Aakuta: the Dark Mage

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “Who would be leaving at this hour?” questioned Lord Marak. “The work day is far from over.”

  “Torak soldiers are leaving,” explained Mistake. “You refused a proper escort, but you did not forbid sentries along the way. Botal has been sending men in pairs. I suspect that they will explore every nook and cranny between here and the palace.”

  “You really should let Botal manage a proper escort for you,” warned StarWind. “You know they care for you.”

  “I know,” sighed Lord Marak as he sat back down. “Each and every member of that squad has refused promotions. They would rather be part of the squad that escorts me than be Cortains or Lectains or Marshals.”

  “You could not ask for better men,” smiled HawkShadow. “Let them do their job.”

  “I will,” Lord Marak said decisively as he rose. “May Kaltara watch over the three of you as you journey to the Sakova.”

  Lord Marak walked into the hallway. Gunta and Halman were waiting and Botal was nearby.

  “Form up the rest of your men, Squad Leader,” grinned Marak. “We are going to the Imperial Palace.”

  Botal’s eyes grew large with surprise. For once he was at a loss for words as he tried to figure out what to do. All of the squad had already been dispatched to watch the route that Lord Marak would take to the palace. There was no way that he could form a squad now if he wanted to.

  “All right,” laughed Lord Marak. “We will pick them up as we go. Come on.”

  “You knew?” sighed Botal as he joined the group.

  “Actually,” grinned Lord Marak as he stepped through the front door, “a little elf told me.”

  Botal led the small group along the street towards the Imperial Palace. He signaled for his men to join the group as they passed them. By the time they reached the Imperial Palace, the whole squad was in formation. The palace appeared deserted without all of the lords of Khadora and their escorts. Most of the people visible inside were Imperial guards. As they walked past the Assembly Chamber, Lord Marak glanced at the first door along the left residence corridor. There was a shiny gold plaque on the door inscribed with the Torak name.

  “Look at this,” Lord Marak said as he detoured down the residence corridor and stopped in front of the door. “Check it out while I am with the Emperor, Botal. I will meet you back here.”

  Botal nodded and Lord Marak turned around and headed for the nearest stairwell. Gunta and Halman stuck with the Torak lord while the rest of the squad entered their new quarters. Lord Marak ascended the stairs quickly and marched along the hall to the waiting pair of Imperial guards. They nodded to him and one of them immediately opened the door. Gunta and Halman did not hesitate and followed Lord Marak into the Emperor’s office.

  “Lord Marak,” greeted Emperor Bagora. “Come, sit down.”

  Gunta and Halman stopped at the door and stood to each side of it as Lord Marak walked across the room and sat before the desk. The Emperor frowned when he noticed the two Torak soldiers.

  “You are safe in this room, Lord Marak,” stated the Emperor. “Even my own guards do not feel a need to be in here to protect me.”

  “Unless their presence bothers you, Emperor,” smiled Lord Marak, “I will let them stay. They become nervous when I am not in their sight. I was fortunate to make it to your office without an entire squad following me.”

  “Very well,” nodded the Emperor. “I am pleased that you arrived so quickly. I have had some rather disturbing news from Katzu about a matter you discussed with Lord Patel.”

  Lord Marak frowned at the mention of the mediator’s name. He had trusted Katzu with a great deal of knowledge, and while he trusted the Emperor, it churned his stomach to think that Katzu would repeat his secrets.

  “Is this about the Nordon?” asked Lord Marak.

  “Oh goodness, no,” chuckled the Emperor. “Yes, I did try to squeeze out of Katzu what happened between you and Lord Patel, but he refuses to say. I did notice that the Torak clan now has a Deep Bend estate. Am I to assume that relations between you and Lord Patel are no longer dangerous?”

  “That matter has been solved amicably,” answered Lord Marak. “What exactly did Katzu say?”

  “You mentioned Fakarans taking up with clans in Khadora,” began the Emperor.

  “Jiadin, actually,” interrupted Lord Marak. “The bulk of Fakarans are friendly to Khadora. The Jiadin are not.”

  “I stand corrected,” nodded the Emperor. “These Jiadin worry me. They are being used by some lords to aggressively pursue their neighbors.”

