by John F. Carr
The Princedom of Lyros (Wabash Valley) was claimed by Theovacar’s great-great grandfather, but Dorg objected that they owned the Lyr River (Wabash River), so as a compromise no Grefftscharri prince was ever crowned. While there was no Lyrosi Prince, the Prince of Greffa was responsible for maintaining navigation on the Lyr up to Namtym Town (Lafayette, Indiana) and also for the land routes (too long to be considered portages) from the various tributaries of the Sultz River (Illinois River) to the Lyr and from the Lyr to the Erkfryn River.
After awhile his eyes started to burn and Kalvan decided he’d spent enough time staring at maps. He tugged the bell pull again.
Cleon came in a few moments later with another cup of hot tea.
“Thank you. Any word on Trader Tortha, yet?”
“He should be here shortly, Your Majesty. I just got word from the stable that his horse is being watered and fed.”
“Bring him in the moment he arrives,” Kalvan ordered.
“Yes, Sire.”
A few minutes later, an out-of-breath Trader Tortha, wearing a wine-colored robe trimmed in ermine fur, entered the private audience chamber. “Your Majesty.”
Kalvan rose and clasped his arm tightly. “It’s good to see you again!”
“You, too, Your Majesty. I came as quickly as I could, given the three flights of stairs I had to climb! It’s a good thing I’m in good shape, or I am now, after that journey over sea and swamp!”
They both laughed. “How are things with King Theovacar? Is there any chance he will give my people a refuge?”
Tortha’s face took on a grim cast. “I fear things are even worse than we expected. Theovacar is a very careful bargainer, and does not want to allow any potential competitor into his trading camps.”
That was bad news, but not unexpected. Kalvan realized Hostigi mass migration was somewhat equivalent to Gulliver’s situation in Lilliput: the Hostigi were too big for any one, two and/or three opponents, but unable to take on all the Lilliputians at once, which was the military/ political situation in the Upper Middle Kingdoms. The Moors had faced the same problem after the Reconquista, when the Spanish evicted them from Andalusia and the other Spanish provinces. Most had moved into North Africa where they found refuge. Had it been possible to transport the Moors by ship into Sicily and then Italy, they might have faced the problems Kalvan and the Hostigi were facing now.
“I’m not surprised, but I was hoping for a peaceful settlement, maybe working out a deal where we handled one of King Theovacar’s long standing problems, such as moving into Thagnor and eliminating his problems with Prince Varrack once and for all. In that manner, all would benefit; we would gain a temporary home and Theovacar would lose a political liability while gaining a newfound ally.”
“I know, Sire. I wasn’t even able to broach the subject. The King treated me like one of Styphon’s minions. While Theovacar has a reputation for being an ambitious man, I’ve never heard any man call him friendly.”
“I haven’t either. Verkan’s opinion was rather restrained.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. Verkan was a Greffan subject and knows that Theovacar has a long memory and even shorter patience for those subjects who do not curry his favor. Also, I suspect Theovacar was aware that Verkan was also selling covertures in Hos-Hostigos for merchants and nobles who believed that Theovacar no longer held them or their families in favor. Verkan was hoeing a very straight row at the edge of Theovacar’s cabbage patch.”
“Yes, Verkan mentioned that he was selling properties, but I just thought they were summer estates, not hideaways.”
“No, they were for wealthy Greffans not in the King’s favor. He also had some estates available in Dorg for those who felt uncomfortable in leaving their homeland or learning a new language. I met with several of those who’d purchased Hostigos covertures before I left Greffa, but no one--not even Verkan--can predict where Thanor’s next bolt will strike, as I explained to them.”Tortha shrugged his shoulders, indicating the gods would do as they willed. “They lost gold and were unhappy, but we traders face that every time we begin a new enterprise--I remember one time in Wulfula--”
Before Tortha could begin one of his interminable trading yarns, Kalvan interrupted. “Things have gotten worse since you left, Tortha. Our refugee problem has grown even worse, because of this Dralm-cursed Investigation. We’re going to be running out of food long before winter arrives. The only good news is that Styphon’s Grand Host is still stalled outside Hostigos Town. According to one of our intelligencers, it appears that Sesklos died about a moon ago. Styphon’s House policy demands that all thirty-six Electors, or Archpriests, convene back in Balph before they can Elect a successor. Therefore, Grand Master Soton and the Arch-Butcher Roxthar were recalled to Balph. Without its head, the Host is stuck in place, while Lysandros and Phidestros argue over who does what and goes where. It won’t be settled until Soton returns.”
