“That seems to be the motto of Khadoran life,” sighed Lord Marak. “Do the Chula have infighting like the Khadorans?”
“Perhaps it was so once,” offered Rykoma, “but if it was, it is past anyone’s memory. The Chula once roamed the breadth of what is now Khadora. There was no need for territorial disputes. In fact, we were primarily nomads and farmers. The wars that drove us to the mountains started with the coming of the Khadorans. We had few warrior skills back then. Our people hid in the forests and in the mountains and learned how to fight. If we had the skills then that we do now, there would be no Khadora. That is why no Chula will give up another grain of land to Khadora. Once they start to take our land, nothing will stop them but death.”
The talk continued well into the night and Marak and Fisher were given a hut to rest in until morning.
* * *
Lord Quavry stood on the mansion porch watching his returning soldiers. Marshal Yenga dismounted and ordered the men dismissed.
“Well?” questioned Lord Quavry as his Marshal mounted the steps to the porch. “How did it go?”
“It didn’t go,” growled Marshal Yenga. “There was nothing in the field except women and children. Tachora promised the field would be guarded.”
“You didn’t attack!” screamed Lord Quavry. “I gave you orders to attack that field.”
“As I said,” reiterated Marshal Yenga, “there were no Situ soldiers. Did you expect my men to murder a bunch of women and children?”
“I expected you to follow your orders,” howled Lord Quavry. “You are not to make the decision about which battles you will fight. Your actions will ruin me. Get your men back out there and kill those Situ and do it now.”
“My men are trained soldiers, Lord Quavry,” Marshal Yenga declared. “They always stand ready to fight and die for the Sorgan Clan, but I will not order them to massacre innocents. If you wish, I will send them to crush the entire Situ garrison. They are well trained and ready for the task and . . . ”
“You insolent whelp,” screamed Lord Quavry. “I said to take your men and kill everyone in that field and that is what you will do. Now, move your men out.”
“I can not order my men to kill women and children,” repeated Marshal Yenga.
“You are refusing a direct order?” yelled Lord Quavry. “The message has already been sent to the capital. We must strike now. Fardale must be provoked into attacking us today. You have received my direct order, Marshal Yenga. You are under the Vows of Service to this Clan and I will invoke my rights if you refuse, Marshal. Get your men back to that field and do your job.”
“I can not and will not order my men to kill innocents,” confirmed Marshal Yenga.
Lord Quavry reached up and slapped Yenga across the face. “Lectain Meltord,” shouted Lord Quavry.
A soldier sporting the plume of a Lectain in the Sorgan Clan stepped smartly forward. “Yes, Lord Quavry,” he saluted.
“You are the new Marshal of the Sorgan Clan, Meltord,” declared Lord Quavry. “This . . . this Chula chip before me is now a slave. Throw him in the slave compound. If he tries to escape he is to be killed. Then get your men back to that field and kill everyone there.”
“Yes, Lord Quavry,” saluted the new Marshal.
Yenga looked in disgust at his former Lectain and marched voluntarily to the slave compound. He had never liked Meltord nor did he approve of his being a Lectain, but Lord Quavry had demanded the promotion of his favored cousin. Yenga wished he had objected more strenuously at the time.
Meltord plucked Yenga’s helmet off his head as he shoved him into the slave compound. “I always knew you didn’t have the stomach for battle,” snarled Meltord. “Frightened off by a bunch of women and children.”
Yenga let the taunts fall on deaf ears. He had made his decision and he would make it again if need be. Yenga had fought in battles before Meltord was old enough to join the Army and he had never stooped to killing innocents to win his battles. He trained his men well and had a superb understanding of strategy and tactics. He had little doubt that his men could defeat Fardale outright without such disgusting ploys. After his anger was played out, Yenga began to weep for his men, as well as for the innocents they were about to kill. He knew his men could not make the decision he had just made, but he also knew that a lot of arrows would be wasted this morning. His men were excellent shots, . . . when they wanted to be.
Lord Quavry watched as Marshal Meltord formed his men back into columns. He still shook with anger towards Yenga as he watched the columns ride out towards the Situ border.
Marshal Meltord smiled gleefully as he issued orders to his men to fan out and form a line. The men were reacting slowly, but Meltord did not notice. He sat high on his horse and gazed out over the Situ field while his men moved forward. He grinned when he scanned the horizon and could not see a single Situ soldier. Marshal Meltord shouted the order to commence firing and the women and children in the field looked towards the woods with surprised faces.
The arrows flew in great masses of arcs and fell on the screaming innocents. Most of the arrows failed to hit a target and plummeted into the soil, but Marshal Meltord laughed giddily as the bodies fell to the ground. In seconds it was over and screams rent the air. The woods were silent except for the cackle of the Sorgan Marshal. He watched eagerly to see if any wounded tried to crawl to safety. One elderly woman sat up and stared at the mounted Sorgan in disbelief.
Marshal Meltord drew his sword and charged into the field to end the impudent woman’s staring. He drove his horse towards the woman and raised his sword high. With a shout of triumph he swung his sword clear through the woman’s neck. As her head rolled along the soil of the field, he heard another woman scream. He pivoted his horse and saw a younger woman on her knees with the body of a child before her. Marshal Meltord again raised his sword high and yelled as he charged the young woman.
As Marshal Meltord started his downward swing his mouth opened in shock and he tumbled from his horse. His body hit the ground and his lifeless eyes stared at the young woman. The woman rose and retrieved her pitchfork from the Sorgan’s chest. Her eyes opened wide in astonishment when she saw the three arrows protruding from the man’s back. She looked towards the forest and saw the retreating line of Sorgan soldiers heading back towards their own territory. The woman threw the pitchfork down and began the search for survivors.
Chapter 12
Exposure
Lord Marak and Fisher rode tigers back from the Kywara village and dismounted well away from the walls of Fardale. Quietly, the two black clad men walked towards the estate. Marak was the first to notice the lack of men upon the wall and he broke into a run. As he ran through the main gate he saw the large crowd assembled in the courtyard. He pushed his way through the crowd and came to a halt in the center, where the bodies of thirteen women and children were stretched out on the ground. He looked around quickly and spotted Lectain Zorkil approaching.
“Lord Marak,” greeted Lectain Zorkil, “we looked everywhere for you. The field on the border of Watula Valley was attacked by Sorgans earlier this morning. Thirteen are dead and twice that number are wounded. I posted a Corte at the border and gave instructions for the rest of the men to prepare for battle. What are your instructions?”
Lord Marak could smell revenge in the air over the courtyard and gazed at the faces of sadness and hatred surrounding him. An unprovoked attack was not usual in Khadora, but it was not without precedent, either. One thing was for sure, Lord Quavry would be ready for retaliation by the Situ.
“Recall the men from the border,” ordered Lord Marak. “I want everyone in Fardale inside the walls immediately with the exception of Tagoro’s Corte. I want Cortain Tagoro’s men to hide in the woods to the West. He is to remain hidden and avoid any confrontation until he sees a flaming arrow from the walls. If we send the signal, he will attack the forces outside the walls, trapping them between himself and us. After everyone is inside except Tagoro’s men, seal the estate. Nobody comes in or leaves without express permission from me. As soon as you have issued the orders, assemble the Council of Advisors in the Meeting Chamber.”