“We see things slightly differently, Lord Patel,” replied the Torak lord. “Your men were the ones wearing the gray uniforms.”
“What are you talking about?” scowled Lord Patel. “Are you mad?”
There was a noisy commotion in the hallway. Gunta immediately moved to check it out. He returned a moment later with Lord Marshal Orik. He shoved Orik into the room.
“He did not lead his men into battle,” Gunta said as Orik caught his footing and turned to glare at Lord Marak.
“Halman, take the lady away from here,” ordered Lord Marak. “See that she is cared for, but she is to speak to no one.”
Lord Patel’s face turned red, and he started towards Lord Marak. The Torak lord smoothly pulled his sword free from leather and held it to the Nordon lord’s chest.
“You, sir, are remaining here to chat with me,” declared Lord Marak. “Your wife will not be harmed.”
“What are you doing here?” asked Lord Marshal Orik. “You are supposed to be…”
“In Deep Bend?” Lord Marak finished the question. “Perhaps that is where I am supposed to be, but clearly I am not.”
“Then the messages were false?” questioned Orik.
“No,” Lord Marak shook his head. “The messages were correct. My troops have seized the Nordon estate at Deep Bend.”
“That is an act of war!” the Lord Marshal said accusingly. “Are you insane?”
“Hardly,” replied Lord Marak. “Nor am I a fool, in case that was your next question. The Nordon clan repetitively attacked my caravans in an attempt to destroy me. The troops used, which were wearing gray by the way, were yours Lord Marshal, but they were housed at Deep Bend. Do you deny this?”
“I do not have to answer your questions,” spat Orik.
“Quite true,” nodded Lord Marak as he turned his attention to the Nordon lord, “but you do, Lord Patel. Do you deny my accusations?”
“You are stark raving mad, Marak,” scowled Lord Patel. “You have attacked a member of the Lords’ Council. Not only have you attacked my estate at Deep Bend, but you have also entered my very home and accosted me. You have done all of this without provocation. You shall hang in the morning.”
“Without provocation?” taunted Lord Marak. “How dare you say such a thing?”
“Lord Marak,” Lord Marshal Orik said softly, “I am not sure how you and your squad managed to get into this mansion, but you should be preparing to die, not harassing my lord. Take what time you have left and flee for your life. Maybe you can escape to Fakara.”
The door opened and Squad Leader Botal entered. “The estate is secure, Lord Marak,” he stated. “There were unfortunately six deaths.”
“Bury them,” ordered Lord Marak.
“I shall find out if they have families first and let the wives attend to them before burial,” Botal nodded before he exited the room.
“Secured the estate?” howled Orik. “What nonsense is this? Do you play me for some type of fool? And he makes like you only lost six men? Preposterous!”
“You need to listen more closely, Orik,” chided Lord Marak. “My men do not travel with their wives. The six deaths were Nordon casualties.”
“Do you really expect us to believe that your squad defeated our defenses?” Lord Patel said.
“Certainly not,” answered Lord Marak. “I never said that I came with only a squad. That is merely what your spies tell you I am traveling with. I came with two cortes. And if you are expecting your reinforcements to arrive tonight, I have more bad news for you. They have been delayed. They will arrive in the morning.”
“So you will live just a little while longer,” shrugged Lord Patel.
“Then I shall spend my time amusing myself,” smiled Lord Marak. “I will have answers out of you, Lord Patel, or I will kill you. It will not take me until morning to decide whether you live or die. Answer my questions truthfully or you will die. Why did you have your troops attack my caravans?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” lied Lord Patel. “I think you have lost your mind.”
“Tsk, tsk,” taunted Lord Marak. “A member of the Lords’ Council telling a bold faced lie. How unbecoming. You should be aware that your last attack failed. The ambushers are dead with the exception of two prisoners.”
“Prisoners?” echoed Lord Marshal Orik. “You are lying.”
“Am I?” retorted Lord Marak. “How then did I know that you were using Deep Bend to attack me from? How did I know that the troops were yours, Lord Marshal? How did I discover that Lord Patel was present when they received their orders?”
Lord Marshal Orik’s face clouded with concern, but Lord Patel laughed.
“This is the story that you are going to tell the Lords’ Council?” countered Lord Patel. “Some gray warriors attacked your caravans and said that they were my people? That is your excuse for attacking Deep Bend? You have much to learn about politics, Lord Marak. When it comes to your word against mine, yours doesn’t count.”
“So you admit trying to ruin me?” asked Lord Marak. “You see my only problem as proving your treachery? Is that it?”
“Isn’t that enough, Lord Marak?” countered Lord Patel “You have no one but yourself to blame. You are the one who is stirring things up with your calls to abandon our slaves. Did you really expect that we would stand by and let you ruin this country?”
“Lord Patel…” interrupted Lord Marshal Orik.
“You just don’t understand the nature of power, Lord Marak,” Lord Patel continued. “The people who rule Khadora will never stand for your kind. If I hadn’t attacked you, someone else would have. It really doesn’t matter which one of us gets to you first.”
“Lord Patel…” interrupted Lord Marshal Orik.
“Your kind come and go, Lord Marak,” Lord Patel said. “And you are always indignant about it. You just don’t understand. We live because we have slaves. Without them, we would perish.”
“Did you authorize the attacks on my caravans?” Lord Marak loudly asked.
“Yes,” shouted Lord Patel. “Yes, I ordered your precious caravans attacked. I ordered your men to be killed and the wagons burned. Now you know the truth, Marak. What are you going to do about it?”
“I am here to demand restitution,” declared Lord Marak.
“For the Torak clan?’ laughed Lord Patel. “There is no Torak clan, you fool. My armies are headed for Deep Bend as we speak. When they have finished there, they will attack River’s Bend, and then Fardale and Woodville. And for fun on their way home, I have authorized them to destroy Raven’s Point. It is over, Lord Marak. You and your men here are all that is left of the Torak clan. If you run now, maybe you will survive, but I doubt it.”
“I have a different solution in mind,” Lord Marak said threateningly. “You will swear Vows of Service to me, and recall your armies.”
“You are mad,” scowled Lord Patel. “Why would I ever do such a thing?”
“To live,” Lord Marak replied. “If you refuse, I will have little option but to kill you and everyone on this estate. Then I will burn it to the ground to mark the end of the Nordon clan.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” shouted Lord Patel. “You would be hunted down and killed by every clan in Khadora.”
“I don’t think so,” smiled Lord Marak. “If it is just my word against yours, and you are dead, I suspect the Lords’ Council might believe my version of events.”
“They would not believe you even then,” snapped Lord Patel. “There is no love for you on the Lords’ Council. I am not the only member seeking to kill you. They will never believe your word.”
“Then I shall have to present my other witness,” grinned Lord Marak. “A witness that they will believe. He will detail your treachery for everyone to see. The name Nordon will be infamous. Perhaps I should even let you live to witness it. The humiliation will make you wish you were dead.”
“What other witness?” asked Lord Patel.
Lord Marak snapped his fingers, and Gunta went to the door. He opened it and signaled. The Lords’ Council mediator stepped into the room.
“Katzu?” questioned Lord Patel. “What are you doing here?”