Young Lord of Khadora by Richard S. Tuttle

Author:Richard S. Tuttle
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Publisher: KBS
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Emissary

Lord Marshal Grefon hurried into Lord Ridak’s study where the Lord of Lituk Valley was plowing through a pile of reports.

“Lord Ridak,” interrupted Lord Marshal Grefon, “I think we have a problem.”

Lord Ridak was annoyed at the interruption. He hated going through the reports, but the less interruptions he had, the sooner he would be done with the task. “What is it Grefon?” snarled the Lord of the Situ Clan. “Has another of your runners been killed by bandits?”

“Not exactly,” stiffened the Lord Marshal. “I thought you might be interested in a report from one of our couriers. He ran into a Corte of Imperial troops escorting an emissary from the Lords Council.”

The statement piqued Lord Ridak’s interest. It was not often that anyone from the Lords Council came this far from the capital. “Where was he heading?” Lord Ridak inquired.

“He was bound for Watula Valley,” offered Lord Marshal Grefon. “There is trouble with a border dispute involving the Sorgan and Litari Clans.”

Lord Ridak knew that border disputes in those frontier lands were continual, but they seldom involved a mediator from the Lords Council. Normally they were resolved by force with little recourse to the loser. “So, the Sorgan and Litari are fighting over their border,” commented Lord Ridak. “It is unusual for them to request a mediator, but it is not something that requires my immediate attention. At least let me finish these infernal reports and we can discuss the ramifications of your information.”

“They are not squabbling between themselves,” insisted Lord Marshal Grefon. “They are squabbling over Fardale. Both Clans have filed grievances with the Lords Council over Fardale transgressing their borders.”

“What?” shouted Lord Ridak. “What is that fool of yours doing? I have plans to expand Fardale next year and I do not want a decree from the Lords Council to set the boundaries in stone. This is all your fault, Grefon. I would have been better off leaving Fardale without a Lord than sending in some child who starts a war with his neighbors as soon as he gets there.”

“That is the part I don’t understand,” admitted Lord Marshal Grefon. “Marak is not the aggressive type. He is an excellent warrior and a natural born leader, but he has always given the enemy too much leeway. I cannot believe that he is pushing his boundaries into either of the other Clans.”

“What are you suggesting?” quizzed Lord Ridak. “Why else would the Sorgans and Litari file grievances with the Lords Council?”

“I don’t know,” conceded Grefon. “Neither of them is a member of the Lords Council, so the request for a mediator indicates that the grievance is severe and could lead to regional conflict.”

“Perhaps,” suggested Lord Ridak, “they are afraid that Marak will call on us for help. Neither of them could hope to stand up to the Situ Clan.”

“Even if they worked together,” declared Lord Marshal Grefon, “they would not stand a chance against us and they know it. I am concerned that the bandits who have been blocking our communications might not be bandits at all.

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