“Lyra is right,” interjected Emperor Marak. “None of us sought high office for the fame and glory. I often think that I would be happier living with the Chula in simplicity, but there is work to be done, and I cannot walk away from it. Our peoples must be prepared to defend themselves. Ask yourself this question, if one person must rule over Fakara, who should that person be? As loyal as some of your people are, can you think of one who would not be tempted to take advantage of the situation?”
Rejji frowned as he dwelled on the Torak’s words. Those who were closest to him were rejected almost immediately. As supportive as he had been, Bakhai would turn from such pressure and return to the wild. Mistake is about to leave Fakara once more to go live with the elves. Chief Dumo had a habit of seeing things in too narrow a view. Even Wyant had come to help Rejji only after turning from a life of looting and pillaging the defenseless.
“Almost everyone would succumb to basic human greed in such a situation,” interjected Yltar. “If not greed, then the fame would go to their head. Do not think poorly of those you cross off the list of those who might be eligible,” smiled the head shaman. “People are not perfect. We all have faults although we tend to hide them most of the time. Kaltara is guiding you and using you as a tool. He will keep you from becoming vain and seeking riches. Do not fight our God.”
“I won’t fight it,” conceded Rejji. “I think the worst part of his pronouncement is what others will think of me. Because others would love to be in such a position, they will think that I have connived my way into power.”
“Some will think that,” agreed Emperor Marak. “That is inevitable, but it means nothing. Kaltara has chosen you because he knows that you will act for the benefit of the people, not yourself. Accept it and move on.”
Nods and encouraging murmurs went around the table. Finally Rejji nodded in acceptance.
“I will do what Kaltara commands me to do,” declared the Astor. “I may not like some of the demands, but I will carry them out regardless.”
“How are the Qubari going to accept the move?” Wyant asked Chief Dumo. “They did not appear to be happy with the pronouncement.”
“They are not happy about it,” agreed Dumo. “I cannot blame them. We gave up our lives in Angragar and were banished to this jungle as protectors of the ancient city. We were not happy with the change then either, but we obeyed. We will obey this time as well. Can the same be said for the Fakarans?”
“I was wondering that myself,” shrugged Wyant. “We have lived pretty much as nomads since the beginnings of our memories. The tribes have adjusted well to Rejji’s plans to rebuild the country, but Angragar will be different. The tribes have no real feel for Kaltara. We do not know of him. When they learn that Rejji is making decisions based upon visions from some god, they may revolt. They are not a very religious group.”
“They need to learn about Kaltara,” suggested Lyra. “He is their only hope of survival. I have the same problem with Omungans, and I am sure that the Torak is in the same position in Khadora. How do we get our people to know God?”
“An excellent question,” mused Emperor Marak. “It could be done over time by constructing temples and enabling priests, but we have no time for that. My hands are full just trying to get the clans to train together. We don’t have much time.”
“Perhaps that is the reason for Kaltara’s call for the Three to go to Angragar,” Rejji said as he finished a bowl of stew. “He spoke to me about the need for us to go Angragar within a few days. I suspect that he has something to say to all of us.”
“I had that feeling as well when he told me to organize the trip,” nodded the Torak. “Perhaps we should ask this question of Kaltara when he speaks to us.”
“Were those few days from when you woke up?” asked Yltar. “Or was it from when you first entered? You were inside for three days.”
“It was before I slept,” answered Rejji, “but I do not think the timing matters much. He knows that the three of us are here in the jungle. He knows our destination. The timing will be up to us.”
“Is there any reason to wait?” asked Lyra. “I am anxious to see this painting that was described to me.”
“We need a plan,” answered Emperor Marak. “We are tasked to kill hundreds of hellsouls. While the army of the Qubari may well be needed for this task, I am loathe to send hundreds of warriors into the city without a viable plan.”
“My men will fight valiantly,” Chief Dumo declared. “We will scour every street and every building to make that city safe for our families.”
“I have no doubts about the abilities of your warriors,” smiled the Torak. “I have seen them in action. I am concerned with so many people entering the city at one time. I think there would be many deaths, and the Qubari will be needed to fight the evil. We should discuss this before we depart.”
“Could we make it to the temple and slowly eliminate the hellsouls one at a time?” asked Rejji. “They do not seem to want to enter that building.”
“That might take a long time,” frowned Emperor Marak, “and time is not on our side. However, your question brings a thought to mind. If a small group of us entered the city and let it be known that we were in the temple, a larger force could then enter the city and attack them from behind.”
“A trap,” Wyant nodded enthusiastically. “I like it. The small group stays in the temple long enough to make sure that all of the hellsouls gather around the building. Then the Qubari warriors attack from behind. It would be a slaughter.”
“That does sound like a good plan,” nodded Chief Dumo. “We will need to keep the gates of the city open to allow the Qubari army in, but that will not matter. Any hellsouls trying to sneak out will be vanquished by my men.”
“When can we all be ready?” asked Rejji.
“Tomorrow morning would be fine,” answered Chief Dumo. “Who will be in the small group?”
“I think twelve would do,” replied Emperor Marak. “It is large enough to draw their attention, and yet small enough to keep together if we have to make haste. How about the Three, and three more chosen by each of them? That would give us twelve.”
“That conveniently coincides with your instructions for the size of an escort in the first place,” grinned the Star of Sakova. “Did you have this all planned before you left Khadoratung?”
“I had a vision of it before I left,” conceded the Torak. “In fact, I knew who you would bring before you told me their names.”
“What else did you see?” Yltar asked with suspicion.
“I do not believe that my visions are absolute,” retorted Emperor Marak. “Just because this one has turned out to be accurate so far, does not mean that the visions are an unimpeachable picture of the future.”
“You saw death in your vision,” accused Yltar. “Didn’t you? Who dies?”
“It is not something that I will discuss,” declared Emperor Marak. “I cannot say for certain that I saw death in the vision. Let us leave it at that.”
Chapter 10
Angragar
The Qubari army halted outside the gates of the ancient city Angragar. Hundreds of Qubari warriors with wicked-looking spears, which sported long sharp blades, lined the road on both sides. Rejji led the chosen twelve up to the gates. MistyTrail, Mistake, Eltor, and Caldal followed.