Lord Ridak rose and watched Lord Marak leave with the emissary. As soon as the door the Meeting Chamber closed he turned his wrath on Lord Marshal Grefon. “I want him dead,” ordered Lord Ridak. “You will make sure that he never returns to Fardale alive.”
“We dare not attack him while he is with the Imperial troops,” cautioned Lord Marshal Grefon. “The Lords Council would declare all of the Situ holdings forfeit if we did.”
“The Imperial troops will not escort him home,” shouted Lord Ridak. “You told me he brought an entire Corte of his own men with him. Do you think the Imperial troops will bother escorting him when he has such a large bodyguard?”
“I will see to it,” accepted Lord Marshal Grefon. “What about Fardale?”
“We attack it and take it back,” sneered Lord Ridak. “What do you think we are going to do? You expect me to just let it go? Send the runners immediately. I want every soldier we own amassed to attack Fardale. I not only want Lord Marak dead, but we shall kill every man, woman and child that has sworn to him. No Situ will ever be allowed to swear to another Lord. I don’t want to stop at Fardale, either. We shall continue into Woodville and claim it for the Situ Clan.”
“I am not sure that it is wise to attack him on his home ground,” advised Lord Marshal Grefon. “If he did defeat the Ragatha Clan, he might be able to cause us more casualties than you will find acceptable.”
“I don’t believe for a minute that he defeated the Ragatha Clan,” snorted Lord Ridak. “He may have talked his way into getting his hands on Woodville, but I am sure that he gave up more than he got. His Torak Clan probably owes allegiance to the Ragatha scum.”
“Your plan risks everything to conquer one small estate,” cautioned Lord Marshal Grefon. “We will lose the initiative at Raven’s Point by pursuing Marak.”
“And we will be the laughing stock of the entire country if he is allowed to live,” shouted Lord Ridak. “Follow my orders, Lord Marshal, or you will end up in the slave compound. I can think of a few soldiers who would love to watch you work the fields.”
* * *
“How did it go?” asked Cortain Tagoro.
“We have been recognized as the Torak Clan and the owners of Fardale,” smiled Lord Marak. “We need to move quickly and not directly towards Fardale. I do not think Lord Ridak will wait long before pursuing us.”
“Do you think they will attack Fardale or just come after us?” quizzed the Cortain.
“Both,” answered Lord Marak. “If the Imperial Guards weren’t there, I would be dead already. I hope Lord Marshal Yenga has a reception planned for our visitors. There will not be enough time for trenches in this battle.”
“So, there will be no bloodless victory this time,” sighed Cortain Tagoro.
“No,” affirmed Lord Marak. “A lot of good men are going to die this time. Let us hope that more of them are Situs than Toraks.”
Cortain Tagoro ordered his men to mount up and led the group into the forest away from Lituk Valley. He sent scouts out in each direction to alert him if the enemy drew near. After several hours of riding they stopped to rest and the scouts reported in. Cortain Tagoro received their reports and sent new scouts out before going to Lord Marak.
“They have three Cortes on our tail,” informed Cortain Tagoro. “They have located our campsite from last night and the track we used to leave it. We can not be sure that there are not other Cortes heading directly towards Fardale on the road to get in front of us.”
“I knew Lord Ridak would like to kill me,” sighed Lord Marak, “but his swiftness is surprising. His troops must have left Lituk Valley right after the Imperial troops. I would have suspected Lord Marshal Grefon to proceed more cautiously after losing the last Corte sent towards Fardale, but I saw a lot of new faces in his army. I imagine he has recruited in all of his estates for the planned offensive at Raven’s Point. Now he will use them against us.”
“Should we make for the road and a speedy trip home?” queried Cortain Tagoro.
“No,” answered Lord Marak. “Let’s lead these Cortes around the woods for a while. If we can get the three Cortes to separate, we will attack them individually. If not, we will just be taking the long way home. I am sure that the road will have additional Cortes already on it.”
