Richard Tuttle - Island of Darkness

“True,” Cherri nodded impatiently, “but when did he change his attitude?”

“That is a good question,” conceded the general. “When he was First Minister, he was very vocal for peace. In fact, I heard that he was holding secret meetings with the Star of Sakova, but those rumors must be false because his first order upon becoming Katana was to draw up war plans.”

“I heard those rumors at the time,” Cherri declared, “and they were not false. He had several meetings with the Star of Sakova.”

“How do you know all of these things?” questioned the general. “It can not all be from rumors.”

“You are right,” smiled Cherri. “There are rumors, but I seek out information. Remember that I once told you that information is money?”

“I do remember that clearly,” nodded General Kapla, “and from all accounts, you have proved it is true by handling my assets.”

“Well,” continued Cherri, “that makes me seek out the truth of many rumors. Do you remember that historian that was constantly shadowing Larst?”

“You mean the Katana,” scolded the Minister of Defense. “Yes, I remember him. He hasn’t been around in a long time.”

“He was last seen the day before the new Katana was chosen,” declared Cherri.

“What does that have to do with anything?” asked the general.

“I am not sure,” admitted Cherri, “but it made me curious. I hired an investigator to see what happened to him. Do you know what I found out?”

“I have not a clue,” shrugged the general. “What did you find out?”

“He never existed,” smiled Cherri.

“That is nonsense,” balked the general. “He existed. I met him.”

“No you didn’t, General,” corrected Cherri. “I will grant you that you met someone who claimed to be a historian, but the man you met was not one. He was an imposter.”

“Imposter?” echoed the general. “For what purpose would someone impersonate an historian?”

“To gain access to the next Katana,” stated Cherri. “Larst must have suspected something because he had the Monitors investigate the man.”

“Stop calling him Larst,” pleaded the general. “You may get me calling him that, and that would not be healthy for my career.”

“I am calling him Larst because that is who I am talking about,” insisted Cherri. “I am not talking about the Katana.”

“What do you mean?” frowned the general. “Larst is the Katana.”

“I don’t think so,” Cherri shook her head. “Larst would not call for war against the Sakovans. He was always a peacemaker, and I know for a fact that he did hold secret meetings with the Star of Sakova. I also know that those meetings were very fruitful. Larst was himself the day before the Katana was chosen. In fact, he met with the Star of Sakova the day before the Katana was chosen.”

“How do you know this?” asked General Kapla.

“From the Imperial Guards,” answered Cherri. “Ask them yourself. He always had a small detail accompany him to those meetings. Now, add to this the fact that the false historian disappeared the very same day and what do you have?”

“I have no idea,” the general shook his head. “What do we have?”

“We have a mage who stole Larst’s body when he found out that Larst would be chosen Katana the very next morning,” declared Cherri.

“That is preposterous,” scowled General Kapla. “You are never to repeat those words again. It is treasonous, and you would be killed for saying them. Never say them again.”

“That is exactly what the Katana would want,” pouted Cherri. “Never speak the unspeakable so that no one will ever know the truth.”

“Enough,” sighed the general. “Change the subject. I will not talk about the Katana this way. I will not listen to you speak treasonous words any more.”

“Very well,” sighed Cherri. “I will change the subject if this one bothers you so much. What shall we talk about?”

“I don’t know,” the general said softly. “I am sorry for getting upset with you, but I do not want to lose you to an untimely death.”

“Right,” Cherri said with finality. “Let’s talk about the war. Wars are always good for helping the food to digest. Who do you think will win this one?”

“You are making fun of me,” chuckled the Minister of Defense. “There is little to talk about. Omunga has always won, and we will always win. It is no contest.”

“But this is the first time that cities have defected,” Cherri pointed out. “That must be causing some concern.”

“It truly is causing concern,” nodded the general. “The Katana is livid about it. Four cities have already defected, and anyone with half a brain can predict that Fortung will be next. It is so close to Gatong that the Sakovans will not pass it by.”

“That makes sense,” nodded Cherri. “There is probably little that can be done to change that, though.”

“Sure there is,” smiled the general. “We will be one step ahead of the Sakovans this time. Finally, we know where they will strike before they do.”

“What will you do?” inquired Cherri.

The general looked around the room conspiratorially even though he knew the servants had been dismissed.

“General Didyk is leaving in the morning with ten thousand men,” whispered the general. “When the Sakovans invade Fortung, we will be waiting for them.”

“What if the Sakovans get there first?” asked Cherri. “You did say it was rather close to Gatong.”

“True,” nodded the general. “There is a possibility that the Sakovans will get there first, but that will not stop General Didyk. He has orders to destroy the city if they defect to the Sakovans. The savages will not move one single step closer to Okata.”

“Oh no!” exclaimed Cherri as she started to swoon.

General Kapla rose from his chair and raced around the table. He caught Cherri just as she was falling off her chair. He placed her gently on the floor, Cherri’s eyes roving in their sockets as if she had delirium.

“What is it?” General Kapla asked with grave concern. “Are you ill? Do you need a healer?”

“No,” Cherri said weakly as she waved her hand dismissively. “No healer. I will be all right. Just give me a moment.”

Cherri closed her eyes for a moment and then snapped them open. She tried to get up, and the general had to help her into her chair.

“I am so sorry,” Cherri said weakly. “Please forgive me.”

“Nonsense,” the general said encouragingly. “You do not need to apologize for feeling ill.”

“That is not what I meant,” Cherri replied. “I was apologizing for what I have done to you.”

“Me?” questioned the general. “Whatever do you mean? You haven’t done anything to me.”

“Sit,” Cherri pointed to the general’s chair. “Please sit down while I explain this.”

The Minister of Defense’s face clouded with confusion, but he walked around the table and sat down in his chair. He looked at Cherri expectantly.

“You are not going to care for this news,” Cherri said as she steadied her head with her hands.

“What are you talking about?” prompted the general. “What can possibly be the matter?”

“You fortune, General,” sniffed Cherri. “It is all wrapped up in farms around Fortung. If General Didyk marches his army on Fortung, you will be ruined.”

“Fortung?” the general said with anguish in his voice. “That can’t be.”

“From a rich man to a pauper in one day,” sniffed Cherri. “How cruel can the fates be?”

“He will only attack if Fortung has already gone Sakovan,” the general fretted as he sought to find some glint of hope in the situation.

“That most assuredly will be the case,” sobbed Cherri. “You already mentioned how close they are to Fortung. The Sakovans move very quickly. They grabbed three cities on the east coast before anyone even knew. They will not hesitate to seize Fortung.”