Aakuta: the Dark Mage (16 page)

“But you knew my name,” Wendal said in confusion.

“Rejji told me all about you,” smiled Mistake. “He said you taught him a great deal.”

“You are Rejji’s girl?” grinned Wendal. “No wonder he was love struck. Where is he? What is he doing? How did he gain your freedom?”

“He said he was love struck?” asked Mistake.

“He didn’t say it,” shrugged Wendal, “but I can tell these things. He spent three days trying to get enough gold to buy your freedom. I wish he had bought his own freedom. He is a talented lad. I could use him.”

“He is talented,” nodded Mistake. “He is no longer a slave.”

“He isn’t?” grinned Wendal. “Is he here in the city with you?”

“No, he has returned to Fakara,” Mistake replied.

“Fakara?” spat Wendal. “He does not belong in that barren country. The lad has a knack for dealing. He needs to be in a large city like Khadoratung.”

“Perhaps he will build one in Fakara,” teased Mistake.

“Not much chance of that happening,” Wendal shook his head. “The last news I had of Fakara is that of warfare. I heard that one called Grulak is fighting the other tribes for the right to rule all of Fakara. It is a dangerous place. You should get word to Rejji to come here.”

“Actually,” grinned Mistake, “Rejji sent me here instead. He wants to know what we can sell to the Khadorans now that Fakara is rebuilding.”

“Fakara is rebuilding?” echoed Wendal. “Who won? Was it Grulak or the free tribes?”

“Rejji won,” declared Mistake. “Rejji is now the ruler of Fakara. Grulak is dead. The free tribes have all gathered behind Rejji.”

“You are serious,” grinned Wendal. “I can tell it in your eyes. I always knew that lad had something special. What kind of goods can he supply?”

Mistake stood at the corner of the marketplace waiting for the Sakovans to arrive. HawkShadow appeared first, and Mistake watched him approach. The assassin’s gait appeared normal, but the small Fakaran could detect the wariness in him. HawkShadow’s eyes scanned the crowd around him without ever seeming to move. The natural movement of his head afforded him a wide perspective of the marketplace and the people within it. Mistake began to wonder about what the Sakovan could teach her. She was sure that HawkShadow had never been to this city before, yet he looked as if it was his home. He smiled and nodded to people who naturally returned his greeting as if they knew him.

“Any sign of StarWind?” HawkShadow asked softly as he reached the corner that Mistake was standing on.

“Not yet,” answered Mistake. “Aren’t you nervous about being in this city?”

“I do not care much for being in any city,” shrugged HawkShadow as he gazed over Mistake’s shoulder. “Here she comes now.”

Mistake started to turn around, but HawkShadow’s hand shot out and landed on her shoulder.

“You do not need to see StarWind for her to arrive,” smiled HawkShadow. “It is better to notice things without appearing to. Just act as if we are old friends who have met by chance. We will be ignored that way.”

Mistake nodded to HawkShadow as StarWind stepped up alongside her.

“Nothing,” smiled StarWind as she gazed beyond HawkShadow. “Did you have any luck?”

“Same as you,” shrugged HawkShadow. “Nobody has seen General Didyk or anyone resembling him. You would think that someone would remember him. Perhaps Khadoratung was not his destination.”

“Oh it was,” grinned Mistake.

HawkShadow and StarWind both glanced at the diminutive Fakaran.

“Explain,” HawkShadow said.

“He arrived three days ago,” reported Mistake. “He spent one night in an inn and then left, but he did not leave the city.”

“How do you know this?” inquired StarWind.

“I had a long conversation with one of the merchants,” answered Mistake. “He seems to know everything that goes on in Khadoratung. The general asked a lot of questions about the Lords’ Council, as if he was seeking an audience with one of its members. Wendal could not tell which lord the general was searching for.”

“Where is this merchant Wendal?” asked HawkShadow.

“He has gone home for the day,” shrugged Mistake. “I do not know where he lives, but his stall is in the canter of the last row of stalls. He sells expensive art objects.”

“How does he know that the general is still in the city?” questioned StarWind.

“His horse is still at the inn that he stayed at the first night,” replied Mistake. “Some men came to get him the second day he was here. He has not been back since.”

“And this merchant just happens to…” StarWind began.

