Young Lord of Khadora (27 page)

“I have already assured you that is not the case,” declared Lord Marak. “Fardale is in better shape now than it has ever been. Lord Ridak wanted someone in the position here to salvage the grain contracts. I have done that with Kasa’s help. There will be no mar on the Situ Clan because of Fardale. I have delivered what I promised to deliver. Does anything else really matter?”

“Yes,” Lord Marshal Grefon answered, trying desperately to maintain a calm composure. “Your men refuse to accept me as Lord Marshal of the Situ Clan. I was told that they have sworn to you. Is that true?”

“Yes, it is,” affirmed Lord Marak. “Every single person in Fardale has personally sworn Vows of Service to me.”

“But the men from Lituk Valley are my men,” protested Lord Marshal Grefon. “How can they swear to you when they are already sworn?”

“Lord Ridak gave me absolute authority over Fardale, as you well know,” explained Lord Marak. “That allows me to require the Vows from my subjects and replace their previous Vows with Lord Ridak’s blessing. Lord Ridak instructed you to send my Corte to Fardale under my command and they were to be stationed in Fardale. Being stationed in Fardale puts them under my authority and requires the utterance of the Vows of Service, again with Lord Ridak’s blessing. You may argue that was not his intent, but it no longer matters.”

“But if you knew it was not his intent,” reasoned Lord Marshal Grefon, “how could you go ahead and force the Vows?”

“You forced me to,” Marak pointed out. “In the first place, I do not know what Lord Ridak intended. I would like to ask you, but I doubt you would reveal it to me. Secondly, you intentionally placed a spy in my ranks. The obvious reason for this is that you considered me expendable and wanted to choose the timing of my disposal. I would guess that Lord Ridak and yourself may have had entirely different reasons for sending me out here, but both of them were selfish reasons. Neither of you thought I would be able to do what I promised to do and now that I have, you don’t know what to make of it. I believe you may have tipped your hand when you spoke of Fardale as being your estate.”

“You think you are so clever, Squad Leader,” snarled Lord Marshal Grefon, “but I control something you hold very dear.”

Quicker than Lord Marshal Grefon could react, Lord Marak stabbed a knife into the table between the Lord Marshal’s hands and rose.

“Were you to even think of harming my mother,” threatened Lord Marak, “I would treat you to slowest, most painful death you could imagine and I know your imagination is colorful. This meeting is over Lord Marshal of the Situ. You will not be needing accommodations for the night. If you are not off Fardale lands by nightfall, my men will hunt you down like the animal you are. Tell Lord Ridak that his next messenger boy had better have manners and know how to remain civil. Get out of my sight.”

Lord Marshal Grefon was about to protest, but when he looked into Lord Marak’s eyes, death stared back at him. He quickly rose and left the room. Lord Marak’s gaze followed the exiting Lord Marshal and stopped when they landed on Marshal Tingo of Woodville.

“I do not recall inviting you into this room,” barked Lord Marak.

“I am sorry, Lord Marak,” smiled the Ragatha Marshal as his eyes took in the still vibrating knife stuck in the table. “You said that you would speak with me after the meeting and the door to the room was wide open. I did not realize you were having another meeting before mine.”

“If you would afford me a few minutes before we meet,” suggested Lord Marak.

“That is not necessary,” interrupted the Ragatha Marshal. “I think it is better that you and Lord Zawbry meet face to face, anyway. Why don’t I leave you now and return to Woodville? I will tell Lord Zawbry that he should meet with you soon.”

“That is an excellent idea,” answered Lord Marak. “I look forward to meeting the Lord of Woodville.”

The Marshal of Woodville quickly exited and raced after the departing Lord Marshal Grefon, hoping he would be in time to talk with him.

Marshal Tingo entered Lord Zawbry’s study and saluted. The Ragatha Lord motioned for the Marshal to sit and waited until he complied.

“How did the meeting with the emissary go?” Lord Zawbry inquired.

“I never got there,” reported Marshal Tingo. “Lord Marak had already left, but I was invited to stay and wait for him. It gave me a good chance to check out the Fardale estate. I have some interesting information for you.”

“It is a shame you missed the meeting,” lamented Lord Zawbry, “but any information we can get on our new neighbor will be useful, as long as the agreement doesn’t cut off our route to the rest of the world.”

