StarWind slid through the door and a loud click sounded in the room as the door locked.
Chapter 36
Citizens’ Voice
Cherri slipped the rope off her hands and jumped out of her chair. She raced to the door and tried to open it.
“She locked it,” frowned Cherri.
“She is a clever woman,” nodded Colonel Zanta. “I have to figure out just how clever, and do so quickly.”
“What do you mean?” asked Cherri as she left the door and returned to her chair.
“She makes a compelling case for doing exactly what she requests,” explained the colonel, “but it goes against everything that I have always believed in. How can I throw away the traditions of a thousand years?”
“Traditions are nice,” Cherri replied thoughtfully, “but they became traditions because they worked at the time. Omunga has never experienced times like these. Perhaps it is time to do what is right and not what we have always done.”
“You sound like you believe this Sakovan spy,” commented the colonel. “I am sure that she is trained to make people believe her.”
“Maybe she is,” shrugged Cherri, “but that does not stop anyone from analyzing the facts. I do know that the rest of Omunga has gone over to the Sakovans. Even General Kapla realized that Omunga was doomed. He would never have defected otherwise.”
“True,” nodded the colonel, “but that does not excuse me to do the same.”
“No it doesn’t,” agreed Cherri, “but think about what does. This Katana has ruined Omunga with his policies. He not only started a war that is literally tearing this country apart, but he intentionally starved his people. Who can justify following such a madman?”
“You think he intentionally starved the people?” asked the colonel.
“I am sure of it,” Cherri nodded vigorously. “General Kapla told me that the Imperial Guards had been issued orders to stop the Sakovans from supplying food to the Omungan cities. I am not sure if you realize it or not, but the Sakovans were sending caravans of food to each Omungan city. They did not do it for Okata because of the risks with the large armies being here. Why would a leader do such a thing to his own people?”
“One might try to justify it by saying that it would hurt the enemy,” frowned the colonel, “but that is hardly plausible with a starving population. Do you think the spy was telling the truth about the Katana and the historian?”
“I do know the historian that she was referring to,” replied Cherri. “He was always alongside Larst before he was chosen Katana. Isn’t it strange that he disappeared the night before the vote? Isn’t it also strange how Larst, who had been a vocal proponent of peace, declared war as one of his first orders? Yes, Colonel, I think she is telling the truth.”
“I don’t want to believe it,” replied the colonel, “but I cannot escape the truth of her accusations. It is good to hear your reflections, Cherri. I wanted to make sure that I was not so taken by the spy that I alone had come to such conclusions. We need to get to the garden immediately.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Cherri.
“I am going to comply with the spy’s request,” decided the colonel. “I may hang for it, but the truth must be known about this Katana. Besides, I can see no way to stop the Sakovans from killing the Katana if they already have him. I will agree to take the Katana outside, but none of the Sakovans will be allowed to leave this palace. They will pay with their lives if anything happens to the Katana. Bang on the door and scream. Someone will hear us.”
* * *
HawkShadow slid behind the door in the Council Chamber as SkyDancer made the blindfolded and gagged Councilors form a line. Without warning, she pulled the door open. The Imperial Guards outside the door jumped in response.
“Put your weapons down,” ordered SkyDancer as she started leading the Councilors out of the room. “I have a knife at the throat of the First Minister and a magical garrote on each of the Councilors. If you harm me, they will all die.”
SkyDancer did not give the Monitors time to react. She herded the Councilors into the corridor and turned towards the front doors of the palace. The Monitors quickly followed along, one of them turning and running towards the office of the colonel.
“Stop,” shouted one of the Monitors. “You are not supposed to leave the room. Where are you taking them?”
“Outside,” SkyDancer said simply as she continued to move the men along the corridor.
After everyone had moved several dozen paces along the corridor, HawkShadow slipped out of the Council Chamber wearing the uniform of a Monitor. He checked the corridor and then ran towards SkyDancer. He pulled his sword as he slid to a stop next to SkyDancer and held the sword to her throat. Several of the Monitors gasped in fear of what the female Sakovan would do.
“You dare to harm me?” snapped SkyDancer.
“I have not harmed you,” replied HawkShadow. “I am stopping you. Colonel Zanta has agreed to have the Councilors taken outside to the plaza, but you are not allowed to leave. I am to take you to his office.”
“That is unacceptable,” retorted SkyDancer. “I don’t trust you to escort them outside.”
“You have no choice,” countered HawkShadow as the other Monitors looked on in confusion. “Either you agree to our generous terms or you die here and now. The choice is yours.”
“I will kill them all,” threatened SkyDancer.
“The choice is yours,” HawkShadow repeated. “Colonel Zanta said it was not negotiable.”
“The Councilors will be taken out just as they are?” asked SkyDancer.
“Exactly as they are now,” nodded HawkShadow. “Not a single Monitor will touch them other than to guide their steps.”
“Very well,” sighed SkyDancer as she took her knife away from the throat of the First Minister.
HawkShadow reached over and took the knife from SkyDancer’s hand. He turned to the group of Monitors and nodded at them.
“Carry out Colonel Zanta’s order,” HawkShadow commanded. “Move the Councilors into the plaza and guard them there. Do not try to remove their blindfolds or gags. Especially keep your hands away from the magical garrotes.”
“Some of us should accompany you to the colonel’s office,” one of the real Monitors said.
“This Sakovan will not cause me any troubles,” HawkShadow shook his head. “Carry out the Colonel’s orders and be quick about it.”
HawkShadow prodded SkyDancer with his sword and she obediently turned and walked away from the Councilors. The Monitors watched them disappear around a corner.
“That guys has a lot of guts,” said one of the Monitors. “Bet he gets a promotion out of this. Who is he?”
“Never saw him before,” shrugged another Monitor. “Probably from Zanta’s personal guard.”
* * *
The Monitor ran through the corridors of the Imperial Palace. He heard shouting and banging as he rounded a corner and slid to a halt outside of the colonel’s office. He shook his head in confusion when he saw the door key still in the lock. He reached down and turned the key. The door unlocked, and the colonel pulled it open immediately.
“Thank you,” nodded the colonel as he pushed past Cherri and into the corridor. “Come with me,” he ordered the Monitor. “We must get to the Katana.”
“But there is trouble at the Council Chamber,” responded the Monitor.
“That can wait,” Colonel Zack said as he started running. “Come on. There is not much time before the fighting begins.”
The colonel and the Monitor ran through the maze of corridors to the Katana’s private garden. They came to a halt as they entered the corridor leading to the garden and saw a dozen Monitors standing before a splintered door.