Aakuta: the Dark Mage (32 page)

“I understand,” Mistake said with an edge of excitement in her voice.

“Katzu, I mean for you to remain safe and removed from battle at all times,” declared Lord Marak. “It might be best if you accompanied the corte leaving now. They will not be called to battle unless things go wrong. If that happens, you can remain safely outside the estate.”

“I would prefer to follow you,” Katzu said. “This mediation is already rather irregular. I do not think how I enter the estate is of any importance.”

“Alright,” frowned Lord Marak, “but I do not wish to enter into the mediation phase right away. I will ask you to remain outside Lord Patel’s presence until I call for you.”

“That is most unusual,” frowned the mediator. “May I ask why?”

“Because your appearance will unsettle Lord Patel,” answered the Torak lord. “I prefer that he have some feel for his situation before the gravity of it sets in. I suspect that he will reveal to me just how he intends to invalidate my victory. That knowledge can save lives.”

“Then I shall comply,” nodded Katzu. “I will remain outside Lord Patel’s presence until I am requested.”

Botal returned and Lord Marak said, “Our second corte is to secure the barracks and keep those in front of the mansion from coming to the rear. Your squad will be coming with me, Botal. We will take out the roving patrol if it is in the rear of the estate. We will enter the mansion from the rear. I want your men to pay particular attention to the safety of Katzu and Mistake.”

“As well as you,” Botal retorted. “I will issue the orders and return.”

Botal disappeared again as Lord Marak checked his weapons. Mistake readied her blowpipe, and the Lords’ Council mediator watched with interest.

“What is that?” he asked Mistake.

Mistake looked to Lord Marak for guidance and the Torak lord smiled. “It is a blowpipe,” he said. “Mistake will use darts loaded with tyrik poison to incapacitate certain obstacles. The tyrik poison will induce an instant paralysis. It has no long lasting effects, but whoever is struck by one will be out of the battle for around three hours.”

“Tyrik poison?” questioned Katzu. “I have never heard of such a thing. What is it?”

“An animal poison from Fakara,” answered Mistake.

“You are Fakaran?” inquired Katzu. “How is it that you are here with Lord Marak?”

“She is Fakaran,” interrupted Lord Marak. “Mistake just happens to be here looking for trade opportunities in Khadoratung. I have known her for a while, and she has agreed to help me with this problem. I would be willing to discuss this further with you, Katzu, but this is not the time for it. For now, let’s just say that with her help, less Nordon clansmen will need to die. I would prefer to poison them for a short while rather than kill them.”

Katzu nodded although it was clear that his curiosity had not been satisfied. “I am pleased that you take the killing of other Khadorans seriously, Lord Marak. Your attitude gives me hope of seeing an end to the senseless bloodshed that infects our society.”

“Our goals are the same, Katzu,” smiled Lord Marak. “I look forward to the end of this particular matter so that we might sit down together and discuss the future of our country. There are dark clouds on our horizon. The squabbling that occurs now among us will be nothing compared to that which is coming.”

Botal’s squad hid in the rows of tall corn waiting for the Nordon patrol to pass by. Lord Marak shook his head in dismay when the patrol reached the end of the mansion and turned around. He waited patiently as the Nordon squad marched to the far corner of the rear of the mansion and again turned around.

“They are only patrolling the rear of the mansion,” Lord Marak scowled. “It is as if they know which way we will approach from.”

“They are not even aware that we are here,” soothed Botal. “I will admit, however, that I have never seen such a patrol before. I wonder what they are up to?”

“We could take them all out at once,” suggested Gunta. “Each of us can choose a number. The far side of the patrol will be odd and the near side even.”

“Could you really be assured of killing them all at the same time?” asked Katzu. “That sounds like you would need a fair amount of luck.”

“No,” sighed Lord Marak. “This squad can do it. I simply do not wish to kill twenty men for no good reason. Mistake, find out what is going on out in front of the mansion.”

A puzzled frown fell over the mediator’s face, but Mistake moved back through the cornfield without comment. She only went as far as necessary to ensure that the mediator did not hear any of the conversation. She wove an air tunnel to where she thought the mage attached to the two cortes would be. As she called softly into the air tunnel, she wavered it slightly to cover a larger area.

