by John F. Carr
"Yes?" Kalvan asked guardedly. What favor might this great warrior ask next?
"When we met at the Spirit Grove and you saved my life, I became in your debt and it is time to settle the account."
Kalvan nodded solemnly.
"I understand that Hostigos is in a great war with the Black Knights and the dung-digging priests of Styphon?"
"This is true."
"Then you are in need of many warriors?"
"This is also true."
Halgoth squirmed in his seat, looking strangely boyish for a man with sun-darkened skin and weathered wrinkles. "I would like to offer my services and those of the Raven Guard to act as your bodyguard."
Kalvan thought quickly. Halgoth was a man of great honor and pride. He was also Sargos' closest confidant and friend. To deny his request would not only dishonor Halgoth, but Sargos as well. Such an insult might well carry a blood price-or vergelt as the Urgothi called it. Kalvan couldn't imagine how he might use such an honor guard of unrepentant Vikings- but the Varangian Guard certainly did well for their Byzantine masters. Nor would it be a bad thing to have such formidable and loyal men as his personal guard. And, who knew how much evil would arise if he refused Vanar Halgoth's request.
"It is done!"
A smile broke out on Halgoth's face like the sun rising over a bank of purple clouds. "You have my oath of fealty." He lifted his golden goblet. "A toast to Great King Kalvan and to the Raven Guard."
Kalvan clinked goblets with the massive Urgothi. Another friend, he thought, I can use all the friends I can get. "Vanar, as your first duty, I want you to return to the Sastragath and bring the Ruthani children back to Hostigos."
"It will be done. I must return anyway to gather the Raven Guard. Not all will be old comrades, since there are many new tribesmen in the Clan, but all will be proven warriors and loyal paladins. I will put them all under an oath-bond to fight to guard Your Majesty's life with their own. You will not regret this day, my King!"
Kalvan wasn't sure of that, but he knew better than to share his doubts with his new captain. He was going to have to put a truss on both his drinking hand and his mouth before he brought himself any more such good fortune!
FIVE
Captain-General Phidestros watched as the two Knights, in blackened armor and white capes with Styphon's black sun-wheel emblazoned on the back, brought Grand Master Soton's chair in and then waited at attention while the Grand Master strutted in and took his seat. Phidestros was surprised to note how much Soton had aged; there were sharp lines around his eyes and mouth, and his beard had turned mostly gray. He wondered what had caused him the most pain, losing thousands of his beloved Knights or having to explain to the Inner Circle of Styphon's House his 'retreat' from Kalvan's army. Neither could have been easy, but knowing Soton as he did, he suspected the former.
"Grand Master Soton, can I offer you some winter wine?"
Soton excused one of his Knights, but the Sergeant stayed. "Yes, I could use a drink. I have spent far too many hours talking to nobles with more iron between their ears than in their spines." He sounded weary and a little hoarse.
"We could always meet tomorrow, Grand Master."
"No, I can only stay for a moon-quarter more, and then I have to return to Balph before the first big storms. We have much to discuss if the invasion of Hos-Hostigos is to be successful."
"Agreed. Mynoss, will you serve us some wine." After his servant had brought them all, including Sergeant Sarmoth, goblets of red winter wine, Phidestros made a toast. "To Styphon and the fall of the false Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos."
After a long swallow, Soton offered up another toast. "And to Great King Lysandros!"
"To Great King Lysandros."
"Unfortunately, that is about the only good news to come from the Sastragathi debacle."
"That is hardly true, Grand Master. You drove the barbarians into the Trygath, threatening western Hostigos, which prevented Kalvan from invading Hos-Harphax, something he could have done with ease this spring. Instead he spent the campaign season chasing you."
"I am glad to see you believe our sacrifice was not in vain."
"I don't just believe it. I know it, Grand Master. If you had not diverted Kalvan's attention to the west, Hos-Harphax would be no more-and Harphax a princedom of Hos-Hostigos! If you still believe, as you did last year, that Hos-Harphax is the anchor of the Five Kingdoms, then your sacrifice was well made."
"I hope you are right," said Soton. "The entire campaign was a nightmare I'd just as soon forget…"
"We have made great progress here."
