Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“Tomorrow is another day,” shrugged the woman. “I will worry about it when it comes. Eat while it is hot.”

“No,” Lyra said adamantly as she rose.

Lyra opened her pack and began removing her trail rations. She piled them onto the table, as the woman’s eyes grew wide. When she had placed all of her food on the table, Lyra sat back down and started crying. The woman walked around the table and sat in her chair. She stared at the small pile of rations, and then gazed at Lyra.

“I don’t understand,” the woman finally said. “If it is not hunger that troubles you then why do you cry so much at the mention of food?”

“Because I have the ability to bring food here,” explained Lyra, “and I have not done so. Your people are starving because of me. I cannot do what is expected of me. I just can’t.”

“You have a story to tell,” the woman said softly. “My name is Shel, and I am a good listener. Tell me what troubles you.”

Lyra sniffed and gazed into the woman’s eyes. She tried to smile as she saw a bit of Rhodella in the woman’s face.

“I don’t know where to begin,” admitted the Star of Sakova.

“Start anywhere,” urged Shel. “Why have you come to Gatong?”

“I came to speak with the mayor or the general,” confided Lyra. “I am supposed to strike a bargain with them, but I cannot.”

“Strike a bargain with Mayor Robit and General Papper?” questioned Shel. “What can a young girl offer to men of power? Do not tell me that you are so desperate in life as to offer yourself? Do not do so, child. Whatever your problems are, we can work them out. Tell me what your needs are.”

Lyra wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at the woman. She took a few moments to compose herself before speaking. Shel waited patiently.

“My journey here concerns the needs of the citizens of Gatong,” Lyra declared. “I have the ability to send large quantities of food into the city. That is what I have come to offer to the mayor.”

Shel looked quizzically at the young woman. Her eyes narrowed appraisingly as she studied Lyra’s face.

“But you want something in return for the food?” asked Shel. “What is it that you seek from Gatong?”

“That was the plan,” admitted Lyra, “but I cannot do it. I should have sent someone else to negotiate.”

“And why can’t you do it?” asked Shel. “The people of Gatong are starving. If you have food to share, you must do so.”

“And I will,” promised Lyra. “I would not be human if I refused to deliver the food after seeing the citizens of Gatong.”

“Then everything is wonderful,” probed Shel. “Why do I suspect that you see this gift as a failure for some reason?”

“Because it is a failure,” explained Lyra. “The food that will be delivered had a price attached to it, but I cannot ask for payment now. Excuse me, please.”

Lyra walked to the door of the house and stepped outside. She inhaled deeply as she wove an air tunnel and directed it towards the sea. It took her a few minutes to locate Emperor Marak’s ship off the coast, but she quickly delivered the order to bring the food into port. When she turned to reenter the house, she found Shel standing behind her.

“Was that magic?” asked Shel. “Or are you crazy?”

“I am not crazy yet,” Lyra answered as she slid past the woman and returned to the table.

She sat down and grabbed a piece of dried meat from the pile of rations on the table. She ate slowly and was only peripherally aware of Shel sitting opposite her.

“Is there really a ship of food coming into port?” asked Shel.

“There is,” nodded Lyra. “There will be enough food to feed the city for a few days. There will be other ships following it.”

“Who are you?” inquired Shel as she stared at Lyra.

“My name is Lyra,” answered the Star of Sakova. “I grew up not too far to the north of here.”

“At the Academy of Magic?” gasped Shel. “I remember the ruckus when the academy was attacked. There was a young woman named Lyra who escaped. That is you, isn’t it? That is how you know magic.”

“It is me,” conceded Lyra.

Shel’s mouth opened wide and her eyes grew large as she stared at Lyra.

“Rumors say that young Lyra went on to become the leader of the Sakovans,” Shel said softly. “Is that what your problem is? You were supposed to offer food to the city in return for peace? Is that your plan?”

“That was my plan,” admitted Lyra. “The Imperial Guards will no longer allow our caravans to deliver food to Omungan cities, so I arranged to have it sent by ship. I was supposed to get the mayor to pledge to stay out of the war in return for food. I have failed.”

“Posh,” replied Shel. “You have not failed at all. It will still take some time for that ship to dock. I will take you to Mayor Robit myself. I am sure that he will agree to your conditions. The people of Gatong do not care for war in any event. What has he got to lose?”

“Why would he make any agreements when he will get the food anyway?” asked Lyra. “Besides, I cannot negotiate such a thing when I already know that the food is coming regardless of what he says.”

“You did not ask for any conditions when your caravans came here,” stated Shel. “Those caravans saved many people. Your ships will save many more. How can any Omungan want to kill people who are so generous?”

“Omungans will do what the Katana demands,” answered Lyra. “That is how it has always been.”

“Do you believe that we Omungans are evil?” asked Shel.

“Of course not,” frowned Lyra. “Why would I think such a thing? I grew up as an Omungan. The Omungans in the east have welcomed me to their cities, but Gatong is not the east. The Katana’s rule is much stronger here.”

“Do you send food to the eastern cities of Omunga?” asked Shel.

“Every day,” nodded Lyra. “Actually, they are no longer Omungan cities. Zaramilden, Duran, and Alamar have become Sakovan cities.”

“You conquered them?” gasped Shel.

“No,” Lyra replied swiftly. “There have been no battles in this war except with the armies invading the heart of the Sakova. The cities of the east have long felt abandoned by the Katana. There were rather eager to join the Sakova.”

“And you were hoping to do the same here in Gatong?” asked Shel.

“My hopes were not that high,” replied Lyra. “I do not expect the western cities to go against the Katana. My hopes were that the Imperial Guards stationed here would stay out of the war in return for free food. If I could get such guarantees from Fortung and Gatong, my people could focus on the armies of Okata.”

“You would be asking these cities to turn their backs on the Katana,” mused Shel. “That is a hard thing for a general to do. You cannot expect them to remain idle while you attack Okata. They will be called to attack you from behind. Surely you realize this?”

“I suppose you are right,” sighed Lyra. “For generations the Sakovans have hidden in the Sakova and the Omungans have tried to destroy them. This time is different. The current Katana appears to care about nothing other than the complete destruction of the Sakovan people. We have no choice but to fight.”

“And you are eagerly seeking a way that you can win,” nodded Shel. “That is understandable.”

“No,” Lyra shook her head. “We will win this war. What I am trying to accomplish is minimizing the number of Omungans that must die for our victory. We have no quarrel with the people of Omunga. We would be ecstatic if they would merely overthrow their Katana and leave us in peace, but this is not going to happen. The next best solution is to destroy only the main armies of the Katana that seek to destroy us. That is why I want as many cities as possible to stay out of this war.”