Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“Enough with the reunion,” snapped StarWind. “I came here to talk, not to listen to you two babble. I am well skilled with Sakovan stars, Colonel. I mention this so that you understand that any wrong moves and you will both be dead. I am going to back away so that you can tie this social butterfly up. I do not wish her running out of the office while we talk. Do not try anything foolish.”

StarWind backed away and threw a small coil of rope to the floor near Cherri. Colonel Zanta heard the door close as he gently placed Cherri’s arms across her waist. He tied them loosely and winked at Cherri. She smiled and winked back.

“May I stand and at least see my enemy?” asked Colonel Zanta.

“Better than that,” replied StarWind. “You may sit behind your desk. I have already removed your fine assortment of hidden weapons. Make yourself comfortable. Put the wench in a chair facing your desk first. I do not want anyone to stop in and get the right impression.”

The colonel rose and gently lifted Cherri. He placed her in a chair and positioned it so it faced his desk. Then he walked around the desk and sat in his chair and gazed appraisingly at the Sakovan spy. StarWind stared back at him.

“What do you want with me?” asked Colonel Zanta. “I do not keep information on Omungan troop movements. That is the province of the Imperial Guards.”

“I know more about Omungan troop movements than you do,” chuckled StarWind. “No, Colonel, I did not come here for information. I came for your cooperation.”

“My cooperation?” echoed the colonel. “Cooperation with what?”

“With the surrender of Omunga,” smiled StarWind.

“Forget it,” snapped the colonel as things began to become clear. “You might as well kill me now. I will not betray my country for you. If you think I will trade my life for the Sakovan assassin in the Council Chamber, you are sadly mistaken. She will never leave that room alive. Neither of you will leave this building alive. Throw your star and get it over with.”

“Such bravery from a man serving a false government,” chided StarWind. “Look, Colonel, I don’t have time for a long debate on this. The Star of Sakova is outside in the plaza explaining the situation to the citizens of Okata. Okata will fall today. The question is how much blood must flow before that happens. You have within you the capability to minimize that bloodshed. Are you willing to spare the people of Okata from such horrendous consequences?”

“Taking the Katana’s Council hostage will not cause the surrender of Omunga,” retorted the colonel. “Your plan is foolish.”

“You are rather ill-informed,” frowned StarWind. “The Council was not taken hostage to end this war. They were taken to ensure that they observe the unveiling of your false Katana.”

“You will never get near the Katana,” vowed Colonel Zanta. “All Monitors would have to die before you could even get close to him.”

StarWind sighed and shook her head in a show of exasperation. “You really don’t understand the situation, do you? We already have the Katana. We already have the Council. I am looking for your help in getting them out to the plaza without having to destroy all of your Monitors.”

“Inconceivable,” scowled the colonel. “Do not expect me to believe your words when you would not even be able to find the Katana, much less destroy his escort and capture him.”

“Actually,” smiled StarWind, “His escort is still probably whole and standing outside the door to the garden. The Katana, however, I assure you is in our hands.”

The colonel’s eyes widened in surprise at the mention of the garden, but he was still defiant.

“Nevertheless,” he countered, “you cannot harm him. He is well protected by magical shields.”

“Omungan magic is feeble,” snipped StarWind. “Sakovans will not even be slowed down by such efforts. The Katana’s life is in our hands, as are the lives of the members of the Katana’s Council. As is yours for that matter, but we are wasting time here. Will you help end this situation in a painless way for all?”

“I cannot,” refused the colonel. “Even if all you say is true, I will not help you destroy this government. You may hold the reins of power at this time, but the Sakovans cannot stand up to the Omunga armies that will come and destroy you. A new Council will be chosen, and they will select a new Katana. Life will continue after you are defeated.”

“The Omungan armies will not defeat us,” retorted StarWind. “General Didyk is on a long march to starvation. Do you expect him to turn around and save the city? Forget it. His army will reach Alamar and surrender just as quickly as General Romero did. And what is left of Valdey’s army is fleeing for their lives. It will be over a week before the remnants of that army emerge from the Sakova.”

“Perhaps General Kapla will return and surprise you?” shrugged the colonel. “It doesn’t really matter which army crushes you and returns Okata to its rightful rulers.”

“General Kapla and his army are indeed marching on Okata as we speak,” smiled StarWind, “but that is not something you should crow about. He is coming to sack Okata if it has not already surrendered to the Star of Sakova.”

“Preposterous,” balked the colonel. “General Kapla is the Minister of Defense.”

“She is telling the truth,” Cherri said softly.

Colonel Zanta’s eyes widened as he stared at Cherri questioningly.

“That is why I am here today,” Cherri continued. “General Kapla sent a letter of resignation with the courier that came in the other day. I tried to deliver it to General Lafor this morning, but I found out that he had died. I decided to give it to the Katana and came here early this morning. I stopped in the general’s office first. I started crying when I thought about what he had done. I guess I lost track of time. It seems like hours have passed since then.”

“I wondered how you had managed to get into the palace,” Colonel Zanta sighed as if the Sakovan spymaster was not in the room.

“When I went looking for the Katana,” Cherri continued, “I saw this spy entering your office. I thought I could capture her, and that would somehow make up for what Kapla did. Why is everyone joining the Sakovans?” she sniffed.

“Not everyone,” comforted the colonel.

“Just about,” countered Cherri. “Every major city except Tanzaba has already defected. Our armies are gone. All that remains of our country is Okata, and now it is falling. What did we do wrong?”

“You allowed false Katanas and warmongers to lead your country,” replied StarWind. “You attacked a peaceful neighbor while allowing your citizens to starve to death. Do not cry for the fate of Omunga. It is a country that was ruled by cruel, heartless men. The Star of Sakova is different. She cares for her people, especially the ones who used to be Omungan. They are now well fed and cared for. The same will be true in Okata. Already she has ships loaded with food waiting off the coast. The famine will be just a memory by the end of this day.”

“Is that true?” asked Cherri. “Or just something to say to get us to do what you want?”

“It is all true,” StarWind said compassionately. “The Sakovans have never wanted ill for the Omungan people. You of all people should know that. Didn’t I expose myself to you as a Sakovan spy in an attempt to save Katana Maxim? Do you think I did that for selfish reasons?”

“What is she talking about?” asked Colonel Zanta. “How did you know she was a spy?”

“It’s true,” Cherri nodded. “The day Katana Maxim was assassinated, she came to me and asked me to get a message to the Katana. She told me that a high-level official of Omunga was planning on killing the Katana. She also told me about Master Malafar being held in the mage cells. Maxim knew what it meant when I told him.”