"Tell me about it."
"By Styphon's Grace and much of his gold, I have completely rebuilt the Army of Hos-Harphax; it now musters over eighteen thousand men: two thousand Royal Pistoleers, eight hundred of the King's Royal Lancers, four thousand Royal Foot Guard and four thousand Mobile Dragoons- mounted infantry much like Kalvan's Mobile Force, made up of the best of the City Militia-and a dozen mercenary regiments. I've recently hired another six thousand mercenaries, four thousand foot and two thousand horse; all have agreed to join the Royal Army-for a price. I've formed two mobile batteries of four six-pounders and six four-pounders each and one Royal Rifle Company with seventy-six riflemen.
"Excellent!-Captain-General. You have been busy. But how well trained are these troops?"
"Every third man in each company is a veteran, and we've been drilling them six days a moon-quarter since spring. They're not seasoned yet, but they are in good spirits. I'm paying them twice the usual salary and year round-"
"So that was how you convinced the mercenaries to join the Royal Army." Soton nodded thoughtfully. "Year round! I can hear Archpriest Dryton, the Temple's Treasurer, screaming all the way from Balph."
"No you won't. I'm not paying them all in gold. Half their salary is paid in iron coin, redeemable in gold only when Kalvan's army has been defeated."
"Brilliant." Soton shook his head as he took out a burl pipe with silver inlay. "By what spell do you convince soldiers to accept iron in place of gold?"
"All soldiers are gamblers and see nothing ahead but the piles of gold they will win when the Army of Hostigos has been vanquished. It has also given them a great incentive to work on their drills. Besides, many of the local merchants, ladies of the evening and wagerers accept the iron coins at a discount."
"If that is true, truly you have brought about Styphon's Own Miracle! Styphon be praised! If the local slatterns and sharpers are willing to take these iron rakmars in trade, then even the scum must believe that we will prevail. I wish the Archpriests of the Inner Circle shared their faith."
"They will, Grand Master. They will. The City Militia is now more than ten thousand strong, and are better armed and better drilled than in living memory. Every moon I have a thousand of them brought to Tarr-Anibra where they are drilled from first light to dark. They do much better away from Tarr-Harphax and the City walls. They will not run as they did at Chothros Heights."
"You have made great progress in the past year-even more than I expected. Yet, this shortage of mercenaries may yet prove our undoing. I had hoped you would have twelve to fifteen thousand Free Companions by this time, but far too many have died in this Ormaz-spawned war against the Usurper-or worse, have taken his colors. Archpriest Anax-thenes put before me an idea that may help solve our problem. Let me present it to you."
Soton explained how Styphon's House had merchants and agents who traveled as distantly as the far-off West Coast settlements of the Ros-Zarthani. One of these agents had been authorized by the Inner Circle to hire an entire army of Ros-Zarthani. Word had recently arrived in Balph that they were almost across the Sea of Grass.
"This is interesting news," Phidestros said, his face trying to hide his disappointment. He needed these western barbarians like he needed another regiment of royal lancers. "How do we know they will not break the first time Kalvan's guns fire?"
Soton shrugged. "They may be sounder troops than you suspe
ct. The agent has informed Archpriest Anaxthenes that the Ros-Zarthani know neither kingdoms nor princedoms as we do. Each city acts as its own kingdom-yes, a chaotic system of rule that leads to much fighting. A highpriest was sent to 'hire' an army from one of the larger cities to aid in our war against the Usurper Kalvan. The army will march from their home, across the Sea of Grass and through Grefftscharr."
"You mean some highpriest, who doesn't know a rake from a ramrod, has hired an unknown army and believes it will pass unmolested through the Sea of Grass? The Grefftscharrers will pulverize it as grindstone mills wheat. Why not bypass Greffa all together, by taking the-"
"Fighting the Greffa Army will be their test, as I understand it. They have never faced fireseed, and it is well that they do so before they meet the Royal Army of Hos-Hostigos in the field. It will take Styphon's Own Miracle for them to arrive as an intact unit. Yet, this Highpriest Prysos believes that these Ros-Zarthani can more than hold their own against the nomads and Grefftscharrers. At least he has convinced Archpriest Anaxthenes that this is so."
