Island of Darkness

by Richard S. Tuttle

  HawkShadow rose to his feet and started walking deeper into the encampment. He concentrated on each and every step as he walked between the sleeping bodies. He counted the bodies on each side of his path as he passed them. When he reached fifty, he stopped and turned to face the river. He slowly opened his empty pack and secured the flap so it would not make noise. Then he dropped to his knees between two sleeping soldiers and drew his knife.

  HawkShadow gently picked up the braid of the man sleeping on his right. He cut through it with his knife and gently placed it into his pack. The man did not move. He turned to the man on his left and sliced through his tail just above the white ribbon. The man mumbled softly and rolled over. HawkShadow remained poised to drive his knife into the man’s eye for several seconds before he decided that the man would not wake up. He gently placed the tail into his pack and crawled forward to the next pair of men.

  HawkShadow felt his body starting to sweat in the cool night air. He ignored it and looked at the man on his right. The man’s tail was facing away from him, and he ignored the man, turning to the man on his left. He cut another braid and placed it in his pack. Again he crawled towards the river to the next pair of men where he picked up two tails. The sweat under his arms was beginning to dampen his clothes. The next pair of men offered up a braid and a tail. The following pair yielded only one tail.

  As HawkShadow was about to sever the hair of the twelfth man, a soldier rose on the other side of the victim. HawkShadow flattened himself to the ground. He watched as the soldier wandered off towards the river to answer the call of nature. The assassin remained frozen in place. He waited nervously for the soldier to return, hoping that the man’s sleepy eyes would not notice the close proximity to the two men next to him.

  As the soldier threw himself to the ground, HawkShadow’s intended victim suddenly rolled over. The Imperial Guard’s body rested partially on top of HawkShadow. The assassin waited for the man’s movements to stop and then slowly slid out from under him. HawkShadow decided to move on and bypassed the two men that he was between. He crawled to the next pair of men.

  HawkShadow spent the next hour making his way back towards the riverbank, collecting tails and braids as he went. His pack began to bear down on him from the weight of the hair, but he was dissatisfied with the yield from his harvesting. Too many of the soldiers had been facing away from him. He had his mind set on taking fifty specimens with him, and he only had thirty-seven.

  HawkShadow crawled to the next row of soldiers. He did not bother counting off bodies and working his way back as he had before. He started cutting from the first pair of men in the new row. He managed to collect another six tails before another soldier rose to walk to the river. The Sakovan assassin again remained frozen and waited for the man to return.

  The soldier was gone for a long time, and when he returned and went back to sleep, HawkShadow decided to abort the quest for fifty tails. The hours until dawn were too few to dally any longer. He turned and crawled back to the riverbank.

  HawkShadow slid over the riverbank. He closed his pack and secured it while keeping an eye on the sentries across the river. He made his way back to the hollow and picked up the grass-covered mat. He worked his way into the hollow pulling the mat with him. When he had the mat properly positioned, HawkShadow secured it with knives so it would not move while he slept. He made himself as comfortable as he could in the small space and closed his eyes knowing that the commotion in the morning would easily awaken him.

  Less than an hour later HawkShadow awakened to shouts from the encampment. The whole camp was aroused before dawn as men awoke to find their tails missing. Some Imperial Guards were cursing loudly while others were laughing. He heard more than one smack as embarrassed soldiers resorted to violence on those who were laughing. Chaos ruled the Imperial Guard encampment.

  It did not take long for the officers to chime in. HawkShadow heard the shouted orders from the safety of his hollow. For over an hour the Imperial Guards searched the camp in an attempt to find out how the Sakovan raiders had managed to slip by the sentries. The sentries that were on duty were told that they would be punished for their failure to secure the camp.

  Before dawn the officers ordered the camp taken down. The Imperial guards mounted their horses and began crossing the river. It took over two hours for the soldiers to cross the river. HawkShadow waited another full hour before exiting his hiding spot. When he did exit, SkyDancer was there with two chokas.