“I don’t think Lord Marak gave them any land,” guessed Marshal Tingo. “I think he gave them all of his slaves, though. There was not one slave on the entire estate. The most interesting tidbit is that Lord Marshal Grefon was there.”

“The Situ Lord Marshal came for the meeting?” asked Lord Zawbry.

“I don’t think he was able to get into the meeting,” smiled Marshal Tingo. “He is not a happy person. Lord Marak did not treat him well. As a matter of fact, I saw his life threatened twice while I was there. A Cortain pulled a sword on him and held it to the Lord Marshal’s chest and threatened to arrest him.”

“You saw this?” Lord Zawbry asked incredulously.

“Yes,” laughed Marshal Tingo, “and only moments later, Lord Marak, himself, stabbed a knife between Lord Marshal Grefon’s hands and ordered him to get out of Fardale before dark or he would have his men hunt him down like an animal.”

“It sounds like there is a serious rift in the Situ camp,” smiled Lord Zawbry. “Did the Lord Marshal leave?”

“Like a dog with his tail between his legs,” chuckled Marshal Tingo. “I had a chance to talk with him as he was leaving. He is a very bitter man. He actually said he hopes the Sorgans wiped Fardale out. I know he would not offer any support to Lord Marak, even if the Fardale Lord pleaded for it.”

“Excellent!” beamed Lord Zawbry. “That sounds like an invitation if I have ever heard one. We must act before the Litari learn of this. They would not hesitate to seal us off. With Fardale under our control, the Litari will be powerless even with Sorgan support. Still, we must have some provocation so it does not appear as if we are a threat to others.”

“I may have what you are looking for,” smiled Marshal Tingo. “Lord Marak mentioned meeting with you in Fardale to talk about our use of Fardale to access our other estates. He indicated that he had read the contract and said that Fardale has received no compensation for the use. He indicated that it was nothing major, merely a technicality to ensure that it is a legal contract.”

“He is clever, this Marak,” noted Lord Zawbry. “That had been my intention all along. When I penned the contract with Lord Lashendo and Bursar Tachora, I offered one sum to Fardale or triple the sum to the two of them privately. As I expected they jumped at the private funds. What fools. If it was left unchanged for three years, we would have had a land grant, a legal and permanent right-of-way across Fardale.”

“Well,” suggested Marshal Tingo, “what would happen if you met with Lord Marak and the talks did not go well? He would stop our access and we could claim he was breaking a contract.”

“Yes,” thought Lord Zawbry, “that would work, but we will have to time it perfectly. We must already have the armies from our other estates ready to strike Fardale from the other side when the talks break down. I must travel to meet with Lord Sevrin. He is going to have to authorize this before we start something that he will not approve of. I will not risk offending our Clan Lord over Fardale. You have done well, Marshal Tingo, well, indeed.”

* * *

Cortain Tagoro looked up from his polishing when he heard the knock on his door. He shouted for the person to enter as he placed his helmet on the stand next to his bed.

“Excuse me, Tagoro, may I speak with you?” asked Cortain Rybak.

“Sure,” Tagoro answered. “Come on in.”

Cortain Rybak grabbed a chair next to the small table and sat down. “I wanted to thank for saving me from Lord Marshal Grefon yesterday,” thanked Rybak. “I was trying to avoid him ever since he entered the estate and the flower garden was the one place I didn’t think he would look.”

“No thanks are necessary,” smiled Tagoro. “Elsa came running directly to me when you shooed her out of the garden. You can actually thank yourself. If you hadn’t leveled with me about what Grefon wanted you to do, I would not have arrived so quickly.”

“I had to tell somebody,” admitted Rybak. “Koors started using me against the other men and then Grefon picked up on it. It seemed to be an easy way to rise in rank and I didn’t see any harm in it. I guess I have Lord Marak to thank for my change in attitude. If I hadn’t seen what a change in attitude one man can make in people, I probably would have remained ignorant my whole life. When I saw how much he cared for his people, my stomach turned every time I thought of my obligations to Lord Marshal Grefon. I used the bandits as an excuse, but I could have gotten word out with the Ragatha caravans. I’m glad I didn’t. You didn’t break your promise about telling Lord Marak, did you?”

“No, smiled Tagoro. “I don’t have to tell Lord Marak. He has known since before we left Lituk Valley.”