The Torak Corte ended their rest period and continued their trek through the woods. Periodically, one of the scouts would come in and report to Cortain Tagoro, but contact with the enemy was avoided. Towards nightfall, Tagoro replaced the scouts again and asked to be notified the moment the Situ made camp for the night. Lord Marak suggested a few raids on the Situ camps during the night to make them more cautious the next day. The sun set and darkness came without word of the Situ making camp. Cortain Tagoro sent another scout out to make sure his men were still alive and he returned with the news that the Situ did not appear to even be looking for a campsite.
“I don’t understand,” Cortain Tagoro said to Lord Marak, “Lord Marshal Grefon has never authorized night operations before. Why are they still trailing us?”
“Because he wants me very badly,” answered Lord Marak. “If I guess correctly, Lord Marshal Grefon’s freedom may rest on my shoulders. I suspect that the Cortes following us have orders not to stop until I am caught. I did make him look rather incompetent in the Meeting Chamber this morning.”
“If we were facing something closer to even odds,” commented Cortain Tagoro, “I would loop up behind them and attack them from the rear.”
“What bothers me,” offered Lord Marak, “is that they have not pushed to the point of contact with us. It is almost as if Lord Marshal Grefon is using three Cortes for a tracking party. That is extremely large for trackers. I think they are meant to keep our attention while someone else closes in. I should have thought of this earlier, but their failure to stop at sunset triggered my alarm.”
“Are you suggesting that there are other Cortes out here heading for us?” questioned Cortain Tagoro.
“Yes,” replied Lord Marak. “I wouldn’t be surprised to find the entire Lituk Valley Army in this forest hunting for us. We are in trouble, Cortain. I want more forward scouts out immediately. Start laying traps behind us to slow the Situ down. If you can capture one of their scouts, find out what their orders are. Other than that, we need to keep this column moving.”
“As you command, Lord Marak,” saluted Cortain Tagoro.
The Torak Corte moved on into the night. It was not long before one of the scouts reported another Situ Army heading for them from another direction. Cortain Tagoro altered his course and ordered an increase in the speed of the troops. The traps helped to slow the pursuing Cortes, but did not dissuade them from following. Around midnight, Cortain Tagoro called a halt to the procession.
“What it is, Cortain Tagoro?” asked Lord Marak.
“There is another Corte up ahead,” reported the Cortain. “This group is camped for the night.”
“Lord Marshal Grefon had troops already stationed in the forest,” swore Lord Marak. “He planned on me trying to escape whether I won or not. How could I have been so blind? How much lead do we have on the Situ following us?”
“One hour for sure, two at the most,” answered Cortain Tagoro.
“Draw me a map,” ordered Lord Marak.
Cortain Tagoro called for a torch and started drawing a crude map in the dirt. When he completed the map, Lord Marak studied it for a while.
“We are going to attack the campsite, Cortain,” smiled Lord Marak as he took the stick and pointed to a spot on the map. “I want to proceed to about here. At this point the men will dismount and you will have some men take the horses off in this direction. They will make sure that the trail is evident. The rest of us will proceed on foot to the campsite. I want the horses to proceed in a loop wide enough to avoid their flanking scouts and return to the campsite. We will have that much time to kill the camping Situ.”
“But the Cortes behind us will be very close by then,” protested Cortain Tagoro. “You risk having us surrounded by the Situ.”
“I do,” agreed Lord Marak. “However, I believe that your training will prove to be sufficient to eliminate the campsite before the other Cortes arrive. After we deal with the campsite, Gunta and Halman will remain behind with me. You will lead the rest of the men in a straight line for the Sorgan border. The vision of a dead Situ Corte will slow down our pursuers more than the traps we have been setting. Halman, Gunta, and I will start attacking their scouts.”
“I fail to see the wisdom in your plan, Lord Marak,” objected Cortain Tagoro. “Lord Marshal Grefon is sending his army into the woods at night to capture you, not my men. How does my Corte abandoning you aid our cause and not his?”
