“Perhaps General Kapla will return and surprise you?” shrugged the colonel. “It doesn’t really matter which army crushes you and returns Okata to its rightful rulers.”
“General Kapla and his army are indeed marching on Okata as we speak,” smiled StarWind, “but that is not something you should crow about. He is coming to sack Okata if it has not already surrendered to the Star of Sakova.”
“Preposterous,” balked the colonel. “General Kapla is the Minister of Defense.”
“She is telling the truth,” Cherri said softly.
Colonel Zanta’s eyes widened as he stared at Cherri questioningly.
“That is why I am here today,” Cherri continued. “General Kapla sent a letter of resignation with the courier that came in the other day. I tried to deliver it to General Lafor this morning, but I found out that he had died. I decided to give it to the Katana and came here early this morning. I stopped in the general’s office first. I started crying when I thought about what he had done. I guess I lost track of time. It seems like hours have passed since then.”
“I wondered how you had managed to get into the palace,” Colonel Zanta sighed as if the Sakovan spymaster was not in the room.
“When I went looking for the Katana,” Cherri continued, “I saw this spy entering your office. I thought I could capture her, and that would somehow make up for what Kapla did. Why is everyone joining the Sakovans?” she sniffed.
“Not everyone,” comforted the colonel.
“Just about,” countered Cherri. “Every major city except Tanzaba has already defected. Our armies are gone. All that remains of our country is Okata, and now it is falling. What did we do wrong?”
“You allowed false Katanas and warmongers to lead your country,” replied StarWind. “You attacked a peaceful neighbor while allowing your citizens to starve to death. Do not cry for the fate of Omunga. It is a country that was ruled by cruel, heartless men. The Star of Sakova is different. She cares for her people, especially the ones who used to be Omungan. They are now well fed and cared for. The same will be true in Okata. Already she has ships loaded with food waiting off the coast. The famine will be just a memory by the end of this day.”
“Is that true?” asked Cherri. “Or just something to say to get us to do what you want?”
“It is all true,” StarWind said compassionately. “The Sakovans have never wanted ill for the Omungan people. You of all people should know that. Didn’t I expose myself to you as a Sakovan spy in an attempt to save Katana Maxim? Do you think I did that for selfish reasons?”
“What is she talking about?” asked Colonel Zanta. “How did you know she was a spy?”
“It’s true,” Cherri nodded. “The day Katana Maxim was assassinated, she came to me and asked me to get a message to the Katana. She told me that a high-level official of Omunga was planning on killing the Katana. She also told me about Master Malafar being held in the mage cells. Maxim knew what it meant when I told him.”
“In the garden!” gasped Colonel Zanta as the memories came back. “I remember that night. You and he talked in the garden. He got very upset and informed us that an assassination attempt was underway. He also said that you were to be admitted to his presence without question. I always wondered what you had said to him to make him know what was going on. If only you had given him more warning.”
“I know,” cried Cherri. “You can’t imagine how many nights I have cried myself to sleep over that. He was such a good Katana. He was the best we ever had.”
“He was the last Katana you ever had,” interrupted StarWind. “You let that murderous Alazar take over the country, but that was not bad enough. Now you have allowed an evil mage to rule over you.”
“Evil mage?” questioned Colonel Zanta. “What are you talking about?”
“Larst died the night before he was chosen Katana,” explained StarWind. “The historian, who had shadowed Larst’s every move for months before that day, was really an evil mage from distant shores. He assumed Larst’s identity and has been ruining your country and mine ever since. How can you Omungans be so foolish when it comes to choosing your leaders?”
“Do you have proof of these words?” asked the colonel.
“The proof awaits you in the plaza outside this palace,” replied StarWind. “Why do you think we have not just killed the Katana? We could easily take this city by force with General Kapla’s army, but the Star of Sakova has ordered otherwise. She wants the people of Omunga to see who has been leading them to ruin. We are commanded to bring the Katana and the Council to her. That is why I am talking to you. I would prefer not to kill several hundred good men to meet my obligations. Will you help?”
Colonel Zanta sat open mouthed as he digested StarWind’s words. Visions of intelligence reports flashed through his mind as he tried to find a single lie in the Sakovan’s words, but he could not. Finally he turned to Cherri.
“Didn’t General Kapla send orders for General Didyk to march to General Romero’s aid?” he asked.
“He did,” nodded Cherri. “I did not know of the letter of resignation at the time, or I would have asked the Katana to stop it. It was obviously to get Didyk’s army out of the way so Okata would fall easily.”
“As was the death of General Lafor,” added StarWind. “He was murdered to leave the Imperial Guards without leadership. They will probably rally to General Kapla when he arrives. If not, they will have no direction to defend against a well-trained army such as Kapla’s.”
“They are worthless,” nodded Colonel Zanta. “The Monitors would be the only real defense, and you are trying to declaw us.”
“I am,” admitted StarWind. “The Monitors are the best-trained group in Omunga. Still, I know that they would eventually be defeated, and that would be a shame. The Star of Sakova does not intend to be a conqueror. She intends to unite the Sakovans and the Omungans and rule over a combined people. She does not want to destroy the Monitors. She wants them to survive intact. They will be needed to rebuild the country after the war. Is she wrong for wanting that, Colonel?”
“No,” admitted Colonel Zanta, “but I find myself in a rather awkward position. The Monitors are sworn to protect the Katana with their lives. How can I possibly turn him over to his enemies?”
“The Sakovans already have the Katana,” answered StarWind. “His shields are gone, and he is magically frozen. You do not have to turn him over. What we want, Colonel, is to take him outside to the plaza. We do not want to kill your men to accomplish that. I see no conflict for you. The Katana will be in no greater danger outside than he is at this very moment. Therefore, your actions will not be endangering him in any way.”
“But you will kill him outside,” protested the colonel. “Your twisting of words will not change that.”
“We could easily have killed him already,” StarWind pointed out. “What is the name of your Katana?”
“What do you mean?” questioned the colonel. “He is Larst, or at least that is how we know him.”
“Then I will make a vow to you,” smiled StarWind. “I give you my promise that Larst will not be harmed if you facilitate the trip to the plaza. It is now in your best interests to accommodate us.”
“More word twisting,” sighed the colonel. “I understand what you are saying, but I have my vows to consider.”
StarWind walked to the door and cracked it open. She peered into the corridor and then turned her attention back to the colonel.
“I have done all that I can,” StarWind declared. “The decision is now up to you, Colonel. You have the chance to avoid a great deal of bloodshed if you wish. You will either go immediately to the garden and facilitate the moving of the Katana to the plaza, or blood will begin to flow through the halls of the Imperial Palace. I cannot help you make that decision. I am leaving now. I ask you not to try to capture me, but rather spend your time figuring out how you will decide. Your time is critically short. If you are not at the garden door in a few minutes, the battle will begin. Save your men, Colonel.”