The Fireseed Wars

II

Prince Bosphros, in tandem with Primate Xentos, made the long walk down the illuminated quartz covered Path of Lights leading to the Throne of Light in the King's Audience Chamber. Is there an underground passage with oil lamps or tapers'? Bosphros wondered, as he walked along the Path. If so, it was a state secret, like how they stuffed King Demistophon into his throne.

Because of the siege, he'd had to enter the harbor on a fishing boat in the dead of night. He'd hired a small crew of smugglers or he probably wouldn't have made it into the City. As it was, they'd only narrowly slipped by two Styphoni water patrols. The length of time Demistophon had kept him waiting for this audience made him wonder if the King had any idea of how precarious his position had become. Grand Master Soton would not conclude his siege until the City was taken and Styphon's House ruled Agrys City in all but name.

As he drew close to the Throne, Prince Bosphros could see that the King had grown even fatter since his last audience with him last spring; he was so broad in the thighs that he overflowed the Throne of Light on both sides. If he gains any more weight, he'll either get stuck permanently on the Throne or break it!

Inwardly, Bosphros seethed with impatience at all this ceremony and pomp when Soton's army was within hailing distance of the city walls and the barking of his guns sounded like distant drums. The Kingdom is under siege and the King cannot see me for half a moon quarter because the auguries were not right! What madness is this? So ton does not consult sheep entrails or Styphon; instead he presses forward with his attack.

After a tedious series of genuflections and introductions by the Palace Chamberlain, the Prince was allowed to speak. "Your Majesty, I bring you good tidings!"

Demistophen peered out with little pig eyes. "And what kind of magician are you, Prince?"

"No magician, Your Majesty, just a loyal subject and devout believer in Allfather Dralm."

"Oh, yes, I see you brought that tiresome Primate of Dralm with you. I've grown weary of his pronouncements and warnings."

Prince Bosphros felt his face burn with heat. "Danger is at hand, or does Your Majesty perceive otherwise in regards to the guns hammering upon the walls of Agrys City?"

"The walls are strong and Soton has few guns. We will outwait his attack."

"Your Majesty, Grand Master Soton is guided by the will of the Inner Circle of Balph and the Holy Investigator Roxthar; he will not cease his attack until he's sprung open our gates. I suspect that the Investigator will make short work of you upon his rack."

That appeared to have captured Demistophon's attention; he looked as if he were about to either cry or throw a temper tantrum.

The Chamberlain wrung his hands, saying, "You have upset the King! Leave now!"

The King's bodyguard appeared lax and bored as if they'd heard these same arguments all too many times.

Xentos cried out, his voice booming throughout the audience hall. "Hear Prince Bosphros out, Your Majesty. In answer to your pleas, he has helped bring a mighty army from the west to save your realm."

The Chamberlain looked as though he were about to faint from all the excitement. A young lad came up to fan his face.

"Speak, and then be done with it," Demistophon bellowed. "I have my afternoon respite to consider."

"Your Majesty, we, the Princes of the League of Dralm and Hos-Agrys, have assembled an army of some twelve thousand soldiers to come to your aid and relieve the siege that threatens to end your reign."

"It's taken you long enough. When is this tiresome siege to be ended?"

"The plan is to attack two days from now before sunrise, Sire. We hope to catch the Styphoni before they're completely awake and in their tents."

"Then do so. I await your victory."

"Your Majesty, we need your army to attack the Styphoni at the same time; otherwise, we will not succeed. The Host of Styphon's Deliverance has over eighteen thousand men and we are outnumbered three to two."

"If you catch them by surprise, you will prevail," the King pronounced.

"That is a possibility, Your Majesty, but the Grand Master's troops are veterans of the Fireseed War while our troops for the most part are untested. If the Royal Army attacks the Styphoni at the same time as our attack, we will win. Otherwise, it is up to the gods."

"The Allfather is on our side; right Primate?"

"Of course," Xentos replied. "However, Allfather Dralm does not directly involve himself in worldly affairs, so to take his beneficence for granted may well be an error."

King Demistophon tugged on his iron-colored goatee and reflected for a few moments. "Prince Bosphros, We have already lost three thousand men to a failed sortie pushed upon Us by Our former Captain-General. We now have less than four thousand regular soldiers and twice that number of City Militia under Our command. What would happen to Agrys City were the League to lose this battle?"

"A disaster, of course, Your Majesty. However, with your twelve thousand men attacking from the front while the League's Army strikes from the rear, we will have enveloped the Styphoni Army and victory will surely be ours."

"I have heard these words before from Prince Aesklos when he assured me that the Princedom of Nostor was ripe for the plucking. At that time, the Usurper Kalvan was fighting the Host of Styphon and appeared to be losing. Prince Aesklos' army was then destroyed by Prince Ptosphes. It cost the Kingdom good men, several thousand defecting mercenaries and a hundred thousand ounces of gold in ransom. What's not to say that the League's Army might not suffer a similar fate? In which case, who will remain to defend Our City?"

"Hear me out, Your Majesty! Without the League's help, Agrys City and yourself are doomed. The Host of Styphon's Deliverance is like a wolf pack worrying a lone moose; they will not let go until their prey has expired and been devoured. Surely, you can see that."

Demistophon's face was red and he thrust himself as far up from his Throne as his weight would allow. "I see nothing of the sort! I will pray to Allfather Dralm that the League's Army prevails, but I will NOT send a single soldier away from their duty at the City walls to die in case the Styphoni should prevail. The Royal Army is the last wall between us and the false idolaters of Styphon!"

Bosphros felt a sinking sensation that started in his chest and fell to his toes. If this was the King's final word, the attack was doomed. He needed to quit the City and inform Prince Vython, the army commander, of Demistophon's decision.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty, but I must leave at once."

Demistophon settled back into his throne, with a smirk. "You will not be allowed to leave, Prince. Captain, take this man to one of our guest chambers. Leave a guard in place to ensure that he doesn't leave. Treat him with the respect due to his rank, but I want him held in isolation until the attack is over."

"Yes, sir," the guard captain replied. "What about the priest?"

"Good point. Take him to one of my private chambers, but keep him under guard until the battle is settled."

Primate Xentos reared up on his heels. "This is a grave mistake, Your Majesty. You thwart the Allfather s will!"

"GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Demistophon shouted.

Xentos was marched off with a halberd point at his back.

The Great King attempted to rise, but could not extricate himself from his Throne. "I'm starving. Guards, help me out of this Throne. I need sustenance!"