Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“Things are tense in Alamar now,” sighed Temiker. “General Manitow’s men brought the ambushers back to the city. It was an ugly affair. The citizens mobbed the soldiers and tried to snare the men from Okata. The Imperial Guards had to fight them off. There were quite a few wounded.”

“Then the people really are dissatisfied with things in Alamar,” mused the Star of Sakova. “Where does the mayor stand in all of this?”

“Mayor Reaker is a good man,” shrugged Temiker. “He really does care for his people, but he understands that all power stems from the Katana. He will try to talk to the people and calm them. If he cannot, he will utilize General Manitow and his men.”

“How many Imperial Guards report to General Manitow?” asked StarWind.

“Around a thousand,” answered Temiker. “They cover a large area from the Wytung Mountains to the tip of the Great Peninsula. That includes the large cities of Alamar and Breele.”

FalconEye woke and moaned softly as LifeTender cast healing spells on him.

“Let me lift him onto my desk,” offered Temiker. “It will be easier for you to minister to him. He had two arrows in his back. We can talk in the dining room.”

LifeTender nodded, but it was StarWind who lifted the wounded Sakovan and placed him on the desk. The Sakovan spymaster followed Lyra and her uncle into the dining room.

“What do you hope to accomplish here?” Temiker asked his niece.

“My original intent was to deliver more food and convince the people that we are friendly,” Lyra replied. “The ambush has changed my plans. It sounds like the people of Alamar are friendly towards us. That pleases me and gives me cause to hope for peace, but the pending arrival of General Romero’s army can crush that hope.”

“General Manitow tried to forestall any harm to our people,” Temiker pointed out, “but do not expect him to switch sides. Like the mayor, he cares for the people under his control, but he is a pragmatist. The Holy Katana still rules Omunga. He will obey his orders.”

“What if General Romero was lured someplace else?” asked StarWind. “Would General Manitow allow the continued delivery of food?”

“If we could stop orders coming in from Okata, he would,” mused Temiker. “He does not want war with the Sakovans, but he will feel duty bound to obey orders. In the absence of orders, we will be welcomed here.”

“How many men is General Romero bringing with him?” asked StarWind.

“We do not know,” answered Temiker. “Captain Gachiral probably knows. He was the leader of the ambush. His real purpose in coming here was to inform General Manitow to close the city to Sakovans. He is part of General Romero’s army.”

“I won’t be able to interrogate him,” frowned StarWind. “There is no plausible reason for a female to talk to him.”

LifeTender and FalconEye walked out of the office and joined the group.

“You are looking much better,” Temiker smiled broadly at FalconEye. “How do you feel?”

“Like a new man,” FalconEye replied to Temiker as he bowed low to Lyra. “I have failed you, Star. I am sorry.”

“You have failed no one,” Lyra said as she gently placed her hand on FalconEye. “It was I who sent you into danger. Your strength allowed our people to return home. You have done well.”

“We are talking about the people of Alamar and their feelings towards Sakovans,” interjected StarWind. “You can tell us much about that.”

“The people of Alamar are a good people,” declared FalconEye. “I was skeptical at first, but they greeted us more warmly each time we came. They practically worshiped SpringThaw. At first I thought it was only because of the food that we were bringing them, but I learned that I was wrong. Citizens hung around when all of the food was gone. They stayed to talk to SpringThaw mostly, but they were friendly towards all of us. Many of them invited us into their homes to share their meager rations.”

“That is not the mindset of a people who only seek what others have to give,” stated Lyra. “It sounds like we have developed a lasting friendship with the people here. We cannot allow that to die.”

“How can you sustain it?” asked Temiker. “If the Katana has declared war on the Sakovans, this friendship that you speak of is over.”

“Is it?” retorted the Star of Sakova. “It will only be over if we walk away from these people. I will not do that.”

“This city is not worth losing the Sakova for,” countered Temiker. “Ukaro and I are close to solving the problem of the disease. If we are successful, the starvation here will pass. Why risk losing StarCity and thousands of Sakovans over it?”

“Omungan armies are already entering the Sakova near Okata,” StarWind informed Temiker. “StarCity is already at risk.”

“And why not make the Omungans concentrate on their own soil, instead of ours?” proposed Lyra. “Are you well enough to travel, FalconEye?”

“He should rest more,” interrupted LifeTender. “He looks better than he really is. Healing takes time. I have just accelerated the process.”

“I am ready to serve my Star,” declared FalconEye. “What would you have me do?”

“Go to the marketplace,” instructed Lyra. “Find a table and stand upon it. Tell the people that the Sakovans have a message for all to hear. Ask them to gather. I will come within the hour.”

“As you command,” grinned FalconEye. “The citizens of Alamar will come to listen.”

“Go with him StarWind,” instructed Lyra. “Remain invisible, but be prepared to intervene if the Imperial Guards try to interfere. I do not want FalconEye harmed.”

StarWind hesitated, and Lyra smiled at her.

“I will travel with my uncle,” declared the Star of Sakova. “I will be safe. Go and take LifeTender with you.”

* * *

Mayor Reaker hurried into General Manitow’s office. The general looked up and waved the mayor to a seat, but Reaker declined.

“We have trouble,” declared the mayor. “The Sakovan is in the marketplace calling for the citizens to assemble to hear from the Sakovans.”

“I heard that there was a commotion there,” shrugged the general. “I have sent troops to quell any disturbances. If the citizens want to talk, I have no qualms against that, as long they remain peaceful. What Sakovan do you speak of?”

“The one who escaped the ambush,” answered the mayor. “I thought he would die.”

“FalconEye?” frowned the general. “Those wizards must have more skill than I imagined. I also thought he would die. He was practically dead when he arrived. Still, he is not much of a speaker. Were it SpringThaw calling upon the people I would be more concerned. She had the gift of arousing the people.”

“That’s it?” scowled the mayor. “You are just going to wave off this arousing of the citizenry?”

“I said that I sent troops,” retorted the general. “What do you want me to do? If some people want to gather together and share their woe, there is little I can do to stop it. I can chase them out of the marketplace, and they will just move to an inn.”

“Thousands of people are going to meet in an inn?” snapped Mayor Reaker.

“Thousands?” echoed the general as he looked up with a frown. “What do you mean thousands?”

“You haven’t been listening,” replied the mayor. “They have been gathering for almost an hour. Just about everyone is trying to crowd into the marketplace.”

The general leaped to his feet and stormed out the door of his office. He stood in the corridor and started shouting orders. Soldiers began running, and the general returned to his office.

“I am sending more men to the marketplace,” he declared, “but I must be cautious. This could just be a ruse to lessen the guards here. The people want Captain Gachiral and his soldiers to hang. I will not leave this building unguarded.”