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“Greetings and welcome to Fardale,” smiled the man. “I am Lord Marak of the Torak clan. I will not take up a lot of your time as I am sure you are tired from your journey, but there are few things I must say before you settle down here in Fardale. Most of you are mages, although I understand we have a few who are not. This woman at my side is Klora, our head mage here at Fardale. She will be addressing the mages after I speak.”

“The most important thing I have to say to you today,” Marak continued, “is that you are no longer slaves. Our Seneschal is drawing up papers as we speak which will formalize your freedom.”

Murmurs broke out around the room and Marak merely smiled and waited for the noise level to subside.

“I do require vows of service,” Marak stated. “That is from those of you who will be staying with us. I think after Klora speaks, you will find that life will be exciting here. For our other three travelers, I ask you to join me in the meeting room when you have had your fill of food.”

Marak smiled warmly and left the room. Rejji rose immediately to follow Lord Marak and Bakhai and Mistake hurried to catch up. The three Fakarans caught up to Lord Marak as he was entering the meeting room. He ushered them in and closed the door.

“Are we really free?” Mistake blurted out. “Or do these vows you want tie us to you as solidly as chains?”

“Sit,” Marak grinned, “and I shall discuss it with you.”

“First off,” Marak began after everyone was seated, “I do not ask any of you to give the Vows of Service. That is unless you desire to stay here in Fardale. I understood that you were keen on getting back to Fakara.”

“That has been our goal,” conceded Rejji. “I will admit that everyone seems very happy here. Why do you purchase us and then give us our freedom? Surely you want something in return.”

“There is something I would like you to do,” admitted Marak, “but you are not obligated to do it. From what I have heard, you wish to make your nation prosper. I would like to see that as well.”

“Why should you care about Fakara or us?” quizzed Mistake. “If we are indeed free now, why can’t we just return to Fakara and be done with you.”

“You can,” sighed Marak. “I will not try to stop you from doing just that, but I can make it a lot easier for you.”

“What do you wish us to do?” questioned Rejji. “I think we should hear your desires before we start running off,” he added with a frown at Mistake.

“I want several things,” Marak said. “I want information on Fakara. From people who know the country. I would also like to see a prosperous neighbor that would not seek to invade Khadora. I understand that you wish to be a merchant in Fakara and desire to better the country for your fellow Fakarans. I have a proposition for you. I will provide you with horses, gold, and an escort to the Fortung Mountains. Furthermore, if you are able to establish a trading port in Fakara, I am prepared to have ships stop there and provide transportation for your goods to Khadoran markets. In addition, the same ships will provide goods that you need to build Fakara and make it prosperous.”

“Do you really think I can do that?” asked an astonished Rejji. “I am barely old enough to join the tribes.”

“I don’t know if you can,” admitted Marak. “As for your age, you are not much younger than I am. What the merchant has told me is promising. You appear to have a natural knack for trading and you appear sincere in your desires.”

“Why trade by boat?” questioned Mistake who was feeling left out of the conversation.

“The tribes mostly,” Marak said. “I don’t think your caravans would make the trip out of Fakara unmolested. In fact, your trading port if you manage to establish one, would be a prime target for the Jiadin.”

“And you are going to give all of this to us for nothing,” questioned a skeptical Rejji.

“No,” conceded Marak. “The initial gold and horses will be my gift to you for any information you can provide that will help me better understand the tribes and your country. After that, we shall negotiate a trading agreement that is fair to both parties. You will pay for supplies we ship into Fakara, and I will pay for goods you ship to Khadora. We can provide most types of food and seeds, wool and clothing, lumber, and even the tools you will require to build.”

“All we need to do is find something to export,” frowned Rejji. “Where do you want this port?”

“Anywhere east of the Giaming Mountains would be best,” answered Lord Marak. “That would be the farthest away from the Jiadin as you could get and is close enough to Raven’s Point where my ships are based.”

“You ask a great deal of me, Lord Marak,” Rejji said. “I like your plan and thank you for even thinking I could do it, but I think if it was possible, someone would have already done it.”

“Like selling midday meals to the merchants in Khadoratung?” Marak grinned. “I don’t know if this plan is workable. I am willing to forfeit the gold to give it a try because the benefits far outweigh the risk. It is your decision to make, Rejji. While you ponder it, you are welcome as a guest of the Torak clan. You will find us a friendly people, so feel free to ask questions of anyone. If you need assistance of any kind, someone will see that you get it.”

“It is a most gracious offer, Lord Marak,” smiled Rejji. “I will think about it.”

Rejji rose to leave and the other Fakarans followed his lead. Marak sat in silent contemplation after they left. Almost silently, the door opened and closed and Marak looked up.

“Fisher,” smiled Marak, “sit down.”

“Did you make your offer?” the gaudily dressed merchant asked.

“I did,” nodded Marak. “The lad is hesitant and that speaks well of him. If he were planning to take my gold and run, he would have jumped at the chance. I believe the pointy-eared girl wanted to. I have to ask Klora if she can test the girl for magic skill without her knowing it.”

“You have a need for her magic?” inquired Fisher.

“If she has some, yes,” smiled Marak. “She feels left out of this whole process. I think if I can bring her into the plan, Rejji will follow with both feet. I like the lad. You judged him well and are to be congratulated once again.”

“Thank you,” nodded Fisher. “It will be interesting to see how the three of them react to freedom. It has been the center of their attention since coming to Khadora. Now we shall see what is truly on their minds.”

Chapter 13

Torak Clan

“Here she comes,” declared Bakhai as Mistake strode into the small cove near the stream.

Rejji watched Mistake approach and smiled when he saw the grin on her face. “Looks good,” he commented on her new animal skin attire.

“Thanks,” she beamed. “It fits much better than the clothes I lost at the Pikata estate. Thanks for arranging it, Bakhai.”

“I like mine too,” Bakhai agreed. “They do nice work here.”

“You would look good in skins, Rejji,” commented Mistake. “

“And you wouldn’t smell like a clova to the animals,” added Bakhai.

Rejji looked at his two friends and shook his head. “I will think about it,” he said, “but clothing is not the reason we are meeting here. We have been here several weeks now and it is time we decide what we are going to do. Lord Marak has been subtly pushing for an answer to his proposition. He seems willing to let us stay here and integrate into the clan, but he really wants us to return to Fakara.”

“I thought that was our plan all along,” frowned Mistake. “I still want to find the Sage of the Mountain.”

“It has been our plan,” agreed Rejji, “but the last few weeks have been good here. They have let me train with the army and accepted me as one of their own. The soldiers here have the greatest pride in Lord Marak and themselves and they are well trained. They have taught me much. I think I could get used to living here.”