The Fireseed Wars

TWELVE

Grand Master Soton was at the Grand Arena seated in the best box, reserved for Styphon's Own Voice, waiting for Anaxthenes to arrive. Roxthar had already left for Hostigos in a huff, while Soton had been busy putting together a large train of supplies and troops for the Grand Host before he left. In some ways his return to Balph had been exhilarating; everywhere he was acclaimed as the man who had destroyed the Daemon's Kingdom-"Styphon's Fist!" He only wished that he'd been able to bring Kalvan's head with him to mount on the city gates. Regardless, after all the recriminations he'd taken for the loss at Phyrax, it was nice to receive some credit for a victory well won.

He wondered why Anaxthenes had invited him to the Great Arena, as he watched a band of swordsmen (condemned prisoners of war most likely) dressed in Hostigi uniforms fight against a small unit of Styphon's Own Guard in full regalia. He tried not to yawn at the pedestrian display. Only an idiot would believe that there was any other possible conclusion to the fight than complete destruction of the Hostigi fighters. Now, give those Hostigi rifles, and it would be a different game.

The slaughter of the swordsmen by the Guardsmen was so interminable, he was tempted to go back to his quarters and retrieve his warhammer and show them how it was done. At least, he was spared one of Roxthar's equally interminable rants. He supposed one could come to miss them, but not anyone he knew.

There was a sudden roar and Soton looked up to see one of the Temple Guardsmen skewered on a Hostigi sword. The crowd was screaming its approval, showing that Styphon's Own Guard were no more popular in Balph than they were in Hostigos.

At long last Styphon's Voice appeared, followed by a trail of black and yellow-robed Highpriests and the sparkling silver-plated armor of his new bodyguard. He had mixed feelings about Anaxthenes' Sephrax Guard; privately, he thought there were already too many Styphon's House guard units, most of whom owed very little loyalty to Styphon, and far too much to their paymasters. On the other hand, he could see that Anaxthenes needed a counter to Roxthar's alliance with Styphon's Own Guard. Moreover, he was pleased that Anaxthenes was no longer asking him to use the Order of Zarthani Knights as his own personal bodyguard.

In Archpriest Grythos the Guard had a talented, if flawed commander. Grythos had left the Order as Knight Commander when he realized that he wanted wealth more than military success. He was also atrocity-prone; very few prisoners ever survived their capture under his command. This had brought him no end of trouble with the big slaving houses, many of which were aligned with various interests in Balph. Soton had been relieved when Grythos had left the Order.

However, despite his initial reservations, Soton was heartened when Grythos became a member of the Inner Circle of Styphon's House. It was a big help, during these martial times, to finally have another Archpriest in the Inner Circle with military training and experience.

"It is good to see you looking well, Grand Master," Styphon's Voice said, as he took the center seat beside him.

"You, likewise, Your Divinity."

Anaxthenes nodded, looking down at the spectacle, with nearly half of the Temple Guardsmen now down on the ground, leaking blood and entrails. The rest were looking around in dismay, as if they had been double-crossed.

"The Hostigi swordsmen are doing well," Anaxthenes said. "They were hand-picked from over a thousand prisoners. I notice that the audience is enjoying the Temple Guardsmen's discomfort."

Of course! A spectacle as a means of political instruction. Now, everyone who's seen Temple Guardsmen pouring their guts out over the sand will no longer see them as the invincible Red Hand of Styphon. Very clever, this one!

Suddenly a handful of fully-armored halberdiers in Ktemnoi colors rushed onto the arena floor and quickly attacked the remaining Temple Guardsmen. The crowd shook the arena walls with their shouts and foot-stomping. Within moments, all the Guardsmen were dead and the surviving Hostigi were escorted out of the Arena by the halberdiers.

"Are the swordsmen prisoners, or are they mercenaries?"

"They are Hostigi soldiers that fled the battlefield and the Investigation. They were captured in Syriphlon and brought here for our entertainment. They fight well, don't they?"

"What is their reward?"

"Aren't the deaths of a score of Temple Guardsmen reward enough?" The smile on Anaxthenes' face said that it was enough for him.

"No one ever said that Styphon's Own Guard had any brains."

"That is the truth. They fought for a cask of wine and an easy victory. Of course, they hadn't expected to face real soldiers, just one of the usual bands of undernourished prisoners condemned to death in the arena. Now, the Guardsmen can throw bones in Hadron's Hall, unless Hadron chooses to toss their worthless carcasses into Regwarn."

"I don't mean to be rude, Your Divinity, but I have much to do before I return to Hos-Hostigos, and I'm curious-Why did you invite me to attend this spectacle?"

"Because I have a change of plans for you, and I didn't want it known throughout Balph before evening vespers."

Soton wished he would get to the point. Most of these temple rats believed in using a hundred words where ten would do.

Anaxthenes leaned over. "I want you to prepare an expedition to Hos-Harphax."

"Hos-Harphax! But, why? Isn't Great King Lysandros our ally in the war against the Usurper Kalvan?"

