Marak helped himself to a drink of StarWind’s water and continued, “I suggest that a small expedition go into Campanil to talk with the Mayor who has been so vocal in calling for a war. Present him with StarWind’s report so he has the same facts as we do. Convince him that Alazar is behind the death of the Katana and the rest of the tragedies foisted upon the Omungan people. To show that the Sakovans are serious and peaceful, offer to replace his lost watula harvest without cost. He will think you are crazy at first, but he will be convinced in the end. If cost is a problem, I will guarantee to replace the watula you send to Campanil from my own fields. I would also use my watula to flood the Omungan market, driving food prices down so the people are no longer hungry.”
Marak could see many heads nodding vigorously and he continued with his plan, “I can also replace the lost wasooki with a shipment to Alamar or overland so that the gift can come from the Sakovans. The plan is risky, but less so than a war. If this plan succeeds, there will be no bloodshed, but it only accomplishes one goal. There is still a need to deal with Alazar. I have not thought that far, but I think the Mayor of Campanil might be able to supply an answer to that part of the problem.”
Marak sat down and the room was abuzz with conversations. Lyra gazed over with a look of puzzlement and admiration on her face. StarWind’s face shone with acceptance.
Somebody finally rose and asked the obvious questions. “How do you propose that someone talk to the Mayor of Campanil and how do we get the grain shipments through the army blockade?”
“Two very good questions,” rose Lord Marak. “The first is pretty tricky but it can be done. It would take the skills of somebody such as HawkShadow. I offer my own services if they are desired. I have done this sort of thing in the past, but I must have a Sakovan with me to represent the Star. The second problem is solved by the first. Get the Campanil Mayor to divert the army while the food shipments pass through.”
The room full of people talked freely and loudly for some time and it was clear that they thought the plan was worth the risk. After a time, the room quieted and the Star of Sakova stood.
“I see by the general mood of the room that most of you are in favor of risking our food supplies in this gamble,” she stated. “I also think it is worth the risk. As for who will go on this journey, I do not think we should impose on Lord Marak to undertake such a dangerous mission. His offer to supply grain and cattle is already costing him a small fortune, should we choose to accept that offer. The Sakovans have people who can undertake the mission. Are there any other suggestions before I adjourn this meeting?”
Nobody rose and Lyra purposely walked away from her spot at the table, signifying an end to the meeting. She walked over to RavenWing and inquired of his health before returning to speak with Lord Marak. The hall was emptying and hundreds of conversations were creating such a high level of noise that it was difficult to talk.
“Lord Marak,” Lyra shouted, “would you meet me in my office please? StarWind, HawkShadow, please come as well.”
Lyra turned and fled the room and the three requested guests followed. The Star felt relief as she rounded the first corner and the noise level dropped dramatically. Within moments, she reached the office and slipped into the chair behind her desk. Lord Marak, StarWind, and HawkShadow appeared instants later.
“This is quite a plan you have laid out, Lord Marak,” she said. “What do you really think the chances of success are?”
“I think they are good or I would not have brought it up,” smiled Marak.
Lyra smiled and nodded. “HawkShadow,” she asked, “can you accomplish the task?”
“I believe that I can,” HawkShadow replied. “I think taking StarWind with me would be a good idea though. She has compiled the report and if there are questions concerning it, she should be there when it is presented.”
“I agree,” smiled Lord Marak. “You could not ask for a better team.”
“Thank you, Lord Marak,” smiled StarWind. “Not only for your vote of confidence, but for that play with SkyDancer during the meeting. I think Master Malafar might have a better appreciation of the Sakovan people now.”
“I didn’t think it was that obvious,” blushed Lord Marak.
“It wasn’t,” grinned StarWind.
Chapter 35
Mayor Ferde
“Ah, Lord Marak, come in,” offered the Star of Sakova from behind her desk in her office. “I do hope you are not going to ask permission to go along with StarWind and HawkShadow to Campanil. You have already risked too much to help us and I could not afford to lose my new ally.”
