“Harac had been bragging that he was going to be rich,” interjected Goral. “He was gone from the city when the Campanil fields went up and there was a lot of talk about Harac being the last of his group. Seems many of his friends have disappeared.”
“So our trail is at an end,” sighed StarWind.
“Perhaps for finding which official is plotting against you,” offered Fisher, “but I think your trip was still worthwhile. I think the Sakovans and Lord Marak should talk. You may find an alliance to your liking and I know that he would be sympathetic to your cause.”
“We know nothing of Lord Marak,” StarWind stated. “The Sakovan people cannot afford to rest our future on someone we do not know.”
“Then get to know him,” suggested Fisher. “If the Chula can trust him, I am sure that the Sakovans can too. What do you have to lose?”
“I did not think the Chula trusted any flatlander,” remarked StarWind as she remembered stories of the fearsome cat people of the North. They had always been friendly to the Sakovans until they too were driven to the point of extinction by invaders. “How would we contact this Lord Marak?”
“I can arrange it for you,” offered Fisher. “Select a spot along the east coast where your leader will feel comfortable and I will arrange for Lord Marak to arrive there at the appointed time. This way your leader will not have to leave the Sakova and Lord Marak will not have to enter it.”
“I will need some time to get you an answer,” replied StarWind.
“I have time to kill,” Fisher said. “You know where to find me.”
Chapter 25
Katana
Cherri sat alone in her large mansion at a loss of what to do with her time. She loved the exhilarating feeling that raced through her earlier in the evening when she had been back in her old routine of gathering information. The years of deactivation had been hard to bear. Now that she was reactivated, she was anxious to get the task underway and sitting around doing nothing was not on her agenda. True, she had obtained GoldenEar’s book and met with StarWind, and she had the Minister of Defense baited, but she yearned to do more for the Sakovans than just sit around.
She rose and strode to a large mirror, admiring her reflection and the beauty of the long, flowing, red gown. With a devilish grin, she decided to return to the party at the palace to see if she could uncover some more Omungan secrets. She fussed with her hair and straightened her dress and headed for the front door.
***
The three well-decorated generals stood off in a corner as they watched the icons of high society mix and mingle.
“I cannot understand how they came to the decision to appoint him as the new Minister of Defense,” repeated General Valdey as he looked at Minister Kapla standing in a circle of people.
“Perhaps Asgarte can inform us,” General Romero suggested as he adjusted the empty sleeve where his left arm used to be. The loss of his arm had happened many years ago, but the general was still conscious of its absence.
“It is simple,” declared General Didyk. “Someone did not want any dissenting voices on the Council. I am not sure whether it is Alazar or someone using him though. From his questions of me, it was obvious that someone took exception to Asgarte inviting me to speak. Kapla is easily manipulated. His selection was based on his gullibility.”
“Well if Kapla is so easily manipulated,” smirked General Valdey as he twirled his long mustache, “then we should have no problem dealing with him ourselves.”
“He will be dealt with,” assured General Didyk, “as soon as I find out who is pulling his string. Here comes Asgarte now. It is about time he showed.”
Minister Asgarte waddled over to the group of three generals. “I am sorry about the Council,” he smiled grimly. “I think offense was taken that I invited you without asking first.”
“Who took offense?” General Didyk inquired.
“Alazar was the one who spoke,” reported the Minister of Agriculture, “but I think that was because he does not like surprises. He actually made a good argument for not selecting one of the three of you. He presented a list of twenty less-distinguished generals and suggested that we vote among them. Kapla was just the default choice.”
“So he was already prepared not to choose one of us,” scowled the one-armed general.
“It would appear so,” nodded Minster Asgarte. “He said that the three of you were so distinguished that your skill in leading the armies would be sorely missed and that the Minister of Defense position was not as important to the country. He has been talking as if we are going to war.”
“He has been pushing the Sakovan threat for years,” General Valdey scowled. “That man does not understand that the Sakovans are too weak to threaten us.”
“Not when they start attacking the cities,” Asgarte interjected. “The Campanil attack will reign havoc all winter. There will not be enough food to go around.”
General Didyk snorted at the fat Minister of Agriculture, “You will not starve Minister. Do not tell me that Alazar has you convinced of the Sakovan threat.”
“Actually a majority of the Council is now leaning towards some action to teach them a lesson,” Asgarte stated. “They cannot be allowed to come down out of the Sakova and destroy our crops. The Katana’s resistance is probably the only thing stopping Alazar from bringing it to a vote. You will excuse me. I should offer my congratulations to our new Minister.”
General Didyk stared with disgust as the fat minister waddled towards Minister Kapla. “I cannot believe this country has survived so long with such soft rulers,” he spat. “We have the military might to crush any opponent we want and we are ruled by fools who worry about the Sakovans or their precious crops.”
“Careful General,” cautioned General Romero, “such comments can be considered treasonous.”
“And who would try me?” sneered General Didyk. “Together we have the three strongest armies ever amassed. A majority of the other generals would support us as well.”
“And what would you do with the country once you ruled it?” questioned General Valdey.
General Didyk snapped his head and stared blankly at Valdey. He had been angry and disappointed that he had been passed over for the Minister of Defense position and his talk had been that of rage and frustration, but the idea of running the nation suddenly intrigued him. Why shouldn’t the army run Omunga? The Katana and his Council represented an outdated and inefficient system. The army on the other hand was organized and efficient and it maintained strict discipline. The structure of the army was well defined and nobody ever questioned an order.
“Expand,” General Didyk finally answered with a smirk. “There is no reason for Omunga to occupy such a small land mass. Khadora would present a bit of a challenge, but Fakara would fall quickly,” he continued as he watched the expressions of his two comrades. He expected to find fear on their faces, but his colleagues were smiling and nodding.
“It would take a lot of planning,” cautioned General Romero. “Any attempt at a quick overthrow would not be accepted by the people. The armies would be spending their time quelling local disturbances and expansion would become a wisp of a memory.”
“Getting rid of the Katana would be no easy feat either,” warned General Valdey. “The Monitors are fiercely loyal to him. If they knew an attack was coming, they could defend the palace from the armies for a very long time. No matter how large an army you wield, the palace was designed to be defended like a castle. A long siege would defeat our chances of winning.”
General Didyk stared at Minister Kapla with hatred as he thought about what must be done to accomplish his new goal. His fellow conspirators had brought up valid points and the General’s mind whirled around a strategy to circumvent their objections. Suddenly, he cursed and his mouth hung open.
“It is happening now!” he exclaimed. “Someone is seizing power as we speak.” Seeing the confusion on the faces of the other two generals, he explained, “What if the people of Omunga were beset by Sakovan raids and the government did nothing? The people would demand order and reprisals. They would look upon the Katana with disdain. Don’t you see? Alazar is trying to use the Sakovans to gain power for himself. He doesn’t really care if the Sakovans are crushed or not, just as long as the troubles vault him into power.”