“For one,” smiled Lord Marak, “my trail will be harder to follow with only three of us. The sheer number of men accompanying me is making their job easier, yet we still need to get word to Lord Marshal Yenga that the Situ will be attacking. The Situ will stop chasing you and your men and embark on the more difficult task of tracking me.”
“Why would they stop tracking me?” protested Cortain Tagoro. “They wouldn’t even know . . . you plan on making sure that they know you have stayed behind! That is suicide, My Lord. I can not allow you to do this.”
“You have no choice, Cortain,” ordered Lord Marak. “The three of us have evaded the Situ before and we shall do so again. Lord Marshal Grefon may have ordered them to chase us through the night, but the Situ are not night fighters, we are. Now, we can continue this discussion and waste valuable time or we can put my plan into action. I appreciate your feelings, Tagoro, but I think this is the best plan we can come up with.”
Very well, My Lord,” saluted Cortain Tagoro. “I will get the men prepared.”
Lord Marak watched Cortain Tagoro storm off and brief his men on the plan. The men kept glancing over at Lord Marak as they listened to the plan and he knew that Cortain Tagoro had not hidden his feelings very well, but he also knew that his old friend would follow his orders. The Corte mounted and rode in silence to the spot Lord Marak had selected. A dozen men had to be assigned to take the horses and set a false trail while the rest marched towards the camped Situ Corte.
Lord Marak smiled in appreciation as he watched Tagoro’s men professionally take up their positions in the woods surrounding the campsite. There would be no call for surrender this time. Lord Marak had no way to take captives in a forest surrounded by his enemy. At Tagoro’s signal, the Torak archers let fly a murderous barrage. The campsite leaped to alertness as the first arrows struck home, but the defenders were dazed and confused. The Situ soldiers ran for swords when they should have reached for their bows. They allowed the illuminating campfire to remain lit, while the darkness enshrouded the Torak men. The bulk of the Situ soldiers succumbed to arrows and the Torak soldiers moved into the campsite to finish the attack.
One wounded Situ soldier tried vainly to reach his sword and Lord Marak halted the killing blow one of Tagoro’s men was about to deliver. With hand signals, Lord Marak indicated that the man should be spared and everyone intentionally ignored the wounded Situ.
“Cortain Tagoro, shouted Lord Marak with a wink, “I am ordering your men to return to Fardale immediately. I will keep two of them to accompany me. Perhaps it is time for me to go back to Lituk Valley and put an end to Lord Ridak personally.”
Cortain Tagoro grimaced and he responded. “As you wish, Lord Marak. There may be other Situ scum in the forest. I will try to draw them off as I return home.”
Neither of them had lied, but the information they wanted to convey to the wounded soldier had been stated. The Torak men had to wait another five minutes before their horses arrived and Cortain Tagoro bid farewell to Lord Marak. Lord Marak and his two selected men made a point of heading eastward out of the campsite, while Cortain Tagoro led his men westward. Lord Marak estimated that the Situ Cortes would arrive in about a half-hour and hoped the wounded man survived to greet them. He had not enjoyed killing the men at the campsite, but it had been preferable to the slaughter of his own men. With a grimace of his own, Lord Marak led his two men into the darkness of the forest.
* * *
Cortain Rybak sat in the communications room sharpening his sword. He itched to be out on the front lines getting ready for the Situ attack, but Lord Marshal Yenga had not declared him fit for service yet. While it was true that Rybak had trouble getting around, it still bothered him that others would be fighting a battle which he yearned to participate in. He was almost saddened to find out that Lord Marak had killed Koors. The pain Koors had inflicted on him deserved more of a payback than a simple death could deliver. The Chula healer had done things to him that he had never seen done before and it still amazed Gunta and Halman that he was even able to walk again. The scars still covered his body, but the pain of the burns and cuts was only a memory, although it was still a very vivid memory to Rybak. At least Rybak had the pleasure of knowing that he had told Koors nothing despite the repeated torture sessions. He smiled inwardly at Lord Marshal Grefon’s displeasure with the inability of Koors to gain any information.