"Anaxthenes may know all there is to be known about running temple services and pulling Sesklos' strings, but he knows nothing of war."
"Don't underestimate Archpriest Anaxthenes. Any Archpriest who has survived for twenty winters in the Inner Circle has more understanding of command than you might think. There is even talk that he will become the next Voice of Styphon."
Suddenly all is clear, Phidestros thought. Lysandros might believe the gathering host was his army, but Styphon's House had a different opinion. "Since the Temple pays, we cannot lose. What weapons do they use?"
"They still fight in full armor and on destriers, much as our ancestors did and your Royal Lancers do now."
"Oh no, more iron hats! Kalvan's artillery will harvest them before they have time to set their lances."
"Not all of them. Many use bows or carry heavy throwing darts."
Phidestros shook his head. "Darts and bows! They will probably run when the first shot is fired."
"If half of what this Prysos claims is true, they may surprise both you, me and-most importantly, Kalvan. At worst, they will serve as a screen for our own troops."
"For how long has Styphon's House purchased these soldiers?"
"Styphon's House has paid their city well; they will fight until they are dead or their contract runs out next spring. Scoff if you must, but answer me this: where else do you intend to find more mercenaries to fight under our banners?"
Phidestros shook his head. "There are no more mercenaries to be bought in the Five Kingdoms, not for gold or glory. No, bring these iron hats, and we will find some use for them-if they ever arrive! If nothing else, they will give Kalvan's guns targets while my men do more serious work."
II
Xentos still felt uncomfortable greeting supplicants in his Chair; it reminded him too much of the old Iron Throne he had seen during his visits to the court at Harphax City. The Primate's Chair could just as well have been called the Golden Throne, since it was gilt covered and jewel-encrusted. In Xentos' mind this pomp was more appropriate to a Styphon's House temple than Allfather Dralm's chief house of worship. Davros, Highpriest of the High Temple of Hos-Agrys, however, had an answer for every question, and Xentos supposed that the chair's opulence lent a certain dignity to the High Temple. Yet, in his heart he still wasn't convinced that such opulence was at all proper.
Xentos was tempted to turn around and ask the towering statue what it thought, but-unlike Styphon's image in Balph-Dralm had never spoken to his flock. Xentos wasn't even sure if it was proper to use the former Great Hall of Dralm for the Primate's Audience Room. Again, Davros had convinced him otherwise. Or had his false pride allowed himself to be convinced? There was no comforting answer to that question so he focused upon the merchant asking his intercession with the Allfather.
"I admit, Patriarch, I bore false witness upon my competitors-even drove some of them out of business. Now the ague strikes almost every night. I awake shivering and lying in my own water. Please, ask Allfather Dralm to forgive me-I beseech you!"
The formerly obese merchant now swam in his robes. "Leave one hundred gold rakmars as an offering and I will intercede on your behalf."
The merchant fawned all over him, even kissing his ring finger- another custom encouraged by Highpriest Davros. He knew the High Temple needed the gold; what he wasn't sure of was how much good health, if any, it would buy for the suffering merchant. Still, tonight he would make a special prayer to Dralm in the supplicant's name.
The fever-ridden merchant was the last of today's penitents. Next was a meeting with the High Council of Dralm. The Highpriests, led by High-priest Davros, approached the throne with far less reverence than the supplicants. Xentos was beginning to resent their presumptuousness.
Davros looked him in the eyes. "Primate, we must come to a firm decision about the Usurper Kalvan. The princes, even Great King Demistophon, wish to know our policy regarding the outlaw realm of Hos-Hostigos."
Xentos sighed. "I have previously warned the Council about the impetuousness of Great Queen Rylla. She is willful and does take matters into her own hands; however, her actions in Phaxos addressed a legitimate grievance upon the traitor Araxes, who had both sworn and un-sworn fealty to the Throne of Hos-Hostigos in the same season. Had it been Great King Kalvan overthrowing Prince Araxes, I do not think we would have need of this conversation."
