“Okata really does keep you in the dark,” StarWind shook her head sadly. “If you think that Omunga is going to survive this war, you are sadly mistaken. I came here in an attempt to have your people spared from the destruction. If your troops remained in the city, they would still be alive when the war is over.”
“What preposterous nonsense,” scowled the mayor. “I doubt the Sakovans are capable of capturing a single Omungan city, never mind conquering the whole country. Do you take me for a fool because I helped you at one time?”
“No, Mayor Ferde,” sighed StarWind, “I took you as a leader who would do whatever was necessary to safeguard his people. As for your estimation regarding the capabilities of the Sakovans, all I can say is that I expected more from you. You, of all people, should appreciate what the Sakovans are capable of. You know that every Sakovan will die before he surrenders. The same cannot be said about Omungans.”
“What are you hinting at?” Mayor Ferde asked questioningly. “Is there news that I have not learned of yet?”
“There is,” StarWind smiled thinly. “Omunga is half the country that it used to be. Zaramilden, Duran, and Alamar are now Sakovan cities.”
“What?” gasped the mayor. “What an outlandish thing to say. I cannot believe this.”
“So they haven’t told you yet?” smiled StarWind. “I am not surprised. Why would the Katana boast about his defeats?”
“I had heard that General Romero’s army had returned from Alamar,” admitted the mayor, “but that was because of the disease that inundated the region. The starvation of those people probably brought it about. They were hit long before we were.”
“Actually,” responded StarWind, “the people of the east are well fed. There is no disease there. We supplied their cities with food as we had been doing for Campanil before the Imperial Guards made it impossible to continue. Our mages have also had a hand in ridding their crops of the disease. The fields around Alamar are healthy and bountiful now.”
“All of which I cannot verify,” frowned the mayor. “I suppose that I am to take your word for all of this?”
“You could,” smiled StarWind, “but I suspect that you will not. Send a man to Alamar to see for himself.”
“A single man?” questioned the mayor. “Just one man could be captured and worked on by your mages. I could not believe his report when he returned.”
“Then send two,” shrugged StarWind, “but I would be cautious about sending more. We are in a state of war. A large patrol would be destroyed or captured.”
“I have ways of getting to the truth,” Mayor Ferde said confidently. “Even if what you said is true, it makes little difference to me. Campanil is not equivalent to Duran.”
“No, it isn’t,” conceded the Sakovan spy, “but it must cause you to think about your actions before you jeopardize the lives of the people who depend upon you for their safety.”
“What exactly do you wish me to do?” Mayor Ferde asked with annoyance.
“I want to avoid having your people killed,” answered StarWind. “In a short time, Campanil will be a Sakovan city. The people here will be as precious to us as the people in Alamar are. I am prepared to promise that Campanil will not be attacked if your Imperial Guards do not attack Sakovans.”
“You are asking me to keep my troops out of the war?” inquired the mayor. “How can I justify such a thing?”
“Your troops are meant to protect your people,” explained StarWind. “Use them for that purpose. It is not as if your troops will make a great difference in the coming battles. Use your thousand men to safeguard Campanil from the Sakovans. Let the large armies of Okata battle the Sakovans. Can anyone fault you for such a decision?”
“Actually they are two thousand strong,” replied Mayor Ferde, “but I am beginning to understand where you are coming from. Still, if Okata is attacked, the call for troops from Campanil will be strong. I do not know if I can refuse such a request.”
“At least you are honest about it,” StarWind said. “Do what you must, Mayor Ferde, but I encourage you to rethink the old philosophies of Omunga. The system of Katanas has failed you too many times. Your people and my people can live in peace, but not when you continually choose leaders who are bent on war between us. This war will end in a Sakovan victory. Think about how that affects the people who depend upon you.”
“You are bold to make such a statement so early in the war,” countered the mayor. “Granted you have faith in your fellow countrymen, but the outcome of this war is far from certain.”
StarWind tried to gauge the position of the mayor before continuing. He had appeared to soften somewhat during the meeting, and StarWind felt sure that he would no longer try to arrest her, but keeping Campanil out of the war was pivotal. She decided to push the mayor further in an attempt to guarantee his cooperation.
“We have dealt honestly with each other since we met,” offered StarWind. “Can I trust you with a confidence?”
The mayor’s brow creased as he stared at the Sakovan spy. “You wish me not to repeat what you are about to say?” he asked.
“Not to anyone,” nodded StarWind. “I should not be mentioning it to you, but I respect you and understand that you are trying to do what is best for your people.”
The mayor sat silently for a moment before answering. Finally, he nodded his head in agreement.
“I will keep in confidence what you are about to say,” he promised, “but I will also view it skeptically without the ability to confirm it.”
“Understandable,” replied StarWind. “You are free to attempt to confirm it if you wish. You are only forbidden to declare it as fact or that you heard it from a Sakovan spy.”
“Agreed,” accepted the mayor.
“The Star of Sakova has made many friends since we last met,” StarWind revealed. “If the war goes poorly for the Sakovans, I believe that the Khadorans will certainly come to our aid. I am sure that you are aware that the Khadorans have a new emperor. I have visited with Emperor Marak and accompanied him to Khadoratung. He is strongly allied with the Sakovans. I believe that he already has offered to send armies to assist us, but Lyra has refused. She feels that the Sakovans should solve their own problems, but I can guarantee that she will not rule over the destruction of the Sakova. If the worst comes, she will have to call upon the Khadorans to aid us.”
“Mercy!” gasped the mayor. “I heard rumors of a new emperor up there, but the thought of Khadorans invading Omunga is disturbing. Nothing would arouse the Omungans more than a foreign invasion. Do you realize what the people would do if they learned of this?”
“That is precisely why I demanded your confidence,” nodded StarWind. “I hope it does not come to that, but you now know the source of my confidence on the outcome of this war. Keep your troops at home, Mayor Ferde. The Sakovans will start sending you food as soon as it is safe for us to do so.”
“I can still not make any promises,” the mayor shook his head. “What you have told me must be confirmed somehow.”
“I understand,” StarWind said as she rose. “I will return in a fortnight for another talk. Hopefully, you will have found the confirmation that you need.”
The mayor rose reflexively and stared at StarWind. A worried frown clouded his features.
“Use the name Samantha when you return,” suggested the mayor. “I will leave orders to have you sent up.”
StarWind smiled and nodded as she left the room.
Chapter 21
Chula Sakovan
The hawk soared over the tall fargi forest. Its keen eyes focused on the intermittent glimpses of ground as it sped over the ancient trees. When it reached a certain point, the hawk banked naturally to its left, swinging into an arc as if some invisible leash tethered it. As it continued its patrol, the hawk suddenly broke out of its flying pattern and circled tightly. Its eyes detected the movement below, and the hawk pulled in its wings. It dove downward until it was under the canopy and then spread its wings wide again. Sighting the source of the movement, the hawk settled on a high branch and watched the strange procession. A tall woman rode a choka, and a man rode a tiger. The hawk watched with interest as the pair passed below it.