  “Their intention is chaos,” declared Lord Marak. “Grulak had planned to attack Khadora with a hundred thousand men. Had he succeeded, he would have destroyed most of this country. This is one of the reasons that I stress uniting the clans. Separated as we are, we can be picked off one by one.”

  “That is exactly what is happening now,” declared the Emperor. “Three clans have ceased to exist in the last week. The latest was the Devon clan. They were attacked by the Vessi for no apparent reason.”

  “Then it has begun,” frowned Lord Marak. “I had not expected it so soon. Should the Lords’ Council meet on this?”

  “They could,” shrugged Emperor Bagora, “but there is nothing that they can do. No clan has asked for mediation. No clan has declared that they were attacked without provocation. In fact, no clan has complained. The reason for that, Lord Marak, is that there are no clans to complain. In each of the attacks, every living member of the ruling family was destroyed. There was nobody left with legal standing to file an appeal to the Lords’ Council.”

  “And there will never be,” sighed Lord Marak. “These Jiadin will conquer one estate at a time until they are at our door. How then do our laws help us, Emperor?”

  “I don’t know,” conceded the Emperor. “Katzu returned from talking to Lord Samert about the latest attack. He was basically told that no mediation was requested and told to leave. Never has a Lords’ Council mediator been treated so shabbily.”

  “But Lord Samert was within his legal rights to ask Katzu to leave,” Lord Marak pointed out. “What does the Emperor propose to do about it?”

  “I was hoping that you would have an idea,” confessed the Emperor. “You are, after all, the one noted for accomplishing things in a strange fashion.”

  “Make it illegal to kill a lord,” suggested Lord Marak.

  “We cannot do that,” the Emperor shook his head. “Too many laws allow for such a death or enslavement. Our basic structure of law is that the clan lord is responsible for the failings of the clan. As such, his life is forfeit if he transgresses and is defeated.”

  “Well,” frowned Lord Marak, “your laws have a loophole in them. You are allowing foreigners to destroy your country. You could make a law that forbids the killing of the last surviving member of a clan, or one against using foreign mercenaries in your army, but none of that will work. Suppose you did have a law to use against these clans. How would you enforce it? You do not have enough Imperial troops to stand against even one of those clans.”

  “You are right,” the Emperor nodded sadly. “The only solution is the one you mentioned the day we met. We must have a culture that allows our clans to fight together as one. We certainly do not have that today.”

  “It is even worse than you know,” Lord Marak said. “I have learned that there is a fourth clan filling up with Jiadin warriors. The Pikata clan will be the next to be heard from.”

  “Lord Damirath?” questioned the Emperor. “That is hard to believe. He might take Fakaran slaves in once in a while, but other than that, he would have nothing to do with that country.”

  “I believe my information to be accurate,” insisted Lord Marak. “Two notorious Jiadin have been at the Pikata estate. One of them is a mage.”

  “I will have that checked out,” declared the Emperor. “What would you do if you were Emperor, Lord Marak?”

  “That is hard for me to imagine,” the Torak lord said after a long p
ause. “My first thought is a military one. I am quite sure that it would not be legal, but I would amass a great army and kick the Jiadin out of Khadora.”

  “That is exactly what I would like to do,” agreed Emperor Bagora. “At least we both realize that it is illegal. I suppose I should call a Lords’ Council meeting on this issue. Everyone is close by now that you have returned.”

  “When will it be?” asked Lord Marak.

  “This afternoon,” decided the Emperor. “That should give you time to check out the craftsmen that infest your home.”

  “Someday,” grinned Lord Marak as he rose, “I would like to discuss your spy network with you.”

  “That will probably be the same day that we discuss your secret agreements with a growing list of lords in Khadora,” grinned the Emperor. “Stay safe, Lord Marak.”

  Lord Marak gathered Gunta and Halman and returned downstairs. He briefly viewed the new Torak quarters before leaving for his house with his full squad.

  “We could fit more than a corte of troops in the new quarters,” Botal said happily.

