Wogra pointed to a huge sevemor tree across the field as she spoke. “That large sevemor tree is not a likely object for a Water Mage to manipulate,” she began, “but we have discovered that all objects can be manipulated by a Water Mage. I am going to concentrate on the saps within the tree. I am going to increase the pressure on the saps, forcing them to expand rapidly, very rapidly."
The crowd of newcomers watched intently as Wogra focused on the sevemor tree. Visibly, there was not much to see. The tall tree appeared to bulge slightly, but not enough to indicate that anything was happening. Suddenly, the entire sevemor tree vanished in a puff of smoke. The only indication that the tree had exploded was the mass of raining debris floating down all over the field. The pieces were so small that they could not be distinguished as being from a sevemor tree. The newcomers applauded briskly and Wogra gave a humorous bow before leaving the group.
"As you can see,” Klora said loudly, reclaiming the group's attention, “we have learned quite a bit about our magic and have developed new uses for it. We are far from knowing all that we wish to know and we welcome you newcomers to our group. We have found that the more mages involved in the practice groups, the more we learn. All of you will contribute something valuable to our learning."
"Why are all of the new uses so destructive?” asked one of the newcomers.
Klora looked briefly at Lord Marak before answering. “Not all of our studies are directed toward exploding things,” Klora explained, “but you must admit, it does make for an interesting demonstration. We are interested in any improvement of knowledge in the area of magic, but we are also pursuing the use of magic as a weapon. Lord Marak has embarked upon a campaign to elevate the status of mages in Khadora. As you know, we are considered no higher than a hoe or a rake on many of the estates in Khadora. Lord Marak is using that misconception to gather as many of the mages in Khadora as he can. You are the first new group to arrive, but you will most certainly not be the last."
"I have already contracted to purchase six hundred mages,” Lord Marak interjected. “Most of them are slaves and will gain their freedom when they arrive. What the Mage Corps is doing out here has been kept a secret, even from the rest of Fardale. We must maintain that secrecy until we have gathered as many mages as we can. Battle magic is not the main goal of this training program, although it is important. I consider magic to be an important and constructive segment of Khadoran society and I hope to convince the rest of the nation of its importance. Many of the menial tasks in our society depend on mass labor. Magic can change that. If we can prove that there is no need to enslave people, Khadoran society will be the better for it."
"Are you suggesting that our magic can eliminate the need for slaves?” asked one of the newcomers.
"Exactly,” agreed Lord Marak. “At Lituk Valley slaves are used to carry water to the fields to irrigate the crops. A Water Mage can use her powers to drive a stream into those same fields and permanently supply irrigation for the crops. That is only one example of reducing the need for slave labor. There are many more. The battle magic is going to be necessary because Khadora is not ready to accept new ideas and Lords will try to eradicate us. I can not allow that to happen. I plan to change Khadora by example, rather than by force, but I will be prepared if others should choose to eliminate me."
"That is the reason each of you are required to give another oath,” interrupted Klora. “Your Vows to the Mage Corps, are meant to constrain our knowledge to those who have sworn to Lord Marak. We are not permitted to share our knowledge with mages who have not sworn allegiance to Lord Marak."
"Mages outside the Mage Corps will find out soon enough,” lamented Lord Marak. “The first report of us using magic in battle will spread like the coming dawn and we will soon be facing other magicians in battle. That must be delayed as long as possible. If we are forced to use magic in battle, we will attempt to hide its use so that no one will know. Klora, why don't you interview the newcomers and get them situated in their respective disciplines? I must return to the mansion and get the guilds started on new housing for those who will be arriving soon."
Klora moved off to interview and dispersed the group. Glenda remained with her son, Lord Marak. “She does not know of your abilities,” Glenda whispered. “I can tell by her actions."
"No, she doesn't,” admitted Marak. “No one does. I do not believe that I am the only male with abilities and I do not wish the other Lords to start looking for others. They believe that I am sitting in on the sessions because I have a particular interest in their progress."
"Then you go off and practice on your own?” Glenda inquired.
