be an extremely powerful mage, yet this woman had no resemblance to Vand’s daughter. Her faced carried the stains of a thousand tears, and her eyes were the eyes of the dead. They stared right through you. Her lips quivered in fear, and her legs didn’t have the strength to hold her body upright.
Xavo removed his pack and dropped it on the beach. He sat down next to Lady Mystic and lifted her up until her head rested on his lap. She did not fight or waste her breath by telling him to leave. He reached for the pack and drew it nearer to him. He reached into the pack and withdrew a potion. Bringing the bottle to her lips, he made her sip some of the liquid. Lady Mystic moaned unintelligibly.
Xavo brushed the sand from her face and made her sip some more of the potion. When he had succeeded in getting half the bottle of potion into her body, life began to return to Lady Mystic. Her breathing became regular instead of ragged. Her eyes seemed to be able to focus as she stared up at Xavo’s face.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked
“You need someone to do it,” Xavo shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I be the one?”
“Why should you be the one?” Lady Mystic persisted. “You are the most pompous self-absorbed person that I know. What do you want? What will this act of kindness cost me?”
“I am self-absorbed,” admitted Xavo as he fished in his pack. “I always have been, but who isn’t? One does not have friends on this island; one has competitors. Here, eat this orange. It will do wonders for you.”
Lady Mystic grabbed the orange and began devouring it as if she had not eaten for days, which she had not.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Lady Mystic pointed out. “What do you want with me, and what will it cost me?”
“What I want is some information,” smiled Xavo, “and it will cost you nothing.”
“I knew you wanted something,” huffed Lady Mystic.
“Of course I do,” admitted Xavo. “I never said that I didn’t want something, but I am glad that I came even if you refuse to help me. You would not have lasted much longer.”
“And what would that matter to you?” scowled Lady Mystic.
“Oh,” shrugged Xavo, “I would survive, but I would miss you. You are probably not aware of it, but I have always admired you. In fact, you are the only person on this island that I have admired.”
“Clova chips,” Lady Mystic shook her head. “You have never admired anyone except yourself.”
“Almost true,” smiled Xavo. “What I admired in you were the characteristics that many see in me. You are also self-absorbed and pompous, as you so aptly labeled me a few moments ago. Of course your reasons for being so smug were not only your skill and power, but also the fact that you were Vand’s daughter. I could never compete with that. Yet most people viewed us in the same light. That is why I admired you.”
Lady Mystic frowned as she thought about Xavo’s words. There was a ring of truth in what he was saying, although she had never recognized those traits in herself before, perhaps because she had never honestly examined herself. She began to understand Xavo in a way that had never dawned on her before.
“What is it that you came to me for?” Lady Mystic asked calmly.
“I have been promoted,” declared Xavo. “Vand has named me as one of his disciples. My problem is that I have no idea how to behave as a disciple, and I don’t want to appear foolish by asking someone. I was hoping that you could enlighten me.”
“And you are not afraid of appearing foolish to me?” questioned Vand’s daughter.
“No,” Xavo shook his head. “You are nobody now. You have no standing in Vand’s organization.”
“Brutally truthful,” smiled Lady Mystic. “I like that. That is another characteristic that we share. Am I to assume that your promotion is a reward for killing Aakuta?”
“It is,” nodded Xavo. “Vand was extremely pleased.”
“I can imagine,” spat Lady Mystic. “I will find a way to repay my father for that.”
“Did you really love Aakuta?” asked Xavo. “I mean, I know that you think you did, but you truly did betray him twice. I have a hard time reconciling that.”
Lady Mystic turned from Xavo’s face and stared at the sand for several moments before answering.
“I truly did love him,” she said softly. “My problem is that I truly loved my father as well, yet they were starkly at odds with one another. Twice I made what I thought was the best choice. Twice I was wrong. I wish I could have those chances back.”
“Would you truly do anything different?” asked Xavo. “Sometimes we paint a picture of ourselves that is much too rosy.”
“I understand what you are saying,” nodded Lady Mystic, “but of this I am sure. It took me far too long to realize what an animal my father is.”
“Careful,” warned Xavo. “Words of that nature will bring harm upon you. I will forget that I heard them, but you must not repeat them to others.”
“I no longer care,” shrugged Lady Mystic. “Vand has already taken my life from me. He can do no more damage to me. He had better kill me quickly, because I will most certainly kill him if I get the chance.”
Xavo inhaled deeply and swallowed nervously. He shook his head and stared at Lady Mystic.
“I would prefer that you do not say such things,” Xavo said softly. “You may be without status, but I still admire your courage and skill. I am not ready to see you die.”
“Forget it,” Lady Mystic said brusquely as she sat and moved away from Xavo. “Let me tell you what you have come to learn. By the time you leave this beach, you will know all there is about being a Disciple of Vand.”