Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“We do have the ability to regulate the pressure within an air tunnel,” mused MeadowTune, “but the air tunnel has such a small diameter. I am not sure it would do much good. We would need dozens of air tunnels to make any difference. Maybe hundreds. I just don’t know. We have never tried anything like that before.”

“Do we have enough mages familiar with that spell to try it?” asked StormSong.

“We have enough,” MeadowTune answered distractedly.

“I smell something burning,” smiled StormSong, “and it is not the Omungan bodies in the tunnel. What are you thinking about?”

“I am pondering why the Omungans are so intent on coming through the tunnel,” admitted MeadowTune. “They are leaderless now that General Valdey is dead, so why do they persist?”

“I am sure that the general was not alone in leading that army,” mused StormSong. “There would be lesser grade officers that would carry on the attack. Surely you did not expect them to all just turn around and go home when the general died? They will continue the attack until they are told otherwise.”

“Exactly,” grinned MeadowTune. “Why did we not think of this sooner?”

“Think of what?” StormSong frowned with confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“We need a lot of air tunnels to push the bad air out of the tunnel,” MeadowTune explained excitedly. “We have the mages to accomplish that, but why waste the air tunnel with nothing but air flowing through them?”

“What else would you put through an air tunnel?” questioned the Sakovan warrior.

“Voices,” replied MeadowTune. “Voices of once Omungan generals to be exact. Voices of authority that the Omungan soldiers respect. We control six cities that were once Omungan. Each of those cities has a regional general that has defected to us. We also now control General Romero, one of the most prominent generals from the Omungan army, and General Kapla, the former Minister of Defense. We can create air tunnels to each of our Omungan generals and get them to order Valdey’s army to retreat or surrender. We will feed their voices through the air tunnels that we are using to clear the air from the tunnel.”

“That is brilliant!” exclaimed StormSong. “The Omungans will no longer be leaderless. They will have eight generals telling them what to do. How long will it take you to set it up?”

“No more than an hour,” grinned MeadowTune.

* * *

“Are we ready for this?” asked Temiker as everyone gathered around the Star of Sakova.

HawkShadow, SkyDancer, StarWind, and Goral nodded silently. Ukaro merely smiled at the Star of Sakova. Lyra did not reply. She sat silently in the dining room of SunChaser's mansion in Okata.

“What is bothering you, Lyra?” asked Temiker.

“I am worried about what is happening in the Sakova,” replied Lyra. “I am asking all of you to risk your lives on this plan while StarCity may not even exist when we are done here. And that is assuming that we can even pull off what we are about to attempt. Are you all sure that this is the best approach?”

“We have all agreed to it,” replied StarWind. “While the risks are extremely high, so are the skills of the people around you. We will succeed or die trying.”

“It is the dying part that bothers me,” admitted Lyra. “There is such a wealth of talent in this room, and I am about to waste it all. If we lose here and in StarCity, the Sakova is finished. I wish Kaltara would give me a sign that it will not all be in vain.”

”Rest your heart, Lyra,” smiled SunChaser as she entered the room. “I just finished talking to MeadowTune in StarCity. Valdey's army is on the run. The messages from the generals caused enough to flee that it started a rout. The Imperial Guards are scattering throughout the Sakova with no one in command. StarCity is safe.”

“Praise Kaltara!” smiled Lyra. "Now I can concentrate on what we must do here in Okata.”

“There was also a message received in StarCity from Emperor Marak,” continued SunChaser. “MistyTrail and Mistake were found at sea by one of his ships. Evidently they managed to find Vand’s home. Emperor Marak is having them brought to Khadoratung so that he can hear first hand about the Island of Darkness. He requests that you contact him when you are through with your work in Okata.”

“And so I shall,” nodded the Star of Sakova, “as long as I am still able to. Let us go and do what we have assembled for. May Kaltara’s blessing be upon each of us this day.”

The Star of Sakova walked into the middle of the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace. To her left stood the headquarters of the Imperial Guard. Citizens moved through the plaza on their way to do whatever it was that brought them out of their homes, but no on paid any particular attention to the young woman. Lyra inhaled deeply as she thought about what she was about to do, and how that would change everyone’s reactions to her. She waited patiently as a young mother led her child through the plaza, passing too close to the Star of Sakova for comfort. Lyra knew that when she made her move no innocents should be nearby, as they might accidentally get hurt.

When the young mother had passed through the plaza, the Star of Sakova cast the spell that brought forth her blue cylinder of protection. The citizens of Okata had seen the cylinder before when Lyra stood against the last false Katana, Alazar. She knew that once it was noticed, all attention would be focused on her.

Sure enough, the shield was only in place for seconds before someone shouted. Instantly a leery crowd of citizens started forming a circle around the plaza. None came close to Lyra for fear of being hurt, but the people were too curious to run and hide. A few moments later, the first Imperial Guard showed up. He drew his sword as he ran into the plaza to confront the Star of Sakova, but he halted several paces away, his head turning to search for other soldiers before he tried to do anything. He did not have long to wait.

Imperial Guards stormed out of the headquarters building and from streets around the plaza. They ran from every direction until they almost filled the plaza. Lyra watched all of the posturing with a strange detached lack of emotion. When some of the Imperial Guards started advancing close to Lyra, she held up her hand for them to halt.

“Stop,” shouted the Star of Sakova. “I have a message for the citizens of Okata. Do not attempt to harm me or Kaltara will strike you down. He who raises a sword against me will lose his sword. He who reaches out to seize me will lose his arm. Citizens of Okata, call forth your families. Hail your brothers and sisters and tell them to hurry here. I have an important message for you.”

The Imperial Guards stood and stared at the Star of Sakova. Lacking leadership, they talked amongst themselves as they tried to figure out what to do. More Imperial Guards continued to stream into the plaza, pushing the citizens back as they gathered around the Star of Sakova. One new arrival, a junior officer, ordered several soldiers to slay the Star of Sakova. Lyra shook her head sadly as the soldiers obeyed. Several of the soldiers swung swords at Lyra. The blades of their swords disappeared as they met the blue cylinder. One unfortunate soldier moved his leg through the perimeter of the blue cylinder as he was attacking. He fell to the ground screaming. His lower leg was gone.

The attacking Imperial Guards fell back, much to the disappointment of the junior officer, who was shouting for the soldiers to attack. Not one of the Imperial Guards obeyed after having witnessed the results of the first attack. Two brave soldiers came close enough to grab the wounded man and carry him off to the healers.