The Fireseed Wars

II

Hestophes was pacing back and forth along the parapets of Tarr-Eubros. Primate Xentos and Duke Mnestros, with his father's backing, were doing the best they could to resuscitate the corpse of the League's Army. After the League's defeat by the Styphoni, which had reduced their number by a third including both casualties and prisoners, the Army had split up to make it more difficult for Soton's troops to harry them. They had been given orders to meet later, but less than a third of the Army showed up at the prearranged spot.

Some Princes had left the field entirely, many soldiers had deserted; the end result was that all that was left to face Soton on the field of battle, after he disposed of Agrys City, was a League Army of little more than six thousand men. Some of the survivors were still recovering from wounds taken in the battle for Agrys City, while the remainder were dispirited and ready to abandon their cause. Hestophes was beginning to believe he was wasting his time and longed to return to Thagnor City, which more and more resembled home. He had made one thing clear to both Mnestros and Xentos: he was either to lead the League Army from this point on, or he would retire with his command and return to Nos-Hostigos.

Unlike Prince Vython, he would have never attacked the Host of Styphon's Deliverance until he'd had visual confirmation that King Demistophon's army was leaving Agrys City and advancing. Vython's counterattack against Soton had given the rest of the Army time to retire. However, it had cost Vython his life and splintered his command. Hestophes had asked for command of the reserve for just this reason. His men had survived to fight another day, but bringing the League of Dralm army back to life was going to be almost impossible without divine help.

He was pulled out of his reverie when one of his officers approached. "Captain-General, Captain Ranthos has requested your presence."

"Have him sent to my headquarters. I'll meet with him shortly."

As he went down the keep stairwell, Hestophes pondered why Ranthos wanted to confer with him. Was it possible that Prince Phidestros was sending the League additional troops? As he'd discovered during this long war, anything was possible. The former mercenary captain-general probably didn't see anything to his advantage in allowing Styphon's House to gobble up entire kingdoms, and much to his potential disadvantage.

Ranthos and another soldier he didn't recognize were waiting impatiently inside his headquarters room with several League officers. The chamber walls were covered with maps and the tables were covered with parchments and scrolls.

"Captain-General, I just received some urgent intelligence from Argros."

"What is it, Ranthos?" he asked.

"Can we go someplace private?"

"Of course," Hestophes said, leading them to a small audience chamber at the back of the palace. He put a guard outside the thick wooden door and closed it. "Is that secure enough?"

Ranthos nodded. "This gentleman is Duke Kyblannos, former Captain-General of the Grand Host's Artillery."

Hestophes did a quick double-take. "Kyblannos, I've heard of you!" He had to mentally stop himself from drawing his sword.

The Duke nodded respectfully, "Likewise, Captain-General Hestophes."

"What can I do for you?" Hestophes' head was whirling, as he tried to figure out what one of Prince Phidestros' right-hand men was doing in Eubros.

Ranthos spoke first. "A Styphon's House way station for Temple messengers is located in Greater Beshta. One of the Phidestros' intelligencers has broken the code Styphon's House uses for its secret dispatches and deciphers them for the Prince."

Hestophes was impressed, but he wondered why he was being told such confidential information. It must have something to do with Soton or the war against the League, he thought, otherwise the Prince would never reveal such a secret.

"Has the Prince has uncovered another Styphoni plot?"

"Yes," Ranthos said, "according to this dispatch from Anaxthenes, Supreme Priest and Styphon's Voice, the Styphoni are searching for heirs to the Throne of Light. Duke Kyblannos believes it would be to our mutual advantage to find them before Styphon's House does."

Hestophes took his pipe out of his mouth and knocked the heel out against his palm. When he'd finished refilling and tamping it with fresh leaf, he lit a splinter with his tinderbox and fired it up. After expelling a cloud of smoke, he said, "This means that as far as Styphon's House is concerned, King Demistophon is a dead man. From what I saw of the city walls, Agrys City won't last more than a few moons. With Prince Vython killed in the attack, that means the Styphoni are looking for someone they can use as their tool."

