“That’s funny,” Kasa remarked, “that is the same thing Fisher says, but, of course, he is half Chula. What do you want with all of these mages? We really don’t even need as many as we have now. I’ve heard that there is so little work for them that they go off on a picnic every afternoon for a couple of hours. Surely, you can trust me to find a better investment for your money.”
Lord Marak was pleased that his Bursar had not found out about his mage training sessions yet. He did not need to keep it secret from Kasa, but her knowledge of things in Fardale was a useful gauge of what was still secret and what was not. If Kasa did not know something was going on, Marak could feel comfortable that his enemies did not know, either.
“I’ll make you a deal,” laughed Lord Marak. “You don’t limit my spending on mages and I’ll allow you to start buying grain contracts.”
“Who am I to argue with My Lord?” chuckled Bursar Kasa. “You have a deal.”
“Excuse me, Lord Marak,” came a voice from the doorway, “but there is a merchant here who wishes to talk directly with you.”
Lord Marak was about to brush the merchant off when Bursar Kasa interrupted. “Send him right in,” she decided.
Marak shook his head and wondered what the Lords Council would say if he made Kasa a Lord, well, actually, a Lady. He dropped the thought entirely when the merchant entered. Marak had never seen anyone dress as gaudily as the merchant and wondered whether the man’s goods were equally in poor taste. Bursar Kasa took one look at the merchant and decided that she had better things to do.
“I think I will go work on my favorite project,” she whispered as she left the room.
The merchant strode in and sat in the chair just vacated by the Bursar. “My Lord,” drawled the gaudy merchant, “I have some merchandise made especially for you. It is so special that I did not stop until I reached your mansion. Why, it has your name written all over it.”
Lord Marak shook his head and mentally promised to get even with Kasa for inviting this merchant into his study. He looked up, puzzled, as he saw the merchant get up and close the door. “Just what do you think you are doing?” Lord Marak spat out. His senses were immediately alert and he found his hand on one of his belt knives.
“I’m affording us a little privacy,” declared the merchant with an entirely different voice, one which Lord Marak recognized.
“Fisher?” Lord Marak whispered. “Is that you?”
“I can see that I am going to have to start using a code word just to get in to see you,” Fisher chuckled. “You were about to throw me out, weren’t you?”
“Worse than that,” Marak laughed. “I wasn’t even going to let you in. Where have you been? You disappear as quickly as you appear.”
“I have been out shopping for you, My Lord,” bowed the merchant. “I have brought you some treasures. My wagons are loaded to overflowing.”
“And what goodies have you been spending my money on?” chuckled Lord Marak.
“I have procured enough cloth to outfit an army,” boasted Fisher, “a blacksuited army. I also have wagons loaded with mages.”
“Mages?” beamed Lord Marak. “Then you have done well, my friend. How many mages?”
“I have purchased or arranged to purchase over six hundred mages,” declared Fisher. “But, alas, I have only brought the mages from one estate with me, though. They take up much more room than bolts of cloth. And how they eat!”
“This is exciting, Fisher!” exclaimed Lord Marak. “You must show me. Which estate was fool enough to get rid of their mages?”
Lord Marak rose and headed for the door while Fisher answered. “Most of the estates are more than willing to part with their mages, My Lord, but one had an especially good crop. I believe the name of the estate was Lituk Valley.”
Lord Marak stopped short with the open door in his hand. He gently closed the door as he stepped back into his study. “Are you serious?” he asked. “Is she one of them?”
Fisher grinned broadly as he nodded. “She is, My Lord,” he promised. “I have not told any of them where I was taking them, so she does not know you are here.”
“Does Lord Ridak know?” Lord Marak asked. “I just threw Lord Marshal Grefon out of Fardale because he threatened to use her against me. Oh, if you could have been here a day sooner. I have sowed the seeds of a war over her.”
“I am sorry, Lord Marak,” Fisher replied solemnly. “We left Lituk Valley the same time he did. I am sure he noticed your mother getting into the wagon, but nobody knew where the mages were going. In fact, Lord Ridak demanded that he not be told, so he would not be able to answer your questions should you ever ask.”
“He saw her leaving?” mused Marak. “Then, he was just trying to provoke me. He wants the Situ to crush me so he can have Fardale for himself. There will be a war with the Situ no matter what I do.”
“I’m afraid that is inevitable,” sighed Fisher. “You were never meant to succeed out here, you were meant to die trying. Remember one thing about Khadora, my friend, there are no Lords whom you can trust. There are only Lords you can control or conquer. Go, tend to your mother. We can talk later.”
Lord Marak nodded and embraced his friend and then ran out of the mansion to the waiting wagons. The mages were all out of the wagons stretching their cramped muscles. Glenda saw Marak right away, but she kept looking towards the surrounding troops as if she was afraid they would beat her for straying too far from the wagons. Marak ran over and picked her up and twirled her around.
“There is nobody here to fear, Mother,” he exclaimed as he kissed her. “I am the Lord of Fardale and no one will harm you or anyone else. Come into my mansion and bring the others. You shall dine as you have not dined in years.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she hugged her son. Marak saw the other mages, most of whom were slaves, looking around the estate for the slave compound and figured it was time to end their fears.
“Mages of Lituk Valley,” Lord Marak shouted, “I am Lord Marak of Fardale and I welcome you. I know you are tired, frightened and hungry and we will alleviate all three conditions shortly. First, let me tell those of you who were slaves at Lituk Valley that you are no longer slaves. Fardale places a very high value on your talents and we invite you to experiment with your abilities. We do have mages here that are trained to help you with any stumbling blocks you may have with your abilities. Secondly, I will order a feast to ease your immediate hunger. As for continued hunger, there is no such thing in Fardale. You will always have more food than you can eat. As for accommodations, we have new facilities waiting for you and more will be built as the year progresses. Now, all of you come into the mansion and get cleaned up for a feast.”
Many of the mages looked around in astonishment and others laughed and hugged each other. Lord Marak did not notice any of them except his mother. He gently took her by the hand and led her into the mansion. Seneschal Pito had observed the speech and was already issuing instructions to the household staff to make ready for a feast. People ran everywhere as they rushed to make Lord Marak’s words ring true. Guest rooms were opened up so the mages could freshen up, change, or just rest. One of the Visiting Lords suites was set up for Lord Marak’s mother as her permanent residence.
“This is going to take some time to get used to,” Glenda said with tears still in her eyes.
“You will be amazed at how quickly you will adjust,” laughed Lord Marak. “We are doing some exciting things with our mages, Mother, and I want to get you and your friends involved as soon as possible.”