  “How did it go?” SkyDancer asked. “Did you get your fifty?”

  “Only forty-three,” frowned HawkShadow. “I ran out of time.”

  “Forty-three should be enough to rattle them,” smiled SkyDancer.

  “They are rattled,” declared HawkShadow. “They broke camp before dawn. An added bonus is the punishing of the sentries that were on duty. The soldiers will be quick in their desire to return home if this continues.”

  “Then it shall continue,” grinned SkyDancer.

  “So it shall,” nodded HawkShadow. “You must do your bit today. I need to catch some sleep.”

  “I have a few things planned for them,” declared SkyDancer. “Meet me near Triple Creek when you are refreshed.”

  “I will be there before midday,” promised HawkShadow as he mounted one of the chokas. “I am going to move away from this spot to sleep. I don’t want to take a chance on one of them coming back for a look.”

  Chapter 15

  New Strategy

  Emperor Marak stood on the top of the Imperial Palace in Khadoratung. He gazed out over the capital while his mage, Ophia, wove an air tunnel to Fardale. When she was ready she nodded to the Emperor.

  “Lord Marshal Yenga,” greeted the Emperor. “I understand there are matters that demand my attention?”

  “There are,” replied Yenga. “Things are happening quickly, and I don’t know how to respond to the requests. I felt much better when you were here in Fardale.”

  “Much is happening here as well,” replied the Emperor. “I am needed here and cannot return at this time. What are the problems?”

  “The first is not a problem,” reported Yenga. “We have received word from the Chula that Rykoma has found a way to revitalize the fields of Fakara. He and the mages you sent from the school in Chantise have managed to plant several dozen watula fields. Rejji has sent farmers to begin tending to them.”

  “That is wonderful news,” smiled Marak. “How soon before there is a harvest from them?”

  “Rykoma plans to accelerate the growth,” stated Yenga. “The fields will be flourishing by the time he has another hundred fields planted. I think the food problems of Fakara are soon to be nothing more than a memory.”

  “I could not ask for better news,” Marak said excitedly. “What are the problems?”

  “Lord Shamino has a guest from Omunga,” the Lord Marshal of the Torak clan began. “He is from the city of Zaramilden, and he has come to buy food.”

  “An Omungan in Khadora to buy food?” echoed the Emperor. “The situation down there must be worse than I thought. Both nations have long discouraged trade between each other.”

  “It gets stranger,” interrupted Yenga. “There is an emissary from Gatong with Lord Sevrin as we speak. They want to buy food from the Ragatha clan. What should I advise the lords to say to these Omungans?”

  “I am hesitant to answer that question,” mused Emperor Marak. “I have not had an update from the Sakovans on the situation down there. I thought they were arranging to feed the Omungans.”

  “The Omungans and the Sakovans are at war,” Yenga informed the Emperor. “They believe that the Katana was taken over by a mage. They do not think he is Larst any longer.”

  “So that is why StarWind was asking the questions that she asked,” sighed Marak. “This is important news. I should have been told sooner. Have we sent ships to Alamar yet?”

  “Not yet,” replied Yenga. “Most of our food has been going to the north to estates that were hi
t by the locust infestation.”

  “I heard yesterday that our mages finally have that under control,” the Emperor said. “Those shipments should be able to be halted now.”

  “Should I send the ships to Alamar then?” asked Yenga.

  “Not yet,” Emperor Marak said after a pause. “I need to talk to Lyra to find out what is going on down there. I will get back to you shortly with instructions.”

  “What about these emissaries from Omunga?” pushed Yenga. “They expect a simple answer to their plea for food.”

  “Tell Lord Shamino and Lord Sevrin to delay their answers,” instructed the Emperor. “Have them hold a feast for their guests in honor of the historic visits. Make the feasts lavish with an overabundance of food. I want them to be impressed with the wealth and power of Khadora.”

  “So it shall be,” agreed Yenga. “I will pass on your words and await your next message.”

