Young Lord of Khadora (36 page)

“Plus,” added Gunta, “if we fail to get horses, it will be a long walk back to here. They will probably be pursuing us when we escape.”

“If they know where to look for us,” smiled Lord Marak.

“If they know it was us,” figured Halman, “they will head straight this way. They will probably get here before us if we don’t have horses.”

“But if they don’t know it was us,” commented Gunta, “they will search in every direction for Rybak.”

“I am going to make sure that Lord Marshal Grefon knows who freed Cortain Rybak,” laughed Lord Marak. “We are heading north towards River’s Bend. We can travel slowly as long as we keep off the roads. We are going to need rest before dark, but we will not have a full day’s journey ahead of us.”

Gunta and Halman exchanged puzzled looks, but they shrugged and followed Lord Marak. It took the entire morning to find the exact spot Lord Marak was searching for, but once they saw it, Gunta and Halman smiled.

They were at a cave alongside the river less than an hour's ride north of Lituk Valley. Marak had brought his Squad here to rest during one of their survival training outings. They were coming back from a trip to the swamps downstream and the evening turned into a small festival of sorts with a campfire at the mouth of the cave and several of the soldiers playing flutes while the others sang. Lord Marak’s thoughts drifted back to those carefree days with a warmness reserved for memories.

The three warriors brought their horses into the cave and prepared for sleep. The cave was not near the road and there was little chance of anyone stumbling along and finding them here. As soon as nightfall arrived, the three warriors left the cave and started walking towards Lituk Valley. They kept to the woods and proceeded quietly through the forest as they turned their silver headbands, wristbands and waistband inside out to hide the silver.

As they neared the estate, Lord Marak halted frequently and listened for signs of patrols. Lord Marshal Grefon was not big on nighttime patrols during times of peace and Lord Marak noted that he hadn’t changed his procedures. They spotted only one patrol although Lord Marak realized there would be another on the other side of the estate. The patrol was easy to get around and soon the three warriors were in the heart of the orchards. Here the risky part of their mission would begin.

The layout of Lord Ridak’s estate placed the barracks towards the front of the property. That necessitated an entry from the rear of the mansion. Unfortunately, that path would mean crossing the barren fields which were not yet producing lituks. Lord Marak did not look forward to the long exposure necessary to cross the open terrain and he certainly would not attempt it until later in the night. Too many soldiers and servants would have a clear view of the open fields and the warriors would have to wait until they turned in for the night.

The three warriors stretched out prone under the lituk trees, each facing a different direction, and waited for the estate to go to sleep. They saw the patrol go by several times, but the Situ soldiers never entered the orchards.

Finally, when the estate was quiet, Lord Marak tapped his two team members and pointed towards the mansion. Gunta rose and ran quietly to the side of the mansion and threw himself into the darkness alongside it. Halman rose next and duplicated the short run. By the time Lord Marak made it to the building, Gunta had already crawled to the corner of the mansion and was peering around the corner. Lord Marak followed Halman to the corner of the building.

Attacking Lituk Valley had one distinctive benefit. Lord Marak knew the grounds and he knew where the kitchen was. He also knew the kitchen should be empty. He eased up alongside Gunta and saw why the warrior had not pressed on further. The second patrol was slacking off. Unfortunately, they were exercising their laxness behind the mansion, right where Lord Marak did not want them. Lord Marak tried to remember what little he knew about the layout of the interior of the mansion and came up with disturbing answers. The only window on this side of the mansion that he could be sure of was Lord Marshal Grefon’s suite.

With time running out and no sign of the second patrol suddenly gaining any initiative to do their duty properly, Lord Marak decided to enter the mansion through Lord Marshal Grefon’s sitting room. After relaying his decision to Gunta and Halman, Lord Marak headed back along the side of the building to the proper window. Lord Marak reached up and tested the shutters and found them unlocked. He eased them open and pulled himself up and into the Lord Marshal’s sitting room. Silently he padded his way across the room to the door to the sleeping chamber and waited.

Halman pulled himself in next and immediately moved to the door to the hallway. Gunta entered and stood looking at the other two for any signs of a problem. The door to Grefon’s study stood open and the room was obviously unoccupied. Halman eased open the door to the hallway and peered out. He nodded vigorously and slipped out the door. Gunta followed close behind and Lord Marak waited until both of them had left the room before he abandoned his post by Grefon’s sleeping chamber.