"Yes,” confirmed Lord Marak. “There is never enough time to devote towards practice, but I am doing well enough. Maybe you could join me in those sessions. It would be wonderful and everyone would suspect that we just want some time together."
"Don't we?” smiled Glenda. “You do make a mother proud, Marak, but I worry about you. You have tackled so much at such a young age. Khadora will never welcome your ideas. You realize that, don't you?"
"They will resist,” acknowledged Lord Marak. “I do not believe that I will have to fight all of them. Surely, they can not all be blind to what I am trying to do?"
"They will not care what you are trying to do,” stressed Glenda. “They will only see you as a threat to their way of life and will attempt to eradicate you like a pest. The Mage Corps will not save you. Within months of your first use of magic, the Lords Council will outlaw its use in battle while bringing in their own mages to defeat you. Do not make the mistake of depending on it."
"I will try not to,” promised Lord Marak. “I trust that everyone's new quarters and wardrobes are satisfactory?"
"Everyone is thrilled, Marak,” beamed Glenda. “I am especially happy that you have chosen such a fine, young woman to be your assistant. Kasa is so full of life and smart, as well."
"Mother,” scolded Lord Marak, “Kasa is not my assistant. She is the Bursar of Fardale and an excellent one at that. Do not attempt to marry me off. I have too much to deal with as it is. Besides, Kasa has no interest in me. She is only interested in being the best Bursar that she can be."
"You are so blind in some areas,” laughed Glenda. “Very well, you will learn in your own time. I must get back to the group. Most everyone has already been assigned and I do not want to miss the first session."
Lord Marak watched his mother join the other new mages before he turned and walked back towards the mansion. The field the Mage Corps had claimed for their own was out of the way and in an area where people had no reason to venture. As he approached the main gate, Lord Marak saw a flurry of red and yellow uniforms and quickened his step. Cortain Tagoro rushed out to greet him.
"Lord Zawbry of Woodville is here,” Cortain Tagoro explained. “He brought a Squad of Ragatha soldiers with him as an escort."
"Did we have any advance notice of his arrival?” inquired Lord Marak.
"No,” replied Cortain Tagoro. “Should I prescribe punishment for the lax patrols?"
"No,” Lord Marak answered. “Schedule them for further training. Explain the need for absolute security of the estate and make sure the training is intensive. Another lapse by the same group will be dealt with more harshly. Make sure they know."
Cortain Tagoro nodded and sprinted off in the direction of the Ragatha border. Lord Marak strode into the courtyard with a purposeful stride. Lord Zawbry was all smiles while Marshal Tingo whispered in his ear. Marshal Tingo straightened as Lord Marak approached.
"Lord Marak,” introduced Marshal Tingo, “I have the pleasure to introduce Lord Zawbry, Ragatha Lord of Woodville."
"Thank you, Marshal Tingo,” uttered Lord Marak. “Welcome to Fardale, Lord Zawbry. Will you join me in the Meeting Chamber?"
"It will be my pleasure, Lord Marak,” smiled Lord Zawbry as he followed Lord Marak up the steps.
Lord Marak paused at the top of the steps and saw the Ragatha Squad following the
ir Lord. “Lectain Zorkil,” Marak ordered, “see to Lord Zawbry's men. Make sure they are refreshed from their long journey. Marshal Tingo will be joining his Lord in the Meeting Chamber. I wish you to join us after the Ragatha are settled."
Lord Marak glanced at the surprised look on Lord Zawbry's face as he turned and led the way into the mansion. Several of the visiting Lord's men would normally have been allowed into the Meeting Chamber to act as bodyguards, but Lord Marak wanted to gauge Lord Zawbry's reaction to surprises and he was not disappointed. Lord Zawbry did not know how to react and sought some sign of approval or complaint from his Marshal. Unfortunately for Lord Zawbry, Marshal Tingo was not a quick thinker, either, and the three men continued into the mansion to the Meeting Chamber without any guards at all. By the time Lord Marak got Lord Zawbry settled, Lectain Zorkil appeared.
"I am very pleased that you have found time to visit,” welcomed Lord Marak. “Marshal Tingo indicated that I should expect you. I trust all is well in Woodville?"
