“So it shall be,” Pialorta swallowed hard. “I knew it would not be an easy task, but I will do my best. Will Kaltara continue to guide me as I bring others to know Him?”
“Have faith,” smiled the Torak. “In the temple library are a multitude of books and scrolls. Many of them are replicas of those found in the ancient city of Angragar. Within those pages, you will learn much about Kaltara.”
“I will study them night and day,” promised the priest.
“I suspect that there will be other priests soon,” stated the Emperor. “Four other temples have been built in Khadora. When the priests arrive here, I shall bring them to the temple to meet with you.”
“I am most honored by your faith in me,” the priest said.
“My faith, like yours, is in Kaltara,” smiled the Emperor as a knock sounded on the door.
A tailor entered in response to Marak’s call. The Emperor had just sent the new priest off to be fitted with appropriate clothing when another knock sounded. Ophia entered the room and shut the door.
“We have just had a communication from StarCity,” announced the air mage. “The Star of Sakova wants to know if you can possibly come to visit.”
“When does she wish me to visit?” asked the Emperor.
“She would like you to be there now,” Ophia replied, “but she understands that you need time to travel.”
“Did she say what she wanted?” Marak frowned.
“She did not,” answered the air mage. “Her tone was different than normal. Her words were guarded. She was terse and refused my inquiries into the purpose of the trip.”
“Very well,” Marak said after a long moment of silence. “Go back up on the roof and contact Angragar. Do not mention the Sakovans, but cleverly discern if everything is all right there. I suspect that Lyra believes that our air tunnels have been compromised.”
“I understand,” nodded Ophia. “Should I alert our other mages that air tunnel communications might be monitored by the enemy?”
“No,” replied the Torak. “Any warning to our people must be accomplished by ordinary means. I cannot be sure of the Star’s reasons for secrecy, but the very fact that she thinks she needs to be concerned bothers me. I will go to StarCity and find out the reasons for her concern. Alert Gunta and Halman on your way to the roof. Tell them we are leaving for the Sakova.”
Ophia hurried out of the Emperor’s office. Marak stepped into his living quarters and removed the white garb of the Emperor of Khadora. He dressed in the black and silver colors of the Torak clan and strapped on his weapons. When Halman and Gunta arrived, Marak was once again the Lord of the Torak clan. Marak’s shadows knew they were heading into potential danger. They readied their own weapons while the Emperor waited for Ophia to return.
When the guards opened the door to admit the air mage, they saw the Emperor dressed in black. Their eyes grew large as they gazed upon the warrior emperor, but they kept their thoughts to themselves.
“I just had a pleasant conversation with the Qubari,” reported Ophia as she stared at the Torak. “I could not detect any hint of concern in their voices. What shall I do next?”
“Contact the Sakovans again,” instructed the Emperor. “Tell them that some of the Torak clan are closer to StarCity than we realized. Tell them to expect a delegation within the hour.”
Ophia looked curiously at the Emperor, but she knew better than to question the words of his message. She nodded her understanding and left the room.
“Within the hour?” questioned Gunta after the air mage had left the room. “You know something that you have not shared with Halman and me.”
“Many things,” grinned Marak. “Come with me and learn some of them.”
The Torak led his shadows out of the office and slipped out of the palace using the Emperor’s private entrance. Within minutes the trio entered the temple and made their way to the library. Halman and Gunta said nothing as Marak slipped the catch on the bookshelf and led them into the small area beyond.
“Just like Angragar,” Gunta nodded as Halman slid the bookshelf closed. “Let me go through first. Halman will come last.”
“It goes to the Chula temple,” warned the Torak. “We will not be entering their library.”
Gunta nodded and opened the door to the closet. He stepped in and closed the door. Marak waited several seconds before opening the door and stepping into the closet. He closed the door and reopened it, stepping out into the small area behind the bookshelves in the temple in Changragar. Seconds later Halman stepped out of the closet.
“Now through to Angragar?” asked Gunta.
Marak nodded and the trio repeated the procedure, coming out in the small area behind the bookshelves in Angragar.
“And on to StarCity,” instructed the Torak.
Gunta nodded once more and stepped through the door bearing the mark of the Star of Sakova. Within moments the three warriors were behind the bookshelves in StarCity. Gunta peered through the spy hole and observed the library. Lyra was standing in the center of the room ushering out the few people who had been using the library. Gunta waited for the Star of Sakova to close the doors to the library before releasing the catch that swiveled the bookshelves.
Gunta led the way into the library as Lyra stood staring at him. When Marak exited the small area, Lyra moved swiftly across the room and embraced him.
“I am glad to see you,” Lyra said softly as Marak hugged her. “How did you arrive so quickly? Were you already at Changragar?”
“There is a new door at Changragar, “ explained the Torak. “It leads to the temple in Khadoratung. Ophia sensed some urgency in your request. Have our air tunnels been compromised?”
“I do not know,” replied Lyra, “but I could not take the chance that they were compromised. We have something very important to discuss, and I do not want anyone to know about it before we discussed it.”
Chapter 6
Spy Holes
The Star of Sakova led the Torak and his shadows out of the library in StarCity. She led the way through the corridors of the Sakovan palace, sending Jostin to find StarWind and have her meet the group in her office. When everyone had entered the Star’s office, she closed the door and said nothing until StarWind arrived.
“StarWind,” Lyra began after the Sakovan spymaster ahd arrived, “I would like you to brief Emperor Marak on this situation. Leave nothing out.”
“Very well,” StarWind said. “Earlier today HawkShadow discovered a boy roaming around in the forest near the Wound of Kaltara. The Wound is a tremendous canyon that stretches for hundreds of leagues. It is impassable. The entire area around the Wound of Kaltara is desolate and uninhabited. HawkShadow captured the boy and discovered that he was close to death. He had abrasions covering his face, chest and legs. Several bones were broken. The boy incurred these wounds while climbing the Wall of Mermidion.”
“The huge cliffs along the coast?” interrupted Emperor Marak. “I thought they were unscalable?”
“For all intents they are,” replied StarWind. “The boy fell several times, but managed to stay alive long enough to reach the top.”
“Kaltara was surely with this boy,” interjected Lyra. “His name is Kenda.”
“His father should have a talk with the lad,” frowned the Torak, “but why are you telling me about him?”
“His father is dead,” frowned StarWind, “as is the entire population of Duran.”
Marak closed his eyes and sank onto one of the chairs before Lyra’s desk. StarWind waited while the Emperor composed himself. She knew exactly how he felt.
“I am sorry,” Marak finally said. “I suspect that I know where this story is going, but please continue, StarWind.”
“Your assumptions are correct, Emperor Marak,” nodded StarWind. “The boy described a vicious attack on the city of Duran. Half a dozen large ships carried warriors and mages in from the sea. From the description that Kenda gave, it appears that the Motangans used a magical fog to hide their approach. When the fog lifted, it dissipated instantly. The attack commenced at the same time. The Motangans showed no mercy. Every individual was struck down; buildings were searched and burned. The second wave to arrive was a group of mages. Kenda believes that they were brought ashore to search for survivors. The invaders’ intent was to leave no witnesses.”