“Actually,” smiled Lord Marak as he sat in the chair Lyra indicated, “I am preparing to leave for Khadora and wanted to finish up a few things before I left. I thought perhaps that I could entice you into helping me.”
“I would help in any way that I can,” agreed Lyra. “What type of help do you need?”
Marak reached inside his uniform and pulled out a long, narrow pouch. “You will need someplace to store the grain at Campanil,” he declared as he emptied the contents of the pouch on Lyra’s desk. A dozen small sparkling diamonds reflected the light from the window, creating a mosaic of rainbow colors on the wall. “I would like to buy one of the farms that was destroyed in the blaze. These gems should more than cover the cost of a farm or two and you can use the buildings to store the grain rather than try to take all of your wagons into the city. StarWind can tell the Mayor where the grain is stored and make arrangements to distribute it.”
“An excellent idea,” remarked Lyra, “but you do not need to buy the farms. We have plenty of money.”
“I presumed as much,” nodded Lord Marak, “but I would like to make the investment anyway. If I ever get into a situation up north where my crops are destroyed, it would be good for me to have farms that my enemies do not know about. Use the name of the Ksaly Corporation as the owner. It will keep people wondering who owns it.”
“Ksaly?” chuckled Lyra. “What does a Khadoran know about one-legged birds?”
“I have a very resourceful young woman as my Bursar,” explained Marak. “The corporation has holdings in Khadora as well. We will also be setting up offices in Alamar to facilitate the grain shipments from Khadora. That is where I need your help. I want you to establish an Air Tube to Fardale so I can instruct my Bursar to get things going so that it does not have to wait for my return. I am afraid that I just missed the rendezvous with my fishing boat and it will be some time before another is scheduled. If I could purchase some horses from the Sakovan people, I would be most appreciative. I think it will be quicker to go overland for the return trip.”
“I will set up the Air Tube if you can direct me how to do it so that it connects with Fardale,” grinned Lyra, “but the horses are out of the question. I have decided to gift you with four chokas, two breeding pairs. Your journey back will be swifter than you had planned. They are young enough to accept you as their masters, but that also means that they are not well trained. I hope that is acceptable?”
“Acceptable?” echoed the shocked Khadoran Lord. “You have my undying gratitude. I will guard them well, Star of Sakova.”
“Wonderful,” smiled Lyra. “Let’s get your message off then.”
***
StarWind and HawkShadow sat on the bed in the small rented room in the Wayward Inn located in the Merchant’s District of Campanil. HawkShadow stripped off his multicolored robe and tossed it over a chair. “At least the purchase of the farms went without a hitch,” sighed the Sakovan assassin.
“Yes, but getting in to see the Mayor is going to be a bit of a problem,” countered StarWind. “I did not expect the increased security that we have found.”
“I guess with the Katana’s assassin still on the loose,” HawkShadow reflected, “the other officials are taking their security seriously. I hadn’t really expected him to see an unfamiliar merchant anyway. We will have to sneak into his mansion.”
“I don’t see how we are going to d
o that with it surrounded by Imperial Guards,” mused StarWind. “If we kill any guards getting in, I do not think the Mayor will believe that we are peaceful.”
“True,” frowned HawkShadow. “I do not see any alternative though. We are not going to get in through the front door. We have already tried that and been rebuffed.”
“Well we knew this would not be easy,” StarWind sighed as she stripped off her gray tunic. “Let’s get into some dark clothes and see what openings present themselves.”
HawkShadow nodded as he rummaged through his pack for the black clothes he had packed. “You know that if this attempt fails,” warned HawkShadow, “we will not leave Campanil alive.”
“That is the risk we accepted,” agreed StarWind as she pulled on black pants. “We never expected to live forever. Maybe Kaltara will throw a little luck our way.”
