The Fireseed Wars

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.

TWENTY-THREE

Sirna waited nervously outside Prince Phidestros' private audience chamber for Aranth Sain, known here as Ranthos, to leave. For not the first time, she wished that she didn't have an aversion to tobacco. That pipe smoking ritual that everyone had on Aryan-Transpacific was great for passing time or giving dramatic pauses. At the moment, she could use something to help pass the time.