“Kaylee,” Mistake called softly. “Can you hear me?”

When she received no response, Mistake tried a slightly different area. It took her nearly ten minutes to make contact.

“Mistake?” said a soft melodic voice. “Is that you?”

“Yes, Kaylee,” whispered Mistake. “There is a patrol constantly guarding the rear of the estate. Do you know why?”

A few moments of silence passed before Kaylee answered. “There are two squads sitting on the front porch,” she explained. “I guess the rear is the only place that needs patrolling.”

“Are the barracks secure?” questioned Mistake.

“Oh yes,” replied Kaylee. “We have been waiting for the two squads to move before attacking them. At this distance, a lot of noise would be made. The mansion would be alerted to our attack.”

Mistake was about to drop the air tunnel and crawl back to Lord Marak for instructions when he suddenly appeared alongside her.

“Trouble?” he asked.

Mistake informed him of the conversation she had just had with Kaylee. Lord Marak frowned thoughtfully for a moment and then nodded to himself.

“Make another air tunnel to Latril,” instructed Lord Marak.

Mistake nodded and created a second air tunnel.

“Latril?” Lord Marak asked softly.

“Yes, Lord Marak,” answered the mage.

“I want someone to make a noise on the road,” instructed Lord Marak. “Don’t do it right now. Listen first.”

“Go ahead,” prompted Latril.

“The Nordon corte here is static,” explained Lord Marak. “We cannot approach the mansion without a battle. I want someone out there to make a noise just loud enough that it will need to be investigated. Do you understand?”

“We understand,” Latril responded after a short pause. “When do you want it?”

“Kaylee,” Lord Marak said, “we are going to draw those troops away from the mansion. I suspect the patrol in the rear will come around to the front. I want them taken out and the bodies hidden as quickly as possible. Capture and immobilize them if possible, but they must be neutralized. Then move towards the front of the estate and capture the other two squads. Coordinate this with Latril.”

“We understand what you want,” Kaylee responded. “They say it will take a few minutes to get organized. Is that all right?”

“That is fine,” agreed Lord Marak. “Just make it as silent as possible.”

Lord Marak turned and crawled away. Mistake dropped the two air tunnels and followed.

“This squad should be leaving in a short while,” Lord Marak reported. “We move as soon as they disappear.”

Botal’s squad waited in silence. About five minutes later, a shrill whistle rent the air. The squad stopped in their tracks. The squad leader pointed towards the nearest corner of the mansion and the squad marched towards it. They did not appear to be in any hurry, but they did not dally either. As soon as they rounded the corner, Botal’s men sprinted for the rear of the mansion. As Lord Marak, Mistake, and Katzu reached the rear door, Botal had already tried to open it.

“No go,” reported Botal. “They actually lock the doors here.”

“Must be a rough neighborhood,” Lord Marak quipped as his eyes rose to look at the second level. He saw a window above and turned to Mistake. “Can you climb?” he asked.

“I can climb,” Mistake shook her head, “but why should I? Just because a door is locked does not mean that we can’t enter through it.”

The Fakaran thief pulled a thin strip of metal from inside her belt. Botal stepped away from the door as Mistake inserted the strip into the lock. She grinned with satisfaction as a loud click was heard. Katzu’s eyebrows rose as Mistake opened the door.

Lord Marak’s chuckle was barely audible as he signaled for Botal to enter the mansion. The squad slid into the mansion and closed the door. They stood silently in the unlit room as their eyes adjusted to the dark confines. Botal moved forward and cracked the door leading into the corridor. He moved cautiously along the corridor to the foot of the stairs. As the rest of the squad approached, Botal used hand signals to disperse them. He sent two men to guard the front door and two to guard the rear door. Four more were assigned to search the rooms on the ground floor. Two men were assigned to guard the staircase while the rest of the squad proceeded up the stairs.

As they reached the top of the stairs, shouting came from outside the mansion. Clashes of steel clanged in the still night and shouts were heard inside the mansion. Lord Marak’s eyes scanned the second floor corridor and guessed that the lord’s suite was at the end of the corridor. He sprinted towards the door with Gunta and Halman at his heels.