"Very much so,” opened Lord Zawbry. “I could not help notice the healthy fields of grain you have cultivated in Fardale. It would appear that you have a better feel for the soil than Lord Lashendo did."
This was an obvious reference to the fact that Lord Marak's mother was a Soil Mage and that Lord Zawbry knew it. “My family has always held a great regard for the soil,” nodded Lord Marak. “When properly cared for, it will yield what you desire."
"Marshal Tingo informs me that you have some concern with the current agreement allowing for our transit across your lands,” Lord Zawbry stated.
Lord Marak noticed that the Ragatha Lord liked to get right to the point when he was prepared for an issue. He offered none of the standard goodwill statements which normally occurred at a first meeting of Lords. Obviously, Lord Zawbry was prepared for a confrontation or actually hoping for one. “The current agreement is not acceptable,” confirmed Lord Marak. “Perhaps this is a good time to execute a new one."
"The current agreement was acceptable to Lord Lashendo,” declared Lord Zawbry. “I fail to see why anything has changed."
"As the new Lord of Fardale,” smiled Lord Marak, “I have caused many changes. I would think that you would be eager to execute a new agreement, considering the delicate position Woodville is in."
"Delicate position?” questioned Lord Zawbry with a rising voice. “What makes you think Woodville is in a delicate position?"
"Perhaps I am not seeing things clearly,” offered Lord Marak. “I thought the rest of the Ragatha estates were to the West. If you are not in a delicate position, why do you seek an agreement to take your caravans to the East? That would appear to be the long way around."
Lord Zawbry bit his lip slightly and Lord Marak could almost hear the gears turning in his opponent's head. “We do not like being beholden to the Litari,” Lord Zawbry finally answered. “I fail to see what that has to do with this discussion, though. Either you will honor the agreement made with Lord Lashendo or you will not."
"The current agreement does not offer any compensation for the use of Fardale land,” Lord Marak pointed out. “My Bursar has informed me that this will result in our losing title to the land in a number of years. Surely, you can see why I seek a new agreement?"
"The agreement was fairly made,” suggested Lord Zawbry. “Do you seek to change it after its signing? Is this the way the Situ do business?"
"A fair agreement?” mused Lord Marak. “Do you really believe this is a fair agreement?"
"Of course, it is fair,” blustered Lord Zawbry. “Why would a friendly neighbor object to you using his land if it is only for transit?"
"Well, you certainly have a point there,” agreed Lord Marak, “and the Ragatha are certainly friendly neighbors. Wonderful, then you will have no objections to penning a like instrument allowing our transit through your lands to the West. I will have it drawn up immediately and, in the meantime, we can discuss other issues which affect both of our estates."
Lord Zawbry's mouth hung open. This was one twist he had not envisioned. Giving the Situ a land grant across Woodville would never be accepted by Lord Sevrin, but he had just indicated that it was a normal and friendly thing to do. “I would have to pass the new agreement by Lord Sevrin before I could sign it,” dodged Lord Zawbry.
"Lord Lashendo did not have to get the current agreement authorized by Lord Ridak, did he?” Lord Marak innocently inquired. “I have authorization to enter into such an agreement myself if I so desire."
"The Ragatha Clan has different requirements than the Situ,” bluffed Lord Zawbry. “Any new agreements should have little bearing on the current agreement, anyway. The question is whether or not you are going to honor the current agreement."
"Do you have an objection to changing the agreement to allow for the payment of a single copper coin per year in compensation?” asked Lord Marak. “That is the merest of payments I could think of."
Lord Zawbry was biting his lip again and Marak knew then that this meeting was intended to fail. Lord Zawbry had no intention of changing the agreement. In fact, he was waiting for Marak to demand a change to it so he could storm out of the room, but that was hard to do when Marak was only asking for a single copper coin per year. No one in Khadora would take that excuse for provocation. Yet, if Lord Zawbry refused to change the agreement, Fardale would be giving its land away in the form of a land grant.