  The Emperor signaled for Ophia to break the connection.

  “Connect me with StarCity,” requested the Emperor.

  “I cannot,” frowned Ophia. “I have never been there, nor have I have ever accepted a message from there. I would not know where to end the air tunnel.”

  Marak frowned and nodded his head. “Perhaps you could go downstairs and get me a cup of tea?” asked the Emperor. “Fresh tea. I do not want something an hour old.”

  “You are trying to get rid of me,” smiled Ophia. “One can only imagine what you would do up here on your own while I was gone.”

  “What are you inferring?” Marak asked with concern.

  “Many of my fellow mages have been speculating since the discovery of male mages in Khadora,” replied Ophia. “If there is one, cannot there be others? If there are others, could not one be the man who has championed magic in this country? The lord who has spent hours observing his mages in practice with an understanding eye for the problems that we were facing? Am I wrong to suspect that you know perfectly well how to form your own air tunnel?”

  Emperor Marak’s eyes narrowed with concern for a moment and then he began laughing.

  “I do not know why I am always so surprised when one of you figures this out,” he chuckled. “You are all tremendously intelligent and never fail to notice the slightest aberrations. I will forego the tea.”

  Ophia grinned victoriously while Emperor Marak wove his own air tunnel to StarCity. When he made a connection he handed the air tunnel to Ophia.

  “You need to know the end points of everyplace that I need to communicate with,” he said to Ophia. “I am not ready to let the world know of my capabilities. We will spend some time up here, and I will help you familiarize yourself with them.”

  Ophia nodded gratefully and took control of the air tunnel.

  “This is Emperor Marak of Khadora,” he said into the air tunnel. “I need to speak to the Star of Sakova.”

  “She is not in StarCity,” replied a Sakovan voice. “She has gone to Alamar.”

  “Can you contact her?” asked the Emperor. “I need to speak with her.”

  There was a long moment of silence. Marak pictured the mages of StarCity weaving another air tunnel to Alamar. It was several minutes before Lyra’s voice came through the air tunnel.

  “Emperor Marak,” greeted Lyra. “What is wrong?”

  “There are emissaries in Khadora trying to buy food,” Marak explained. “I just learned that you are at war down there. I wanted to know what is happening and how I can help.”

  “The Omungans are trying to cut off the Sakovan food deliveries,” reported Lyra. “They are also starting to invade the Sakova. I think I have managed to close our eastern front by neutralizing Alamar. The soldiers garrisoned here will not attack us, and I think the Okata armies that were coming here have turned around for fear of disease. It is a small step, but it will make our struggle a little more manageable. Are your prepared to start sending food to Alamar?”

  “I am,” replied Marak. “The locust plague is under control, and there are now growing fields in the wastelands of Fakara.”

  “Wonderful,” Lyra said. “We will try to send our caravans to a different Omungan city when your ships start arriving here in Alamar.”

  “What about the people of Gatong and Zaramilden?” asked the Emperor.

  “Zaramilden is cutoff from the rest of Omunga,” declared Lyra, “as is Duran. The Wall of Mermidion allows for access only by sea from the rest of Omunga. If their people are starving, you should sell them food. It is the proper thing to do.”

  “How will that help you conquer Omunga?” inquired Emperor Marak.

  “We are not trying to conquer Omunga,” replied Lyra. “We are just trying to avert war.”

  “Then you are seeking the wrong goal,” declared Marak. “You need a new strategy. You must gain control over all of Omunga.”

  “Why?” balked Lyra. “You have never talked this way before. What has changed?”

  “I became the Torak,” answered Marak. “I spoke with Kaltara. Things are much clearer to me now. I fear that we have little time to prepare our peoples, and believe me when I say that the Omungans are to be counted as our people. You must conquer Omunga.”

  There was a long silent pause after Marak spoke. He could almost envision the mental turmoil that Lyra was experiencing.

  “The attacks on the Sakova will not end,” continued Marak. “They won’t even stop when Larst is defeated. Vand will merely replace him with a new Katana. You must change their government and make that country part of yours. We have little time.”

