“An Omungan general coming here?” questioned Lord Marak. “That is unheard of. How do you know this?”
“The air tunnel you taught us,” grinned Lyra. “We have been using it to keep in touch with StarCity.”
“I guess you did learn it well,” smiled Lord Marak. “I am going to the capital in a week or so. Perhaps I can try to find out who he is meeting with.”
“That was the conversation that you interrupted,” responded Lyra. “StarWind and HawkShadow want to travel with you to Khadoratung. We have been debating the saneness of such a trip.”
“StarWind has experience in the cities of Omunga,” interjected HawkShadow. “I am sure that she will be unnoticed in Khadoratung.”
“And HawkShadow is unnoticed in any environment that he wishes not to be seen in,” added StarWind. “We can find out what General Didyk is up to far better than the Khadorans can.”
“What about your escort back to StarCity?” Lord Marak asked the Star of Sakova.
“StormSong and SkyDancer will be sufficient,” shrugged Lyra. “We have chokas just on the other side of the mountains. Once we reach them, no one will catch us, and the Chula will see us safely that far.”
“Then I have no problems with letting StarWind and HawkShadow accompany me to Khadoratung,” Marak declared. “Only your safety is an issue.”
“Then it is settled,” grinned StarWind.
“It is,” conceded Lyra. “Keep in touch with StarCity. There may be other developments that you will find helpful.”
“Have the Omungans selected a new Katana?” questioned Lord Marak.
“Not yet,” answered StarWind. “We suspect that Larst will be chosen. As First Minister, he has the edge over everyone else. Still, he has demanded that the selection not be rushed, as it was the last time. Every town and village has been asked for their input. I suppose that General Didyk is not happy with the choice, as Larst favors peaceful relations between Omunga and the Sakovans.”
“Which is why we must find out why the general is in Khadora,” added HawkShadow.”
“Do either of you know how to use an air tunnel?” inquired Lord Marak.
“Yes,” answered StarWind. “We use it daily to keep in touch with StarCity.”
“Then I see no problems with your plan,” declared the Torak lord. “We will be leaving here in about a week. We will travel with two cortes of Torak troops to within a day’s ride of Khadoratung. After that, we will only have one squad as an escort. Shall I have Torak uniforms issued to you?”
“Is it unusual for citizens to ride with soldiers on the road?” asked HawkShadow.
“It is done often,” replied Marak. “Travelers will seek the protection of a squad on the roads. As long as the squad is not on an urgent mission, it is usually acceptable.”
“Than I would prefer traveling that way,” HawkShadow responded. “It will allow us a freer hand and not bring any suspicion upon the Torak clan if anyone questions our activities.”
* * *
Zygor and Brakas entered through the gates of the Vessi estate. The Marshal of the Vessi clan met them in front of the mansion.
“Is Lord Samert available?” asked Brakas.
“He is,” nodded Marshal Ednardo. “Follow me.”
Zygor and Brakas followed the marshal into the mansion. They were seated in the meeting room, and the marshal left. Moments later, he returned with Lord Samert.
“I heard there was trouble in Fakara?” greeted the lord of the Vessi clan. “Rumors say that Grulak is dead.”
“Grulak is dead,” Brakas replied. “The free tribes are causing unforeseen problems.”
“I fail to see that as my problem,” shrugged the lord. “It would appear that Grulak’s grand plans died with him.”
“Grulak’s plans may have died,” smirked Brakas, “but have yours?”
“What do you mean?” questioned the lord.
“Only a fool would believe that you were prepared to assist Grulak out of compassion,” snarled Brakas. “You were helping him so that you could increase your holdings in Khadora and profit from the plunder of your neighbors. Has that desire fled you upon the news of Grulak’s death?”
“Are you proposing yourself as a replacement for Grulak?” inquired Lord Samert. “I heard that the Jiadin were scattered over all of Fakara.”
“They are,” shrugged Brakas. “Do you really need a hundred thousand men to expand your influence? Most estates in Khadora have armies of five hundred men. You need but a fraction of the Jiadin to expand beyond your wildest dreams.”
“Be careful what you imagine my dreams to be,” retorted Lord Samert. “What are you proposing?”
Brakas gazed at the marshal as he spoke, “How many men would you need to crush your neighbors?”
“Our army is strong,” the marshal replied after a moment of hesitation “Still, we could use a few hundred good men. Are you proposing to supply us with mercenaries?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Brakas replied. “Although I suppose that I think on a grander scale than you do. I can supply you with five thousand warriors.”
“Five thousand?” gasped Lord Samert. “We could never afford them.”
“But you can,” Brakas replied swiftly. “They will cost you nothing.”
“Nothing?” echoed the marshal with unconcealed suspicion. “What is your game?”
“My men will only take a share of the spoils,” Brakas smiled innocently. “With five thousand men, you can expand well beyond your borders. Khadora is a rich country, and Fakara is very poor. A small share of Khadoran spoils will appear as a king’s ransom in Fakara. Thus, my men will actually cost you nothing.”
“There is merit to this plan,” mused Lord Samert. “With five thousand men, only the largest of clans would dare oppose us, and we can be careful not to give them cause to intercede.”
“Why the Vessi clan?” questioned Marshal Ednardo. “Why have you chosen to present this offer to us?”
“Actually,” smiled Brakas, “I am offering it to each of Grulak’s allies. The Glamaraldi and the Lejune will have similar offers.”
“So you will be sending fifteen thousand men into Khadora to bring home spoils to you?” asked the lord.
“Precisely,” nodded Brakas. “I will get a small portion of each man’s take. When you are through with my men, we will have enough to found a new Fakara, and you will be powerful lords of Khadora. Everybody wins with this plan.”
“Except those we destroy,” smirked Lord Samert.
“And destroy them we must,” warned Marshal Ednardo. “The families of the controlling lords must be annihilated completely. There can be nobody left to file a grievance with the Lords’ Council. If no grievance is filed, then it remains a private affair between two clans.”
“Then some clans will have to cease to exist,” grinned Lord Samert. “There will be a problem if anyone notices Jiadin in our ranks though.”
“They will not be identifiable as Jiadin,” declared Brakas. “You are to make up Vessi uniforms for all five thousand of them. That is the safest way to proceed.”
“I agree,” nodded the marshal. “They will be Vessi soldiers and they will take commands from me. You will have no control over these men, Brakas. Is that understood?”
“Completely,” smiled Brakas. “I do not even wish to visit them. They are yours until you no longer need them, as long as I get what is due me from the spoils.”
“So it shall be,” Lord Samert decided as he rose. “When can we expect these men?”
“I will start sending them tomorrow,” answered Brakas. “You had best order uniforms to be made quickly.”
Marshal Ednardo escorted the two Fakarans out of the mansion and watched them leave the estate. Brakas grinned broadly as soon as they were off the Vessi lands.
“That was easy,” laughed Brakas. “I hope the other two clans are as easy.”
“They will be,” remarked Zygor. “You did well in there, Brakas. How those fools think they can control five thousand of our men is beyond me, but you were correct in your analysis. Their greed blinds them to the danger. Are you sure that our men will respond when the signal is given?”
“To a man,” Brakas nodded vigorously. “There is no love of Khadorans among our men. When we choose to take over the host clans, it will be easily accomplished.”