“You have done well, Mistake,” interrupted HawkShadow with a broad smile. “Keep your ears open. If you hear any more, let us know.”

“Where are you staying?” asked Mistake.

“We haven’t decided yet,” answered HawkShadow. “I suppose one of the inns around the marketplace will do. Where are you staying?”

“I think I will stay at the Wine Press,” answered Mistake. “They treated me well at the midday meal today.”

“Perhaps we will stay there, too,” nodded HawkShadow. “Maybe we will see you there for the evening meal.”

“That would be nice,” Mistake said with a slight frown.

Mistake knew enough to understand that she was just dismissed. She smiled slightly and turned to visit the merchant stalls that were quickly closing for the day. HawkShadow took StarWind’s arm and let her away from the marketplace.

“Why did you cut me off back there?” StarWind asked when they were alone. “Don’t you think it odd that a merchant keeps tabs on the horses of guests at the inns?”

“Most assuredly,” declared HawkShadow. “This Wendal is more than a merchant. Of that I am sure, but Mistake does not understand that. I do not know why he confided in her, but I did not want to poison that relationship. If we put our doubts about Wendal into her mind, I am sure that he would detect her change in attitude and stop giving her information.”

“All right,” agreed StarWind, “but I want to know more about him. Who is he working for? And why did he share information with Mistake?”

“Very good questions,” shrugged HawkShadow. “We will take turns observing him tomorrow.”

“If General Didyk is meeting with the Lords’ Council,” frowned StarWind, “it may mean that the truce between Omunga and Sakova will not last long.”

“I doubt the Lords’ Council would meet with an Omungan general,” mused HawkShadow, “but he might get an audience with a member of the Lords’ Council. From what I have heard, Khadora is little different than Omunga in the way that the powerful people vie against one another.”

“The question is what a lord of Khadora would have to gain from such a meeting,” posed StarWind. “Omunga has little to offer Khadora. There can be no leverage in dealing with Omunga that one lord could gain over another.”

“That is what bothers me the most,” HawkShadow said pensively. “Dealing with Omunga means little to Khadorans, so the general’s worth is in what he can do for Khadora. What can he do for Khadora?”

“He is not here to find an ally to aid Omunga in taking over Khadora,” shrugged StarWind. “Nothing would force the Khadoran clans to join together quicker than a threat of invasion from Omunga. He would find no ally here.”

“The last thing Omunga would want is a united Khadora,” nodded HawkShadow. “That is something the Omungans fear.”

“Which is exactly what Lord Marak is trying to do,” StarWind pointed out excitedly. “The general is here to warn the lords that Lord Marak is working against the Khadorans. Perhaps he is telling them that Lord Marak is working with the Sakovans. That way the lords will seek to eliminate the only person capable of uniting the country.”

“There is no way that General Didyk could possibly know about our relationship with Lord Marak,” HawkShadow shook his head. “That would mean that we have a spy deep in StarCity. I cannot believe that.”

“That is the beauty of it,” StarWind explained. “Didyk doesn’t have to know about Lord Marak and us. He can just make it up. Do you think the Khadorans would ask for proof?”

“Then whichever lord General Didyk is meeting with, he is Lord Marak’s enemy,” nodded HawkShadow. “We must find out where the general is.”

“Let us turn in for the night,” suggested StarWind. “Tomorrow we will keep watch on Wendal. I have a feeling that he will lead us to General Didyk.”

“That sounds like a plan,” agreed HawkShadow. “Let’s keep Mistake out of this, though. This game could get rough before it ends, and I don’t want her hurt.”

“You like her, don’t you?” smiled StarWind.

“Very much so,” grinned HawkShadow. “She is much like MistyTrail. That can also be a problem. Sometimes MistyTrail has a little bit too much faith in other people. It may get her killed someday.”

“She was right about Lyra,” StarWind pointed out. “Maybe she has better sense than you give her credit for.”

“I hope that is true,” conceded HawkShadow. “I have grown quite fond of her.”

A block away, a woman merchant was packing up her stall and bumped into Mistake.

“Sorry,” said the merchant. “I didn’t see you there. Did you want something before I close?”

Mistake sighed and dropped the air tunnel she had been using to spy on the Sakovans. She smiled at the woman and shook her head.

“No thank you,” Mistake said pleasantly as she turned and headed for the Wine Press Inn.