  “I am not a conqueror,” Lyra finally said. “What would you have me do?”

  “Get the Omungans to switch sides,” answered Marak. “Do it one city at a time if you must, but destroy what is known today as Omunga. Only then will the Sakovans and Omungans be free to unite and begin preparations for the coming invasion.”

  “If I attack Omungan cities,” frowned Lyra, “I will just be confirming the words of Larst and his bloodthirsty generals. The people will see the Sakovans as aggressors.”

  “If you must attack, then make sure that you are seen as benevolent and victorious aggressors,” suggested Marak. “I am in a position to help you. I could send armies along both coasts.”

  “No,” Lyra replied quickly. “Khadoran armies will be seen as foreigners more so than Sakovans. That is not the way to unite the people. At the proper time, I would like to announce that the Sakovans are allied with Khadora, but no armies at this point.”

  “Very well,” agreed the Emperor, “but I can still be of help. Travel to Duran and promise them food if they will switch sides.”

  “Duran is only open to the sea,” retorted Lyra. “They are not in a position to attack Sakovans. That makes no sense. They are no threat to us.”

  “It does to me,” smiled Marak. “Being part of Omunga probably means very little to the people of Duran since they are so isolated. I think they would switch sides faster than any other Omungan city. When they do, it will be an historic moment. It will be the first city of Omunga to become Sakovan. You can point to it when you try to convince other cities to defect.”

  “Ah, I see,” replied the Star of Sakova. “You do look at things differently. Zaramilden is isolated as well. You said that there was an emissary from them in Khadora?”

  “There is,” replied the Emperor. “What do you want me to do with him?”

  “Send him home,” smiled Lyra as her plan began to form in her head. “Tell him that Khadora will not trade with Omungan cities because their Katana wages war on the Sakovans.”

  “Then you will go there and tell them that food will flow into the city if they become Sakovan?” questioned Marak.

  “Exactly,” smiled Lyra. “I will take a ship out of Alamar today and head for Duran and then onto Zaramilden. Can you have ships offshore and ready to make deliveries to both cities?”

  “I will order it as soon as we are done speaking,” promised Emperor Marak. “What about Gatong?”

 
“The west coast cities will be harder to deal with,” replied Lyra. “They are not isolated at all. They will fear Omungan attacks if they defect.”

  “I hate to say this,” frowned Marak, “but food is your most potent weapon right now. If we agree to sell food to Gatong, it will flow down the coast to Okata. That will only hamper your efforts.”

  “I agree,” Lyra said sadly. “I will send my caravans to Fortaka and Gatong to stop them from starving. Hopefully, I will be able to sway those cities as I have done here in Alamar.”

  “If it helps,” added Emperor Marak, “I now have the ability to send ships down the western coast of Omunga. I have purchased three ships in Khadoratung. Keep that in mind.”

  “I will,” promised Lyra. “I am going to be leaving LifeTender here in Alamar. I will have her contact you periodically with an update of the situation here.”

  “I appreciate that,” replied Marak. “I will place mages on the ships stationed off of Duran and Zaramilden. I am sure that you will be able to contact them to start the deliveries. What are you going to do with Larst?”

  “I do not know,” admitted the Star of Sakova. “I do not look forward to assassinating yet another Katana.”

  “Do what you must,” advised Marak. “There is much riding on your success down there. We must prepare for Vand’s invasion.”

  * * *

  SunChaser stood before the full-length mirror admiring her reflection. She adjusted her yellow gown slightly as she heard the knocking on the door downstairs. She turned slightly to gaze at her profile and smiled broadly at how the yellow gown highlighted her tan skin.

  She made a finally adjustment and muttered under her breath, “Perfect.”

  The Sakovan spy heard her servant open the door to admit her guest. SunChaser stepped out of the bedroom and eased the door shut. She listened intently to the sounds coming from the lower level of her mansion in Okata.