“So you have no reply to my statement,” Mayor Ferde said to fill the awkward silence that had fallen over the room. “Where does that leave us? If you cannot guarantee the safety of my people, you cannot expect me to defect. I am still willing to offer a sort of truce. Deliver the food and I will keep my soldiers inside the city. Unless someone higher up overrules me, we will be at peace with each other. What more could you ask for?”
“She could ask for your surrender,” Emperor Marak said with authority.
The mayor nearly jumped out of his chair. His eyes darted first to Lyra and then StarWind. Lyra merely smiled.
“Emperor Marak,” Lyra said with familiarity, “I am so sorry to disturb you, but Mayor Ferde of Campanil fears that his city will be attacked by the Katana if he defects.”
“The mayor should be more concerned about what will happen if he does not surrender,” replied Emperor Marak. “I understand that my ship is still off the coast outside of Campanil. I am pleased that you have learned to seek peace before distributing the food. The reports from down there have been very heartening. How can I help this mayor make up his mind?”
“This cannot be real,” Mayor Ferde shook his head. “This is a trick, a magical trick.”
“Magic it is,” replied Emperor Marak, “but it is hardly a trick. It is called an air tunnel, and it allows the Khadorans and the Sakovans to speak over great distances. You should think about that for a moment, Mayor Ferde. As an Omungan, you face an enemy that can communicate instantly to all of her armies and cities. Her spies can instantly report troop movements of the Omungans. Were you a military man, I would not have to point out the obvious. The Sakovans are quite capable of surprise attacks, but the Omungans are not. The moment an army left Okata in your direction, I could order my ships to sea. Which do you think would arrive in Campanil first?”
“The answer to that question is not something that I would stake the lives of my people on,” retorted Mayor Ferde. “Are you willing to send troops right now to protect my city?”
“If the Star of Sakova requests Khadoran aid,” replied Emperor Marak, “she will have it, anywhere, anytime, she pleases. Is that what you want, Lyra? Should I send an army to Campanil?”
“That is not necessary at this time, Emperor Marak,” smiled Lyra. “Thank you for receiving my request for a conversation.”
“I always stand ready to assist you, Lyra,” replied Emperor Marak. “Please let me know what decision Mayor Ferde makes when you are done there.”
“I will,” promised Lyra as she broke the air tunnel.
“Why did you refuse his armies?” asked Mayor Ferde. “If that was really Emperor Marak, you could have assured my defection by bringing his troops here.”
“His troops are not needed,” replied Lyra. “While I treasure Emperor Marak’s support, I will not call upon his aid unless I am forced to.”
“Well you are forced to,” argued the mayor. “Campanil cannot defect without his support. What if General Didyk decides to come north? Or General Kapla turns around and heads south? I will not rule over a Sakovan city in the path of those huge armies. That would be sheer lunacy.”
“General Kapla’s army is heading south,” replied Lyra. “In fact, he is coming to Campanil.”
“See?” responded the mayor. “If I had defected, I would be shaking right now.”
“Would you?” posed the Star of Sakova. “Let me ask you this. Would the word of the Minister of Defense be enough to assure you that Omunga would not attack Campanil?”
“General Kapla’s word would be sufficient,” nodded the mayor, “but he would never give it to a Sakovan city.”
“Yes he would,” grinned Lyra. “In fact, his army is returning to Campanil to defend it against Omungan invasion.”
“I don’t understand,” puzzled Mayor Ferde. “Why would he protect Campanil from the Omungans?”
“Because he has seen the truth,” answered Lyra. “General Kapla is Sakovan now. His army was meant to protect Fortung and Gatong, but he is more needed in Campanil now.”
“You can’t be serious,” gasped the mayor. “I cannot imagine such a thing. He controls one fourth of Omunga’s armies.”
“You keep doubting my word,” frowned Lyra, “yet I have never spoken an untruth to you.”
“I mean no disrespect,” apologized the mayor, “but you are saying things that make my head spin. At some point in time, I have to demand verification before I can accept the spoken word.”
“Fair enough,” nodded Lyra. “General Kapla will be here tomorrow. You can ask him yourself. As for Emperor Marak’s involvement, you can speak to the captain of his ship when it arrives to deliver the food.”
“The food is being delivered on a Khadoran ship?” asked the mayor.
“One of Emperor Marak’s own ships,” nodded the Star of Sakova. “StarWind, send the signal to call the ship into port. It is time that the people of Campanil receive some food.”
StarWind nodded and wove an air tunnel and directed it to the ship off the coast. The mayor listened in amazement as he heard a woman answer StarWind’s request.
“There are good winds,” responded the voice. “We should dock within the hour.”
“Should I go meet the ship?” asked StarWind after she broke the connection.
“I think we will all go,” replied Lyra, “but first I want a definitive answer from Mayor Ferde. If all that I have said is true, will you join the Sakova, Mayor Ferde?”
“If the ship is indeed Khadoran,” nodded the mayor. “I will still want to speak with General Kapla when he arrives, but yes, I will accept your words as true. Campanil will become a Sakovan city. May the gods watch over us during this time. I do not want to lead my people astray.”
“There is only one god,” smiled Lyra, “and he is called Kaltara. I should know because he has blessed me with what I need to gather the people of Omunga and Sakova together. He will protect Campanil.”
Chapter 32
Food to Retreat
“They are coming through the tunnel,” ThunderSword warned through an air tunnel.
“How can they?” replied MeadowTune. “Sakovan magic makes that impossible. They cannot find the tunnel entrance to StarCity.”
“Sakovan Magic only hides the entrance,” replied ThunderSword. “It does not prohibit anyone from entering the cave. One of them probably stumbled into the cave and discovered it. It does not matter now. Get troops up here fast to man the pyrons. We can hold them for some time if we can get the pyrons manned immediately.”
“I am passing the word now,” promised MeadowTune as the air tunnel winked out.
ThunderSword hid in his pyron, which was a carved-out niche in the wall of the cave. The long tunnel through the mountain was lined with the alcoves that only afforded protection in one direction. They were carved by the Sakovans ages ago as an added measure of protection when Star City was being built. Fighters could hide in the pyrons and safely shoot arrows or toss magical projectiles without fear of being overly exposed to the enemy. If the invaders did manage to push the Sakovans further back in the tunnel, the pyrons would be of no benefit to the attackers because they were wide open on the StarCity side.
ThunderSword wove another air tunnel and directed it towards the closer Sakovans who were also hiding in pyrons.
“Anyone here with magical projectile knowledge?” asked ThunderSword keeping his voice to a whisper.
“What do you need?” asked ValleyBreeze.
“The Omungans are moving cautiously,” replied ThunderSword, “but I wish to slow them down until more help arrives. Can you see them from your position?”
“Well enough,” answered ValleyBreeze as she stared at the distant torchlights. “How about some fire?”
“Perfect,” smiled ThunderSword. “Aim deep into them. I do not want this part of the tunnel to be illuminated.”
ValleyBreeze did not bother to reply. She aimed her fireball so it flew along the roof of the tunnel. It dropped well beyond the vanguard of the Omungans, and instant chaos enveloped the attackers. The tunnel flared into brilliance where the fireball struck among the attackers. Screams echoed through the tunnel as the Omungans sought to distance themselves from the burning flesh of their comrades.