“Mayor Robit,” the captain said with obvious disdain, “I trust that you understand what you are doing. By seizing this ship, you committing an act of war. I ask you to reconsider before I step ashore under these conditions.”
“War has already been declared,” retorted the mayor. “Leave the ship now or die. The choice is yours.”
The captain shook his head in disgust and stepped ashore. Imperial Guards swiftly led him through the crowd. The mayor shouted orders, and the remaining Imperial Guards formed a human corridor. Dozens of dockworkers streamed onto the ship and began unloading the food. The mayor strode off the dock with a smile on his face.
“Citizens of Gatong,” he shouted loudly when he reached the quay, “a shipment of food has arrived. There is enough for everyone so I will not stand for rioting. The ship will be unloaded before any food is distributed. Spread the word to others and then form a line at the marketplace. Everyone will get their share.”
The mayor strode jubilantly back to his office. Shel shook her head in disbelief while she listened to the comments of her fellow citizens. She debated with herself as to whether or not she should explain where the food had come from. She felt that the citizens had a right to know, but she was concerned with the mayor’s preoccupation with secrecy. She didn’t want to start a riot. She tried to put the decision off as she turned and walked towards the marketplace, but then she heard questions asked that made the decision for her.
“Where did the food come from?” shouted a citizen. “Did the Katana send it?”
“When will the next ship be arriving?” asked another citizen.
Shel suddenly stopped walking as she realized that no other ships would arrive now. She turned in a circle slowly and gazed at the happy faces of the citizens. A tear welled up in her eye as she realized the travesty of what Gatong’s leaders were doing to the people. She hurried to the marketplace and climbed up on one of the tables. The ship was still being unloaded so the Imperial Guards had not arrived yet. Shel gazed at the mob of people gathering for the food distribution and wondered what the result would be of her forthcoming speech. She did not want her friends and neighbors clashing with the Imperial Guards because the citizens would surely die, but neither did she want them to die of starvation. Either way the future of Gatong was bleak indeed.
“Get off the table, Shel,” shouted a man. “The food will arrive when it arrives. Watching for it will do no good.”
Shel turned and faced the man. She recognized him as an old friend and realized that he was toying with her. She smiled thinly at him and spoke loudly.
“I am not standing up here to watch for the food,” Shel declared. “I am up here so that more of my fellow citizens can hear me and see who is talking. I have some important information to tell you about this ship of food.”
The crowd instantly quieted down as they crowded around the table that Shel was standing on. She waited patiently for everyone to settle down.
“Earlier today I stumbled across a young woman in the marketplace,” Shel began. “She was crying so I took her home to feed her.”
“That sounds like you, Shel,” a citizen shouted. “You would give your last morsel to someone who hungers for it.”
“That’s not the point,” frowned Shel as she struggled with herself about what she should say. “This woman was not crying because she was hungry. In fact, she emptied her pack on my table and left her trail rations for me. This woman was crying because WE are hungry.”
“What does this have to do with the ship?” yelled a woman.
“The ship is hers,” explained Shel. “She ordered it into port to feed us.”
“Well bless her soul,” smiled a woman. “Where is this woman that we may thank her?”
“She is imprisoned,” Shel replied. “I took her to see the mayor, and General Papper arrested her.”
“That is outrageous,” scowled a man. “Why would he arrest her?”
“He arrested her because she is the Star of Sakova,” answered Shel. “He said that she is our enemy.”
“Enemy?” shouted a man. “No one who sends me food is my enemy. My little girls are wasting away because there is not enough food to eat. This woman deserves to be praised, not arrested.”
Shouts of agreement rippled through the audience. Shel chewed on her lower lip, as the crowd grew boisterous. She looked nervously around the marketplace and saw several Imperial Guards trying to push through the crowd. She knew now that she would surely be arrested.
“There is more,” Shel shouted hurriedly before the soldiers could reach her. “She said that more ships would be coming in the future, but I do not think that will be true after what our leaders have done. Not only have they arrested the Star of Sakova, but also seized her ship. They will not send more food now.”
Shel saw the mayor arrive in the marketplace. He quickly followed the Imperial Guards who were trying to part the crowd to reach the table that Shel was standing on.
“That is not her ship,” shouted a well-dressed merchant. “The Sakovans have no ships. They are landlocked.”
“Not any more,” replied Shel. “Lyra told me that all of eastern Omunga is now Sakovan. Zaramilden, Duran, and Alamar are now Sakovan cities.”
Gasps ripped through the crowd as the Imperial Guards finally reached the table. Two of them jumped up on the table and grabbed Shel while the mayor quickly followed. He raised his hands high over his head for silence, and the crowd instantly obeyed.
“Fellow citizens,” shouted Mayor Robit. “Do not listen to this nonsense. You shall disperse from this table and form an orderly line to receive the food. Those who disobey will be dealt with harshly.”
“We have a right to know what is going on,” shouted the merchant. “If you will not let Shel speak to us then you should.”
“Nothing is going on that concerns the citizens,” replied the mayor. “We have captured the Star of Sakova and seized her ship loaded with food. There is nothing else to say. Form a line or go home.”
“That was not a Sakovan ship that you seized,” retorted the merchant. “Have you no knowledge of banners?”
The mayor frowned at the merchant, who was well known and highly respected. He was not the type of citizen who could be easily dismissed.
“What do you mean?” asked Mayor Robit. “I was told that the Star of Sakova ordered that ship into port. If it is not hers, whose can it be?”
“That ship is Khadoran,” replied the merchant. “The banner belongs to the Torak clan which just happens to be led by Emperor Marak. I know because I journeyed to Khadora not long ago in search of food. The election of Lord Marak to Emperor was talked about everywhere.”
Mayor Robit’s speechless jaw dropped. His eyes opened wide as he stared at the merchant with confusion.
“I heard the captain of that ship declare that seizing it was an act of war,” shouted a citizen. “Are we going to be invaded by Khadorans now?”
The mayor ignored the question and focused on the merchant.
“You went to buy food from the Khadorans,” declared the mayor. “I remember hearing that they refused you. Is it possible that they changed their minds and sent food anyway?”
“Hardly likely,” replied the merchant. “Lord Sevrin was quite exact with his refusal. He stated that Emperor Marak had decreed that no food would be sold to Omungans as long as we were at war with the Sakovans. I find it most confusing that it is the emperor’s ship that has arrived here. It does not make sense that he would defy his own edict.”
Mayor Robit whirled to face Shel. He glared at her and shook his head.
“You said that ship was Sakovan,” accused the mayor. “How dare you deceive me?”
“I never said any such thing,” Shel replied tartly. “I said that the Star of Sakova ordered it into port to give the food to the citizens of Gatong. I never said it was a Sakovan ship. I never saw it before it docked.”