Botal stood at the top of the stairs as he directed the rest of his men. He split them up to cover as many rooms as possible at the same time. Mistake and Katzu hurried after Lord Marak. They had almost caught up when a door opened and a man ran into the corridor. Mistake was prepared and she did not hesitate. The blowpipe came up to her mouth and she blew the dart into the man. He collapsed against the wall as Mistake ran past him.

Lord Marak barged through the lord’s suite and into his bedroom. Lord Patel was already out of bed and grabbing for his sword. Lord Marak leaped across the space between them and pushed the Nordon lord away from the table. Gunta dove through the air and wrapped his arms around Lord Patel’s legs, while Halman pulled his sword and scanned the room for people. The lord’s wife was in bed. She sat up and stared at the black-suited invaders. Her eyes grew large, as she understood what was happening, but she didn’t utter a sound.

Lord Patel tried to free his legs from Gunta’s hold, but the Torak soldier refused to let go. Lord Marak took Lord Patel’s sword from the table and threw it into the corner. He turned to look at the door to the corridor and saw Mistake and Katzu just beyond the door. He walked casually to the door and closed it partially to hide them from Lord Patel’s view.

“Let him up, Gunta,” Lord Marak said.

Gunta released the lord’s legs and swiftly rolled away before he could be kicked. Lord Patel rose and brushed his nightclothes as if they were dirty.

“How dare you break into my home?” Lord Patel spat. “You are nothing more than a common criminal. I shall see you hanged for this.”

“We see things slightly differently, Lord Patel,” replied the Torak lord. “Your men were the ones wearing the gray uniforms.”

“What are you talking about?” scowled Lord Patel. “Are you mad?”

There was a noisy commotion in the hallway. Gunta immediately moved to check it out. He returned a moment later with Lord Marshal Orik. He shoved Orik into the room.

“He did not lead his men into battle,” Gunta said as Orik caught his footing and turned to glare at Lord Marak.

“Halman, take the lady away from here,” ordered Lord Marak. “See that she is cared for, but she is to speak to no one.”

Lord Patel’s face turned red, and he started towards Lord Marak. The Torak lord smoothly pulled his sword free from leather and held it to the Nordon lord’s chest.

“You, sir, are remaining here to chat with me,” declared Lord Marak. “Your wife will not be harmed.”

“What are you doing here?” asked Lord Marshal Orik. “You are supposed to be…”

“In Deep Bend?” Lord Marak finished the question. “Perhaps that is where I am supposed to be, but clearly I am not.”

“Then the messages were false?” questioned Orik.

“No,” Lord Marak shook his head. “The messages were correct. My troops have seized the Nordon estate at Deep Bend.”

“That is an act of war!” the Lord Marshal said accusingly. “Are you insane?”

“Hardly,” replied Lord Marak. “Nor am I a fool, in case that was your next question. The Nordon clan repetitively attacked my caravans in an attempt to destroy me. The troops used, which were wearing gray by the way, were yours Lord Marshal, but they were housed at Deep Bend. Do you deny this?”

“I do not have to answer your questions,” spat Orik.

“Quite true,” nodded Lord Marak as he turned his attention to the Nordon lord, “but you do, Lord Patel. Do you deny my accusations?”

“You are stark raving mad, Marak,” scowled Lord Patel. “You have attacked a member of the Lords’ Council. Not only have you attacked my estate at Deep Bend, but you have also entered my very home and accosted me. You have done all of this without provocation. You shall hang in the morning.”

“Without provocation?” taunted Lord Marak. “How dare you say such a thing?”

“Lord Marak,” Lord Marshal Orik said softly, “I am not sure how you and your squad managed to get into this mansion, but you should be preparing to die, not harassing my lord. Take what time you have left and flee for your life. Maybe you can escape to Fakara.”

The door opened and Squad Leader Botal entered. “The estate is secure, Lord Marak,” he stated. “There were unfortunately six deaths.”

“Bury them,” ordered Lord Marak.

“I shall find out if they have families first and let the wives attend to them before burial,” Botal nodded before he exited the room.

“Secured the estate?” howled Orik. “What nonsense is this? Do you play me for some type of fool? And he makes like you only lost six men? Preposterous!”

“You need to listen more closely, Orik,” chided Lord Marak. “My men do not travel with their wives. The six deaths were Nordon casualties.”

“Do you really expect us to believe that your squad defeated our defenses?” Lord Patel said.