“Cortain Rybak,” came the voice out of thin air, “the Situ are still gathering on the road, but they are not advancing. Can you contact Lectain Zorkil and find out if his scouts have returned with any information?”
“Certainly, Lord Marshal Yenga,” answered Cortain Rybak. “I will get right back to you.”
The magic of the Air Tubes still amazed Cortain Rybak. Lord Marshal Yenga was off in the hills leading into Fardale and yet his voice sounded as if it came from the same room. Cortain Rybak nodded to the Air Mage and she adjusted the channel to Lectain Zorkil.
“Lectain Zorkil,” called Cortain Rybak, “the Lord Marshal wants to know if your scouts have returned any information.”
“Nothing certain,” the Lectain replied. “The Situ Armies continue to gather. I have had to limit the area of my scouts because the Situ have roving patrols all along the border. Has Lord Marak returned yet?”
“We have had no word since Cortain Tagoro returned,” answered Cortain Rybak. “If we do hear from him I will let everyone know.”
“Good,” stated Lectain Zorkil. “Let Lord Marshal Yenga know that the gathering of the Situ is spreading out over here. It is almost as if they are building a human wall out there.”
“I will inform him,” Cortain Rybak said.
He relayed the information to Lord Marshal Yenga who was not enthusiastic about the news from Lectain Zorkil. In fact, Lord Marshal Yenga was becoming concerned with the unusual tactics of the Situ Army. Once again, the Lord Marshal walked up to the observation point and peered down at the Situ gathering on the road.
“What do you make of this, Cortain Tagoro?” asked the Lord Marshal. “It is unlike anything I have ever seen. Why are they so spread out and why aren’t they attacking?”
“I was told that I might find you two up here,” came the voice from behind them. “What is the situation?”
Lord Marshal Yenga and Cortain Tagoro whirled at the sound of Lord Marak’s voice. “Where in Khadora have you been?” greeted the Lord Marshal. “You have the entire Army concerned about your whereabouts.”
“The Situ trackers were persistent,” shrugged Lord Marak. “They had to be taught a lesson in humility. Why are the Situ gathering and not attacking?”
“Cortain Tagoro,” ordered Lord Marshal Yenga, “inform Cortain Rybak that our Lord has returned. Make sure that the word is spread to every unit.”
Cortain Tagoro smiled broadly as he saluted and headed back to where the Air Mage kept the communications link to the mansion.
“I don’t know what they are up to,” admitted Lord Marshal Yenga. “They are not only gathering on the road, either. I have Lectain Zorkil south of here and he reports a similar gathering by him. They seem to approach to within bowshot and then retreat a little ways before gathering. It is as if they are probing the line looking for a weak spot. I have never seen anything like it.”
“I have,” frowned Lord Marak. “I did not realize that Lord Marshal Grefon even paid attention to our war games. I used this very method against some of the other Situ teams last year. The idea is to keep the defenders on edge and unaware of where you will strike. You spread your forces out across the entire line and the defender has to do likewise, but you have the advantage of knowing where you will attempt to break through. That is what all of the probing is about. He is trying to decide on his entry point.”
“Is there anything we can do to affect his choice?” queried the Lord Marshal.
Lord Marak appeared to be lost in thought as he gazed down at the amassing Situ Army. Lord Marshal Yenga noticed several bloodied cuts in the Lord’s uniform and was about to ask about them when Lord Marak suddenly whirled towards him.
“We need to bring up the reserves from Woodville,” Lord Marak said excitedly. “The Situ are not going to turn and attack us from the rear like I did in the games last year. They are going to run straight for Fardale. Lord Ridak will try to use the civilians as shields while he holds our own estate against us.”
“What makes you believe that?” asked Lord Marshal Yenga.
“Cortain Koors commented on my strategy when I used it,” answered Lord Marak. “He commented that while I had been lucky to break through, I should have gone after the prize instead of fighting the defenders. Koors learned his fighting strategy from Grefon. He will go for our civilians.”