Davros, his voice filled with lightly veiled impatience, said, "It was done and many innocent lords were killed. I propose we put Hos-Hostigos under the Ban of Dralm."
Xentos let his voice fill the room. The highpriests looked at him with surprise. "The Ban of Dralm is always the last resort, particularly in the case of a ruler who has done more of Dralm's work than any Great King in living memory. Styphon's House was about to annex Hostigos as their own fiefdom; without Kalvan they would have done so and the Temple of Dralm would have been forbidden within Hostigos and the neighboring princedoms of Sask, Nostor, Beshta and Sashta. Would anyone care to refute that statement?"
Most of the highpriests were suddenly busy studying their sandals-all except Davros, who stared at Xentos as if he were seeing him for the first time.
He continued, "I believe we have more important work to do than attacking our friends. Am I the only one who has noticed that the Union of Styphon's Friends is not only raising gold for the war against Hos-Hostigos, but troops as well? Where do you think they're going to stop once Kalvan is removed?
"If you have no answer, I ask you to turn your eyes toward Hos-Harphax where the Captain-General of the Royal Army recently stormed one of the Beshtan tarrs, Tarr-Veblos. I'm sure it is not news that Captain-General Phidestros took the castle by force of arms even though it is part of the Great Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos."
"A Great Kingdom we do not recognize!" Davros answered.
"Nor does Styphon's House, which does not mean it does not exist. Prince Phrames of Beshta is a devoted follower of Dralm and has demonstrated his support by sending a thousand rakmars of gold and ten times that of silver for the new Temple. Now, how are we to show our support of Phrames?"
Even Davros did not have an answer to that question, nor had Xentos expected him to. Xentos was still unsure of King Kalvan, where he really came from, whether he represented the interests of men or gods. However, he did know that Kalvan was Styphon's greatest enemy-and that was the truth. Another truth was that Kalvan was an important counterweight towards keeping Styphon's House from establishing control over all of the 'old' Five Kingdoms.
If this meant throwing the Council behind Kalvan, so be it. Lysandros' ascension to the Throne of Hos-Harphax was more dangerous to Dralm's interests than Rylla's blunder in Phaxos. Especially now that it had provided Lysandros the internal support he needed to become Great King and begin the annexation of those princedoms and baronies loyal to Allfather Dralm.
The next question, and most important one, for the Temple's survival, was: Do I dare to
throw the might and purses of the League of Dralm into the coming war? If he did, he might risk a war of religious persecution should Styphon's House win in the field. Or should the Temple continue their policy of neutrality and risk Kalvan's wrath-or certainly Rylla's-if Kalvan won? There had to be a third option. If there was, he meant to find it.
"What do we do, Primate?" the Highpriest of Glarth asked. The old man was actually wringing his hands.
"We dare not openly support Kalvan, for if he loses, it will be laid at our feet and we will face a war of extinction with Styphon's House. A war they will win."
"I do not see that," Highpriest Davros stated. "Styphon's House will be busy for many years in Hostigos stamping out heresy and removing all traces of Kalvan."
It was interesting to see how Davros made claims and counter-claims to Xentos' every statement, even if it meant contradicting what he had said before. Is Davros a Styphoni sympathizer, or merely trying to undermine my rule? "We have all known for some time that there has always been a strong One God party within Styphon's House. This party has always been a minority, since most of the archpriests of Styphon's House have been unbelievers. That has changed recently. Archpriest Roxthar has solidified his control of the Inner Circle and he is determined to root out all the unbelievers from Styphon's House and elevate Styphon as God of Gods. He is our enemy, not Lysandros, not Kalvan, not Rylla, not Grand Master Soton. The Holy Investigator has already purged many temples of 'unbelievers' throughout Balph and Hos-Ktemnos."
"We must stop Roxthar at all costs. We will surreptitiously send funds and soldiers to aid Kalvan, but not openly. This way we will not bind the Temple's fate with that of Kalvan's. Whether we like it or not, we must aid Kalvan." He only hoped it wasn't too little and too late, but he didn't dare start a religious war with Styphon's House that there was almost no hope of winning.
"But Primate, how do we know if this is the will of Allfather Dralm?" a highpriest asked.