The Fireseed Wars

II

After a short wait in the outer chamber with about thirty other supplicants, Archpriest Danthor identified himself to the new High Chamberlain and was quickly moved to the head of the line and granted entrance to Styphon's Voice's Great Audience Chamber. Inside he found Anaxthenes, dressed in the red robe of primacy, sitting on a gilded and jewel-encrusted throne far more ornate than the seat of any Great King. A large solid-gold idol of Styphon rose from behind the throne, while two giant bodyguards stood to either side. A quartet of horns announced his arrival.

Archpriest Danthor went down on his knees as he approached the throne.

"Arise, Archpriest."

"Thank you, Your Divinity," Danthor said between clenched teeth. He hated bowing down to any man, either physically or symbolically.

"I understand that you have urgent news for Us."

"Yes, Your Divinity. Great King Cleitharses is quite ill and close to death."

"My heart is saddened by this tragedy," Anaxthenes uttered, just loud enough that the hangers-on could hear. In a few candles, gossip about the sincerity or insincerity of Styphon's Own Voice's words would fill the taverns and brothels of Balph.

Danthor looked one way, then the other. "Your Divinity, the rest of the news I have is best for your ears alone."

Styphon's Voice arose, his scarlet robe flowing behind. "Come with me to my private chamber. Archpriest Heraclestros, dismiss all claimants. Have the High Chamberlain reschedule them for tomorrow."

The much smaller private chamber was opulently dressed, but not as dramatically as the Great Audience Chamber. A servant followed with an amphora of wine and filled two golden goblets before leaving and closing the carved bronze doors. Anaxthenes removed his tobacco pouch and pipe from a belt around his robe.

Danthor knew he was being favored, both for this close alliance to Anaxthenes and for his privileged position in Great King Cleitharses' Court. One could count on the fingers of one hand the number of men who would be given a private audience with the new Styphon's Own Voice.

After filling his pipe and lighting it, Anaxthenes said, "You have done your work well, Danthor."

"No, I did not have to poison him. It appears the gods have done our work. The Great King suffers from a black tumor deep inside his innards. I have talked with his healer and he is not expected to see the end of this moon."

"We will ask for Styphon's Blessing. It is good that you didn't have to aid his passing. It is best for all that Great King Cleitharses die by natural means. Will there be any suspicions raised by his death?"

"No, Your Divinity. This growth is not unknown and certainly not one that can be placed by any human hands. Only the devils of Regwarn could spawn such a disease!" Horrors such as cancer of the colon had long been eliminated by First Level medicine, one of the true blessings of modern technology.

"Good. Balph is at peace, for a change, and I do not want any unsettling rumors swirling through the streets."

"I will see that the populace knows of the Great Kings' healer's words."

"Very good, Danthor. Has the Great King made his will known?"

"Not publicly. However, it came to my attention that he was preparing to write his final testament, when he had his chief scribe attend him in private. Usually, Cleitharses dictates his correspondence to me. That tipped me off that this was a very important and private document."

Anaxthenes leaned forward, his eyes filled with avarice. "Good. Were you able to read it yourself?"

"When I saw Cleitharses' scribe leave the audience chamber with a sealed tube, embossed with the Great King's seal, I knew that the document inside was of great value-possibly a deathbed request or bequeathment. So I braced the scribe in his office and threatened him with Investigation if he was uncooperative, or with a purse of gold if he handed over the parchment." Danthor paused for dramatic emphasis. "He proved most cooperative, Your Divinity."

The smile that curled Anaxthenes face was positively bone chilling. He grabbed the parchment tube out of Danthor's hands, like a snake striking a bird, and pulled a poignard out of his robe to slit the seal. "You have done well, Danthor. I will read it out loud:

My most favored nephew, Prince Anaxon,

I am close to death. Not from any poison vial, as you might rightfully expect and warned me about, but from a dreaded growth deep in my bowels. My every waking moment is filled with monstrous pain and agony. I will soon leave this earthly plane, and welcome my release from this life. Soon I shall know the breath of the gods and, hopefully, their favor. Although, as we both know, I do not deserve well from them for the ills I have allowed in my realm.

