The marshal held up a jar of brown liquid. He put the jar on a table and glared at Andretti.
“You will tell me all that you know,” Marshal Chack declared. “You will tell me now, or I will leave you here with Fisher.”
“You can’t do that,” trembled Andretti. “The Emperor will have your head.”
“And why is that?” asked the marshal.
“Because he works for Mirakotto,” answered Lord Marak. “It all makes sense now. The first attack was to kill Bagora and have me blamed for it. The only problem is this incompetent fool killed Lord Woton instead. That must have really riled Mirakotto. Woton was one his boys.”
“Are you suggesting that Emperor Mirakotto knows what this fool has been doing?” questioned the marshal.
“Isn’t it obvious?” retorted Fisher.
“How is it that you know each other?” asked the marshal.
“Andretti is an old acquaintance. He is the man who killed my family,” Fisher said with hatred in his voice. “I vowed to kill him and the lord that ordered the deaths.”
“Are you threatening the Emperor?” asked Marshal Chack.
“Are you protecting the man who ordered the death of Emperor Bagora, Marshal?” countered Fisher.
“Marshal,” pleaded Andretti, “I will tell you everything, but you must promise to get me out of here.”
“Tell me,” demanded the marshal.
“Get me out first,” countered Andretti.
“I am a man of my word,” scowled Marshal Chack. “Confess now if you ever want to leave this room.”
“Alright,” nodded Andretti as he began sweating. “I did kill Bagora. Mirakotto ordered it. All I did was follow orders. Nothing more.”
“And Woton?” questioned the marshal.
“Marak is right,” answered Andretti. “Bagora was meant to die and the blame put on Marak. I stole the star from his room while they ate. Mirakotto was furious with me for killing Lord Woton.”
“And what about the attempts on Lord Marak,” inquired the marshal.
“This was the third,” confessed Andretti. “The first was in the marketplace. I was sure that I had knifed him that day. I do not understand how he survived. I also tried again right after he bought that house. He started walking to the palace with only two guards, but by the time he came near my hiding place, nearly a whole squad had come out of nowhere and surrounded him.”
“How did you get into Bagora’s room?” asked the marshal.
“I had put a rope from his balcony during the day,” answered Andretti. “I also used a wire so I could unlock the doors to the balcony. I just waited downstairs until he was asleep and then climbed up. It was easy.”
Marshal Chack breathed deeply as rage raced through him. He wanted to step forward and strangle Andretti, but he had given his word. Now he wondered what he was to do with the assassin. Mirakotto would not allow him to be killed. Worse, if Mirakotto learned that Andretti had confessed, Chack’s life would be in danger. It would be much easier to get a new marshal than to trust the one he already had. The marshal walked into the main room of the Torak quarters as he pondered what to do.
Suddenly, he heard a scream from the barracks room. He raced in to see the poisoned knife protruding from Andretti’s neck. Fisher rose and wiped the blood off his hands. The marshal stared questioningly at Fisher.
“You had given your word to take him out of here,” shrugged Fisher. “This fool has already destroyed my life and Bagora’s. He has tried to kill Lord Marak. I could not let him destroy yours, too. Mirakotto would surely have you killed if you arrested Andretti. He cannot afford for anyone to know he had Bagora killed.”
“And what am I supposed to do now?” sighed Chack as he sat on a bunk. “You have just murdered a man in my presence. You admit to being a spy, you have vowed to kill the Emperor, and I now know that I work for a murdering emperor. What am I to do? My life is over no matter what I do.”
“Your life is not over,” declared Lord Marak as he placed a comforting hand on the marshal’s shoulder. “You have done nothing wrong. In fact, all of your actions have been exemplary. Your men have already found the poison in Andretti’s quarters. There is no way to hide the identity of the assassin at this point, but there is no reason for Mirakotto to know that he confessed anything to you. Simply tell him the truth, but only the bare minimum.”
“The bare minimum?” echoed Marshal Chack.
“Yes,” nodded Lord Marak. “Tell him that Andretti tried to assassinate me and failed. State that you had Andretti’s dead body carried out of the Torak quarters. Mirakotto may wonder if Andretti talked before he died, but he will suspect that only I might have the knowledge that we share. My quarters are, after all, supposed to be empty of everyone but myself.”
“I see two problems with your plan, Lord Marak,” sighed the marshal. “Mirakotto will seek your death to make sure that nobody learns what you might know, and I still have in my presence a spy who has threatened to kill the Emperor. I cannot just ignore that.”
“Mirakotto already wants me dead,” Lord Marak pointed out. “Andretti told us as much. As for Fisher, I suggest he leave this palace immediately. You should forbid him reentry. If he cannot get back into the palace, you do not have to fear the threat of Mirakotto’s assassination.”
“I really have nothing to arrest Fisher for other than his threat,” conceded Chack. “His execution of Andretti merely saved my men the effort. Once Andretti had confessed, his life was already forfeit. The problem with Fisher is that I am torn. Part of me wants him to flee, but part of me wishes him success in killing the Emperor. How can I remain as marshal when I feel like this? My life is supposed to be dedicated to protecting the Emperor.”
“Marshal,” Fisher said as he stood, “you are good at what you do. Continue to do it. You serve Khadora, not any one man. I have vowed to kill Mirakotto for what he did to my family, but that vow was made years ago. I have no need to take your skills away from Khadora to satisfy my own selfish desires. I will leave the palace immediately and not look back. I will never return here unless I am asked to. Does that make your decision any easier?”
“It does, Fisher,” nodded the marshal. “I think I can understand what you have gone through. I appreciate you giving up your lifelong quest to spare me, but I still have to live serving under a man who is a murderer. I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Your job does not require you to agree with the Emperor,” Lord Marak said. “All Khadora can ask of any man is to do his best. You have been doing that and will continue to do so. I see no conflict. Let me walk Fisher out of the palace while you get some men to remove the body.”
Marshal Chack nodded distractedly as Lord Marak walked Fisher out of the room. He marched him out of the Imperial Palace. They walked to the park and sat on a bench.
“What will you do now?” Lord Marak asked Fisher.
“What do you mean?” retorted Fisher. “I will do what I always do.”
“I mean about your vow,” said Lord Marak.
“So did I,” grinned Fisher. “I promised that I would not return to the palace until I was asked to. So I need to get an invitation. I do not think that will be too difficult.”
“You cannot kill the Emperor,” sighed Lord Marak. “Fisher, you have too much good to offer Khadora to throw it all away on the likes of Mirakotto.”
“You speak words of wisdom as you always do,” conceded Fisher. “Are you sure you don’t want to be a shaman?”
“I have enough titles at the moment,” chuckled Lord Marak. “Will you come with me to the Balomar estate?”
“Not right away,” Fisher shook his head. “There is still the matter of General Didyk to pursue. I think he was staying on an estate in the Imperial Valley. I would like to find out which one. It would make StarWind happy.”
“Well try to stay out of trouble,” smiled Lord Marak. “I still have much for you to do before this is all done. How did you just happen to be there when he attacked me?”