“That is sound enough logic for me,” allowed Lord Marshal Yenga, “but bringing up the reserves will not solve the problem of defending against his strategy.”
“It will,” assured Lord Marak. “Do not bring them all the way to the front. Keep them a short distance back and out of sight, then break your line in the center and start peeling it back to create a funnel. Lord Ridak will find his weak spot in our line soon enough. When he does he will be making a dash towards Fardale. That is when we bring in the sides of the funnel and surround him.”
“I believe you are right,” grinned Lord Marshal Yenga. “I will arrange our reception shortly. Have you had those wounds looked at yet?”
“They are minor wounds,” answered Lord Marak. “Halman was not so lucky. Gunta has taken him to the mansion for healing. Get our trap set up quickly. I do not wish a falling sun to give the Situ an excuse to delay another day.”
* * *
Klora ducked behind a large tree to avoid being seen by the Situ soldier. There should not have been a Situ soldier anywhere near the mages’ practice field. After all, the field was home to the mages because it was out of the way and not on a direct route to anywhere. Klora leaned around the tree and watched the Situ soldier. He appeared to be looking for something or someone. His head constantly turned and his eyes darted back and forth. As if forgetting something, the Situ soldier suddenly turned and went back the way he had come. Klora waited until he was out of sight before she turned and ran back into the practice field which she had left for personal reasons. Quickly, she waved all of the mages together and explained what she had seen.
“He is probably a scout,” offered Wogra, a Water Mage.
“Then more will be coming,” declared Iscala, an Air Mage.
“Iscala,” ordered Klora, “inform the control center immediately. Lord Marshal Yenga will send some troops here to take care of them.”
“I have been monitoring what is going on,” frowned Iscala, “ and I don’t think they will be able to. Lord Marak has returned and they are preparing for a big battle. They have even called up the reserve forces out of Woodville.”
“Even if they could spare the men,” stated Glenda, “it would likely take too long for them to get here in time to protect us. We have been training to be battle mages. It is time for one more practice session, but this time our targets will be live.”
Klora stood and looked at the other mages present. There was fear in their faces, but there was also determination and eagerness. Most of the mages were former slaves and each of them had vowed never to permit themselves to be enslaved again. There was little doubt what the Situ Clan would do with them if Fardale was defeated. They had all made a solemn pledge to follow Lord Marak, not only because of their Vows of Service, but because he had freed them and was worthy of their pledge.
“Very well,” Klora declared, “the first battle of the Mage Corps is about to begin. Each of you knows your specialties and I will not presume to know how to organize a battle. Everyone will stay out of sight as long as possible before attacking. One thing we must make sure of, no Situ soldier will remain alive to talk about our use of magic in battle. Lord Marak made it clear that he wants to hide our new found abilities. Iscala, you should lead a group into the forest and be prepared to kill any soldiers trying to retreat. Make sure that your group remains hidden until the last soldier has passed you. Everyone else find places around the edges of the practice field. Nobody should enter the field once the battle begins. It will be a killing zone.”
The mages scattered and hid in the woods. Some scrambled under piles of leaves and some behind bushes or boulders while others created small fog patches lying on the ground. The Mage Corps did not have long to wait. The scout returned at the head of a large column of men. The Situ soldiers entered the field and nothing happened as they spread out and looked around. The lead part of the column was almost ready to exit the field and continue on their journey when a Cortain stopped and pulled out a map.
Troops were still straggling into the field when Klora started the attack by using heat to melt the officer’s armor. The Cortain’s screams signaled the other mages to start their own attack. Some soldiers began exploding from their own internal pressures. Others clawed at their armor in a vain attempt to remove the liquefying metal. Every rock and boulder within the field exploded into thousands of flying rock slivers which found their way into the bodies of the Situ soldiers. Large logs flew onto the field smashing soldiers from their horses. Large trees from the edges of the fields rolled across the ground knocking down everyone and everything in their path. Fire broke out among the heap of bodies and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.