Tortha rubbed his hands together. “That’s very good news, indeed!”
“Yes, but this false summer will not last for long. It will provide us with about a moon’s respite, then Soton will be back and the Grand Host will follow us into Ulthor. We can’t afford to be here when they arrive. I mean to be long gone before they ever leave Hostigos Town.”
“But how? Only Theovacar has the ships necessary to move your army and your subjects--and even the Grefftscharr Navy would be overtaxed, if there are more refugees in camp than when I left, for Wodan’s sake!”
“You’re right and they’re still pouring into Ulthor. We need a new solution. I’ve been talking with Ambassador Dykar from Nythros City States and he tells me that maybe we can cut a deal with the Nythrosi. It appears they are in a major trade war with Thagnor and they would like Our help in settling this dispute.”
Tortha shook his head. “The Nythrosi merchants are well-known for shaving the truth off their promises, they will deliver but only if their hands are tied to the captain’s chair and a knife is held to their throats!”
“That is what Prince Kestophes told me. Only he was more diplomatic.” Kalvan paused to laugh. “I know better than to trust any of these ambassadors and emissaries. They are all aware of our great army, our horde of refugees and our situation with Styphon’s House; they would all like nothing better than if we vanished in the morning mist.”
“Very true, Your Majesty. The Middle Kingdoms are much older than your own Northern Kingdoms. They have survived a hundred barbarian invasions and migrations from both the Cold Lands and the Sea of Grass! However, never in all those millennia have they faced an army the size of yours, followed by half a million people in search of a home, since Echanistra was overthrown. All the princedoms and kingdoms up and down the Great Mother River are in an uproar: Who is this Great King Kalvan? Will Styphon’s House destroy him? Where is he going? Will he bring the Styphoni butchers behind him?”
“Those are good questions; I wish I had answers.”
“Your Majesty, Greffa City was in such turmoil, I could not get out fast enough. Although, I did manage one boon for Your Majesty, right after I left.”
“What was that?”
“I had Verkan’s chief clerk, Kostran, set charges at the Fireseed Works. The entire mill was scheduled to blowup three days after I left Greffa City.”
“Won’t that fuel Theovacar’s suspicions about the House of Verkan working more for Hostigi policies than Greffan?”
“No, several of the ‘new’ fireseed mills that have sprouted up in and around Greffa have already exploded or burned up. I didn’t want to leave such a valuable military asset in Theovacar’s hands once it was determined that he would not work in tandem with Hos-Hostigos. Besides, Kostran was convinced that the King was about to take over ownership of the mill as a Crown Asset.”
“Thank you, Tortha. Someday I will find a way to repay you for your efforts--if I’m ever in such a position again.”
“It was my pleasure, Your Majesty. But let me add, I would not rule out Theovacar becoming
an ally, but only if it benefits Grefftscharr or his own ambitions. In your present situation, there is little you can offer the King except more problems--and he already has a belly full--due to his own attempts to consolidate his rule over Grefftscharr. Theovacar has angered his princes, merchants and nobles. Those he has not angered, he has made fearful. It is apparent to anyone who understands politics that the King intends to concentrate power in the Throne at the expense of every other faction.
“Princedoms, like Thagnor and Lyros, Grefftscharr possessions only by old treaties, are pulling away, attempting to assert their own autonomy before they are reined in by King Theovacar. His subjects support their King’s policies of expansion; however, when he oversteps his authority, raising new taxes and duties, they grow angry and resentful. One day they will turn their ire on the King and blood will fill the streets of Greffa City.”
Kalvan nodded, pausing to lit his pipe. “I see why Theovacar would not welcome a new neighbor moving into territory traditionally controlled, if not ruled outright, by Grefftscharr or its interests. In that case, I won’t waste my time with envoys and ambassadors; instead, I’ll try and see if I can find another ally.”