* * *

“Time for the evening meal,” announced Lord Marak. “Let’s go sample the foods of Khadoratung.”

“The soldiers are not allowed to eat with you,” Latril pointed out. “They must eat downstairs.”

“Then we shall all eat downstairs,” shrugged Lord Marak. “What is the problem?”

“While you may feel like one of the soldiers,” Latril frowned, “you are not. You are the lord of the Torak clan. You cannot win the hearts of the other lords by acting like a soldier. You must mingle with them and learn about them. Only then can you learn what motivates them.”

“I fear that I already know what motivates them,” frowned Lord Marak.

“She is right,” interjected Botal. “You are viewed as an outsider here. Not only an outsider, but a strange one at that. Eat with the other lords. Talk with them. Joke with them. For all appearances, become one of them. Only then will they listen to any of your words.”

“You are right,” sighed Lord Marak. “I will dine with the lords. Latril, you will accompany me.”

Lord Marak and Latril left the Torak quarters and walked to the Lords’ Dining Room. Unlike the room for the soldiers, which had long tables and benches, the Lords’ Dining Room had fine tables with seating for four or eight. The tables were made of fargi wood shined to a mirror finish. Comfortable leather chairs surrounded the tables, and each table was adorned with candles and flowers.

Lord Marak halted when he entered the dining room. The loud din of conversation ceased when everyone noticed that he had entered. The Torak lord viewed the room quickly and chose to sit at an empty table. Slowly the conversations started anew, and Lord Marak was sure that he was now the topic of conversation at each and every table. An Imperial soldier hurried over and presented himself.

“Would you and your guest care for fish or wasooki, Lord Marak?” the Imperial soldier asked.

Lord Marak glanced briefly at Latril before answering, “Wasooki.”

The Imperial soldier nodded perfunctorily and retreated. Lord Marak appeared to be gazing casually around the room as he wove an air tunnel. He moved the air tunnel from table to table to eavesdrop on the conversations.

“Try the table in the corner,” Latril whispered. “You will find this interesting.”

Lord Marak chuckled inwardly as he adjusted the air tunnel. He had not thought that Latril would also be spying. Suddenly, he dropped his air tunnel and turned to Latril.

“How did you know?” he asked.

“I wasn’t sure,” admitted Latril. “I have always thought your grasp of understanding magic and what your mages must go through was uncanny for someone with no skill, yet male mages are unknown to us.”

“So if male mages are unknown,” probed Lord Marak, “what made you think I could use magic?”

“That is why I suggested listening to the corner table,” smiled Latril. “They were just discussing some male mage known as Aakuta. If indeed one exists, why not others? And if any exist, surely you must be one.”

“Your logic is flawless,” Lord Marak remarked as he wove his air tunnel again and focused on the corner table.

The conversation halted abruptly as one lord rose and stormed out of the room.

“What were they saying?” asked Lord Marak.

“It appears that Lord Druck, who just left, had trouble with this Aakuta,” Latril explained. “He said the dark mage destroyed a squad of his soldiers and stole one hundred thousand gold coins from him.”

“How did this mage destroy the soldiers?” questioned Marak.

“They found the bodies burned beyond recognition,” frowned Latril. “Horses and soldiers in one heap. This was on a road, so I do not think they were burned in a building or from ordinary fire. The description is accurate as to what some of our mages can do.”

“This dark mage stole money from Lord Druck?” asked Lord Marak.

“Not exactly,” Latril shook her head. “It was payment for healing the lord’s son. The other lord, Lord Faliman, had recommended Aakuta. Now it appears they are enemies.”

“This is something that we must learn more about,” Lord Marak declared as he moved his air tunnel to a different table. “When we contact Fardale, I want to let everyone know that we want information on this Aakuta.”

“I did learn about a garden behind the palace,” offered Latril. “Perhaps we can go out there tomorrow and contact Fardale.”

“You should not go alone,” frowned Lord Marak. “And if we go together, people will get the wrong impression of who you are.”

“You are doing more talking than listening,” giggled Latril. “That is already what they all think. Have you not noticed that I am the only woman here?”

Lord Marak’s eyes opened wide with understanding. He started to rise, but Latril placed her hand on his arm.

“Let them think what they want,” she whispered. “Perhaps that will keep them from understanding the truth.”