The door to downstairs was under the grand staircase leading upstairs and Lord Marak found his two compatriots waiting for him when he arrived.

“One of you should remain here,” whispered Lord Marak. “Keep an eye out for anyone who might get in the way when we are leaving. Do not kill unless you have to.”

Gunta eased open the door to the lower level and slipped through it to the stairs leading down. Lord Marak followed him and Halman stepped inside, but kept the door cracked so he could see out. Gunta stepped slowly and cautiously as he moved down the stairs. He stopped at the bottom and peeked around the corner and held up two fingers. Lord Marak thought quickly and tapped Gunta on the shoulder. Gunta moved back and let Lord Marak assume his position.

Cortain Koors and the jailer sat at a table drinking ale and talking up a storm. The jailer was normally positioned so that he could see the captives as well as the stairway, but Koors’ massive form was blocking his view. Lord Marak touched Gunta’s pouch where he kept his Omunga Stars and then stepped down the last step to the floor of the dungeon. Quietly, and in a crouch, Lord Marak stole across the room towards the back of Cortain Koors.

The jailer must have sensed something because he suddenly leaped to his feet, but Lord Marak had already gotten close enough to accomplish his goal. He stepped up behind Koors and held a knife across his throat while he extended his sword to the jailer’s chest.

“I would prefer not to spill any blood here tonight,” growled Lord Marak, “but that decision is yours.”

Cortain Koors stiffened more at the sound of Marak’s voice than he did to the knife at his throat. The big man pushed back his chair into Lord Marak and hollered as loud as he could. Lord Marak jumped backwards to avoid the bulk of Koors and the jailer went for his sword. Koors moved surprisingly quick for a man of his build as he flourished a knife of his own. Koors and the jailer converged on Lord Marak and the Lord of the Torak Clan did not hesitate. He swung his sinuous sword at Koors and was somewhat amazed as the sword cut cleanly through the overweight man. At the same time, Gunta sent an Omunga Star sailing into the forehead of the jailer.

Lord Marak began searching the cells for Cortain Rybak while Gunta fished through the jailer’s keys. Lord Marak stopped when he found Cortain Rybak. The man was hanging from a wall with his legs and arms clasped in iron manacles. Lord Marak felt a lump rising in his throat as he observed the pitiful state his man was in. Rybak’s body was naked and covered from head to toe with welts and bruises. His eyes were swollen shut and his head hung down on his chest. Gunta quickly opened the cell while Lord Marak stripped the uniform off the dead jailer. It would be large for Rybak, but at least it would offer some covering.

“Lord Marak,” Gunta called softly, “I need help. I can’t hold him and undo the manacles at the same time.”

Lord Marak quickly finished getting the jailer’s clothes and ran to help Gunta with Cortain Rybak. He threw the clothes down and supported Rybak while Gunta unlocked the manacles. Catching Rybak in his arms, Lord Marak laid him on a bench. The two warriors hurried to get some clothing on Rybak then Lord Marak lifted him and carried him to the stairs.

Halman was nervous when Lord Marak reached the top of the stairs. “Someone heard the shouting,” he whispered. “I’m not sure who, but someone just ran past the door. I couldn’t see where he went. It looks clear now, but we had better move quickly.”

Lord Marak nodded and the three warriors streamed out of the doorway and headed for Lord Marshal Grefon’s suite. As they slipped inside, they froze. The door to the sleeping chamber was open and someone was talking to Grefon. Lord Marak quickly carried Rybak into Grefon’s study and laid him on the couch. Gunta and Halman followed and eased the door closed except for a small crack to look out.

“Take Rybak down to the river,” whispered Lord Marak. “If I’m not there in three minutes, cut the ropes and get out of here.”

“What are you planning?” retorted Gunta. “There is no reason for you to stay.”

“There is one reason,” insisted Lord Marak. “Lord Marshal Grefon has to know who freed Rybak. Get going now.”

