“I already own Woodville,” answered Lord Marak. “You have attacked Fardale without provocation. Only your complete surrender will satisfy me. I would prefer it if the surrender was bloodless, but I am determined to have it, in any event.”
“You speak a falsehood,” accused Lord Sevrin. “We have provocation. You have revoked an agreement made in good faith with your predecessor. I am willing to put this matter before the Lords Council and let them decide. There is no need for bloodshed. My army will camp here and await an emissary.”
“You have been misinformed,” corrected Lord Marak. “Fardale has not revoked the agreement, nor have we attempted to stop Lord Zawbry from using Fardale land for transit. Lord Zawbry saw an opportunity to seize my land and took it. Unfortunately, Lord Zawbry is no longer available to explain the situation to you, but I do have Marshal Tingo available.”
Marshal Tingo stepped forward and confirmed Lord Marak’s words. Lord Marshal Orteka fixed Lord Sevrin with his eyes and shook his head. “I now believe the devious circumstances that have brought us together out here on the battlefield,” conceded Lord Sevrin, “but I still have a problem with your demands. Your own Situ brothers had foreknowledge of our intentions to attack Fardale. I will not submit my people to their rule. They are no better than Lord Zawbry and they deserve his fate. You ask something of me, Lord Marak, that I can not give you. Better my people should die than to be ruled by Lords without honor. Let your arrows fly.”
“I have not made demands that are onerous to you, Lord Sevrin,” insisted Lord Marak. “I do not propose joining you to the Situ Clan. You will continue to rule the Ragatha estates with the exception of Woodville, which will be mine. I will demand Vows of Service from every Ragatha clansman including yourself, but the Vows will be given to me, not the Situ Clan.”
“But you are a Situ,” protested Lord Sevrin. “If Lord Ridak can control you, he controls everyone whom you control.”
“Lord Ridak has no control over me,” declared Lord Marak. “I am Lord Marak of the Torak Clan and you have heard me state so. Lord Ridak is no better than Lord Zawbry and he does deserve the same fate. I intend to see that he receives it.”
Lord Sevrin and Lord Marshal Orteka whispered between themselves for a few moments before responding. “A Vow of Service to you,” Lord Sevrin asked, “makes the Lord of the Ragatha Clan your subject. Do you plan to exercise control over the Ragatha Clan?”
“I do,” admitted Lord Marak. “I do not intend to manage your estates, Lord Sevrin, but I do plan to change some of the ways you operate. I will expect you to utilize your expertise to enact my reforms. I believe that you will find life actually better for yourself and your subjects after my reforms and I will try to give you as much control over the Ragatha Clan as I can. You will remain a separate Clan and you will retain your seat in the Assembly of Lords. I have similar arrangements with the Sorgan Clan and the Litari Clan and it is working quite well. Do you accept?”
Lord Sevrin turned and reviewed his mighty Army. He stood silent for a long time as he balanced the thought of being subject to Lord Marak’s control versus the death of his men. In the end, he realized that Lord Marak would rule the Ragatha Clan in either event.
“I accept, Lord Marak,” Lord Sevrin finally replied.
Chapter 22
Sword of Torak
Fardale was overcrowded with the Ragatha soldiers. Lord Marak had dispatched one thousand of the red and yellow soldiers to Woodville, but the other fifteen hundred had to erect tents and the Fardale estate resembled the overflow area during the festival days. After the initial confusion, a circus-like atmosphere developed and the Ragatha soldiers mixed freely with the people of Fardale. Some of the Ragatha soldiers wielded musical instruments and the children of Fardale hung around the encampment and ran errands for the visiting soldiers. The ultimate prize for performing an especially hard chore was a pair of the red and yellow feathers which symbolized the Ragatha Clan.
Yenga, who had finally accepted the title of Lord Marshal of the Torak Clan, hosted the other Marshals. Marshal Tingo was told that he would remain the Marshal of Woodville and would be reporting directly to Lord Marshal Yenga. Lord Marshal Orteka probed Yenga about the use of magic as a battlefield weapon and continually asked questions about the trenches and wind currents which were employed against him. Lord Marshal Yenga freely discussed Lord Marak’s fighting techniques and set up demonstrations for the visiting Ragatha soldiers.
Lord Marak spent a great deal of time with Lord Sevrin. The Lord of the Ragatha Clan adapted quickly to his new status after Lord Marak discussed the reforms he wanted to make. Lord Sevrin actually became enthusiastic about the reforms when he observed the former slaves of Fardale working and participating in all manner of Clan life. Like most Khadoran Lords, Lord Sevrin had been taught the necessity of slavery, but unlike most of the other Lords, he did not enjoy enslaving people.
The evening after the battle, Lord Marak lay awake in his bed staring at the ceiling. He should have been very content with his stunning victory, but the problems still facing him rolled through his mind. Foremost on his mind was Cortain Rybak. He must devise a plan to get Rybak free of Lituk Valley, but short of a full-scale confrontation, no plan emerged. He also needed to make a trip to the Ragatha estates to receive his Vows of Service and find a new Lord for Woodville.
There was also Lord Ridak’s reaction to worry about. Lord Marak learned of Lord Marshal Grefon’s assurances that the Situ would stay out of the battle. Lord Marak no longer had any qualms about raising his Torak banner over Fardale and Woodville, but Lord Ridak would not accept the loss of Fardale easily. There were times in history when a Clan Lord did not fight to keep one of his estates, but Lord Marak had never heard of one where the Lord Marshal guaranteed in advance that the Clan would not respond. It was now clear to everyone involved that Lord Ridak was through with Lord Marak.
Lord Marak jumped at the sound of a creaking board and sprang out of bed, grabbing his sword from the stand next to the bed as he rolled across the floor. Lord Marak saw a tall man in the doorway holding a wicked, sinuous sword in his hand and prepared to attack.
“Perhaps my manners could be better,” whispered the voice from the doorway, “but your house appears to be full of people I would rather not meet.”
Lord Marak eased his posture and lowered his sword as he recognized the voice. “If this was a test of my reflexes,” sighed Lord Marak, “rest assured you have eased a few years off my life.”
“My apologies,” chuckled Tmundo. “I wanted to congratulate you on your victories today. You do not find time to visit anymore.”
“I would like to,” answered Lord Marak, “but life is so busy these days. Sometimes I yearn for the simple days of a soldier, but when I do, I think of my mother as a slave again.”
“An effective remedy for such thoughts . . . ,” smiled Tmundo as Lord Marak lit a candle. “I have brought something which belongs to you.”
Lord Marak turned and saw Tmundo holding out the sinuous sword to him. “This is the Sword of Torak,” declared Tmundo. “Is it a sword worthy of a warrior . . . and you are a warrior worthy of it. Use it as the symbol of the Torak Clan. Make it synonymous with freedom and honor.”
Lord Marak hefted the wicked-looking sword and admired the craftsmanship. “You honor me with your gift, Leader of the Kywara,” accepted Lord Marak. “Why do I get the feeling that there is more to the meaning of Torak than you are telling me?”
“When you visit next,” offered Tmundo, “I will explain the significance of Torak to you. Until then, trust in your instincts. You will know what to do and when to do it.”