HawkShadow finished dressing and hefted a coil of rope and slung it over his shoulder. “If it comes down to discovery or killing a guard,” he stated, “you know what I will do.”
“The same as I,” agreed the Sakovan spymaster as she hefted a rope of her own. “Shall we?”
HawkShadow nodded and leaned out the window of their room, which faced an alley. He looked both ways before easing through the window and waiting outside for StarWind. She followed silently and the two Sakovans stole up the alley. It was well past bedtime for all but the most nocturnal of citizens and the streets were empty except for Imperial Guards. The patrols were sparse in the Merchant’s District with the majority of security centered around the government buildings. While this made their trip towards the center of the city rather uneventful, it also made entrance into the Mayor’s mansion all but impossible.
The two black-clad warriors reached the center of the city and halted in the darkness of a doorway. They looked out across the park and studied the movements of the patrols for a long time.
“There is a pattern,” offered HawkShadow, “but it does us no good. They have it arranged so that there is always a patrol visible. There is not a chance that we can make it across the park. We will have to work our way around to the other side and see what that looks like.”
“The other side has a high wall,” informed StarWind. “We will be blind to who is inside if we have to scale it.”
HawkShadow shrugged and nodded and led the way back out of the City Center. StarWind followed silently as they circled around the blocks of government buildings, keeping well away from the areas that were heavily patrolled. Eventually they came out to a broad avenue with large oak trees on one side and a high stone wall on the other. The solid expanse of wall was broken every so often by a stone pillar that rose slightly higher than the wall. HawkShadow scampered up a tree and peered in both directions for a time before dropping back to the ground.
“The patrols turn around at the ends of the wall,” he mentioned. “They do survey its length, but I do not think any of them will actually march down here unless there is a disturbance.”
“I am more worried about what waits for us on the other side,” whispered StarWind. “Once we drop into the grounds, we will be exposed if we try to climb back out. We could be trapped in there.”
“It is likely that there will be patrols inside the wall,” agreed HawkShadow. “That is probably why they don’t need a lot of scrutiny out here. Do you have a better idea?”
StarWind shook her head and lifted the coil of rope off her shoulder. With a signal to HawkShadow, she dashed across the avenue and placed her back to the wall alongside one of the pillars. HawkShadow darted over as StarWind tied a loop in one end of the rope and tossed it over the top of the pillar. HawkShadow grabbed the free end and tugged once before scampering up the rope. StarWind followed right on his heels and pulled the rope into the mansion grounds as she landed on the other side of the wall.
The two black-clad warriors crouched next to the wall and surveyed the estate. The ground along the wall was peppered with low shrubs, but nothing large enough that would impede the view of the patrols. The landscape between the duo and their target building was flat and open, broken only by a small grove of trees halfway across the broad expanse. A pathway ran between the grove and the building and another between the grove and the wall. HawkShadow peered at the mansion and tried to estimate how long it would take to dash across the open ground and throw his rope over the balcony railing and climb up. His estimate of their success was not good, but he tied a loop on his own rope anyway. Too much was riding on this mission for them to turn and run. A war could be avoided and they had to try their best to get to the Mayor.
With a sudden tap from HawkShadow, StarWind flattened herself to the ground alongside the Sakovan assassin as a patrol rounded the corner of the distant building. HawkShadow could see the two distinct paths the patrol could chose from and hoped they took the one closer to the building as the near one would bring them dangerously close to where the Sakovans were, almost assuredly leading to their discovery.
The patrol chose the path along the wall and HawkShadow cringed as he lifted several stars from his pouch. “We have no choice,” he whispered to StarWind. “If they get the chance to alert the others, we will be dead in minutes. I will take the lead two and you get the other two.”
