The emissary rose and signaled for the Squad Leader of the Imperial troops. “Squad Leader, we need to speak with Marshal Tingo of Woodville, unless you have gathered information on this subject.”
Lord Marak picked up on the meaning of the emissary’s words and realized that the Imperial troops performed more than one task. They were used to gather information for the mediators. This explained their overt friendliness and was a fact which Lord Marak would never forget.
“Lord Marak speaks the truth according to what Marshal Tingo revealed to me,” the Squad Leader reported. “Woodville is now a Torak estate and Marshal Tingo is the Marshal.”
The emissary nodded and the Squad Leader returned to his post. “That certainly is justification of abandonment,” observed the emissary, “but you are still a subject of Lord Ridak’s and, as such, you are subject to the Vows of Service you have sworn. I am afraid that you have merely enlarged the Situ holdings to include Woodville.”
“Not exactly,” warned Lord Marak as he looked into Lord Ridak’s eyes. “I have never sworn Vows of Service to Lord Ridak or anyone else.”
Lord Ridak launched himself to his feet and the Imperial guards stiffened and prepared to intercede. “I will not listen to any more lies,” screamed Lord Ridak. “A man who disavows his own word and steals my lands does not belong in the same room with me.”
The Imperial Squad Leader moved and stood behind Lord Ridak and the emissary stood and indicated that Lord Ridak should sit back down. After Lord Ridak was seated and calm restored, the emissary turned to Lord Marak. “Can you prove your statement?” he asked.
“The important question is whether Lord Ridak can prove that I did,” declared Lord Marak. “As Lord of Fardale, I keep written records of every Vow given. Does Lord Ridak have the same? I arrived in Lituk Valley with my mother when I was six years old, the normal time for swearing. My mother was forced into slavery by Lord Ridak and I was hysterical for days. I was put in the care of Flora, the minder for the household, and she took care of me and comforted me. When I recovered, no one thought about my swearing. It was taken for granted that I had already sworn. Flora was the only person who knew, but she was afraid of Lord Ridak’s wrath if she mentioned it, so she did not. I beg the emissary from the Lords Council to remove this woman from the premises when he leaves. Now that I have disclosed her secret, her life will be forfeit if she is left here.”
The emissary nodded to the Squad Leader and he left the room and returned with Flora. Flora cringed when asked about Lord Marak’s swearing and she pointedly avoided looking at Lord Ridak, but she confirmed Lord Marak’s story in a sobbing voice. The emissary ordered the Squad Leader to remove the woman and pack her belongings.
“This has been a most unusual case,” summarized the emissary. “Without Vows of Service to Lord Ridak, Lord Marak has done nothing wrong. He is legally entitled to the Fardale estate without compensation to Lord Ridak in any manner. He will need to compensate Lord Ridak for the removal of his minder, but I feel his voluntary service in the Situ Army should be sufficient for that compensation. As I have promised, the Lords Council recognizes the Torak Clan and it will be so recorded in the records of the Lords Council. This is my ruling on this matter. As I have said, so shall it be recorded before the Lords Council. This case is closed.”
Chapter 26
Blood Valley
Lord Ridak rose and watched Lord Marak leave with the emissary. As soon as the door the Meeting Chamber closed he turned his wrath on Lord Marshal Grefon. “I want him dead,” ordered Lord Ridak. “You will make sure that he never returns to Fardale alive.”
“We dare not attack him while he is with the Imperial troops,” cautioned Lord Marshal Grefon. “The Lords Council would declare all of the Situ holdings forfeit if we did.”
“The Imperial troops will not escort him home,” shouted Lord Ridak. “You told me he brought an entire Corte of his own men with him. Do you think the Imperial troops will bother escorting him when he has such a large bodyguard?”
“I will see to it,” accepted Lord Marshal Grefon. “What about Fardale?”
“We attack it and take it back,” sneered Lord Ridak. “What do you think we are going to do? You expect me to just let it go? Send the runners immediately. I want every soldier we own amassed to attack Fardale. I not only want Lord Marak dead, but we shall kill every man, woman and child that has sworn to him. No Situ will ever be allowed to swear to another Lord. I don’t want to stop at Fardale, either. We shall continue into Woodville and claim it for the Situ Clan.”
“I am not sure that it is wise to attack him on his home ground,” advised Lord Marshal Grefon. “If he did defeat the Ragatha Clan, he might be able to cause us more casualties than you will find acceptable.”
“I don’t believe for a minute that he defeated the Ragatha Clan,” snorted Lord Ridak. “He may have talked his way into getting his hands on Woodville, but I am sure that he gave up more than he got. His Torak Clan probably owes allegiance to the Ragatha scum.”
“Your plan risks everything to conquer one small estate,” cautioned Lord Marshal Grefon. “We will lose the initiative at Raven’s Point by pursuing Marak.”
“And we will be the laughing stock of the entire country if he is allowed to live,” shouted Lord Ridak. “Follow my orders, Lord Marshal, or you will end up in the slave compound. I can think of a few soldiers who would love to watch you work the fields.”
* * *
“How did it go?” asked Cortain Tagoro.
“We have been recognized as the Torak Clan and the owners of Fardale,” smiled Lord Marak. “We need to move quickly and not directly towards Fardale. I do not think Lord Ridak will wait long before pursuing us.”
“Do you think they will attack Fardale or just come after us?” quizzed the Cortain.
“Both,” answered Lord Marak. “If the Imperial Guards weren’t there, I would be dead already. I hope Lord Marshal Yenga has a reception planned for our visitors. There will not be enough time for trenches in this battle.”
“So, there will be no bloodless victory this time,” sighed Cortain Tagoro.
“No,” affirmed Lord Marak. “A lot of good men are going to die this time. Let us hope that more of them are Situs than Toraks.”
Cortain Tagoro ordered his men to mount up and led the group into the forest away from Lituk Valley. He sent scouts out in each direction to alert him if the enemy drew near. After several hours of riding they stopped to rest and the scouts reported in. Cortain Tagoro received their reports and sent new scouts out before going to Lord Marak.
“They have three Cortes on our tail,” informed Cortain Tagoro. “They have located our campsite from last night and the track we used to leave it. We can not be sure that there are not other Cortes heading directly towards Fardale on the road to get in front of us.”
“I knew Lord Ridak would like to kill me,” sighed Lord Marak, “but his swiftness is surprising. His troops must have left Lituk Valley right after the Imperial troops. I would have suspected Lord Marshal Grefon to proceed more cautiously after losing the last Corte sent towards Fardale, but I saw a lot of new faces in his army. I imagine he has recruited in all of his estates for the planned offensive at Raven’s Point. Now he will use them against us.”
“Should we make for the road and a speedy trip home?” queried Cortain Tagoro.
“No,” answered Lord Marak. “Let’s lead these Cortes around the woods for a while. If we can get the three Cortes to separate, we will attack them individually. If not, we will just be taking the long way home. I am sure that the road will have additional Cortes already on it.”
The Torak Corte ended their rest period and continued their trek through the woods. Periodically, one of the scouts would come in and report to Cortain Tagoro, but contact with the enemy was avoided. Towards nightfall, Tagoro replaced the scouts again and asked to be notified the moment the Situ made camp for the night. Lord Marak suggested a few raids on the Situ camps during the night to make them more cautious the next day. The sun set and darkness came without word of the Situ making camp. Cortain Tagoro sent another scout out to make sure his men were still alive and he returned with the news that the Situ did not appear to even be looking for a campsite.