“Oh?” Premer Cardijja responded with interest. “Is this new place around here?”
“Not here,” Bakhai shook his head exaggeratedly. “She chased me for many days. Many times I thought I had escaped from her, but always she came back.”
“Come and look at this map, Bakhai,” urged Cardijja. “Point to where you were exploring when she first chased you.”
Bakhai walked over to the map and studied it. He was amazed at the lack of detail on the map. He noted freshly drawn lines that had been added, but the land east of the mountains was an empty void. He quickly realized that the Motangans had no idea where they were heading. They were drawing the map as they went.
“Bakhai, does not understand the pictures,” the lad shrugged. He watched the premer sigh with disappointment. Bakhai smiled broadly and added, “I can show you the way.”
Premer Cardijja grinned with success as he turned and laid a hand gently on Bakhai’s shoulder.
“And so you shall,” smiled the premer. “Luggar, arrange for a mat to be brought in here. Bakhai will be staying with me.”
“Is that wise?” General Luggar said softly as Bakhai went to the other table and sampled some more food. “He may be just a boy, but he is not that young. His physical growth has certainly outpaced his mind, but you are foolish to dismiss a danger to your person. Let him sleep outside.”
Premer Cardijja turned and watched Bakhai closely. The lad appeared to be interested in nothing but the free food, still the general had a valid concern.
“Very well,” nodded Premer Cardijja. “Bakhai will sleep outside the tent, but I do not want him bullied by the soldiers. He is to have freedom of the camp, but he is not to be allowed to leave it. Only if he tries to leave are the soldiers to bother him. Is that clear?”
“Perfectly,” nodded General Luggar. “Do you really think that he can lead us to the lost city? He has admitted to not knowing where it is.”
“The elf was trying to kill him for some reason,” offered the premer. “It is said that the elves protected the ancient city of Angragar, yet there has been no record from our spies that any elves still existed here in Fakara. I think the lad stumbled onto something that he wasn’t supposed to, and the elves were trying to preserve their secret. In any event, we have nothing to lose. We are tasked to map this country and find Angragar. As long as he leads us further eastward, we have paid nothing for his information. I think it is worth the gamble. If something better comes along, I may change my mind, but for now I will follow Bakhai.”
The general nodded and left the tent to procure a sleeping mat for the lad. Bakhai dropped the air tunnel he had used to listen to the conversation. He reached forward with both hands and filled them with pieces of dried meat.
“You act like you have not eaten in days,” chuckled Premer Cardijja as he approached Bakhai. “Slow down or your stomach will ache.”
Chapter 28
Vand’s Slaves
Lord Marshal Yenga led his troops through the town of Deep Bend, named for the way the Khadora River turned at a right angle at the base of the Bear Mountains. Just past the town of Deep Bend was Khadora’s largest mining operation. A huge tunnel led deep into the southernmost of the Bear Mountains. Hundreds of other tunnels dotted the side of the mountain, but it was the mammoth tunnel that was Yenga’s destination. He led the Torak army past the docks where massive barges were tied up. The barges were usually used to send ores downriver to Chantise and Khadoratung, but the mine was not in operation at the moment.
Yenga led the cavalry up the steep slope and into the mammoth tunnel. As they entered the mouth of the tunnel, they became momentarily blind, as only torches lighted the tunnel. After a few moments their eyes became accustomed to the dim light, and they proceeded onward. The tunnel emptied into a massive chamber with dozens of tunnels running out of it. Yenga paid no attention to the tunnels, but he grinned broadly at the assembled clans waiting for him. The Ragatha, Litari, and Sorgan clans were already assembled, along with the remnants of the Situ clan. They were all clans that were sworn directly to the Torak.
“At last,” greeted Lord Sevrin of the Ragatha clan. “I was beginning to wonder if you would miss the party.”
“Not a chance, grinned Yenga as he dismounted. “I took a side trip to gather more men.”
“Who else is coming?” asked Lord Shamino of the Sorgan clan.
“The Seth and Disina clans are right behind me,” replied Lord Marshal Yenga.
“And not the Rican clan?” asked Lord Shamino.
“I chose not to ask them,” frowned Yenga.
“A wise move,” Lord Sevrin said softly. “I question even the invite being extended to the Seth and Disina clans.”
“I discussed it with the emperor,” shrugged Yenga. “He feels that they were manipulated by the Ricans. I tend to agree, and we need the extra men.”
“What about protecting the frontier?” asked Lord Shamino.
“The war in the Sakova is over,” smiled Yenga. “We no longer have to fear an attack from the south.” Turning to Lord Sevrin he continued, “Have you posted the mages as requested?”
“Even better than requested,” nodded Lord Sevrin. “We have at least a dozen mages spread out over the peaks of the Bear Mountains. We will be able to watch the progress of the Motangan armies across the river. There is an air hole at the back of this chamber that goes all the way to the surface. There are several mages stationed back there to relay any messages to us.”
“Excellent,” nodded Yenga. “I want hourly reports at the minimum. I also want to know the minute something unusual happens. When our time comes, there will be little of it to spare. Here come Lord Sydar and Lord Woroman. Let’s try to make them feel welcome. Past difficulties need to be put aside.”
* * *
The lords of the Lords’ Council each rode at the head of their armies as they moved north through the forest. At times the peaks of the Three Sisters could be seen towering above the sevemore trees on their right. At other times the road came close to the roaring Khadora River on their left. Nowhere along the road was there a wide expanse of open land.
The Walkan army led the procession. Only the scouts preceded Lord Chenowith and he kept the armies moving at a decent pace. His mind wandered as he thought about the emperor’s plan. He tried to envision what awaited him ahead, but he could not picture it, so he felt great anticipation when the scouts announced that the forest was about to end. Picking up the pace slightly, the Walkan lord rode forward. When he came to the edge of the forest, he halted his horse. The armies began to slow behind him, and he moved to one side and waved them onward.
Standing before the Khadoran armies was a massive cleared area. The forest had been felled in a wide swath from the base of the Three Sisters to the banks of the Khadora River. Jutting across this wide-open area was a huge earthen berm. There were three wide earthen ramps leading over the berm. The Walkan lord shook his head and stared in amazement. The defensive works were huge and must have consumed thousands of men for an extremely long period of time. He could not believe that he it had been accomplished without anyone knowing about it.
“Incredible,” commented Lord Patel as he halted alongside Lord Chenowith. “I know Marak said that he had a berm created, but I never imagined anything of this scope. How did he do it?”
“An excellent question,” replied Lord Chenowith, “seeing as we came along this road only a month ago. If someone were to ask me how long it would take to construct such a fortification, I would have said years. The Torak really must explain how he accomplished this.”
“With magic no doubt,” remarked Lord Kiamesh as he halted beside the other two lords. “It is magnificent. I can well understand the Torak’s desire to meet the Motangans here. They have a narrow path through the woods, which will clump them all up, and then this. They will not even be able to build siege engines without hampering the movement of their own troops. It is brilliant.”