Less than an hour later HawkShadow awakened to shouts from the encampment. The whole camp was aroused before dawn as men awoke to find their tails missing. Some Imperial Guards were cursing loudly while others were laughing. He heard more than one smack as embarrassed soldiers resorted to violence on those who were laughing. Chaos ruled the Imperial Guard encampment.
It did not take long for the officers to chime in. HawkShadow heard the shouted orders from the safety of his hollow. For over an hour the Imperial Guards searched the camp in an attempt to find out how the Sakovan raiders had managed to slip by the sentries. The sentries that were on duty were told that they would be punished for their failure to secure the camp.
Before dawn the officers ordered the camp taken down. The Imperial guards mounted their horses and began crossing the river. It took over two hours for the soldiers to cross the river. HawkShadow waited another full hour before exiting his hiding spot. When he did exit, SkyDancer was there with two chokas.
“How did it go?” SkyDancer asked. “Did you get your fifty?”
“Only forty-three,” frowned HawkShadow. “I ran out of time.”
“Forty-three should be enough to rattle them,” smiled SkyDancer.
“They are rattled,” declared HawkShadow. “They broke camp before dawn. An added bonus is the punishing of the sentries that were on duty. The soldiers will be quick in their desire to return home if this continues.”
“Then it shall continue,” grinned SkyDancer.
“So it shall,” nodded HawkShadow. “You must do your bit today. I need to catch some sleep.”
“I have a few things planned for them,” declared SkyDancer. “Meet me near Triple Creek when you are refreshed.”
“I will be there before midday,” promised HawkShadow as he mounted one of the chokas. “I am going to move away from this spot to sleep. I don’t want to take a chance on one of them coming back for a look.”
Chapter 15
New Strategy
Emperor Marak stood on the top of the Imperial Palace in Khadoratung. He gazed out over the capital while his mage, Ophia, wove an air tunnel to Fardale. When she was ready she nodded to the Emperor.
“Lord Marshal Yenga,” greeted the Emperor. “I understand there are matters that demand my attention?”
“There are,” replied Yenga. “Things are happening quickly, and I don’t know how to respond to the requests. I felt much better when you were here in Fardale.”
“Much is happening here as well,” replied the Emperor. “I am needed here and cannot return at this time. What are the problems?”
“The first is not a problem,” reported Yenga. “We have received word from the Chula that Rykoma has found a way to revitalize the fields of Fakara. He and the mages you sent from the school in Chantise have managed to plant several dozen watula fields. Rejji has sent farmers to begin tending to them.”
“That is wonderful news,” smiled Marak. “How soon before there is a harvest from them?”
“Rykoma plans to accelerate the growth,” stated Yenga. “The fields will be flourishing by the time he has another hundred fields planted. I think the food problems of Fakara are soon to be nothing more than a memory.”
“I could not ask for better news,” Marak said excitedly. “What are the problems?”
“Lord Shamino has a guest from Omunga,” the Lord Marshal of the Torak clan began. “He is from the city of Zaramilden, and he has come to buy food.”
“An Omungan in Khadora to buy food?” echoed the Emperor. “The situation down there must be worse than I thought. Both nations have long discouraged trade between each other.”
“It gets stranger,” interrupted Yenga. “There is an emissary from Gatong with Lord Sevrin as we speak. They want to buy food from the Ragatha clan. What should I advise the lords to say to these Omungans?”
“I am hesitant to answer that question,” mused Emperor Marak. “I have not had an update from the Sakovans on the situation down there. I thought they were arranging to feed the Omungans.”
“The Omungans and the Sakovans are at war,” Yenga informed the Emperor. “They believe that the Katana was taken over by a mage. They do not think he is Larst any longer.”
“So that is why StarWind was asking the questions that she asked,” sighed Marak. “This is important news. I should have been told sooner. Have we sent ships to Alamar yet?”
“Not yet,” replied Yenga. “Most of our food has been going to the north to estates that were hit by the locust infestation.”
“I heard yesterday that our mages finally have that under control,” the Emperor said. “Those shipments should be able to be halted now.”
“Should I send the ships to Alamar then?” asked Yenga.
“Not yet,” Emperor Marak said after a pause. “I need to talk to Lyra to find out what is going on down there. I will get back to you shortly with instructions.”
“What about these emissaries from Omunga?” pushed Yenga. “They expect a simple answer to their plea for food.”
“Tell Lord Shamino and Lord Sevrin to delay their answers,” instructed the Emperor. “Have them hold a feast for their guests in honor of the historic visits. Make the feasts lavish with an overabundance of food. I want them to be impressed with the wealth and power of Khadora.”
“So it shall be,” agreed Yenga. “I will pass on your words and await your next message.”
The Emperor signaled for Ophia to break the connection.
“Connect me with StarCity,” requested the Emperor.
“I cannot,” frowned Ophia. “I have never been there, nor have I have ever accepted a message from there. I would not know where to end the air tunnel.”
Marak frowned and nodded his head. “Perhaps you could go downstairs and get me a cup of tea?” asked the Emperor. “Fresh tea. I do not want something an hour old.”
“You are trying to get rid of me,” smiled Ophia. “One can only imagine what you would do up here on your own while I was gone.”
“What are you inferring?” Marak asked with concern.
“Many of my fellow mages have been speculating since the discovery of male mages in Khadora,” replied Ophia. “If there is one, cannot there be others? If there are others, could not one be the man who has championed magic in this country? The lord who has spent hours observing his mages in practice with an understanding eye for the problems that we were facing? Am I wrong to suspect that you know perfectly well how to form your own air tunnel?”
Emperor Marak’s eyes narrowed with concern for a moment and then he began laughing.
“I do not know why I am always so surprised when one of you figures this out,” he chuckled. “You are all tremendously intelligent and never fail to notice the slightest aberrations. I will forego the tea.”
Ophia grinned victoriously while Emperor Marak wove his own air tunnel to StarCity. When he made a connection he handed the air tunnel to Ophia.
“You need to know the end points of everyplace that I need to communicate with,” he said to Ophia. “I am not ready to let the world know of my capabilities. We will spend some time up here, and I will help you familiarize yourself with them.”
Ophia nodded gratefully and took control of the air tunnel.
“This is Emperor Marak of Khadora,” he said into the air tunnel. “I need to speak to the Star of Sakova.”
“She is not in StarCity,” replied a Sakovan voice. “She has gone to Alamar.”
“Can you contact her?” asked the Emperor. “I need to speak with her.”
There was a long moment of silence. Marak pictured the mages of StarCity weaving another air tunnel to Alamar. It was several minutes before Lyra’s voice came through the air tunnel.