“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?”
“The armies of the members of the Lords’ Council are impressive,” remarked Lord Marak. “If we were to combine our forces, those rebellious lords would have to listen. We could demand that the Jiadin be sent back to Fakara.”
“Our armies may indeed be together on a battlefield one day, Lord Marak,” quipped Lord Mirakotto, “but I doubt they will be on the same side.”
“Your patriotism is overwhelming, Lord Mirakotto,” retorted Lord Marak. “Our country is facing a crisis, and all you can think of is your own agenda.”
“I do not have to take such insolence from you, boy lord,” snapped Lord Mirakotto as he stood up. “I was member of the Lords’ Council when you were still a squad leader for some obscure minor lord on the frontier. Do not presume to lecture me on what is good for Khadora. Your presence here makes a mockery of the Lords’ Council.”
Lord Mirakotto turned and stormed out of the chamber. There was silence in the room for several minutes as nobody knew what to say.
“We cannot continue a meeting of the Lords’ Council with a member missing,” Lord Kiamesh finally declared. “The only exception is when a lord is away for an extended period of time and cannot possibly return in a reasonable period timeframe. I have no choice but to adjourn this meeting.”
“Well done, Lord Marak,” sniped Lord Garic as he rose and left the chamber.
“When will this meeting be rescheduled?” asked Lord Marak.
“Rescheduled?” echoed Lord Kiamesh as his eyebrow rose. “For what purpose, Lord Marak? There are some among us who do not recognize that there is a problem yet. If there is no problem, there can be no solution.”
“So the Lords’ Council is to stand by and do nothing while the Jiadin march across our country?” countered Lord Marak. “All of the eastern frontier clans are small, Lord Kiamesh, and most of them hold only single estates. The Jiadin will continue to gobble them up while we do nothing. With every clan they take over, they gain more warriors. By the time we act, we will not be facing twenty thousand warriors. We will be facing a hundred thousand. Who then will stand against them?”
“There have been no violations of law,” sighed Lord Quilo. “The Lords’ Council cannot arbitrarily take action against a clan. There must be a dispute or a violation of law first.”
Lord Marak rose and left the chamber. He marched directly to the Emperor’s office and asked for admission. He was immediately shown in.
“I heard that the Lords’ Council adjourned without a resolution of the problem,” greeted Emperor Bagora.
“Lord Mirakotto stormed out,” nodded Lord Marak. “I cannot understand how anything gets done here.”
“Welcome to politics,” shrugged the Emperor. “What will you do now?”
“What can I do?” replied Lord Marak. “I am tempted to amass my armies and go after the Jiadin on my own. The problem is that I would leave my people defenseless, and there are other heartless scavengers in Khadora besides the Jiadin.”
“The Torak army is hardly capable of facing such great odds,” frowned the Emperor. “There may be a way that you can help, though.”
“Oh?” brightened Lord Marak. “And how is that?”
“You could form an alliance with one of the clans on the eastern frontier,” suggested the Emperor. “Lord Oktar of the Balomar clan is in Khadoratung. He came to see me today about these very problems. It seems that his estate is in the path of the Glamaraldi, and he expects to be the next to be attacked. He wants help from the government and it saddened me that I had to refuse.”
“An alliance?” pondered Lord Marak. “Normally an alliance is not invoked until after an attack. By then it would be too late.”
“True,” shrugged the Emperor. “Still it might lead to a solution. Why don’t you talk to him?”
“Where is he?” asked Lord Marak.
“I thought you would never ask,” grinned the Emperor as he rang a bell. An Imperial soldier opened the door and stuck his head in. “Send in Katzu and Lord Oktar,” ordered the Emperor.
Within moments the two men entered the Emperor’s office. Katzu introduced Lord Oktar to Lord Marak.