"It is not the money that is at the heart of this discussion,” Lord Zawbry finally stated. “It is whether or not the new Lord of Fardale will live up to the agreements of his predecessor. You will either live up to the agreement or you will not. Which will it be, Lord Marak?"
Marak signaled to Kasa, who had slipped in right after Lectain Zorkil, and she came over to him. “Bursar Kasa,” Lord Marak smiled, “have you had a chance to examine the agreement?"
Lord Zawbry looked at the young woman with contempt. It was against all tradition to allow a woman into a position of power and it strengthened his resolve to remove the Situ from this area of the country. He finally had this Lord Marak where he wanted him. There was nothing left for the young Lord to say except that he would not honor the agreement. He had been worried for a while with some of the devious suggestions the young Lord had made. He could not allow Marak to come up with any solution to the problem because the troops from the other estates were already on the march. Within a couple of weeks, Fardale would exist only as a Ragatha estate.
"I would prefer that this agreement be renegotiated for the good of all parties,” commented Bursar Kasa. “It is not a well written agreement to begin with."
Lord Zawbry smiled as Lord Marak asked, “What is wrong with the agreement, Bursar?"
"Well, the most obvious problem that I have with it,” smiled Kasa, “is that it doesn't allow for any compensation to us. The money is not an issue, but the law is clear. If we continue to let the Ragatha use the land under this contract, they would gain legal title to the land after three years."
"Yes,” sighed Lord Marak, “I thought that was what you said. I have so much trouble understanding these complex documents. Are there any other problems?"
"Actually, there is,” Kasa replied, trying hard to suppress her grin. “According to the way this contract is written, we must allow Ragatha wagons to cross Fardale, but there has been no provision made for anything else. Wagons are specifically mentioned and because of that no one could interpret this document to mean that anything else must be allowed to cross Fardale. There is no mention of guards for the caravans. Boy, is that foolish. Imagine, a caravan without guards?"
Lord Zawbry's lower lip was in his mouth now and Lectain Zorkil was obviously having trouble keeping a straight face.
"In fact,” Bursar Kasa continued, “this contract does not even mention horses or people. I can't imagine how the wagons are going to be able to move."
"Lord Zawbry,” smiled Lord Marak, “I will honor this agreement if you really want me to, just so you know that Fardale does h
onor its prior agreements, but I think we really should execute another agreement for both our sakes."
Lord Zawbry stood and banged his fist on the table. His face red with fury, he pushed the chair against the table. “I will not stand for being made out a fool,” he blustered. “The agreement shall stand as it is. Should you try to stop my people from crossing your land, there will be a penalty to pay."
With that, Lord Zawbry stormed out of the room with an embarrassed Marshal Tingo in his wake.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 19
War Drums
Lord Marak ran along the trail as quickly as he could. He sped into the field where the mages practiced and slid to a halt when he saw Klora, the head mage.
"Is somebody hurt?” breathed Lord Marak.
Klora quickly turned to face the Lord of Fardale. “No, My Lord,” she grinned. “I'm sorry if my message caused you to think that there was an accident, but I was so very excited when I sent for you. We have finally found a solution for your pet project."
"Do you mean you are able to communicate over long distances?” queried Lord Marak. “Is it done with fast projectiles like we thought?"
"Better!” exclaimed Klora. “The projectile idea worked, but it was too hard to control where it landed. We have found something better, although it also has limitations. We call it an Air Tube. Iscala will demonstrate it for you."
"Step in closer to me, Lord Marak,” instructed Iscala. “In an open area like this you will need to be close to the Air Mage to hear what is going on."
Lord Marak stepped next to Iscala and watched her. While he did not see her do anything, sounds started emanating from the air around her. Marak listened carefully to the noises of metal striking metal and scraping sounds. The sounds were certainly familiar, but he was unable to place them. For several moments he listened to the noises and then heard footsteps approaching. As clearly as if he was actually in the room, he heard Seneschal Pito's voice requesting a bit of food for his midday meal. Lord Marak realized that he was hearing the sounds from the kitchen in the mansion.
Young Lord of Khadora [Forgotten Legacy Book 1] Page 23