“I believe that’s the wisest course, Your Majesty.” Tortha looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped. Then started again, “Theovacar is a dangerous man, Your Majesty. Do not accept his help, even should he offer, unless you can hold a dagger to his throat.”
“Good advice, Trader. I am forewarned and will be wary regarding all future dealings with Theovacar. What can you tell me about his military might?”
Kalvan had been questioning every military man in Ulthor Port about the art of war in the Upper Middle Kingdoms and the conclusions he’d reached had provided him with guarded optimism in regards to what they would be facing once the Hostigi openly moved into the Upper Middle Kingdoms. To begin with, the princedoms were about two hundred years behind the Five Great Kingdoms in all things military. There were few calivers and arquebuses, but no muskets. Styphon’s House had kept the supply of muskets limited as part of their attempt to control the dissemination of military technology. After all, muskets were capable of piercing armor. No real cannons, either, only a few old hooped-iron bombards--none with field carriages.
Traditionally, Upper Middle Kingdom forces used crossbows and pikes, instead of arquebuses and other handguns. Overall, there was much more reliance on heavy, armored cavalry than in the Five Kingdoms. In some areas longbows were still predominant. Their military technology, tactics and arms were similar to Italy in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. The Italians were slow to adapt to gunpowder weapons until the French invaded Italy in 1494 under Charles VIII and seized Naples.
The Italians had raised noble gendarmes, local and mercenary crossbow-men and militia pikemen for their armies. Few city-states had maintained a standing army, most had relied on condottiere. The Middle Kingdoms didn’t have large standing armies either, and also relied on mercenary forces--even more than the Five Kingdoms until Kalvan’s arrival. They also used tribal (Urgothi and Ruthani) irregulars, much like the Cossacks or Stradiots.
Typically, most Upper Kingdom armies had very few arquebusier companies; at least, not until recently, and there was still some local resistance: “everyone knows crossbows are better than those new-fangled firesticks! Much more reliable and they don’t belch fire and brimstone.” one informant from Ragyath told Kalvan when questioned. This was due in large part to Styphon’s House who only sold serpentine powder--an unstable form of gunpowder, not the more reliable corned powder--in the Middle Kingdoms. It had been in Styphon’s House’s best interest to keep the Urgothi kingdoms dependent upon the Temple and militarily inferior to the Five Kingdoms.
He hoped to use the long simmering anti-Styphoni sentiment, which came from their restrictions, to his advantage.
The switch from crossbowmen and lancers to musketeers and cuirassiers wasn’t going to happen overnight; however, it would happen much faster now that Kalvan was on the scene--you could put that in the bank and draw compound interest.
Tortha finally put his pipe fixings back into his tobacco pouch and lit his burl pipe. “Hmm. I didn’t get a chance to do much reconnoitering, but Kostran has been keeping a keen eye on the Grefftscharr Royal forces, including troop and naval movements. The Grefftscharr Army is big by Upper Middle Kingdom standards, around ten thousand soldiers--a quarter cavalry and the rest foot, half of them marines. Heavy cavalry is predominant in the Middle Kingdoms since they fight a lot of Ruthani and Urgothi light cavalry, which they cannot match. Therefore, they overrun them with big heavy knights on armored destriers. Most of them are armed with lance, sword, mace and an occasional horse pistol. There are very few mobile guns, mostly old bombards carried on huge carts, and they take so much maneuvering the battle’s usually won or lost before they’re even fired.
“The foot soldiers usually carry pikes, halberds, swords and crossbows. The Housecarls are still considered the King’s bodyguard and fight with spears and shields, as do a lot of the militia. Theovacar has created his own Royal Bodyguard, the King’s Companions. Crossbows are the missile weapons of choice. Kostran was telling me that one of the problems Theovacar has run into in converting crossbow units to shot units is one of pride. Previously, due to scarcity, shot units had a lot of prestige. However, this all changed when the new Hostigi fireseed arrived; suddenly, anyone who can point a gun can shoot it and the status of the arquebus companies dropped accordingly.”