Gunta frowned, but he helped Halman get Cortain Rybak off the couch and to the window. Lord Marak kept watch at the door to Lord Marshal Grefon’s sitting room as the other two warriors got Rybak situated so he could be lowered to the ground. Gunta climbed out the window as Lord Marak turned over his clothing bands to show silver once again. Lord Marshal Grefon emerged from his sleeping chambers with the Seneschal. The Seneschal left the suite and Grefon headed for the study.

“Get him out now!” Lord Marak softly exclaimed. “You have only seconds.”

Lord Marak drew his sinuous sword and retreated to the dark corner as Halman let go of the window and dropped to the ground. The door opened and Lord Marshal Grefon entered carrying a candle.

“Too loud a noise has been known to be fatal,” growled Lord Marak. “Close the door and put the candle on the desk.”

Lord Marshal Grefon closed the door quietly and placed the candle on the desk before turning to face Lord Marak. “I guess I should have been expecting you,” scowled Lord Marshal Grefon. “In any event, I’m glad you decided to stay rather than abort your mission. I have a room reserved for you.”

“It wouldn’t happen to be a room next to Cortain Rybak, would it?” asked Lord Marak. “Sit down. There are a few things I would like to make clear to you.”

“You always were overconfident,” sneered Lord Marshal Grefon as he sat on the couch. “You will have the rest of your life to talk with me. Why rush it?”

“I know you gave the Ragatha Clan permission to attack Fardale,” spat Lord Marak. “That was a major mistake on your part. Now Fardale will never be yours.”

“You are a fool, Marak,” laughed Lord Marshal Grefon. “We will have Fardale back in a week. We promised them we would not to come to your aid in Fardale. We never promised to let the Ragatha scum keep it. We will kick them out of there quicker than they kicked you out and we will have their estates, as well.”

“Lord Ridak will not be pleased with his Lord Marshal when he finds out how poorly your plans have worked,” smiled Lord Marak. “Fardale is now the estate of the Torak Clan led by myself. I would suggest that Lord Ridak call upon the Lords Council if he wishes to try to get it back.”

Lord Marshal Grefon finally seemed to notice the uniform Lord Marak was wearing and he stared at it as he answered. “You can’t be serious. Whether we go to the Lords Council or just assemble our armies against you, you will lose, either way. What did you promise the Ragatha Clan to keep them from attacking you?”

“I should kill you for turning your dog, Koors, loose on Rybak,” growled Lord Marak, “but I want you alive to suffer at Lord Ridak’s hands for your bungling.”

Lord Marak raised his sword and, as Lord Marshal Grefon cringed, hit him over the head with the hilt. He quickly sheathed his sword and lowered himself out the window. The estate grounds still appeared to be quiet and Lord Marak realized that the alarm was not sounded. The Seneschal must have heard Koors, but did not know where the sound had come from. He probably alerted Lord Marshal Grefon and left the decision about what to do up to him.

Lord Marak dashed across the open field and into the orchards. Looking around for the patrol, he dashed through the orchard to the path to the river. When he reached the river he ran along the bank until he came to the swimming area where the troops maintained a raft for recreation. He leaped onto the raft as Gunta swung his sword, cutting the ropes that held it in position. The momentum of Lord Marak’s jump pushed the raft towards the center of the river where the current started it moving downstream.

“Cortain Rybak does not look good,” remarked Halman. “He needs a healer badly.”

The closest healer other than the one at Lituk Valley was in River’s Bend or Forest Deep and Lord Marak could not go to either place. “He will need more than a healer if we don’t get out of here quickly,” sighed Lord Marak. “Do you think he can survive the ride back?”

“I don’t know,” admitted Halman. “I’m not a healer. I would feel better if he was treated before we returned.”

Lord Marak gazed at the riverbank as they went floating by. He knew Rybak would be hurt, but he did not anticipate that Koors would be allowed near him. Rybak must have suffered greatly at the hands of his old Cortain.

“All right, Halman,” decided Lord Marak. “When we get to the cave you will see that Rybak is comfortable. Gunta, you will leave for Fardale. Lord Marshal Yenga will be heading this way with his Army. Tell him to turn back to Fardale. Tell him that we were not captured. I will try to find a healer somewhere and bring him back to the cave. They will notice the raft missing in the morning and may search along the river for a while, so keep inside the cave at all times.”

“Lord Marshal Yenga will not be happy that we are not with you,” frowned Gunta.