The battle lasted only a few moments. The practice field was so large that the test of one’s ability to cast spells at a distance was determined by whether or not the mage could affect something at the other end of the field. Now that field was an inferno of Situ bodies and burning horses. Not one arrow had been fired nor had a single sword been drawn, but five hundred dead Situ soldiers and five hundred horses lay polluting the air. The only sound was the crackling of the flames and a last screaming cry from a few of the Situ attackers.
* * *
Lord Marshal Grefon charged through the gap in the Torak defenses with the rest of his soldiers. Even Lord Ridak urged his horse to go faster as they began the race to the mansion at Fardale. A wicked, spiteful smile adorned the Situ Lord’s face as he thought about his final victory over Lord Marak. The Situ soldiers flew past the Situ Lord as they eagerly sought the enemy.
Lord Marshal Grefon cursed as he heard the twang of bows before him. There should not be any troops this far from the front and he wondered if they had inadvertently caught up with some of the retreating Fardale troops. His thoughts grew more contemplative when the charging men in front of him halted. His Cortains were ordering the men to dismount and take up their bows. Those orders would not be given if the resistance was light.
Lord Marshal Grefon whirled to seek some high ground so he could view the battlefield. That was when he saw the flanks closing in on his men.
“We are being surrounded,” the Lord Marshal shouted. “Retreat and regroup immediately. Retreat and regroup.”
“We are not retreating,” hollered Lord Ridak as he waved his sword menacingly towards Lord Marshal Grefon. “We are almost there. Order your men forward, Lord Marshal. I will not be denied my victory by your incompetence again. Get them moving.”
Lord Marshal Grefon fought the urge to strike out at Lord Ridak. Instead, he dutifully turned and ordered his men to mount and fight their way through the enemy. When the men hesitated, Lord Marshal Grefon took the lead himself, urging his soldiers onward. The road passed through a clump of trees up ahead and the Lord Marshal could already see the flanking attackers closing off any routes around the trees. In a blind rage, the Lord Marshal charged down the road as he saw soldiers on both sides of him dropping with arrows in their bodies.
While the battle raged around him, Lord Marshal Grefon’s eyes narrowed to a solitary black figure standing in the middle of the road ahead of him, the figure’s long black cape blowing in the wind. As the soldiers around him veered off the road to engage the enemy, Lord Marshal Grefon drew his sword and charged directly towards Lord Marak. Lord Marak stood in the road with his feet placed apart and discarded his bow. In one smooth motion, Lord Marak reached back and drew his wicked-looking sinuous sword and stood defiantly waiting for the charging horse to reach him. Lord Marshal Grefon urged his mount faster and laughed as he prepared to take off Lord Marak’s head as he flew past.
At the last minute Lord Marak dropped to the side of the road and swung his sword. Lord Marshal Grefon struggled to comprehend what was happening as the horse slid downward and its chest impacted with the road. Lord Marshal Grefon went flying through the air and landed flat on his back. Dazed for a moment, he was startled when his sword was thrown on his chest, hilt first. He grabbed the sword and looked up. Lord Marak stood waiting for Grefon to rise.
“I believe it was me you were looking for,” smiled Lord Marak. “Well, you have found me. Let us see how fine a swordsman you are.”
Lord Marshal Grefon scrambled to his feet and steadied himself. “You haven’t asked me to surrender,” laughed Lord Marshal Grefon. “I guess you are not too sure of yourself, after all.”
“I have a fine Lord Marshal already,” smiled Lord Marak. “I can not even think of a position for which you are fit. Fardale has no slaves.”
Lord Marshal Grefon spat on the road, his face a contorted mask of hatred. “You shall wish you were a slave before I get done with you,” he screamed as he charged Lord Marak.
Lord Marak stood and waited for Lord Marshal Grefon to close. He sidestepped the mad charge and swung his sword viciously. He quickly turned as Lord Marshal Grefon screamed and saw Grefon’s forearm lying in the road, still clutching its sword.
“What are you waiting for?” screamed Lord Marshal Grefon. “Finish it.”
