Read Online Aakuta: the Dark Mage by Richard S. Tuttle - Free Book Online
Authors: Richard S. Tuttle
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the Sakovans and the Chula have been allies for centuries. I could not leave Khadora without visiting with them.”
“I should have known,” smiled Lord Marak. “I was up there myself yesterday. You should have let me know.”
“Tmundo said you were not to be disturbed,” the Star replied.
Lord Marak merely nodded as he examined the other Sakovans in the group. “May I speak to you privately?” he asked.
Lyra nodded and the other Sakovans drifted several dozen paces away.
“Your father was found in the mage practice field today,” Lord Marak said. “Did you tell him about it?”
“Of course not,” answered Lyra. “None of my people know of its existence, as you requested. The time I spent there was easily covered up. Do you not trust my people, Lord Marak?”
“On this particular topic,” Lord Marak frowned and shrugged, “I do not trust my own people. The Mage Corps will revolutionize battle here in Khadora. The longer I can keep it secret, the better the hopes of my people. I hope you understand.”
“I do,” sighed Lyra after a moment of hesitation. “It does not surprise me that Malafar found out. He can sense magic fairly easily. The Mage Corps is not something you could hide from him. I would not doubt that several of my people already know about it.”
“Are you aware that he is not returning to StarCity with you?” asked Marak.
“I am,” Lyra nodded sadly. “I believe that was his plan since we left Sakova. He feels that he must start a new life away from Omunga and Sakova. I disagree, but perhaps it is for the best. He has made a shambles of his life, and the battle in Okata nearly killed him. Maybe isolation is just what he needs to find himself again.”
“I just wanted to make sure that you knew,” Marak said. “I will see that he has anything he wants for his journey.” Marak paused. “I could not help noticing the conversation you were having when I approached. Is there a problem?”
Lyra motioned for the rest of the Sakovans to return before she said, “There is a problem that we just found out about. Explain it to him, StarWind.”
“We just heard that General Didyk is leaving Omunga,” reported the head Sakovan spy. “Such a high ranking officer has never visited Khadora in all of our history. We are concerned that it may represent another plot against the Sakovans.”
“An Omungan general coming here?” questioned Lord Marak. “That is unheard of. How do you know this?”
“The air tunnel you taught us,” grinned Lyra. “We have been using it to keep in touch with StarCity.”
“I guess you did learn it well,” smiled Lord Marak. “I am going to the capital in a week or so. Perhaps I can try to find out who he is meeting with.”
“That was the conversation that you interrupted,” responded Lyra. “StarWind and HawkShadow want to travel with you to Khadoratung. We have been debating the saneness of such a trip.”
“StarWind has experience in the cities of Omunga,” interjected HawkShadow. “I am sure that she will be unnoticed in Khadoratung.”
“And HawkShadow is unnoticed in any environment that he wishes not to be seen in,” added StarWind. “We can find out what General Didyk is up to far better than the Khadorans can.”
“What about your escort back to StarCity?” Lord Marak asked the Star of Sakova.
“StormSong and SkyDancer will be sufficient,” shrugged Lyra. “We have chokas just on the other side of the mountains. Once we reach them, no one will catch us, and the Chula will see us safely that far.”
“Then I have no problems with letting StarWind and HawkShadow accompany me to Khadoratung,” Marak declared. “Only your safety is an issue.”
“Then it is settled,” grinned StarWind.
“It is,” conceded Lyra. “Keep in touch with StarCity. There may be other developments that you will find helpful.”
“Have the Omungans selected a new Katana?” questioned Lord Marak.
“Not yet,” answered StarWind.
“I should have known,” smiled Lord Marak. “I was up there myself yesterday. You should have let me know.”
“Tmundo said you were not to be disturbed,” the Star replied.
Lord Marak merely nodded as he examined the other Sakovans in the group. “May I speak to you privately?” he asked.
Lyra nodded and the other Sakovans drifted several dozen paces away.
“Your father was found in the mage practice field today,” Lord Marak said. “Did you tell him about it?”
“Of course not,” answered Lyra. “None of my people know of its existence, as you requested. The time I spent there was easily covered up. Do you not trust my people, Lord Marak?”
“On this particular topic,” Lord Marak frowned and shrugged, “I do not trust my own people. The Mage Corps will revolutionize battle here in Khadora. The longer I can keep it secret, the better the hopes of my people. I hope you understand.”
“I do,” sighed Lyra after a moment of hesitation. “It does not surprise me that Malafar found out. He can sense magic fairly easily. The Mage Corps is not something you could hide from him. I would not doubt that several of my people already know about it.”
“Are you aware that he is not returning to StarCity with you?” asked Marak.
“I am,” Lyra nodded sadly. “I believe that was his plan since we left Sakova. He feels that he must start a new life away from Omunga and Sakova. I disagree, but perhaps it is for the best. He has made a shambles of his life, and the battle in Okata nearly killed him. Maybe isolation is just what he needs to find himself again.”
“I just wanted to make sure that you knew,” Marak said. “I will see that he has anything he wants for his journey.” Marak paused. “I could not help noticing the conversation you were having when I approached. Is there a problem?”
Lyra motioned for the rest of the Sakovans to return before she said, “There is a problem that we just found out about. Explain it to him, StarWind.”
“We just heard that General Didyk is leaving Omunga,” reported the head Sakovan spy. “Such a high ranking officer has never visited Khadora in all of our history. We are concerned that it may represent another plot against the Sakovans.”
“An Omungan general coming here?” questioned Lord Marak. “That is unheard of. How do you know this?”
“The air tunnel you taught us,” grinned Lyra. “We have been using it to keep in touch with StarCity.”
“I guess you did learn it well,” smiled Lord Marak. “I am going to the capital in a week or so. Perhaps I can try to find out who he is meeting with.”
“That was the conversation that you interrupted,” responded Lyra. “StarWind and HawkShadow want to travel with you to Khadoratung. We have been debating the saneness of such a trip.”
“StarWind has experience in the cities of Omunga,” interjected HawkShadow. “I am sure that she will be unnoticed in Khadoratung.”
“And HawkShadow is unnoticed in any environment that he wishes not to be seen in,” added StarWind. “We can find out what General Didyk is up to far better than the Khadorans can.”
“What about your escort back to StarCity?” Lord Marak asked the Star of Sakova.
“StormSong and SkyDancer will be sufficient,” shrugged Lyra. “We have chokas just on the other side of the mountains. Once we reach them, no one will catch us, and the Chula will see us safely that far.”
“Then I have no problems with letting StarWind and HawkShadow accompany me to Khadoratung,” Marak declared. “Only your safety is an issue.”
“Then it is settled,” grinned StarWind.
“It is,” conceded Lyra. “Keep in touch with StarCity. There may be other developments that you will find helpful.”
“Have the Omungans selected a new Katana?” questioned Lord Marak.
“Not yet,” answered StarWind.
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