"Yes, but you're not going to Hos-Harphax to fight; it's the stepping stone for the war against Hos-Agrys. You will organize your army and prepare for the invasion of Agrys City. It does Styphon's House no good to have its allies' houses pillaged while they are off fighting the Temples' battles, as King Demistophon has done in Thaphigos."

Soton nodded, that at least made sense. But why me?

"Does Roxthar know of this?"

"Does the sparrow that flies under the temple eaves know-of course, not. He would argue and fulminate and make all kinds of threats he no longer has the ability to carry out. That is why I waited until he left before telling you."

"So, who will lead the Grand Host against the Usurper?"

"Great King Lysandros will lead the host supported by Prince Anaxon and Captain-General Phidestros, who will act as his under-captains. To lead the forces of Styphon's House, I've dispatched orders to Knight Commander Aristocles elevating him to Grand Commander of Order of Zarthani Knights and Styphon's Own Guard. These commanders own enough experience and battle savvy to pin the Daemon's defeated army to the ground and grind it into the earth."

Soton shook his head in disbelief. I am surrounded by madmen and incompetents. Why will they not leave me to do my job?

"I see you are not convinced, Grand Master. I think you mistake the root of the problem for the stalk. Kalvan, by exposing the Fireseed Mystery, has done more damage to Styphon's House than a hundred military defeats. He has cost us our most potent weapon against the great lords and kings: the ability to withhold fireseed, thereby guaranteeing them defeat without our help. Now, they can buy this Hostigos filth at any stall in any market! Soon all the nobles will realize they no longer need the Temple's approval or support; they can war as they wish, not as we wish.

"Kalvan, meanwhile, is now just another Trygathi warlord who will not find favor in the false kingdom of Rathon-or with his supposed Grefftscharrer allies. We have already received envoys from King Theovacar asking us to keep Kalvan out of the Middle Kingdoms-as if we will heed their wishes! Soon Kalvan, if he escapes our sword, will be embroiled in the Upper Middle Kingdoms with every man's hand raised against him, and the Grand Host of Styphon chasing from behind. Now, do you see why I do not worry about the stalk?"

He was starting to get a glimpse of Anaxthenes' thinking and he wasn't sure he liked it. As Soton understood it: Styphon's House's duty was not to rule the Five Kingdoms, but to protect them. Wasn't it? Or was that just another sham? Even without the support or favor of the Northern Kingdoms, Styphon's House would still be strong within Hos-Ktemnos and Hos-Bletha. But, obviously, that wasn't enough for the new Styphon's Voice or the Inner Circle. On the other hand, it would be foolish to expect the upper priesthood to show restraint when none had done so in the past.

"You, my friend," Styphon's Voice continued, "will pull out the roots, starting with that turnip, King Demistophon. Once he has been dispatched and put in irons, we will work on his traitorous princes."

"And what army am I supposed to do this with, Your Divinity?"

"The Host of Styphon's Deliverance, Grand Master. I have assembled four thousand cavalry, half mercenary but shortly to be sworn in as Ktemnoi regulars-just in case the Temple of Galzar extends their Ban to include any army coming from Balph. You should be able to bring four or five more Lances from the border tarrs, as well as three more Sacred Squares. These Ktemnoi Princes now jump when Styphon's Voice barks!" He gave a harsh laugh.

"That is a good start, although they might be put to better use in destroying the False Hostigi-"

"Enough! We have Archpriest Haltor in Hos-Agrys buying the service of every mercenary within two hundred marches of Agrys City. He claims that he can offer you another two thousand men. There aren't many Free Companions available with the war against Hostigos going on so long."

Soton's head reeled; this was not the Styphon's House of old, a lumbering ox that shuffled and fell back two steps before moving forward one.

"Soon, we will own the world."

"If these are my orders, Your Holiness, I will leave as soon as my Lances arrive."

"Good." He patted Soton on his shoulders, like a good mastiff.

In his mind, Soton ran through the Order forts and which ones had Lances they could send to Balph: Tarr-Ceros could spare one, so could Tarr-Ryth, while Tarr-Tyros, Tarr-Zokra and Tarr-Gythax could send three or four Shafts each. "I will send orders out this evening. They should arrive before moon's end."

"Excellent, Grand Master. Now, I have someone I want you to meet who will be going with you. He will represent Our Voice."

Soton raised his eyebrows in surprise when Archpriest Cimon entered the box. Of all people, he had not expected the Peasant Priest, as Cimon was known, to be in Anaxthenes' camp.

"It is good to see you, Your Sanctity."

The broad faced Archpriest smiled in return. "You, as well, Grand Master."

"The subjects of King Demistophon and his Princes will have heard terrible things about the Investigation," Styphon's Voice continued.

Soton nodded. Most of which are true, by the way!

"Archpriest Cimon will be in charge of restoring our temples in Hos-Agrys and in building new ones. In him, they will see another face of Styphon's House-one that will be as welcoming as it is unexpected!"

Soton shrugged his shoulders, aware that events were rushing past him faster than a runaway horse. He wanted to be back on the battlefield, any battlefield. He supposed Agrys City would do as well as anyplace else. At least he wouldn't be fighting Kalvan's veterans and new-fangled shells and rifles! And, for once, I'll be doing it with a friend and ally, not an enemy or a madman.