“I don’t kill unarmed men,” smiled Lord Marak. “I guess you will have to live with what you have left.”
Lord Marshal Grefon bent and picked up his sword with his left hand, shaking his lost forearm loose. “You shall not leave me a cripple,” screamed Lord Marshal Grefon as he crazily charged Lord Marak again.
As the Situ got closer, Lord Marak dropped to one knee and extended his sinuous sword. Either Lord Marshal Grefon did not see it, or he did not care, but he ran until he impaled himself on Lord Marak’s sword. Lord Marak rose and wiped his sword on the green and yellow uniform of the Situ Lord Marshal and strode down the road in search of Lord Ridak. The fighting was practically over as Lord Marak exited the clump of trees. The road was awash with blood and bodies lay everywhere. Most of the bodies wore green and yellow and Lord Marak silently issued his thanks. Hundreds of Situ had thrown down their weapons and surrendered, hundreds more had not and were dead. Lord Ridak was one of the ones who had surrendered.
Lord Marak called for two horses and a soldier promptly brought them over to him. He indicated that Lord Ridak should mount and then proceeded to mount the other horse.
“You are coming with me, Lord Ridak,” Lord Marak declared. “If you try to run away, you will suffer greatly. If you ride peaceably, I will not harm you.”
“Where are you taking me?” demanded Lord Ridak.
Lord Marak did not answer. He took hold of Lord Ridak’s reins and led him towards the hills and the dense forest of their slopes. Before they got too far into the forest, they were surrounded by Chula warriors. One Chula made his way forward through the others and stood before the horses. His lion-like face and long mane identified him as a Shaman. Lord Ridak cringed at the sight of the barbarians and started to visibly shake.
“Lord Ridak,” grinned Lord Marak, “I would like to introduce you to Ukaro Zatong, the Head Shaman of the Zatong Tribe. He is someone whom you tried to find many years ago. He is the husband of Glenda. He is my father.”
“Your father?” howled Lord Ridak. “But he is . . . he is an animal.”
“Tsk, tsk,” scolded Lord Marak. “It is not polite to talk ill of your owner that way.”
“My owner?” cried Lord Ridak. “You can not do this. I demand to be taken prisoner, not turned over to these savages.”
“He learns slowly, Father,” smiled Lord Marak. “You will have to be patient with him. When he learns what you have planned for him, he will probably keep you up all night pleading for death. He does babble on so. Please return the horse when you are done with it. That is something I do have a use for.”
* * *
“Thank you, Kasa, for that report,” said Lord Marak. “That pretty much finishes up the loose ends except for our new Situ estates. I have asked each of you Council members for your input on what we should do with our new properties and your suggestions were excellent. I have decided to keep two of the estates in addition to Fardale as Torak Clan estates. The other three will remain as Situ estates to preserve that seat in the Assembly of Lords.”
Lord Marak looked at the sea of bobbing heads around the table of the Meeting Chamber. This session was open to anyone who wished to attend and the room was packed. “Kasa,” Lord Marak continued, “I have read your report on the progress of your assistant, Elsa, and I am pleased with her progress. I am going to appoint her as the Bursar of Lituk Valley. It is high time that more women entered the realm of finance and the two of you will make Khadora sit up and take notice.”
A round of applause thundered through the room and only after it died down did Lord Marak hear the voice calling for his attention. “Lord Marak,” Cortain Rybak called out, “I . . . I would like to know if you are considering any military transfers to Lituk Valley. If it is possible . . . if you could see your way to . . . “
“I suppose you are going to ask if I will allow you to become a Cortain in the Situ Army, Cortain Rybak?” asked Lord Marak. “If that is your question, the answer is no. The Situ Army has enough candidates for the officer positions.”
Cortain Rybak’s eyes lowered and he nodded his understanding. Lord Marak pushed his way through the crowd and put his arm around the ex-spy. “Besides,” Lord Marak smiled, “I have something more important for you. You are to be the new Lord of the Situ Clan. Manage it well, Lord Rybak.”