The Fireseed Wars

II

King Theovacar departed just after dawn, taking all his troops with him. May Dralm be praised! thought Rylla. Theovacar had also taken as hostages most of the surviving members of the Ragyathi ruling family and nobility. According to all reports, Ragyath Town was a shambles and would require extensive rebuilding. Good, Rylla thought. We can annex the entire Princedom and it will allow us to reward Prince Sarrask for his loyalty and decisive victory over King Theovacar. However, this time she would wait for Kalvan to return before crowning the Prince.

Rylla hoped the defeated King and his Army weren't headed back to Greffa, where her husband was besieging the City. She waddled over to her desk and looked at the growing piles of paper and parchments with dismay; she was beginning to understand why her husband had been so reluctant to introduce paper. With another princedom to administer, the piles would grow even higher, since they would not only have to do some extensive rebuilding after the Greffan occupation but provide foodstuffs and basic necessities as well as prepare for winter.

However, the rebuilding of Ragyath was not something she had to worry over today as any improvements would have to wait until after the Grand Host was sent home with its tail between its legs. She could arrange for ships to off-load foodstuffs and other essential supplies now that the Greffan naval blockade was temporarily ended.

The time had come to undertake the next stage of the war against the Grand Host of Styphon's House.

There was a knock at the door and Cleon stuck his head through the opening. "Your Majesty, Prince Phrames is here."

"Send him in, Cleon. Thank you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Prince Phrames came in and gave her a quick once-over. "Your Majesty, it appears you have come to full term. Are you sure that you shouldn't be resting in your bedchamber?"

Rylla laughed. "I still have another moon or two before I enter the birthing chamber. I was even bigger with Demia." And I pray to the Allmother that this birth will not be as difficult…

Phrames bowed his head. "Why I came this morning, Your Majesty, was to apologize to you for doubting your wisdom in giving Prince Sarrask command of the attack on the Grefftscharri Army. I was wrong. Sarrask did an admirable job of defeating the enemy, and then breaking off before King Lysandros' Army reached the West Gate. I fear I allowed my older prejudices, from when the Prince was our sworn enemy, to cloud my judgment. Maybe, also, there was a bit of jealousy, as I have always considered myself to be the better commander."

"This was not a personal decision, Prince. I needed you to keep watch on the South Tower and oversee our upcoming attack on the Grand Host's encampment. I didn't want you distracted by the strike against Theovacar."

"I see that now, Your Majesty."

"I also want you to know that as soon as the Grand Host has departed and my husband has returned, we will be crowning Sarrask as Prince of Ragyath."

"It is only fair, since I am Prince of Gytha and Sarrask is a Prince without a seat, as it is unlikely we will return to Hos-Hostigos anytime soon."

"I know," she replied, trying to keep the sadness she felt about losing her former home out of her voice. "Sarrask has also been a loyal subject and has never given way to despair. True, his manners and deportment could use some work, but overall he has served us well."

Phrames nodded. "How will Zykthos, Karphya City or Vulthar respond to Ragyath becoming part of Nos-Hostigos?"

"At first, they will wail and scream, but Theovacar is too busy tending his own wounds to worry over theirs or provide them aid. In the end, they have no choice but to accept Sarrask as the new Prince of Ragyath. All three states together couldn't field an army often thousand men. They are in no position to make us change Our policy. In a few winters, it will be accepted. If We were truly going to stay in this cold land, I would counsel my husband to conquer them as well. Ragyath, on the other hand, was conquered by Theovacar, who then fled in ignominy. We are simply re-establishing order."

"You make a good case, Your Majesty. My other question concerns the bombardment of the Styphoni camp: When shall it commence?"

"Tomorrow. General Alkides informed me last night that it will take the rest of today to remove the last of the rifled cannons from the Great Tower and bring them over to the South Tower. Once the guns are emplaced, you may begin firing."

A smile broke across Phrames' face. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I've been waiting a long time to pay these Styphoni pigs back for the butcher job they performed on Hostigos. And pay them back, I will!"