“The emissary claims!” exclaimed Lord Ridak. “Who is he to determine internal Situ affairs?”
“He is the representative of the Lords Council,” corrected Lord Marshal Grefon. “If you try to remove Marak and are unsuccessful, the Lords Council may side with him in any disputes. I know of no precedent for the Lords Council to take up with a sworn clansman, but I do not think it would be wise to test their power.”
“What condition is Fardale in?” quizzed Lord Ridak.
“They are actually going to be able to fulfill their contracts,” surmised Lord Marshal Grefon. “I do not understand how Marak managed it, but Fardale’s watula is as healthy and bountiful as the Sorgan crop.”
“Then Marak has served his purpose,” concluded Lord Ridak. “Recall him at once and I will deal with him.”
“You haven’t been listening,” sighed Lord Marshal Grefon. “You have no control over Fardale. The only person out there that you have any control over is Marak and he will not cooperate with you.”
“What are you talking about?” stormed Lord Ridak. “I made Marak Lord of Fardale and I can remove him. If the document I gave to you is not sufficient, I will have another drafted with greater powers.”
“There is no such document that you could draft,” admitted Lord Marshal Grefon. “The pronouncement you signed to put Marak in power gives him absolute control over Fardale. You have only one sworn clansman in Fardale and that is Lord Marak.”
“But you drafted that pronouncement,” protested Lord Ridak. “What was going through your head when you specified that clause?”
“Marak pressed for it based upon your words in the meeting before its drafting,” explained Lord Marshal Grefon. “I could not put you in the position of going back on your word.”
Lord Ridak clenched his fist and slammed it down on the table, making the Lord Marshal blink at the seldom displayed fury which had vaulted Lord Ridak into his leadership position in the Situ Clan. “I want Marak’s body delivered to me now,” ordered Lord Ridak. “You suggested him for the position. You deliver his body.”
“We can hardly attack our own estate,” reminded Lord Marshal Grefon, “especially after the emissary from the Lords Council has seen the pronouncement. There is a way that we can profit greatly from Marak’s position, though.”
“Another of your schemes?” snipped Lord Ridak. “I truly hope for your sake that this one is better than your last. What is it?”
“We can allow others to do our work for us,” smiled Lord Marshal Grefon. “Marshal Tingo of Woodville was in Fardale when I showed up. The Ragatha Clan is nervous about Marak’s potential for cutting them off from the outside. I think that the Ragatha Clan could eliminate our problem for us.”
“Woodville’s Army is not much larger than Fardale’s,” stated Lord Ridak. “Even if we could get them to attack, it would be an even match and you have told me that Marak is an able strategist.”
“If Marak was facing only Woodville that might be true,” chuckled Lord Marshal Grefon, “but what if he was facing the entire Ragatha Clan?”
“Lord Sevrin would not dare to bring his forces against Fardale,” protested Lord Ridak. “He knows that he would be faced by the entire Situ Clan.”
“Ah, but would he?” posed Lord Marshal Grefon. “I indicated to Marshal Tingo that Lituk Valley would not raise a hand to protect Lord Marak.”
“I fail to share your jubilant mood regarding our giving Fardale to the Ragatha Clan,” scolded Lord Ridak. “At least, with Marak in control we will get Fardale back when he dies, an event which you will precipitate immediately.”
“You miss the obvious,” smiled Lord Marshal Grefon. “I never promised that we would let the Ragatha Clan keep Fardale. I merely indicated that we would not support Lord Marak. Let Lord Sevrin bring his Army to Fardale and remove Lord Marak from power. We would then be entirely justified in attacking the Ragatha Clan with our full fury. With Lord Sevrin’s Army all in one place, his defeat would double the size of your Situ holdings. We would not have to push out our borders at Raven’s Point to expand.”
The first hint of a smile on Lord Ridak’s lips appeared. “My holdings would be impressive,” Lord Ridak agreed. “Lord Sevrin has never been an ally of mine in the Assembly of Lords and I certainly would not miss him. Do you think you can get him to take the bait?”
“I think that is a distinct possibility,” chuckled Lord Marshal Grefon. “His Army is fast approaching Fardale as we speak. His entire Army is only days away from attacking Fardale and ridding us of Lord Marak.”
“Only days away?” exclaimed Lord Ridak. “We will never get our forces together in time. How long have you known about this?”
“Do not worry,” smiled Lord Marshal Grefon. “We do not need to have our Army ready to help Lord Marak. We will crush the Ragatha Clan as they leave Fardale to go back home. That is why I took so long getting back from Fardale. I have already visited our other estates and informed them to be ready to join with us for the attack. Lord Sevrin will spend at least a week in Fardale before he returns to his own estates. As soon as the battle is over, I will send word to our other Marshals and we will position ourselves to finish off the Ragatha Clan.”
“And if Fardale’s crops are destroyed in the battle,” nodded Lord Ridak, “we can blame the Ragatha Clan. Yes, our Lord Marak is finally going to do something good for the Situ Clan. He is going to die in order to double my holdings. An excellent plan, Lord Marshal. Make sure nothing goes wrong with it.”
“What could possibly go wrong?” smiled Lord Marshal Grefon. “I will even take over the Fardale estate and restore it to prosperity when all of this is over. Then you will have a faithful Lord governing it and not have to spend any more time worrying about it.”
Lord Ridak fixed his wry gaze on Lord Marshal Grefon and eventually nodded. “I think that will be acceptable, Lord Marshal,” admitted Lord Ridak. “First, you will make sure that we are victorious. Afterwards, we will discuss your retirement as Lord Marshal of the Situ Clan.”
Chapter 20
Night Star
Lord Marak looked up and smiled as the Sunnu Priest was shown into his study. Lord Marak nodded to the guard indicating that he should close the door as he left.
“You look tired, my son,” smiled Fisher.
“It has been a long week,” replied Lord Marak. “You don’t look like you’ve had much rest, either, Fisher. What is happening out there?”
“Lord Sevrin and his Ragatha Clan Army are within a day's march of Fardale. I would expect the fun to begin soon. I couldn’t help noticing that your crops have not been harvested. Didn’t I give you enough notice?”
“Your notice was sufficient for me to accomplish the tasks which are necessary to welcome our Ragatha visitors,” answered Lord Marak. “All of my laborers and craftsmen have been busy with other endeavors. I felt it necessary to change some of Fardale’s landscape. Lord Sevrin will not be amused. If everything goes well, the crops will not be harmed.”
“I hope you are not planning on help from Lord Ridak,” mentioned Fisher while adjusting his priestly robe. “His Army is not mobilizing to aid you.”
“I sent a runner last week,” mused Lord Marak. “He has not returned and that troubles me more than the lack of help from Lord Ridak.”
“If your runner was Cortain Rybak,” Fisher sighed, “don’t expect him back . . . ever. I saw him arrive at Lituk Valley. He was seized on the mansion steps by Lord Marshal Grefon. He was not treated well and I would not hold out hope of seeing him alive.”
Fury filled Lord Marak’s face as he hurled his mug across the room. He rose and paced back and forth across his study floor. The guard stationed in his sitting room cracked the door open and peered in. “Is everything all right, My Lord?” the guard asked.
Lord Marak whirled and fixed the guard with a glare. “No, everything is not all right,” he declared. “Tell Seneschal Pito that I want him to begin on the uniforms immediately. Every person not directly involved with the military effort is to participate.”