  “Probably two,” nodded Lord Marak. “We should talk about stationing some troops permanently in Khadoratung. I need to contact Tagoro and find out how his recruiting is coming along. I would like another meal when we get back, Botal.”

  The Torak squad entered the house. Lord Marak went into the dining room and saw Latril sitting with Fisher. He smiled at both of them and sat down.

  “What news do you have for me, Fisher?” asked Lord Marak.

  “No word on the assassin,” reported the spy. “I did some research on the Neju clan, though. Jamarat is the end of the line for the Neju. Woton had no sons and Jamarat never married. The man really has the mind of a child.”

  “I noticed that,” nodded Lord Marak. “What is worse is how Mirakotto uses him. I would like to do something for him if I could. The Neju clan is a founding clan and rich in history.”

  “Which makes their situation even more deplorable,” frowned Fisher. “Woton spent his time on affairs of the Lords’ Council. He did not bother much with the running of his estates. Jamarat does not have the mental capacity to handle the job, and most of the Neju advisors are ancient and feeble. The only good thing that could be said about the Neju is their army. They have a large army, and it is well equipped and well trained.”

  “What about their finances?” asked the Torak lord.

  “I had Kasa check that out,” answered Fisher. “They have numerous estates with fertile soil. Their herds are healthy. Their only problem appears to be mishandling their finances. Basically, Jamarat is like Woton in that he spends more than they make. If they had a good bursar, I think their estates would be quite prosperous.”

  “Latril, didn’t you help Kasa with the finances when we merged the Situ estates into our own?” asked Lord Marak.

  “I did,” nodded Latril. “It is fairly simple work. At least it is if you are good with numbers, which I guess I am. Do you want me to help the Neju? Would they accept such help?”

  “I would not ask you to do anything that you didn’t want to,” replied Lord Marak, “but you would also have the benefit of being able to talk to Kasa whenever you needed to.”

  “I would not mind,” offered Latril. “After traveling with you for a while and seeing what it is that you are trying to do, I am actually excited to be able to play an active part. Anything I can do to make Khadora the country you dream of, I would gladly do.”

  “Would Jamarat accept help from the Torak clan?” asked Fisher.

  “I don’t know,” admitted Lord Marak, “but I am willing to ask him. I did tell him that if he needed help, I would be willing to give it. I cannot go out there today, though. The Emperor is calling a Lords’ Council meeting this afternoon to discuss the Jiadin issue. The Khadoran clans hosting the Jiadin have begun gobbling up their neighbors.”

  “I will take Latril out to see Jamarat,” offered Fisher. “I will play the role of a special emissary from the Torak clan and tell him that you were concerned for him and wanted to help. The worst he can do is not believe me.”

  “Fisher,” laughed Lord Marak. “I cannot imagine anyone who would not believe whatever you wanted them to.”

  Chapter 23

  Anyone Can Play

  Lord Patel entered the Lords’ Council Chamber and looked briefly around the room. The only lord present was Lord Mirakotto, and the Argetta lord seemed absorbed in thoughts of his own. Lord Patel walked to a small table in the corner of the room and served himself a cup of tea before sitting down at the long table occupying the center of the room.

  “Ah, Lord Patel,” Lord Mirakotto said as he finally noticed someone in the room. “I see that the Toraks have a new estate at Deep Bend. Did some young lord nip your ankles?”

  “I resent your implication, Mirakotto,” Lord Patel replied. “It is well known that the orchard at Deep Bend has never been much of a concern to me.”

  “True,” Lord Mirakotto responded with just a tinge of a smirk. “How is it then that Lord Marak is now owner of the estate?”

  “He showed an interest in it,” shrugged Lord Patel. “Perhaps some lords have more money than they know what to do with. Since when do the Argetta care about the Nordon holdings? Or is your interest more in Lord Marak?”

  “My interest,” frowned Lord Mirakotto, “is in keeping track of alliances within the Lords’ Council. I endeavor to know if you are starting to lean towards this boy lord?”

  “Lean towards him?” laughed Lord Patel. “Your spies should be hung, Lord Mirakotto. I do not normally keep two cortes of troops sitting on the road to the south of the city at the end of the Assembly of Lords.”

