“I will see to it, Katana,” nodded First Minister, Larst.
“Very well Ministers,” Alazar smiled grimly, “let’s get this country organized. The Sakovans are attacking our cities and have now killed our Katana. They will not be allowed to remain a threat. I want everyone to prepare plans for their areas based on a state of war. It is quite late tonight, so we will not meet in the morning, but the following morning we will. I want those reports ready by then. Meeting is adjourned.”
***
“The Katana has been assassinated,” stated Goral.
“That is why the city is sealed up tight,” frowned StarWind.
“It indicates that the assassins have not been apprehended yet,” pondered Fisher. “Okata is going to become a very uncomfortable place for us to be. They will be interrogating everyone and the chance of them discovering us has increased dramatically.”
Fisher looked around his room and started packing his belongings. StarWind smiled absently at the assortment of disguises the Khadoran spy carried, while her mind raced to find a way out of the city before the search tightened.
“We are not safe here,” StarWind stated the obvious. “I have a contact in the city who may be able to hide us. Will you come with us?”
“Yes,” nodded Fisher, “but only for as long as it takes me to find a way out of the city. I cannot afford to be bottled up here for long and this heightened security could go on for weeks.”
“Let us move quickly then,” StarWind suggested. “Goral round up our horses and meet us in the alley at SunChaser’s house.”
Goral moved silently out the door and StarWind waited until Fisher had everything packed and they left the room. She led Fisher along the city streets, keeping to the darkness and skillfully avoiding the ever-increasing patrols of Imperial Guards. The city was being locked up tight and, if StarWind guessed correctly, a house-to-house search would start in the morning. It took over an hour to travel to SunChaser’s via a circuitous route and they found Goral waiting with the horses when they arrived in the alley. StarWind tapped lightly on the door and got no response. She knocked louder and still there was no answer. Finally, she pulled out a small piece of metal from a pouch and began working on the lock. The door swung open before she could manage to pick the lock and StarWind’s hand went to her sword.
“Oh, it is you,” SunChaser sighed. “Come in quickly,” she said softly as she stared at the new member of StarWind’s party. Handing a key ring to Goral, she told him to put the horses in the stable and left the door cracked for him to get in afterwards.
“I am sorry to come unannounced,” apologized StarWind, “but we need shelter. Someone has assassinated the Katana and the city is being secured.”
SunChaser did not respond, but continued to eye Fisher with concern.
“Sorry again,” StarWind smiled. “This is Fisher. He is a friend and you can talk freely in front of him. He is from Khadora and we are trying to arrange a meeting with his Lord.”
“We are in trouble,” SunChaser announced. “I have Master Malafar upstairs. I had to give him something to make him sleep while I tried to find out where you were.”
“That’s great,” StarWind said. “How did you get him out of the mage block?”
“I didn’t,” SunChaser explained. “He is the assassin everyone is seeking. He was delirious when I found him only seconds after the assassination. He managed to blind everyone in the room. If I had arrived a couple of seconds earlier, I would have been blinded with the others. He was blinded as well. He is injured too. I am not sure what to do with him.”
“Where are the servants?” StarWind asked as she heard Goral close the door behind her.
“I gave them the night off,” SunChaser answered. “I spoke with the Katana privately just before it happened. He knew about me before Calix died. He let the Sakovan spies exist because he thought they helped keep his own people in line. He did not know about Malafar, but as soon as I questioned him about the mage, he knew the assassination was coming. I still have no clue as to who is behind everything.”
“That answer will be clear by morning,” Fisher interjected. “The new Katana will be your real enemy. Do you know of any way out of the city?”
SunChaser shook her head, “Going through the gates would be suicide. Likewise over the wall. I could go out and investigate.”
“No,” stated StarWind. “It is not safe on the streets now. We must worry about what to with all of us when they come searching.”
“You and Fisher could be my servants,” suggested SunChaser. “The real servants will not be coming back tonight and I doubt they will show tomorrow either. I do not know what to do with your giant friend though. He is so obviously tall that he will stand out in people’s memories.”
“Goral will have to stay with Master Malafar wherever we decide to hide him,” StarWind replied. “I should see what I can do for his wounds. Get the uniforms for Fisher and me. Goral, you might as well come with me. You will be in charge of the mage when he wakes up.”
“Make a left at the top of the stairs,” SunChaser called as she led Fisher off down a hallway.”
StarWind and Goral climbed the stairs and entered the room where Master Malafar was. SunChaser had already cut his shirt open and the wound was visible.
“Fireball,” noted StarWind as she felt the charred skin. “Must have been terribly painful. Get me some water Goral. See what you can find for bandages and get the healing salve out of my pack.”
Goral brought a basin of water and set it down on the bed. He was rummaging through the packs they had brought with them when SunChaser and Fisher arrived.
“I have bandages,” SunChaser offered as Fisher moved to the bed to examine the mage.
“I have something that may help,” Fisher said softly. “It is an herb ointment that the Chula use for burns. It will deaden the pain and moisturize the tissue. He will still be badly scarred though.”
“Get it,” StarWind ordered. “I do not think Master Malafar has to worry about scars. You said he was delirious, SunChaser?”
“Yes, SunChaser answered, still adorned in her flowing red dress. “He thought he was dead. He only responded when I mentioned that I was a friend of Lyra’s. If you had not told me about him earlier, I would have left him.”
“We will have to wait until he wakes to find out what happened,” murmured StarWind. “I have done all that I can for him. I think we should all get some sleep. We may need it soon. Goral you sleep in here. Do what you must to make sure he does not leave the room, although I doubt he could move if he wanted to. We will not be able to move him for at least a day so let’s hope the Omungans start their search in the seedier districts.”
SunChaser handed out the servant uniforms and showed everyone where they would sleep. Goral stretched out on the floor of Master Malafar’s room and slept lightly. When Master Malafar stirred shortly before dawn, Goral slipped out and summoned StarWind back to the room. StarWind examined Master Malafar’s back to see how it was healing.
“Darn!,” Malafar exclaimed. “What are you doing back there?”
“Sorry, Master Malafar,” apologized StarWind. “You have a nasty wound on your back and I want to see how it is healing. How are you feeling?”
“Like I was hit by a cannonball,” the old mage growled as he turned over and stared at StarWind. “Who are you?”
“I am called StarWind,” she answered. “You are safe for the moment in a house in Okata. They are searching the city for you and we cannot get out just yet.”
“Are you the one who led me out of the palace?” he asked.
“No,” the Sakovan spymaster replied, “that was SunChaser and this is her house.”