Duke Kyblannos nodded. "The dispatch mentions that there were four cousins: Their intelligence states that one cousin is childless, while another has a girl child but has no known location and one is dead, without issue. Demistophon's line is about to come to an end. The fourth, Duke Thalros, is also deceased, but he does have a widow and an heir, a young son, living in a small village in Glarth. I strongly suggest we send out a party to secure the boy and find a way to keep him safe from Styphon's House. Princess Arminta believes we can use the lad as the focal point of resistance to Styphoni rule, which will surely follow once Agrys City falls and Soton turns his army loose on the rest of Hos-Agrys."

"That makes sense considering the turmoil here in Hos-Agrys. But, why are you telling me this instead of finding him yourself?"

"Because we need your help," Kyblannos said. "In Argros I thought we might be able to put together a command of our own to find the boy. Now that I've witnessed the chaos here firsthand, I don't believe that's possible without your help. The Princess told me to do whatever was necessary to see that Thalros' son does not fall into the hands of Styphon's House. It is neither in my Prince's nor Nos-Hostigos' interest to see Styphon's House rule another kingdom, seeing as they all but rule in name in Hos-Ktemnos and Hos-Bletha. Should Hos-Agrys fall to Styphon's House, all the other Kingdoms will follow in two or three winters."

Hestophes took the pipe out of his mouth. "That's a plausible reason. Did the dispatch provide the name of the village where Duke Thalros' son is living?"

Kyblannos nodded. "Yes, it is the village of Salis. It's about ninety marches east of Port Glarth."

"Did you stop the original messenger from delivering his dispatch?"

"No, Captain-General. We delayed him by a few days, but the message should have arrived at Soton's camp by now."

"Soton will send out a number of small bands to find Demistophon's heirs. We'll have to put out patrols to harass them. We'll also warn the Agrysi Princes, especially Clytos of Glarth, that hostile Styphoni troops are going to be traveling through their territory. It'll be much more difficult for them to reach Salis than it will be for us."

"I'd like to volunteer myself and my men to rescue the lad," Ranthos said.

"You read my mind, Ranthos. But we need an Agrysi commander who knows the territory and is known by the other Agrysi nobles. How about Duke Mnestros?"

"Isn't he one of Kalvan's allies?" Kyblannos asked.

"Yes. He fought with the Hostigi at Ardros Field and led the false Argysi attack that delayed the Grand Host from leaving Hostigos Town. He's the elder son of Prince Thykarses of Eubros."

Kyblannos nodded. "He's been battle-tested. We can work with him."

"Good, because Mnestros will be in charge."

"That's acceptable, Captain-General."

"Ranthos, take your two companies and Kyblannos' men. We want to keep this operation secret between just the three of us and Mnestros. I can't imagine running into a Styphoni party large enough to give you any trouble. They're the ones who'll have to travel cautiously and at night. That will give you an important edge."

Ranthos nodded. "I'll have my men get their kits ready. I'd like to leave before mid-day."

"The sooner the better. Great King Kalvan and Queen Rylla need to be informed about this operation. Can I have a copy of the dispatch?"

"Of course, Captain-General," Kyblannos said. "You can have my copy. I won't be needing it anymore. I've committed everything of importance to memory."

As soon as they left, Hestophes sent his adjutant to find his wife. Then he started reading the parchment. Lysia arrived at his office about an eighth of a candle later. After a hug, he got down to business: "Darling, Ranthos has provided us with a decoded message from the new Styphon's Voice to Grand Master Soton."

"Is it important?" Lysia asked.

"It could be very important. The Styphoni are sending out patrols looking for a young boy that's in the line of succession to the Throne of Light. If we can get to this village before Soton's men, we might be able to either put the boy in protective custody or replace him with a boy loyal to the Fireseed Throne."

"This could be a major boon for Hostigos, if it could be done and done quickly!"

"Exactly, my love. But I need someone I trust completely to carry this message to Thagnor City, and you're my best choice."

"It means we will be apart again."

"I know, my love. But you have access to the Queen and she will listen to you. Here's what I want you to do."