StarWind did not reply as she extracted stars from her own pouch and prepared to kill the Imperial Guards. HawkShadow slithered away from StarWind to put some distance between them before the patrol arrived. He was just about to toss his first star when an Imperial Guard stepped out of the small grove of trees and called to the patrol. The patrol halted not twenty feet from the prone Sakovans and turned towards the Imperial Guard who had hailed them. The lone guard approached the patrol and started issuing terse commands, pointing and gesticulating towards the front of the estate. The patrol leader saluted and led his team on the run in the direction the lone guard had pointed.
HawkShadow slid back to StarWind and whispered to her, “That guard must have seen us enter from where he was in the grove. I do not understand what is happening or why he sent the patrol away. Should we kill him and make a dash for the building?”
StarWind studied the guard, who was standing on the path starring in their general direction, but not right at them. She squinted and cocked her head as she watched the guard smile broadly. He waved his hand to summon the Sakovans out of their hiding spot and StarWind stood up and walked towards him. HawkShadow’s eyes widened with shock and his mouth refused to close as he watched his partner give herself up to the enemy. His arm drew back, star in hand, to wipe the smile off the guard’s face as he watched StarWind approach.
“HawkShadow,” she called softly, “hurry up. There is no time to waste.”
HawkShadow’s arm froze before releasing the star. With a great deal of skepticism, he rose and followed StarWind towards the Imperial Guard. He heard StarWind speaking to the guard and hastened forward.
“I don’t know if I can divert them again when you are done,” the guard was saying, “but signal me and I will try. Don’t dally because that patrol’s confusion will only last for a while.”
“Get yourself out of here, Fisher,” ordered StarWind. “You are taking too big of a risk. Either the Mayor will give us safe passage out, or we will not be leaving.”
HawkShadow halted alongside StarWind and gazed at the Imperial Guard with shock. “Fisher?” he questioned. “How in Kaltara’s name did you get in here?”
“Why would anyone keep an Imperial Guard Captain out?” grinned Fisher. “Hurry along. Another patrol is due shortly and the first may return unexpectedly.”
HawkShadow nodded, pushed his questions out of his mind, and raced for the building with StarWind close behind. He swiftly tossed his rope over a balcony railing post and tested its firmness before climbing up. When StarWind reached the top, HawkShadow hauled the rope up and dropped it to the floor. Looking back towards the grounds, he noticed Fisher had already disappeared and he turned his attention to the door barring his entry into the building.
Torchlight penetrated the darkness as StarWind cracked the door open. She peered into the hallway before easing through the door with HawkShadow right behind her.
“How do you know where to go?” HawkShadow whispered.
“I don’t,” admitted StarWind, “but I do know that the Mayor lives on the third floor. The first floor is for offices and the second hosts guest bedrooms. We have to find some stairs.”
HawkShadow nodded and swiftly led the way down the hall, his figure moving like the shadow of a hawk, giving credence to his name. As they reached the end of the hall where it intersected with another corridor, HawkShadow heard someone approaching and backpedaled to the nearest door and tried the doorknob. It was locked.
As he raced to try another, he saw StarWind produce a star and shook his head at her. The second door was also locked and HawkShadow sped back to the intersection of corridors, as the footsteps grew louder. He silently signaled his intentions to StarWind and waited until she acknowledged him before crouching down next to the wall. The Sakovans waited in silence as the footsteps approached. A shadow of the approaching figure, cast by the light of the torches, preceded the man and HawkShadow timed his lunge carefully. Just as the man reached the intersection, HawkShadow flung his body forward from his crouched position.
The man never saw HawkShadow and stumbled over the assassin’s body, crashing loudly to the floor. StarWind leaped to the fallen man and hit him over the head with the butt of her knife. HawkShadow jumped to his feet and ran to the nearest door in the new corridor and tried the doorknob. It was locked and he was about to try the next door when StarWind appeared at his side with a thin piece of metal and proceeded to pick the lock. HawkShadow left StarWind to her task and returned to pick up the unconscious man and carry him back to the door. StarWind had the door unlocked and was easing the door open when HawkShadow returned.
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