by John F. Carr
Sargos nodded. "Many of our young men did not get enough fighting in the harsh lands and would love to raid the rich fields and villages of the Sastragath. But what about the Knights and their allies?"
Kalvan smiled. "This is where it gets good. Styphon's House is now fighting two wars, one against me and one against Great King Demistophon in Hos-Agrys. The Grand Master has been forced to bleed his border tarrs of Knights and their retainers to field both armies. True, there will be some soldiers left to mind the tarrs, but nothing like the numbers in the past. There probably aren't enough soldiers remaining in all of the Order's tarrs to field an army twenty thousand strong."
Sargos whistled.
"Most of the Sacred Squares of Hos-Ktemnos are off fighting as well; those left behind are under strength. Only the border Squares are at full strength. You won't have to worry about an attack from the east. As long as you don't cross the border, the Sastragath is yours."
Sargos rushed over to Kalvan and threw his arms around him, almost crushing him in the process. He doesn't have a clue as to how strong he is, does he?
"You have given me another priceless gift. What can I give you in return? Ten thousand warriors, Mexicotal gold, wagons of beer, a hundred young virgins-you name it, it's yours!"
"I want nothing in return. If your people can cause enough damage and pain to the Order of Zarthani Knights, that will be payment enough."
Sargos took his sausage-sized finger and poked it at Kalvan's chest. "I owe you my crown. I was a child and you were my tutor. The debt I owe you, Your Majesty, can never be repaid in this lifetime!"
The next moon quarter had been filled with drinking, boasting and the telling of stories, none more fantastic than Sargos' expedition all the way to the heart of Mexicotal-to Tenochtitlan, built at the edge of Lake Texcoco. The Warlord's clans had besieged the Aztec capital for three moon quarters before receiving a hundred wagons of gold in exchange for quitting the siege and retiring from the Mexicotal lands. This was acceptable since the war horde was running low on supplies and had never intended to stay in Mexico, only break the back of Mexicotal power and fill their many wagons with loot and slaves.
"It was the flresticks that made all the difference. Their warriors are fierce, especially those of the Eagle and Jaguar Clans. But all the fervor in the world does not stop a lead slug. Once we had killed the best of their knights, the rest were easy pickings. It will be a long time before they besiege Xiphlon, or enter the Sea of Grass to find sacrifices for their devil gods. I could tell you stories of priests dressed in human skins, ripping out the hearts of young men and women, or of pyramids of skulls and maidens adorned only in colored feathers… But enough of this talk, I grow weary of that accursed land."
"When you returned to Xiphlon with your booty, what was your reward from King Roldolf?" Kalvan asked.
Sargos gave a belly laugh that started in his toes and ended at the top of his head. "Ten wagons of gold!"
In the end, Kalvan had given Sargos and the Tymannes a dozen guns, including several of the old Greffan bombards that had survived the siege. They would certainly give the Order of Zarthani Knights a headache the likes of which they had never encountered before. The big, fierce looking Warlord had danced around the chamber when Kalvan had announced the gift like a ten year old at Christmas over a new Schwinn bicycle.
Kalvan's eyes returned to the parade ground as the first squadron of heavy cavalry, who could have easily passed for Medieval knights with strange gorgets and odd banners, rode by. The ground rumbled under their destriers' hooves.
Verkan turned to Kalvan. "Not bad, aye?"
"No, they actually look like a real army. Of course, nothing really counts until they're blooded, but they are much improved."
"I'm not worried, since you're leaving me three thousand veterans from the Royal Army to stiffen them. I've already got the Greffa Riflemakers Guild up and running. I hope to have my own small Mobile Force by fall- a couple of squadrons, at least."
"Excellent. Be prepared for anything; Theovacar will not relax until Greffa City is back in his hands." Kalvan wouldn't be surprised if Theovacar was already moving the better part of his army across Lake Michigan by ship to Rygen Town (Grand Rapids). He sketched the possible invasion routes out on a parchment map for Verkan, marking out places like Rygen that should be well-defended.