“That makes sense,” Kalvan said, remembering all the problems the French encountered in the Italian Wars, trying to get their Italian allies to stop using crossbows and arm themselves with matchlock arquebuses.
Tortha shook his head. “The crossbowmen as a matter of faith believe their weapons are far superior to the local handguns and in the main are loathe to use the new arquebuses. To make matters worse, there’s a severe shortage of gunsmiths, which means most of their handguns are imported ‘seconds’ or ‘used’ weapons from the Five Kingdoms. I’ve seen guards with arquebuses with gunlocks that looked older than Theovacar’s grandfather!”
“That’s good information,” Kalvan said, although he had suspected this was the case. It was hard to get good intelligence on Grefftscharr this far away. Not a lot of Grefftscharri ships traded regularly at Ulthor Port due to the high tariffs instituted by Prince Kestophes. If he’d had a good crystal ball and known how important this part of Hos-Hostigos would turn out to be, he’d have kept Kestophes on a much tighter rein.
He nodded. “As long as the War of the Great Kings is still in progress, I don’t see many gunsmiths relocating to the Middle Kingdoms, nor any gun mills exporting many firearms, except at very high prices.”
Tortha nodded, pointing his pipe stem at Kalvan: “King Theovacar has already been after the Verkan Fireseed Works to start turning out reliable smoothbores. Verkan never had time to found the musket factory he wanted to build since he spent so much time here in Hos-Hostigos, which is just as well. The King also complained about the problems enticing Great Kingdom gunsmiths to relocate to Greffa when there was so much business at home.”
Kalvan said, “Locally, the gunsmiths are loathe to take on apprentices, and from what I’ve heard this is true throughout the Great Kingdoms. I’ve had to create a Royal Riflemakers Guild to get more rifles made. The gun makers have tradition behind their reluctance to expand their guilds. In the past, when they have let too many new gunsmiths into the Guild, they were faced with a surplus of masters and apprentices once the war ended. And, that’s bad for business.”
“True,” Tortha replied, “which leaves only antiques and broken handguns for export to the Upper Middle Kingdoms, usually at ridiculous prices. Which means, regardless of what Theovacar or any other ruler desires, Hostigos is not going to face very many fireseed weapons. But, don’t discount those crossbows; they can shoot a Zarthani Knight right out of his saddle!”
Kalvan’s own military situation was unique in that
he brought with him his own gunsmiths and Royal Riflemakers. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sell--or make guns--until he established a stable base or colony somewhere, either at Thagnor or somewhere else. However, he did bring with him a lot of firepower, since the Royal Hostigi Armory had been stacked to the roof with the loot of Fyk, the Chothros Heights and Phyrax, most of which he’d brought with him in his wagon train. Maybe he could trade the older smoothbores to cement future alliances?
“One thing you have to remember, Your Majesty, is that the Middle Kingdoms are much more populous than the Zarthani Kingdoms. Also, they have a long history of frequent wars between competing princedoms and petty-kingdoms. Still, wars have been limited in scope and fought mostly for reasons of trade, not conquest. Therefore in the Upper Middle Kingdoms a two to three thousand man standing army is large. Most princes depend upon mercenaries to fight their battles. Armies have grown considerably larger since the Fireseed Wars but those large armies have almost exclusively been confined to the Great Kingdoms. With the Army of Hostigos bringing some thirty thousand seasoned veterans into the area, things are going to change--and in a hurry.”
“You’re right, Tortha. That means we need to take advantage of our military superiority while it lasts. As we’ve seen, things can change very quickly, especially since the Army of Hostigos would be outnumbered were all of the Upper Middle Kingdoms to mobilize their vassals and band together.”
“Not much chance of that, Sire. Some of these states have been warring against each other for a thousand years. Despite a lot of efforts over the centuries, no one warlord or prince has ever got them all to band against their common enemy--Grefftscharr, the biggest and most bellicose of the Upper Middle Kingdoms. You, however, may be able to use some of that historical enmity for our own purposes.”
“I plan to. If my subjects are going to survive and ever return to our lands, we will need to establish a refuge, or should I say a Hostigi colony, so that we’ll have a base of operations to work out of when the Styphoni come. And come they will.”