Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“In the garden!” gasped Colonel Zanta as the memories came back. “I remember that night. You and he talked in the garden. He got very upset and informed us that an assassination attempt was underway. He also said that you were to be admitted to his presence without question. I always wondered what you had said to him to make him know what was going on. If only you had given him more warning.”

“I know,” cried Cherri. “You can’t imagine how many nights I have cried myself to sleep over that. He was such a good Katana. He was the best we ever had.”

“He was the last Katana you ever had,” interrupted StarWind. “You let that murderous Alazar take over the country, but that was not bad enough. Now you have allowed an evil mage to rule over you.”

“Evil mage?” questioned Colonel Zanta. “What are you talking about?”

“Larst died the night before he was chosen Katana,” explained StarWind. “The historian, who had shadowed Larst’s every move for months before that day, was really an evil mage from distant shores. He assumed Larst’s identity and has been ruining your country and mine ever since. How can you Omungans be so foolish when it comes to choosing your leaders?”

“Do you have proof of these words?” asked the colonel.

“The proof awaits you in the plaza outside this palace,” replied StarWind. “Why do you think we have not just killed the Katana? We could easily take this city by force with General Kapla’s army, but the Star of Sakova has ordered otherwise. She wants the people of Omunga to see who has been leading them to ruin. We are commanded to bring the Katana and the Council to her. That is why I am talking to you. I would prefer not to kill several hundred good men to meet my obligations. Will you help?”

Colonel Zanta sat open mouthed as he digested StarWind’s words. Visions of intelligence reports flashed through his mind as he tried to find a single lie in the Sakovan’s words, but he could not. Finally he turned to Cherri.

“Didn’t General Kapla send orders for General Didyk to march to General Romero’s aid?” he asked.

“He did,” nodded Cherri. “I did not know of the letter of resignation at the time, or I would have asked the Katana to stop it. It was obviously to get Didyk’s army out of the way so Okata would fall easily.”

“As was the death of General Lafor,” added StarWind. “He was murdered to leave the Imperial Guards without leadership. They will probably rally to General Kapla when he arrives. If not, they will have no direction to defend against a well-trained army such as Kapla’s.”

“They are worthless,” nodded Colonel Zanta. “The Monitors would be the only real defense, and you are trying to declaw us.”

“I am,” admitted StarWind. “The Monitors are the best-trained group in Omunga. Still, I know that they would eventually be defeated, and that would be a shame. The Star of Sakova does not intend to be a conqueror. She intends to unite the Sakovans and the Omungans and rule over a combined people. She does not want to destroy the Monitors. She wants them to survive intact. They will be needed to rebuild the country after the war. Is she wrong for wanting that, Colonel?”

“No,” admitted Colonel Zanta, “but I find myself in a rather awkward position. The Monitors are sworn to protect the Katana with their lives. How can I possibly turn him over to his enemies?”

“The Sakovans already have the Katana,” answered StarWind. “His shields are gone, and he is magically frozen. You do not have to turn him over. What we want, Colonel, is to take him outside to the plaza. We do not want to kill your men to accomplish that. I see no conflict for you. The Katana will be in no greater danger outside than he is at this very moment. Therefore, your actions will not be endangering him in any way.”

“But you will kill him outside,” protested the colonel. “Your twisting of words will not change that.”

“We could easily have killed him already,” StarWind pointed out. “What is the name of your Katana?”

“What do you mean?” questioned the colonel. “He is Larst, or at least that is how we know him.”

“Then I will make a vow to you,” smiled StarWind. “I give you my promise that Larst will not be harmed if you facilitate the trip to the plaza. It is now in your best interests to accommodate us.”

“More word twisting,” sighed the colonel. “I understand what you are saying, but I have my vows to consider.”

StarWind walked to the door and cracked it open. She peered into the corridor and then turned her attention back to the colonel.

“I have done all that I can,” StarWind declared. “The decision is now up to you, Colonel. You have the chance to avoid a great deal of bloodshed if you wish. You will either go immediately to the garden and facilitate the moving of the Katana to the plaza, or blood will begin to flow through the halls of the Imperial Palace. I cannot help you make that decision. I am leaving now. I ask you not to try to capture me, but rather spend your time figuring out how you will decide. Your time is critically short. If you are not at the garden door in a few minutes, the battle will begin. Save your men, Colonel.”

StarWind slid through the door and a loud click sounded in the room as the door locked.

Cherri slipped the rope off her hands and jumped out of her chair. She raced to the door and tried to open it.

“She locked it,” frowned Cherri.

“She is a clever woman,” nodded Colonel Zanta. “I have to figure out just how clever, and do so quickly.”

“What do you mean?” asked Cherri as she left the door and returned to her chair.

“She makes a compelling case for doing exactly what she requests,” explained the colonel, “but it goes against everything that I have always believed in. How can I throw away the traditions of a thousand years?”

“Traditions are nice,” Cherri replied thoughtfully, “but they became traditions because they worked at the time. Omunga has never experienced times like these. Perhaps it is time to do what is right and not what we have always done.”

“You sound like you believe this Sakovan spy,” commented the colonel. “I am sure that she is trained to make people believe her.”

“Maybe she is,” shrugged Cherri, “but that does not stop anyone from analyzing the facts. I do know that the rest of Omunga has gone over to the Sakovans. Even General Kapla realized that Omunga was doomed. He would never have defected otherwise.”

“True,” nodded the colonel, “but that does not excuse me to do the same.”

“No it doesn’t,” agreed Cherri, “but think about what does. This Katana has ruined Omunga with his policies. He not only started a war that is literally tearing this country apart, but he intentionally starved his people. Who can justify following such a madman?”

“You think he intentionally starved the people?” asked the colonel.

“I am sure of it,” Cherri nodded vigorously. “General Kapla told me that the Imperial Guards had been issued orders to stop the Sakovans from supplying food to the Omungan cities. I am not sure if you realize it or not, but the Sakovans were sending caravans of food to each Omungan city. They did not do it for Okata because of the risks with the large armies being here. Why would a leader do such a thing to his own people?”

“One might try to justify it by saying that it would hurt the enemy,” frowned the colonel, “but that is hardly plausible with a starving population. Do you think the spy was telling the truth about the Katana and the historian?”

“I do know the historian that she was referring to,” replied Cherri. “He was always alongside Larst before he was chosen Katana. Isn’t it strange that he disappeared the night before the vote? Isn’t it also strange how Larst, who had been a vocal proponent of peace, declared war as one of his first orders? Yes, Colonel, I think she is telling the truth.”