As my closest remaining kin, I want you to sit upon the Golden Throne of Hos-Ktemnos. I have always felt that you and your brother were the sons I never bore. I had hoped to relinquish my Throne to you while I was still alive, in order to bask in your pleasure. By the True Gods, that fate is not to be. Perhaps it is my punishment; if so, it is fitting.

I warn you that your elevation to Great King will not sit well with the current occupant of Styphon's Golden Dome. Styphon's Voice will want you to remain with the Grand Host ofStyphon and not return to Ktemnos City where your subjects need your firm hand. Do not listen to the unclean priests of the Devil Styphon! We have followed the Inner Circle's orders faithfully and they have rewarded Us with the death of our armies and loss of Our hegemony over our loyal subjects. These false priests are not to be trusted. This is a lesson I know you learned at Phyrax Field where your brother was grievously wounded and so many of our soldiers took their last breath. I ask your forgiveness for not listening better to your warnings about the corruption that has infested the heart of Balph.

It is my will that you return to our people as soon as you receive this, my last words. Please visit my grave and pray to Allfather Dralm over my bones. May the dead of Hos-Hostigos and my own soldiers forgive me!

Yours in sorrow,

Great King of Hos-Ktemnos, Cleitharses I

Anaxthenes all but hissed out the final words. "Does this mean that Anaxon is a follower of False Dralm, too?"

"I believe so, Your Divinity," Danthor said, knowing that his words were a death sentence for the young prince. "I expected that it contained words fit only for your eyes and ears."

"We cannot allow such a thing to reach the Prince. Is that agreed?"

"Of course, Your Divinity."

"Danthor, you have done me a great service by bringing this letter to my person. You shall be rewarded with a land grant of ten square marches and a thousand ounces of gold."

"Thank you, Your Divinity! I had expected no such reward."

"You have done Styphon's House a great favor by bringing this to Our attention."

Danthor bowed his head in respect. He felt dirtied by this deed, but knew that it was necessary to keep his cover as an avaricious Archpriest. Besides, Prince Anaxon's fate was sealed long before this letter. He had openly thwarted Styphon's House and by that act Anaxon had doomed himself.

"Now, we need to discuss what to do with this letter," Anaxthenes said. "How are you at forgery?"

Danthor smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "I have been found out."

Anaxthenes laughed. "It is a useful skill, Danthor. I see now that you have many. I will dictate you another missive from our soon to be departed Great King and you will see that these words are copied in Cleitharses' scribe's hand and that it is delivered to his messenger."

"Your Divinity, why not just make the letter disappear? Once the Prince learns of his uncle's death he may return whether requested, or not."

"True. Your words have weight. However, we do not need the Prince to muddy our waters in Hos-Ktemnos. Draft a letter to Grand Commander Aristocles. I want you to tell him to ensure that the Prince dies of an unfortunate accident, or in battle. It must happen soon and before word reaches Anaxon's ears about King Cleitharses' illness. In Styphon's Code, of course."

"Yes, Your Divinity."

"As Archivist, you do know the Code."

"I do, Your Divinity. When do you want it sent."

"Immediately. I want you to write it for me now. While you're writing, I'll have Archpriest Heraclestros find a messenger and the usual guards. We don't want to make this message appear out of the ordinary. Aristocles will know what to do. It's actually fortunate that Grand Master Soton is not with the Host; he would balk at such an order."

It was unfortunate, but there was no way Danthor could cancel the message, or see that a copy was given to Anaxon. No one outside of Styphon's House knew Styphon's Code, although it was a simple substitution cipher that could easily be deciphered by hand. It would be too suspicious if outsiders serendipitously captured the messenger and just happened to be able to decipher the message, too. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to return to the Balph Kalvan Study Team HQ and contact Chief Verkan Vail for his advice.

"We have Our own candidate for Great King of Hos-Ktemnos," Styphon's Voice said. "Cleitharses' younger cousin on his father's side is a gambler and owes Styphon's House everything but his eyeballs. Duke Lukthos will be a most agreeable ruler, don't you think?"

They both laughed.