“The only thing that you can do is to safeguard Wyant when he arrives,” replied Fisher. “If someone tries to attack Wyant, you will know who it is. Then you can have your men kill him.”
“You are clever,” grinned Harmagan, “but you are not Jiadin, are you?”
“Today, I am Jiadin,” smiled Fisher. “Tomorrow, who knows? What does it matter? You know that I mean you no harm.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter much,” conceded Harmagan. “The Jiadin are no longer what we used to be. That much Brakas had right. We have become clova to be fattened up for slaughter.”
“No, my friend,” smiled Fisher. “The Jiadin will ride again, and soon. The Time of Cleansing is coming, and a million enemies are coming with it.”
“You believe in that nonsense?” frowned Harmagan. “No one can put a million men together.”
“I believe it,” nodded Fisher. “I have seen parts of the armies coming to attack us. The Jiadin’s mettle will be tested. Your men should be making ready. This war will not be for clova.”
“I hope you are right,” grinned Harmagan. “Even if you aren’t right, I like your words. What should I call you?”
“Call me Scarab,” chuckled Fisher, “and I think you truly know that my words are true. You just abhor the waiting like any good warrior does.”
“Well, Scarab,” Harmagan asked, “do you know where Angragar is?”
“I do,” nodded Fisher, “but you know that I will not tell you. Why are you so anxious to know?”
“Why?” frowned Harmagan. “Why do I want to know where the lost city of riches is? You can’t be serious?”
“Oh,” smiled Fisher, “but I am. The riches of Angragar are not the type of riches that would interest you or your men. The riches that are spoken of are spiritual in nature. You cannot spend them. Besides, the Free Tribes inhabit Angragar. Would you truly lead your men against them?”
“No gold?” frowned the Jiadin leader. “You are lying to me.”
“For what purpose?” posed Fisher. “If there was any gold there, would not the Free Tribes have already taken it? The one you call Brakas is interested in Angragar for an entirely different reason. He is part of the evil that is coming to invade this land. He seeks Angragar so that Vand’s armies can plot its destruction. The rumors of gold and treasure that he spreads gains the cooperation of a hundred thousand Jiadin who dream of the spoils. Think about it, Harmagan. Is there any doubt in your mind that Brakas was trying to use you and your men?”
“The Jiadin have been used by everyone,” sighed Harmagan. “We tire of it.”
“Not entirely true,” retorted Fisher. “You have been manipulated by Vand’s people over and over again. It is always the same people pulling your puppet strings. Grulak was the first. Zygor and Brakas were the last. You may think the Khadoran lords used you, but Zygor and Brakas were behind that whole plot.”
“What about Rejji?” asked Harmagan. “Isn’t he using us now?”
“Is he?” asked Fisher. “Look around you. Is Rejji making you stay here? He is trying to rally you to fight the evil, but isn’t that in your own best interests? The Jiadin will be exterminated just as quickly as the Free Tribes when Vand’s armies invade. All he is trying to do is to get you all working together. I don’t categorize that as using you.”
“You make a lot of sense, Scarab,” replied Harmagan. “I just wish that I could believe your words. The Jiadin would join with any tribe that stood for defending Fakara from outsiders. I just can’t believe in this evil army that everyone says is coming.”
“What will it take to get you to believe it?” asked Fisher. “Do you want me to take you to the Island of Darkness and drop you off? That would certainly prove it to you. Unfortunately, you would be dead after just a few moments of belief. That wouldn’t do any of us any good.”
“I just want an enemy for my people to attack,” Harmagan sighed with frustration. “Can you give me that?”
“It won’t be long now,” promised Fisher. “Already the city of Duran has been destroyed.”
“Duran?” asked Harmagan. “Where is that?”
“It is a city in the Sakova,” answered Fisher. “Thousands of people were slaughtered. Every man, woman, and child was killed.”
“Women, too?” frowned Harmagan. “Surely they took them hostage?”
“The Motangans want no hostages,” Fisher shook his head. “They plan to annihilate every living person.”
“The Sakova is far away,” Harmagan shrugged after a few moments of silence. “A war there means nothing to the Jiadin.”
“Really?” retorted Fisher. “Meliban is no farther from the Island of Darkness than Duran. You could be next to be invaded.”
“Who knows about the destruction of Duran?” asked the Jiadin leader.
“I thought everyone knew,” shrugged Fisher. “It happened some time ago. It is thought to have been a trial run to see how our armies react. The real invasion is close at hand.”
“I will ask Wyant when he arrives,” stated Harmagan. “If he confirms what you have said about Duran, I will finally believe the stories of the coming war.”
“Fair enough,” smiled Fisher. “When is he due to arrive?”
Just then, several Jiadin burst through the front door. They slid to a halt and looked around the room.
“Where is Brakas?” asked one of the men.
“He is gone,” answered Harmagan. “Why do you want him?”
“Wyant is in town,” answered the warrior. “We want to be there when Brakas makes him tell us where Angragar is.”
“Brakas left town,” Harmagan stated. “Have every group commander report here immediately. I want them all here before Wyant arrives in this building. Is that clear?”
The men nodded and ran out of the building. Fisher moved to leave as well, but Harmagan called to him.
“Where are you going, Scarab?” he asked.
“To get lost in the darkness,” Fisher replied. “I am not one who cares for the light. I have to find out where Brakas has gone.”
“Stay, fellow Jiadin,” smiled Harmagan. “I don’t want you out of my sight before Wyant arrives. I want his answer to the question about Duran to honest.”
“I will promise not to speak to Wyant,” countered Fisher. “I really must go.”
“You don’t want to be seen by Wyant,” Harmagan grinned. “And here I thought you were working for him and the Free Tribes. Would he recognize you by sight?”
“No,” Fisher replied. “My duties require that few people know me. Your men would probably recognize that I am not a Jiadin and that would call attention to me. That is attention that I cannot afford.”
“Put your mind at rest,” grinned Harmagan. “Few who call themselves Jiadin today are really from the original Jiadin tribe. Most of the current Jiadin joined under Grulak. In fact, most of my original kinsmen are long dead. I will introduce you as Scarab, my long lost brother.”
Fisher thought about the value of having a validated Jiadin identity. He knew that it could be valuable one day.
“Why would you do this for me?” asked Fisher. “You must know by now that I am a spy. Why open up the entire Jiadin tribe to my snooping?”
“Because I like you,” grinned Harmagan. “You not only saved my life, but you have been open and truthful to me. Besides, I do not fear anything that you might find out snooping on the Jiadin. Stay and listen to Wyant. Afterwards you can give me your thoughts on what he says.”
“You want me here to validate what Wyant says,” laughed Fisher.
“You are quick, little brother,” grinned Harmagan. “If Wyant confirms your words about Duran, then I can believe everything you say. Seeing as I can believe you, I will ask you what you think about what Wyant tries to feed us. In the end, we will all have the truth.”
“I will stay,” smiled Fisher. “I do not have to know Wyant well to know that he will tell you the truth. Rejji would not have it any other way.”
Chapter 27
The Jiadin Tribe
Jiadin warriors started pouring into the administration building. Some of them glanced questioningly at Fisher, but no one actually challenged his right to be there. When all of the leaders had assembled, Harmagan ordered the door closed.