Verkan nodded. "I will put a fort at Rygen and one over there. However, I suspect I'm not the one who should be worrying. King Theovacar probably won't go after me until you've been properly punished. And that, much to Theovacar's dismay, is not going to be easy."
"I know, let him stew for a while. I need to get back to Thagnor City; Rylla will be giving birth any day now."
"Isn't your return what the Grand Host is waiting for?"
"Yes, I suppose. Either that or for Styphon to fly down from his Sky-Palace and break down the walls of Thagnor City!"
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 resp
ectfully, "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."
FORTY-NINE
Archpriest Grythos and his command had been traveling for half a moon through occupied territory but still were over a hundred marches from the village of Salis. They had been delayed by three attacks since they'd left the siege of Argys City. It appeared that the League of Dralm had sent word out that Styphon's House was going to Investigate everyone in Hos-Agrys, just as they had in Hostigos. Every peasant and villager was up in arms and on the look-out for Styphon's House invaders. It made poaching and looting difficult and deadly for both parties. There were armed bands of soldiers at every fork in the road or stream crossing, searching for parties of Investigators or armed bands of Styphon's House's soldiers.
Hadron curse Roxthar and send him straight to Regwarn! He was the one who'd caused this mess. When Grythos returned, he was going to explain to Grand Master Soton just how much trouble the Investigation had brought Styphon's House throughout the Northern Kingdoms. It would take a massive army to subdue the Kingdom and an even larger standing army to keep the peace unless the Investigation was stopped. Even now it might be too late.
The only solution was to send Archpriest Roxthar straight back to Balph, where his excesses could be contained, or kill him. He preferred the latter, but for some reason Soton refused to take that necessary step. Maybe because he'd have to fight Xenophes' Temple Bands of Styphon's Own Guard. Still, a little internecine warfare in the short run, to his mind, was preferable to having every hand and sword in the Kingdom of Hos-Agrys raised against them
Tonight he'd have to draft a letter to Styphon's Voice with his views. He wouldn't hesitate to kill that wolf in human guise for a moment!
According to his patchwork map of Hos-Agrys, up ahead about half a march was the closest ford of the Massilos River. Grythos halted the party and broke off a small unit of ten men. After the second attack, they had learned that there was a group of passwords given by the League to their Agrysi subjects. It had taken the third attack before, under torture, they'd discovered what it was: "Death to the false
god Styphon who eats night soil and drinks from chamber pots."
Due to the sensitive nature of their expedition, Grand Master Soton had sent his own handpicked men, most of them being either believers in Styphon, or pretenders who for reasons of advancement within the Order feigned belief. Fortunately, Grythos had also brought five of his own men who were admitted nonbelievers and had found, by process of elimination, five other Brethren Knights who could speak the abominable passwords without cursing or choking on their words.
It had also taken several battles to exchange the Knights' distinctive reins, saddles and other distinctive horse accoutrements with captured Agrysi armor and kits. By that time, they'd already lost over fifty troopers. Now, after almost six hundred marches, they looked like a band of Army deserters, or prosperous Agrysi bandits.
In the distance they heard the far-off clash of arms and the call of the battle horn. Everyone saddled up and they cantered off to the sounds of battle. The battle, if such a small exchange rated such a worthy title, was almost over by the time they arrived. His own small patrol was down by eight casualties, and the other two troopers were hard-pressed by about fifty mounted Agrysi cavalrymen-regulars, by appearance.
They quickly overran the outnumbered Agrysi soldiers, cutting them down like winter wheat. Still, they put up a spirited resistance and another eighteen men were either killed or grievously wounded. At this rate, he'd be lucky to return to camp with a handful of men.
He had one of the survivors of the initial patrol, as soon as his wounds were dressed, brought to him.
"I'm sorry, Your Worship. One of the Knights wore some spurs that were known to one of the Agrysi soldiers to be particular to the Order. We couldn't have known." He paused to catch his breath. His head was swathed in bandages and one arm hung limply. "They came at us like panthers… this Investigation has put fire in their veins!"
Grythos shook his head. Damn that Roxthar!