Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“Is the Katana aware that the Sakovans are supplying us with food?” asked General Manitow.

“He is aware,” nodded the captain. “He has ordered that all such caravans be followed to determine the location of the Sakovan stronghold. The sooner we find StarCity, the sooner we can crush it.”

“Are they mad?” retorted the general. “Without Sakovan food our people will starve to death. Those caravans are the only thing feeding the people. Surely you misunderstood the orders that you carried?”

“I understand the orders perfectly,” countered the captain. “Why should we live on handouts from the Sakovans when we can seize all of their food? The starvation of the people only accentuates the need for haste in finding StarCity.”

The general shook his head with dismay. He could not imagine such an order coming down from Okata, yet he could not defy the Katana. Desperately he sought a way to stall the effects of the orders.

“I am not convinced that you have carried this message in its entirety,” stated the general. “I demand that you return to General Romero and confirm the orders of the Katana.”

“There is no need…” began the captain.

“That was not a request, Captain,” bellowed the general. “You will return to General Romero and verify these orders. I want the Katana’s orders in writing. Do you understand?”

“I understand perfectly,” spat the captain as he saluted.

The captain turned and strode out of the office. General Manitow rose from his chair and began pacing the floor. Finally, he marched out of the Imperial Guard headquarters and walked to the marketplace. He saw SpringThaw sitting on the seat of the lead wagon and walked over to her.

“General,” SpringThaw greeted warmly. “Your soldiers are very efficient with the distribution. The people have learned not to push and shove. It is a testament to your leadership.”

“Thank you, SpringThaw,” replied the general, “but I carry grave news. The Katana is moving to halt these shipments.”

“Why?” frowned SpringThaw. “I cannot imagine that he would prohibit free food for his people. It makes no sense.”

“I agree,” sighed the general as he felt that his thoughts were on the edge of treason. He knew that he dared not disclose too much to the Sakovans.

“What will happen if we continue the caravans?” asked SpringThaw. “The people will not last long without regular shipments.”

“You will be risking your life and the lives of the other five Sakovans,” frowned the general.

“Your men would kill us?” SpringThaw asked with confusion.

“This is not my doing,” the general tried to explain. “An army from Okata will be arriving here within the week. While I am in charge of Alamar, General Romero leads an army of the Katana. His Imperial Guards will chase you all the way back to StarCity. Is there some way that I can contact you in the Sakova?”

“Why would you want to contact us?” FalconEye asked skeptically as he stepped out from beside the wagon.

“Because I cannot believe the orders that were delivered,” stated the general. “I have sent for confirmation so that you have time to get home safely. I plan to speak to Mayor Reaker about this matter. Perhaps he can talk some sense into the Katana.”

“So you would like to let us know when it is safe to resume deliveries?” inquired SpringThaw.

“Precisely,” nodded the general. “I do not want to see harm come to you, but I cannot go against direct orders. Is there a way to get word to you?”

“There is,” FalconEye interjected before SpringThaw could speak. “If you can find a mage in this city who has the capability to send up a strong light into the night sky, I am sure that we will see it.”

“There is a magic school in Alamar,” nodded the general. “I believe that you came to see me the first day with their master. His name is Temiker.”

“Ah,” smiled FalconEye, “he was the citizen who led us to your headquarters. Yes, I remember him. Can he do such magic?”

“I would presume so,” shrugged the general. “I know little about magic, but I understand that he is very talented.”

“Then we shall await the night light,” smiled FalconEye. “Thank you for the warning.”

General Manitow nodded grimly as he turned and left.

“That was clever of you,” whispered SpringThaw. “Now I understand why you were sent with me. I probably would have answered in such a way that the general would know that we have spies in his city.”

“You did well,” FalconEye smiled thinly. “We should return to the Sakova with haste. I think there was much more that the general did not share.”

“The wagons are empty,” SpringThaw declared. “There is no reason to delay other than to watch the happy people getting their share of food.”

“I think we can dispense with that on this trip,” FalconEye responded. “I will tell the others that we are leaving.”

Within minutes the Sakovans were ready to leave. The Imperial Guards were surprised to see the Sakovans leaving so early, but they swiftly created a corridor through the crowd for the wagons. The people waved and shouted thanks as the Sakovans left the marketplace and rode out of the city. Within an hour, the caravan was out of sight of the city.

“We are being followed,” warned FalconEye.

“Imperial Guards?” asked SpringThaw without turning around.

“Yes,” answered FalconEye. “It is a group of around twenty. They are trying not to be seen, but I have counted them. Turn to the north.”

“That will take us to the coast,” frowned SpringThaw. “We will be trapped there.”

“We cannot lead the Imperial Guards to StarCity,” explained FalconEye. “If we are to die, it will be in Omunga, not the Sakova.”

“Do you think they will attack us?” questioned SpringThaw.

“As soon as they realize that we are not heading for the Sakova,” nodded FalconEye.

“Can we defeat them?” asked SpringThaw.

“We have wagons,” FalconEye shook his head. “We cannot outrun them. If we stop to unhitch the horses, they will attack before we finish the job.”

“But we have bows,” argued SpringThaw.

“As do they,” FalconEye pointed out. “We are also not in the Sakova. There are no trees to hide behind here. Oh, we can give them a fight, but they are wearing armor and we are not. They can stand off at a distance and rain twenty arrows upon us. They can also choose the time of the attack. If we were in the Sakova, we might have a chance. Out here in the open we have none.”

“Then why not lead them into the Sakova?” asked SpringThaw.

“It is too far,” explained FalconEye. “We would have to rest the horses before we reached the fringe of the Sakova. These men will not pass up that opportunity to kill us.”

“Even if it means not finding StarCity?” questioned SpringThaw.

“Yes,” stated FalconEye. “They are not patient men. Their impatience is why I was able to spot them so easily. The sooner we lead them astray, the safer the secrecy of StarCity.”

“I understand,” SpringThaw nodded sadly. “Even our general direction out of Alamar has already told them too much. I will turn gradually to the north so they do not notice it right away. You should alert the others to what is going on.”

* * *

Ukaro knelt in the field of watula and slowly ran his hand up the withered stalk of grain, his fingers pausing at each decayed area. He snapped the stalk between his fingers and brought one end to his nose. His split lips curled with distaste.

“These plants have been poisoned,” he announced as he stood up.

“Obviously,” nodded Temiker, “but by what? I have never seen such a disease before. I do not think it is natural.”