“Nonsense,” balked the Litari lord. “Emperor Marak knows that I have come to support him fully. That is the only opinion that I care about. I alone will be responsible for the charade we present today.”
The two leaders of the Litari clan waited silently for the Seth column to arrive. The host corte moved in quickly to gather the Seth horses and direct the Seth soldiers to an area where they could refresh themselves. Marshal Garlo waited until Lord Sydar was introduced before bowing in a show of respect and leaving to mingle with the visiting soldiers.
“Your men are very efficient,” complimented Lord Sydar as Lord Burdine led his guest to the meeting room.
“Marshal Garlo is an efficient trainer,” smiled Lord Burdine as he indicated that his guest should sit.
“More efficient than the trainers in Khadoratung?” asked Lord Sydar.
“In Khadoratung,” replied the Litari lord, “they teach methods for working with other clans. That is of little interest to the Litari. Marshal Garlo trains our men to work efficiently with each other. A clan is only as good as its troops. What brings you to Glendale?”
“I am just traveling along the road past your holdings,” smiled Lord Sydar. “We never had the chance at the Assembly of Lords meetings to get to know one another. I thought that it was time to do so.”
“Well,” Lord Burdine replied cautiously, “I welcome your visit. We do not get many visitors down here on the southern frontier, but I am sure you know that. Your own holdings are on the frontier if I remember correctly.”
“There is nothing wrong with your memory,” smiled Lord Sydar. “The Seth lands lie between the Macara River and the western coast. It is a sparsely inhabited area, especially if you discount the Chula tribes that infest the mountains and forests.”
“Our new allies,” Lord Burdine snorted derisively. “It is hard to imagine the things that are asked of Khadoran lords these days.”
“Precisely,” replied Lord Sydar as his face split into a grin. “I find it hard to swallow many of the new decrees. I can’t imagine that many lords are happy with them.”
“I should suspect not,” shrugged Lord Burdine, “but what can be done about it? The Lords’ Council backs the Emperor completely.”
“The Lords’ Council is selected by the Assembly of Lords,” reminded Lord Sydar. “I suspect that if there is enough outrage at the new reforms within the Assembly of Lords, things could very well revert to as they were.”
“Do you really think that is possible?” asked Lord Burdine.
“Who can say?” shrugged the Seth lord. “It is my understanding that a group of lords is planning to protest the new reforms at the next meeting of the Assembly of Lords. If the topic were to come up, would the Litari be in favor of supporting it?”
Right to the point, Lord Burdine thought as he smiled and nodded. “I could support that move if it could be done in such a way that would not bring harm to the Litari clan,” he answered, knowing that that was impossible because the Litari clan was secretly sworn to Emperor Marak. There was no possible way that Lord Burdine could support such a move without bringing harm to the Litari clan.
“Excellent,” grinned Lord Sydar. “No harm will come to the Litari from this movement because many clans will be speaking out against the reforms. The Litari will be just another voice added to the call to abolish the reforms. There will be too many of us for the Emperor to take any punitive action.”
“Are you sure others clans will be willing to risk the Emperor’s wrath?” probed Lord Burdine. “What other clans feel as we do?”
“I will not say who the other clans are,” frowned Lord Sydar. “I am sure that you can understand why, but there will be enough to make a difference. That I can assure you.”
“I guess that I will have to take your word for it,” shrugged Lord Burdine. “I will watch you closely at the next meeting. When you make your proposal, I will be ready.”
“Oh,” smiled Lord Sydar, “I will not be making the proposal. No, that is truly the way to grab the Emperor’s attention. Other clans who are already on the poor side of the Emperor will make the proposal. All we have to do is support it when it is made. It is much safer that way.”
“You have thought of everything,” noted Lord Burdine.
* * *
The Chula shaman timed his arrival on the coast of the Island of Darkness perfectly. Several hours after nightfall, he paddled his canoe to a desolate strip of beach where the jungle came close. After hiding his sleek craft deep in the jungle, Calitora stripped off his pack and transformed himself into a black jaguar. He picked the pack up in his mouth and padded softly through the dense foliage. Before the sun rose in the morning, the shaman had transformed back into his human form and found a suitable place on the peak of the tallest mountain.
The first thing the shaman did was to weave an air tunnel to Changragar. He notified the shaman at the temple that he had arrived on the Island of Darkness. When the sky lightened, Calitora had a beautiful view of the large island. He could see each of the major cities as well as the sea surrounding the island in every direction. More importantly, the main city of Motanga, Vandamar, sat very near. He could clearly see the temple and shipyards. Scores of huge ships not only filled the harbor, but lined the coast as well. If the Chula shaman had had some method of magnifying his vision, he would have seen a woman sitting on the beach in the predawn light. The woman was staring at the sea as if expecting some wisdom from its gray tumultuous waves.
Lady Mystic sighed heavily and wiped the tears from her eyes. She noticed the sky lightening and realized that another day was coming. She didn’t care. Every day would be much like the last one for the rest of her life. Her body cramped from sitting in one position for too long, but she did not adjust her position to ease the discomfort. Instead she let her mind dwell upon the pain. In fact, she focused her attention on it, welcoming it. The pain was a sensation, the only sensation, in her entire body. She closed her eyes and tried to look inward, urging the pain onward. She wanted to feel something instead of feeling numb and dead as she had ever since Aakuta’s death.
“Someone told me that I might find you here,” a voice shattered her introspection.
Lady Mystic’s eyes opened slowly, her mind being dragged away from its fixation with her pain. She saw the bottom portion of an elegant robe. Her eyes slowly panned upward until they reached the man’s face. She hissed.
“Not exactly a warm greeting,” shrugged the man. “You do have a home in the city. Why don’t you use it?”
“Why don’t you?” Lady Mystic spat. “Go away and leave me alone. I detest you and will not tolerate your gloating.”
“Gloating?” balked the man. “I am trying to be friendly to you.”
“I don’t want your friendship, Xavo,” snarled Lady Mystic. “Leave me before I kill you.”
“You are powerful,” retorted the mage, “but in your condition, I doubt you could hurt a krul. How many days have you remained on this beach? How long since you have eaten something?”
“Why do you want to know?” snapped Lady Mystic. “Are you trying to figure out when I will die of starvation so that you can come and watch? Leave me alone.”
“Why are you so hostile towards me?” asked Xavo. “I have never harmed you.”
“You are a fool,” scowled Lady Mystic. “You killed Aakuta. That is enough for me to hate you. Be glad that I am weak. That is the only thing saving your life right now.”
“I did kill Aakuta,” shrugged Xavo, “but that was my job. You would have done the same if you had had the chance.”
“How dare you say that?” Lady Mystic shouted as she struggled to get to her feet. “I loved Aakuta. I would never have killed him.”
“You betrayed him,” Xavo reminded Vand’s daughter. “Not once, but twice. I should think killing him would have been far less offensive to him.”
Lady Mystic fell face first onto the beach as her legs refused to hold her body. She started crying hysterically. Xavo knelt next to her and gently placed his hand on her back.