Richard Tuttle - Aakuta - the Dark Mage

“What type of behavior?” questioned Lord Marak.

“As I am sure you are well aware,” Seneschal Shamino began, “working without slaves presents a challenge for an estate that has long utilized slavery to accomplish our tasks. You were wise in ordering us to send our people here to Fardale for training, and I have seen a marked increase in efficiency upon their return. I became concerned when Lord Quavry demanded to meet with people privately upon their return from Fardale. Lord Quavry has never taken an interest in the running of the mansion before, so it intrigued me that he suddenly became very interested in these people.”

“So you reported this to the marshal?” asked Lord Marak.

”No,” Seneschal Shamino said. “I also interviewed the same people to find out what he was asking them, but he had no questions that indicated a betrayal, so I imagined that I was seeing wolves where none existed. It was not until yesterday that I became concerned enough to mention all of this to Marshal Patoga. Lord Quavry demanded that I send more people to Fardale for training.”

“Why does that bother you?” inquired Lord Marak. “You just said that the training was making the workers more productive.”

“Indeed it does,” Seneschal Shamino nodded vigorously, “but all of my people have already been here for training. Lord Quavry did not seem to care that they had all been trained. He wanted some sent back here for more training. Thinking that he had witnessed some poor behavior among my people, I questioned which ones needed to be retrained. His answer disturbed me. He did not care who I sent to Fardale for training, as long as I kept up a steady flow of people going to Fardale. There is something very wrong going on here, but I cannot fathom what it is. That was when I decided to bring my concerns to Marshal Patoga.”

“What type of questions has Lord Quavry been asking your people?” asked Lord Marak.

“That is the puzzling part of it all,” frowned the seneschal. “I cannot see any harm in the questions that he asks. It sounds as if he just wants to know what is going on here. He asks about visitors, meetings, caravans, and a lot of questions about you. I know there is something devious going on, but I cannot discover it.”

“He asks about caravans?” questioned Lord Marak. “Does he ask specifically about when they are leaving?”

Seneschal Shamino hesitated for a moment before answering. “Yes,” he finally nodded. “One consistent question always asked of my people was if they had seen any caravans leaving Fardale. You seem to find something in that question that I fail to see. What possible harm can there be in him knowing when your caravans leave Fardale?”

The veins in Lord Marak’s temples began to throb visibly, but he remained silent for several minutes. Finally he rose and began pacing.

“Would you leave us for a moment, Seneschal Shamino?” Lord Marak asked as he stopped pacing and faced the table. “Wait in the hallway beyond the door. I will need to speak with you again in a moment.”

“Certainly,” bowed the seneschal as he rose and retreated out of the room.

“As you suspected,” Lord Marshal Yenga said softly. “Shall I have him arrested?”

“Not yet,” Lord Marak shook his head. “While I cannot find any viable reason for Lord Quavry to be searching for the information that he has been seeking, it is not enough to arrest the man. If he does try to get that information to others, then he shall pay the price for violating his Vows of Service. My attention now is on Lord Quavry’s replacement. What do you think of Seneschal Shamino? He obviously seems to honor his Vows of Service. Does he have the skills necessary to be Lord of the Sorgan Clan?”

“He does,” nodded Yenga. “I have known him for many years, and loyalty is one of his strongest traits. He runs the mansion flawlessly and is a stickler for details. I think his feelings about Lord Quavry show that his intuition is good, and the way he conducted himself with his suspicions speaks highly for his intelligence. He was not rash in leveling false charges, yet he knew when to confide in others. I cannot think of a finer replacement unless you went outside the Sorgan clan in you search for a new lord.”

“I want the lord of the Sorgan clan to be a Sorgan,” declared Lord Marak. “I will not look elsewhere. Marshal Patoga, do you agree with Yenga’s assessment?”

“I do,” nodded Patoga. “Seneschal Shamino would manage the clan well, and his loyalty to you would be without question. He has been eager to have his people trained so that he could effectively institute your reforms, and he has done so very well. I cannot think of a better choice.”

“Good,” nodded Lord Marak. “Yenga, make sure that we have several air mages north of the Sorgan estate immediately.”

“One is already stationed there,” replied Yenga. “I will send more immediately.”

“Send Seneschal Shamino in when you leave,” Lord Marak said to Yenga. “Also make sure that every Sorgan visitor knows that the caravan is leaving. Do not make the telling of the information obvious, but ensure that each of them knows.”

Lord Marshal Yenga left the meeting room, and Seneschal Shamino entered. Lord Marak motioned him to take a seat.

“I thank you for bringing this news to my attention, Shamino,” smiled Lord Marak. “I am pleased with the work you have been doing at Watula Valley and plan to make you the next Lord of the Sorgan Clan. Is that an adjustment that you feel comfortable with?”

“It would be an honor and a pleasure to serve you in any capacity, Lord Marak,” replied the seneschal, “but to serve as a lord would be the fulfillment of my dreams. I am uncomfortable with your decision, however.”

“Why?” asked Lord Marak.

“Your words, while not promising to make me lord immediately,” frowned the seneschal, “lead me to believe that you plan on removing Lord Quavry soon. While I do believe that he is not taking his Vows of Service seriously, he has not violated them. The scant information that I have provided is hardly enough to justify such a drastic punishment. I could not accept the position knowing that his removal is unjust.”

“Your reply pleases me,” smiled Lord Marak as a puzzled frown fell over Shamino’s face. “No person should be punished without proof, and I will not remove Lord Quavry under such circumstances. There is more to this than you know, though. The last three Torak caravans have been ambushed. I have suspected that Lord Quavry was the source of information required by the ambushers, but I could not confirm it, nor could I figure out how he was being informed. You have solved the last part of that problem for me. Tonight I will have the proof that I require.”

“How so?” asked Seneschal Shamino.

“I believe that Lord Quavry has been sending information to an enemy using messages attached to birds,” answered Lord Marak. “If I am correct, Lord Quavry will release a bird tonight detailing the departure of my caravan today.”

“We do have birds on the estate that I cannot find records for,” frowned the seneschal. “We have not purchased them, and I have been forbidden to use them for messages that I send to the capital. I thought you had ordered them there. How will you stop the message from being delivered?”

“I have made arrangements for the bird to be captured after it leaves the mansion,” Lord Marak answered vaguely. “If this comes to pass, I will expect you to take Lord Quavry’s place at the Assembly of Lords. Be sure that you are prepared for departure in the morning.”

“I would like to see the message myself,” declared Seneschal Shamino. “I must be sure of his treachery.”

“I understand,” nodded Lord Marak. “Marshal Patoga will arrange for you to inspect the bird and the message. This must be done with secrecy. I will not alert Lord Quavry to my knowledge of his plans.”