Richard Tuttle - Aakuta - the Dark Mage

“Lord Marak is not a whimpering lord who runs and hides from danger,” chided Lord Quavry. “Besides, he would reside in the Imperial Palace for the duration of the Assembly of Lords meeting days. None would dare to touch him in that setting. There is no safer place in all of Khadora.”

Lord Marak raised his hand for silence as his eyes scanned the faces around the table. He thought back on the long road that had brought him to his position of relative prominence in the frontier of Khadora. Finally, he nodded, more to himself than to anyone else.

“I will be going to the Assembly of Lords,” declared Lord Marak. “The reforms that we have started out here on the frontier are too important to be ignored. I do expect each of you to support me when I speak to the other lords in Khadoratung. One last item before we adjourn. I do not want any contracts negotiated between now and when I issue new pricing instructions.”

“How long will that be?” asked Lord Rybak of the Situ clan.

“I am not sure,” answered Lord Marak. “I will let you know when I have decided.”

The assembled lords all looked to Lord Marak with questioning gazes, but the lord of the Torak clan left the table and the meeting room. He walked swiftly to his private office and sat behind his desk. He went through the stack of contracts that Kasa had left on his desk, but his mind was on other things. Thirty minutes later, Fisher quietly entered the office and closed the door.

“What did you think?” asked Lord Marak.

“Too early to tell,” answered Fisher, “but I think Lord Quavry was anxious for you to attend the meeting, and not for the same reasons as Lord Sevrin.”

“I doubt that Lord Quavry has ever fully embraced my reforms,” nodded Lord Marak. “How do we find out for sure?”

“We watch and listen,” shrugged Fisher.

“Not good enough,” declared Lord Marak. “If Lord Quavry is working against me, I want him replaced before the Assembly of Lords meeting.”

“So you really are planning on going,” Fisher said with surprise. “I thought you were just fishing for reactions.”

“I must go,” Lord Marak stated. “Lord Sevrin is correct about the need to constantly raise the question before those who rule Khadora. A great evil is coming, Fisher. Khadora cannot stand against it if we are divided.”

“Perhaps preparing Khadora for our enemy is more important than your reforms,” suggested the spy. “Perhaps you should not pursue the slavery issue.”

“I see the uniting of Khadora and slavery as the same thing,” retorted the Torak lord. “We cannot be a united people when some of us own the others. Besides, we will need battle mages to survive. I do not know what kind of creature Veltar was, but there is no doubt that he was a magician.”

“You think he was not human?” inquired Fisher.

“He disappeared when he was struck down,” sighed Lord Marak, “much like the hellsouls in Angragar. I do not know if he was human or not, but he was magical.”

“I will be in Khadoratung when the Assembly of Lords meets,” Fisher said. “You may need my help there. Be sure to wear your Qubari armor.”

“I will not leave Fardale without it,” nodded Lord Marak. “If Lord Quavry were sending messages, how would he do it?”

“Probably by bird,” guessed Fisher. “You could have someone north of his estate when you expect the next message to be sent. A good archer could down the bird and recover the message.”

“And we would never learn who the recipient was meant to be,” Lord Marak shook his head. “I think an air mage would be a better choice. She could force the bird to the ground and retrieve the message. Once we know who has sent it, and what it says, we can send it on its way.”

“You mean to let the message be delivered?” questioned Fisher.

“What better way to find out who my enemy is?” grinned Lord Marak.

When Lord Marak finished his conversation with his spy, Fisher, he left his office and headed for the office of Lord Marshal Yenga. He was only half-way there when Kasa intercepted him.

“Klora received a message from Mistake,” Kasa informed the lord.

“What is the message?” asked Lord Marak.

“Mistake is in Raven’s Point,” answered the bursar. “She arrived on one of your ships this morning. She wants to come here, to Fardale, to see you.”

“Did she indicate any problems in her message?” questioned Lord Marak.

“None,” Kasa shook her head.

“I wonder what the Fakaran is doing here,” murmured Lord Marak. “Have Klora send a message to Raven’s Point to lend whatever assistance Mistake needs, be it a horse, food, traveling instructions, or an escort. She is to be treated as a foreign lord friendly to the Torak clan.”

“I will see to it right away,” nodded Kasa.

“Not so fast, Kasa,” smiled Lord Marak. “What would you say our financial condition is?”

“It is excellent,” beamed the bursar. “We have more money than we need.”

“Good,” grinned Lord Marak. “I want you to notify the lords of a decision that I have made. You can tell them before they leave to their own estates.”

“Certainly,” agreed Kasa. “What will you have me tell them?”

“Tell them to raise their prices by ten percent,” Lord Marak replied.

“Ten percent?” echoed the bursar. “On everything?”

“Everything,” nodded Lord Marak.

“Our sales will plummet,” frowned Kasa. “Just because we are in a strong financial situation at the moment, does not mean that it will last forever. I implore you to reconsider. We will not be able to sell everything at those inflated prices.”

“I think we will,” retorted Lord Marak. “At the Assembly of Lords, I plan to announce a twenty percent discount to any estate that has no slaves. Wait. Make that any clan that has no slaves. Some of these Khadorans would strip a small estate of slaves just to use it to purchase things cheaper.”

“You will get no buyers,” frowned the bursar. “The other clans will steal your business.”

“Perhaps,” shrugged Lord Marak, “but I think not. We will be raising the prices today, and the meeting in Khadoratung is not for two weeks yet. I am willing to wager that a fair amount of clans will take the opportunity to raise their own prices in response. When they do, our discount will be rather tempting, and we will really only be losing twelve percent, which we can afford.”

“And if the other clans do not take the bait?” questioned Kasa. “Will you then rescind your price increase and look the fool for doing it?”

“No,” stated Lord Marak. “The Ksaly Company will purchase all of our excesses and resell them at whatever prices it needs to. Plus, we have the Omungan market and Fakara to take excess goods from us. We will not lose any money.”

“Using the Ksaly Company, which we set up to outwit Tachora, will certainly save us from ruin,” nodded Kasa, “and I admit that your dabbling in ships has paid off handsomely. Still you risk much and for what reason? The clans will not get rid of their slaves.”

“Won’t they?” countered Lord Marak. “What use do the clans have for slaves? Won’t Master Malafar’s idea of a magic school fill that need?”

“It actually might,” brightened Kasa, “especially since our mages will be well trained and theirs will not be. Still, you risk much if you plan on making that a speech in Khadoratung. You will sound like you are trying to force their hands.”

“I am forcing their hands,” admitted Lord Marak. “I might as well tell them up front. You had better hurry to catch the lords before they leave.”

“I will,” promised Kasa. “You should spend some time with Lyra and her party before this day is out. She has come a long way to see you, and you have not been around.”