“He knows?” asked Rybak. “Then why hasn’t he done anything about it? Why did he allow me to rise to Cortain?”

“I’m not sure anybody understands all of Lord Marak,” theorized Tagoro. “I know he believes that there is good in every person and that if you dig deep enough you will find it. Perhaps he understood your confusion about what is right and what is wrong. Maybe he thought giving you time to think about your actions would solve the problem. It certainly appears that is what has happened.”

“I feel bad now that I know he knows,” sighed Rybak. “If I try to make it up to him or talk to him about it, he will think I am up to my old games again. I couldn’t blame him if he did think that.”

“Don’t underestimate Lord Marak,” smiled Tagoro. “Since you have given your Vows to him, you have not once betrayed him. I am sure that he knows this. My advice is to entirely forget about your past and just concentrate on doing the right thing from now on. The rest will work itself out just fine.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” Rybak said. “I like it here in Fardale and I’m kind of attached to Elsa. I don’t want to lose that. Lord Marshal Grefon sounded like he still had authority over me and that I was going back to Lituk Valley.”

“Elsa’s a sweet girl,” commented Tagoro, “but if you ever get out of line with her, I’d watch her pitchfork.”

“She is a brave woman,” smiled Rybak. “Heck, she’d make a fine soldier, but I have other plans for her.”

“Look,” declared Tagoro, “if this thing is really hanging over your head, go and talk with Lord Marak. Don’t butter him up and don’t offer lengthy explanations. Just tell him flat out that you were supposed to spy on him and you’ve had a change of heart. Ask his forgiveness and promise you will never even think of doing anything like that again.”

“That’s it!” exclaimed Rybak. “You are right. I’m dreading the moment he finds out and says something. Let me put that moment behind me. Thanks again, Tagoro.”

Tagoro shook his head and picked up his helmet to continue his polishing. Cortain Rybak hurried into the mansion and went straight to the Lord’s study. Lord Marak was alone and Cortain Rybak entered after knocking on the open door.

“Yes, Cortain Rybak,” Lord Marak said as he looked up from his papers.

“Lord Marak, I . . . ” Rybak began hesitantly, “want you to know that I was sent here to spy for Lord Marshal Grefon. I haven’t complied with his orders and I never intend to, but you have the right to know.”

Lord Marak smiled as he studied his former rival. “Cortain,” he said softly, “you exhibit a great deal of courage coming in here and telling me that. I have known about your mission from the day it began. I knew when you gave your Vows of Service that you had no intention of keeping them. I also recognized the change in you two weeks after that and have never worried since. You have proved to be a fine soldier since you have come to Fardale and I have great hopes for your future in my army.”

“That’s it?” queried Cortain Rybak. “No punishment? No lectures or demotions?”

“Cortain Rybak,” laughed Lord Marak, “you have done nothing wrong. You have thought about doing something wrong, but you never did. If we were punished for each thought we had, Elsa would surely have you black and blue from your toes to your temples by now. No, Cortain, there is no punishment, only admiration for you for having done the right thing. You are dismissed with my compliments on your behavior.”

Cortain Rybak smiled broadly as he saluted and smartly marched out of the Lord’s study. Bursar Kasa walked in and placed a pile of reports on Marak’s desk.

“Are you making the soldier boys blush now?” questioned Kasa. “That Cortain was beet red.”

“He’s in love,” chuckled Lord Marak before he noticed the strange look his Bursar was giving him. “Not with me! With Elsa. What is it you need from me, Bursar Kasa?”

Kasa could not stop laughing. “I never thought I would find a subject that confused My Lord,” she laughed. “Who would have suspected that the magic topic would be love?”

“Bursar,” interrupted Lord Marak, “I doubt that pile of papers you dragged in here are sensual materials. What did you wish to see me about?”

Bursar Kasa fought to compose herself before answering. “I have an idea for increasing our money,” she finally said. “Watula Valley is the largest grain producing Clan in Khadora and most of their grain is already spoken for. Fardale’s yield this year will be larger than ever before and none of it is contracted for. I have been trying to negotiate contracts for our grain and the buyers are reticent because they still expect to buy from Khadora Grain Importers at lower prices. My idea is to start buying grain contracts instead of selling them.”

“Why would we want to purchase more grain?” questioned Lord Marak. “If we can’t sell what we have grown, then we already have too much. We should be thinking of planting a different crop next year.”