Richard Tuttle - Web of Deceit

“Wyant,” greeted Adger. “Welcome to Ghala.”

“Adger,” smiled Wyant. “I think we should stick to Marshal until our friend has left us for good. Isn’t this a little far from Ghala for a wall?”

“Not since the tribes arrived,” grinned Adger. “The Kheri and the Extala have joined with us to build this wall and a finer wall you will not find. Come let us meet with Blaka and Yojji. I will send a runner for Rejji so you do not have to enter the main part of Ghala. Brakas still roams around it looking to buy a horse so he can escape.”

“What is wrong with his horse?” questioned Wyant as Adger nodded to a soldier and indicated he should get Rejji.

“I am not sure,” laughed Adger. “It seems even his own horse refuses to suffer him these days. He has been thrown more times than the waves hit the beach.”

Wyant looked around as he walked and marveled at the number of homes that occupied the once tiny village. The last time he was this close to Ghala, it was not part of the town. The spot he was standing in was close to where he had hid outside of the town waiting for Brakas. Now it was well within the confines of the new wall.

“I did not imagine the tribes would take up so much room,” Wyant stated.

“You have not seen the tribes with each man having his own home before,” commented Adger. “In addition to the tribes coming here, many villages have picked up and moved here as well. The people still arrive daily.”

“And the food is adequate?” inquired Wyant.

“Rejji is generous with the food,” smiled Adger. “We are still a little light on meat, but that will change as the herd grows. Fishermen also bring in food daily. I have not eaten this well in a long time. I was concerned about all of the tribes getting along here, but there have been no problems. We started up some friendly competitions to provide some sport each night. It started out as tribe versus tribe, but quickly changed to teams that chose the best men, regardless of tribe, in order to win. It has broken down a lot of the tribal mentality.”

“Do you see that as good?” questioned Wyant.

“I would not have a year ago,” admitted Adger, “but I do today. The tribes have really outlived their usefulness I think. When we can accomplish something like this by working together, why should we seek to rule over one another.”

“So there are no complaints in working for the lad?” quizzed Wyant.

“Complaints?” chuckled Adger. “Quite the opposite. Each man has been responsible for building his own house. The men, quite on their own, have volunteered to help each other and I do not mean the men of the same tribe. When we Mutangs arrived, there was not any room inside the stockade. We camped outside the wall along with the Extala. When it came time to build our homes, we had volunteers from over a dozen tribes to help us, along with common villagers. It is a bonding experience to work side-by-side with another man for a common goal. No, if anything, Rejji has gained the admiration of every man here. Without his dreams, we would be starving in the mountains waiting to die at Grulak’s hand.”

“Well dreams are good,” conceded Wyant, “but times will not always be so rosy.”

“It is more than his dreams,” continued Adger. “He fosters good will towards others. He is always open to suggestions and never assumes he knows best, although most of the time he does. He has a good head on his shoulders. He seems to choose people for tasks that they are well suited for. I know times are going to get tough soon and the men know it too. Many of us will die, but we will go into battle knowing that we are not being discarded for someone’s ambition. What matters to Rejji is the welfare of all Fakarans. It is hard to dislike someone with such an attitude.”

“Marshal,” greeted Yojji. “Glad you made it through the Jiadin. We saw one of their armies on the way in.”

“As did we,” added Blaka. “I think it was Winus’s group. They did not appear anxious to engage us.”

“I can imagine that they were not,” smiled Wyant.

Wyant stood and gazed at the instant city. He stood staring down a broad street, which led to the old stockade wall in the distance. Dozens of cross streets intersected the avenue and each cross street ran for ten houses to his right and left before meeting with another street. In between the two rows of houses that comprised each block was a wide-open area, which would have looked like another street except for the gardens that were being planted.

“Why are the houses arranged as they are?” Wyant asked.

“A bright lad named Lakado designed them,” answered Blaka. “Each house is to have room for a garden behind it. Flower or vegetable, depending on the owner’s whim. The blocks are long to make it harder on an invading army. Their forces would be sufficiently divided to be attacked individually. You should see what they are planning for the center of the city. They have left a large area undeveloped for future community buildings. Some thought has gone into this.”

“I would like to see it,” frowned Wyant. “Is there some way we can get Brakas out of the way for a while?”

“We might talk him into trying to mount his horse again,” chuckled Rejji as he arrived with Mistake and Bakhai. “I am sure you could tour the entire city while he is at the healers.”

“That would suit me,” laughed Wyant. “There can not be too much pain inflicted on him in my mind.”

“I am glad to see that you arrived safely,” greeted Rejji.

“Actually, I didn’t,” stated Wyant. “I was captured by the Jiadin.”

“Winus?” questioned Yojji.

“Yes,” nodded Wyant. “He is fed up and ready to join us. I promised him we would send him six Wasooki to feed his men.”

“Send him food?” questioned Blaka. “Why doesn’t he just come in like the rest of us? This does not smell right.”

“Are you sure we can trust him?” asked Adger.

“Yes, we can trust him,” replied Wyant. “He would love to come in and join us if he could. Grulak assigned a wizard to him, or more correctly, Grulak assigned Winus to the wizard. Winus is tired of seeing his men killed for no reason. They are starving and the wizard controls their movements. Winus is afraid his men would be slaughtered if he tried to defect.”

“I believe that,” scowled Mistake. “I have seen this magician in action. His rockslides killed many of the Jiadin when they were chasing us up Mount Kiator.”

“He is powerful then?” queried Yojji.

“Yes,” answered Mistake. “If Winus is sincere, he has reason to fear the mage.”

“I will arrange for the wasooki to be delivered, if you will give directions to the men taking them,” declared Rejji. “How can Winus help us where he is?”

“Well, he will not be attacking us for one,” replied Wyant. “How we can use his forces outside the city is something we should discuss. One thing I think is becoming abundantly clear though, the Jiadin will have to attack us soon.”

“They are starving too?” posed Rejji.

“Yes,” nodded Wyant. “Grulak had hoped to be well into Khadora by now. Ghala now has the three things that Grulak needs to take care of. Rejji, the free tribes, and food are all here in one place. It is a target he can not resist.”

“Is he aware of all this?” asked Rejji.

“Not yet,” responded Wyant. “Winus has figured it out though so it will not be long before someone else does. I think that alone speaks volumes for the mindset of Winus. He could have delivered his thoughts to Grulak and has not.”

“I agree,” declared Adger. “The only reason for his silence is that he has made his mind up to change sides. Good, we can use all the help we can get.”