“Do you think we should go looking for him?” asked Zorkil.
“No,” answered Tagoro. “This is his realm and we must allow him to rule as he sees fit. It is his neck that is in the noose. Let’s go wait by the gate so he doesn’t get punctured by one of your archers.”
Tagoro and Zorkil were waiting half and hour when a shout rang out from the wall. Men scurried to their places to prepare for the attack and Tagoro raced to the top of the wall and followed the lookout’s pointing finger. In the distance he saw three figures approaching, one on horseback and two riding tigers. Tagoro strained his eyes to pick out Marak on the horse and when he finally verified that it was the Lord of Fardale, he shouted out an order to stand down.
Marak waved as he got closer and the Fardale soldiers stared in disbelief. Marak halted short of bow range and dismounted. Tagoro and Zorkil were already on their way out to greet their Lord and Marak turned to them. He pressed the reins of his horse into Tagoro’s outstretched hand. The Kywara warriors also dismounted and let the tigers roam free. The tigers actually appeared tame and made no effort to attack the horse, which had been skittish for the first half of the ride. Marak introduced Squad Leader Zorkil and Squad Leader Tagoro to the Kywara warriors and each of them grasped the other’s forearm in the traditional welcome of Khadora.
As soon as the display was completed, the Kywara warriors called their tigers, mounted, and rode back the way they had come. Lord Marak walked with his two Squad Leaders back to the main gate as if he had just been on an outing. Marak held up a parchment as he entered the estate and shouted that Fardale was at peace with the Chula. He contemplated calling another gathering to announce the treaty, but decided that the word would spread quicker this way. He was right and word of the treaty reached the mansion even before he did.
Marak told Zorkil and Tagoro the details of his meeting as they walked to the Lord’s study where Seneschal Pito was waiting with his reports. Once he reached the study, he sent the two Squad Leaders off to confirm the reports of the treaty so everyone would know it was not just a rumor. Lord Marak waved the Seneschal into the study and sat down.
“Good morning, Seneschal Pito,” greeted Lord Marak. “You have the reports I requested?”
“Yes, Lord Marak,” answered the gray haired man. “Is it true about a treaty with the Chula? Do you think we can trust them to honor the treaty?”
“The Kywara, to be exact,” corrected Marak, “and, yes, they will honor the treaty. There is no record of the Kywara ever breaking their word.” Marak did not elaborate that there were few records of the Kywara at all.
“Well, that is certainly a feather in your helmet,” congratulated the Seneschal. “Will they allow us to clear the Sitari Valley?”
“Absolutely not,” replied Marak. “I have no intention of clearing another valley. Our manpower is better spent getting our crops from the fields we already have.”
The Seneschal nodded as he handed the reports to Lord Marak and took a seat. “I’m afraid that will leave us far short of the amount we need to fulfill our contracts.”
“That is a matter which I will take up next with the Bursar,” Marak declared. “Which report details the slave labor and which deals with the mages?”
Pito rifled through the pile of papers and withdrew two sets. “There is some crossover in the two groups,” Pito mentioned. “Some of the mages are slaves.”
Seneschal Pito sat fidgeting quietly as Lord Marak read the reports. He strained to see what Lord Marak was scribbling on the papers, but his eyesight was no longer sufficient to accomplish the task. For over an hour Pito sat in silence and Lord Marak scribbled away. Finally, Marak looked up and shoved the papers back to the Seneschal.
“I have made some notations for your consideration on these reports,” stated Marak. “Read them this morning and I will be available for your questions this afternoon. The main points which I want you to act on immediately are going to be significant changes to the way Fardale has been run in the past. I understand that we have two empty barracks as well as the barracks used by the Lectains. They are to be made ready this afternoon for the slaves. As soon as the slaves have been relocated, you will make a determination about the condition of the slave shacks. Those that can be repaired and brought up to the same condition as the laborer huts, will be repaired. Those which can not be economically repaired are to be torn down and new ones constructed.”
“That will take some time, Lord Marak,” replied a surprised Seneschal. “Even after we construct new buildings for the slaves, they will not remain in good condition for long. You just cannot have that many people live in a building and have it remain serviceable.”
“You are quite right, Seneschal Pito,” smiled Marak. “That is why you are also going to construct enough new huts to house the entire slave population according to the ratio used for the laborers. You see, Seneschal, Fardale no longer has any slaves. As of this moment, all slaves are free men and shall be housed as such.”
Pito’s jaw dropped as he gaped at his new Lord. “This extra work will only hamper your efforts to bring in the crop on time,” stated a stunned Seneschal. “Not to mention the extra land which will be required. I don’t think we will have enough workers to complete the huts by harvest time.”
“Seneschal Pito,” scolded Lord Marak, “we do have to work on your negative attitude. You will have one month for the huts to be completed. I have every confidence that you will succeed in the tasks I have given to you. I want to be informed when construction begins on the first hut. Assemble the slaves for me in two hours' time. I want to personally inform them of their freedom. That will be all for now.”
Seneschal Pito rose shakily from his chair and gathered his papers. He gazed at Lord Marak as if he was looking at a madman, but when Marak’s eyes rose to look at the departing Seneschal, he tucked the papers under his arm and scurried out. As soon as the Seneschal left the room, a small, young woman entered the study. She carried a stack of papers and lowered her slim figure to the chair, which Pito had just vacated. Marak looked up at her and smiled.
“What can I do for you?” Marak asked.
“I am here with the Bursar’s reports,” she answered as she slid the reports across the desk.
“And who are you? Marak quizzed.
“I am Kasa, Bursar Tachora’s assistant,” the woman replied as she toyed with her short black hair. “He told me you want these reports first thing in the morning. I have been waiting for the Seneschal to leave.”
“And where is Bursar Tachora?” demanded Lord Marak as he stared at the woman’s green eyes which appeared to be puffy from lack of sleep.
“I do not know, My Lord,” Kasa answered softly.
“Have you seen him this morning?” grilled Marak. “When did he give you these reports?”
The woman bit her lip and lowered her eyes to the desktop. “I have not seen him this morning,” Lord Marak,” she whispered. “I have been sitting in the corridor outside. He did not actually give me these reports, he ordered me to compile them.”
“I asked for accurate reports of our contracts and financial position,” prompted Marak. “Are you telling me that you are so well informed of the financial dealings of Fardale that you are capable of compiling these reports yourself?”
“I have been doing the reports for two years, My Lord,” she replied nervously. “Only the actual contract negotiations are handled by Bursar Tachora.”
Marak shook his head as he looked at the reports. The financial condition of Fardale was not bad, but the prices agreed to on the grain contracts seemed fairly low to Marak. Granted, Marak was no financial wizard, but he knew the retail price of grain and it appeared as if the ratio between wholesale and retail was much greater than what he knew Lord Ridak got for lituks. He had witnessed contract negotiations while guarding the caravans.