  “I had heard of your troops,” nodded Lord Mirakotto. “My first thought was that you planned to ambush Lord Marak on his way home. That is why news of Deep Bend greatly disturbed me.”

  “I will not sit here and discuss such things as ambushes,” warned Lord Patel. “If I had ever planned to do such a thing, I would certainly not admit to it.” Lord Patel let a smile play across his lips as he added, “Besides, I understand that he managed to slip out of the city unseen by anyone.”

  “He did,” laughed Lord Mirakotto. “Well, I am glad that we had this little talk, Lord Patel. You have reassured me of your good intentions. This Lord Marak is a threat to our very way of life. I am suspicious of his relationship with the Emperor.”

  “You are suspicious of everyone,” chuckled Lord Patel. “I suppose that it was your man who attempted to kill the Emperor?”

  Lord Mirakotto’s expression turned dark as he glared at the Nordon lord. At that moment, Lord Garic and Lord Quilo entered the chamber, and the conversation was interrupted by greetings. Within a few minutes, Lord Marak and Lord Kiamesh entered and everyone took a seat at the table.

  “Emperor Bagora has requested this meeting of the Lords’ Council,” declared Lord Kiamesh. “A situation has arisen that he thinks we need to address, or at least discuss. There have been three wars in the last week. Each of these occurred in the eastern frontier, and each involved Fakaran troops. In all cases, the ruling families of the defending clans have been annihilated.”

  “Fakarans?” interrupted Lord Quilo. “Which three clans are using Fakaran warriors?”

  “The Vessi, Glamaraldi, and Lejune clans are using Jiadin warriors,” answered Lord Kiamesh.

  “And what does the Emperor expect us to do?” asked Lord Garic. “If there is no heir to the lord’s seat, then the clan is dissolved. This can not be undone.”

  “We do have the ability to recognize new clans,” interjected Lord Quilo.

  “Yes,” Lord Mirakotto retorted as he glared at Lord Marak, “and look where that has gotten us.”

  “I do not think the issue is necessarily preserving the lost clans,” interrupted Lord Patel. “The issue is that these three clans are using our laws in such a way as to thwart their intent. Our laws were designed to stop needless attacks among the clans. These rogue clans
have discovered that they can annihilate the ruling family and be safe from reprisal. What is to stop them from continuing these attacks until they are no longer restricted to the frontier?”

  “When the attacks are no longer restricted to the frontier,” retorted Lord Garic, "is when they become a problem for this council. What happens to the frontier is not something that requires my attention.”

  “The frontier is as much a part of Khadora as the Imperial Valley,” Lord Marak declared. “It was my impression that the Lords’ Council governed over all of Khadora, not just the Imperial Valley.”

  “I am sure your attitude would be vastly different, Lord Marak,” sneered Lord Mirakotto, “if it was the Torak clan gobbling up its neighbors in the southern frontier. I am sure you would expect the Lords’ Council to keep its nose out of your business.”

  “I have been subject to rulings of the Lords’ Council even on the southern frontier,” countered Lord Marak. “I have never felt that the Lords’ Council was interfering.”

  “Yet the mediations that you have had are quite mysterious,” stated Lord Mirakotto. “Why is that you can claim the rights of rulings of this body and yet refuse to inform us of what has transpired?”

  “The ruling between the Torak clan and the Situ clan is an open affair,” declared Lord Marak. “The situation between Fardale and the Sorgan and Litari clans was not mediated. It was a private ruling and not subject to the scrutiny of the Lords’ Council. May I say that we are getting off topic here? This meeting is not to discuss the Torak clan. The use of thousands of Jiadin to eradicate whole clans is a serious matter, for all of Khadora.”

  “We are getting sidetracked,” agreed Lord Kiamesh. “I do not think that any of us can honestly say that these attacks are not disturbing to the fabric of Khadora. The question is, what can we do about it?”

  “We could pass a law forbidding foreigners to fight in a clan army,” suggested Lord Patel.

  “And how would we enforce it?” questioned Lord Kiamesh. “The point is that these lords have situated themselves to be above the law. Do you really think they will accept a ruling of the Lords’ Council without us having the force to back it up?”