Lord Marak simply nodded and turned his attention to Seneschal Pito. “Seneschal, can you bring the Council up to date on estate matters beginning with the rebuilding effort?” ordered Marak.
“Certainly, Lord Marak,” rose the Seneschal. “The rebuilding has proceeded faster than anyone could imagine, thanks to the efforts of many volunteers. We are just finishing the last three homes and people have already moved out of the barracks and into the new homes which are finished. There have been some minor complaints with the homes, but I am glad to report that they were resolved quickly.”
Marak was pleased with the number of nodding heads around the table. The guilds who would normally object to the volunteer efforts had actually welcomed the help after Lord Marak volunteered his own time.
“The grain fields are erratic,” continued Seneschal Pito. “Some of the fields are growing better than I have ever seen them grow while others are dismal failures. There does not appear to be any pattern as to which fields will produce and which will not, although most of the producing fields are on the outskirts of the estate.”
“Are we any closer to getting the yield we will require to fulfill our contracts?” Marak asked while covertly watching Tachora for any signs of reaction.
“No,” sighed Seneschal Pito. “We are getting more yield than expected from some of the fields, but we will still be far short of our commitments. I would like to add, Lord Marak, that the low yield is not due to the Fardale workers, but the soil. As most here are aware, I was very vocal in protesting your policy of freeing the slaves. I would like to acknowledge to everyone that I was wrong. Our workers’ attitudes could not be better, nor could their productivity. I have not witnessed one incident of laziness or indifference since the program began.”
“Thank you for your acknowledgement, Seneschal Pito,” nodded Lord Marak. “What other items need to be addressed today?”
Lectain Zorkil rose to address the Council as the Army’s representative. “Lord Marak, we are still having reports about Kywara sightings. It is never more than three at a time, but each sighting brings them closer to the mansion. The guards get nervous each time and I think it will ease matters if we ask them to keep their distance.”
Marak smiled at his new Lectain while he wondered what the Kywara were up to. He had no reason to doubt Tmundo’s word and did not believe the Kywara were a threat, yet they had to be coming closer for some reason. The Chula were known for avoiding contact with flatlanders, not walking up to their door. Perhaps it was time for Marak to pay another visit to Tmundo and ask him what he was doing.
“Lectain Zorkil,” decided Marak, “I want you to stay after the Council session and I will discuss this with you further. What other items do we have to discuss?”
“I have received a suggestion to reopen one of the fields,” contributed Bursar Tachora. “The field in question borders the Sorgan estate. Perhaps it can be of use in meeting our obligations.”
“That field has very poor soil,” offered Mage Klora. “Lord Lashendo ordered it abandoned after the yield was so poor that he determined we were wasting manpower working it.”
“If Lord Marak would permit it,” interjected Pachoma, a slave turned field laborer, “some of us would like to experiment with crops that may grow well in poor soil. This barren field sounds like the perfect place to attempt it. We would tend to it on our own time and the children could help.”
“Excellent,” agreed Marak. “The field is open for anyone who wants to tend it during their own time. If you can come up with a saleable crop that is better suited to our terrain, it will be welcomed.”
Several minor matters were brought before the Council and were easily resolved. Lord Marak dismissed the Council and asked Seneschal Pito and Mage Klora to remain. When the rest of the Council had filtered out of the room, Marak pulled a large map of Fardale off the wall and spread it over the table.
“Show me where the sightings have been, Lectain Zorkil,” Marak instructed.
Lectain Zorkil took coins from his pouch and started placing them on the map. Before he was done, the Seneschal interrupted him by pointing to three of the coins.
“When were these sightings?” Pito inquired as the Lectain continued to place his coins.
“They were all in the last week,” answered Zorkil. “Why?”
“My Lord,” sparkled the Seneschal, “I said there was no pattern to our fields that are producing well. I was mistaken. Lectain Zorkil has placed a coin on each of the producing fields. Only the last three represent fields that are performing poorly. Is it possible that the Kywara are doing something to enrich the soil of our fields?”
“If they are,” added Mage Klora, “ they are better mages than we are.”
“No disrespect intended, Mage Klora,” smiled Marak, “but I think that is exactly what they are doing. I suspected as much during the meeting. I requested that Tmundo help us with our fields. At the time I was requesting that he teach us how to improve the soil and he flatly refused. I think that after watching our peaceful efforts to improve ourselves, he has decided to help us covertly. Lectain Zorkil, you will issue orders for all Army personnel to wave at the Kywara whenever one is seen. They are not to be interfered with in any way. Let them walk right up to the mansion if they wish. Mage Klora, if you should happen to be around during one of these sightings, take a bucket of fresh water out to the Kywara visitors and offer it to them. Let them know that they are welcome and appreciated.”
“As you wish,” Mage Klora replied.
“Lectain Zorkil, Seneschal Pito, that is all,” stated Marak. “I think we are finally getting somewhere.”
After the two had left, Marak turned to his head mage. “Klora, I want to start meeting with your group everyday if you can spare the time from your other duties. Twice a week is not enough and we have a lot of ground to cover.”
“The mages will be thrilled, Lord Marak,” she replied. “We would also like to step up our schedule, but were afraid that you did not have the time available. Should we meet this afternoon?”
“Yes,” Marak replied eagerly. “This afternoon and every day from now on. I think we are making excellent progress and this news about the Kywara mages helping us spurs me on.”
“Let me go inform the others, then,” declared Klora. “We will meet you there as always.”
* * *
“Why haven’t we had word from Fardale?” demanded Lord Ridak. “I don’t like the lack of communications.”
“I can only assume that Lord Marak’s men are running into the same problems as we are,” offered Lord Marshal Grefon. “We have already lost three messengers to the bandits and a fourth who barely escaped with his life.”
“We have never had bandits in this area before,” complained the Lord of the Situ. “Why have they chosen such an inappropriate time to plague us? You should take a Corte into those hills and wipe them out.”
“I do not wish to risk that many of my men to such a minor inconvenience,” Grefon replied. “Besides, it may be better to have them as an excuse for being out of touch with your new young Lord. When Lord Marak runs into trouble he won’t be able to call on us for help. That will make his incompetence more readily apparent. We need to concentrate our efforts on Raven’s Point. If we intend to push the Morgar border back this fall, I want to be ready for it. We have already given up one Corte to Fardale. We should not waste another chasing bandits.”
“Very well,” conceded Lord Ridak. “I suppose you will not be planning to draw any troops out of Fardale for our push towards the Morgar.”
“They won’t be needed,” determined Lord Marshal Grefon. “Troops from Stony Brook and River’s Bend will be sufficient to accomplish our goal.”
“I am still concerned about Lord Quilo getting involved,” confided Lord Ridak. “If Lord Saycher calls upon his Organila ally, our whole plan could collapse. We could even be in danger of losing territory at Raven’s Point.”