The Fireseed Wars

Lysandros knew he'd said more than was advisable, but he also knew that Theovacar was a ruler who saw things as they were, not as he wanted them to be. The only way to deal with such a man was to use the truth like a bludgeon. If Theovacar planned to make friendly overtures to Styphon's House later, Lysandros could always dissemble his words and claim that he was misquoted or maligned. He doubted that would happen. Theovacar was not the kind of man to pawn his kingdom for mere gold.

"Your words are safe with me. I have little to do with priests in any case. What do they know of war?"

Lysandros grinned. "Very little, except for the Order of Zarthani Knights. After the winter ice has thawed, I suggest we strike Thagnor hard and fast."

"Agreed. My forces will attack Thagnor from upstream. My Navy will set up a blockade and destroy their ships."

"The Grand Host will strike from downstream."

Theovacar nodded. "I will provide you with maps of Thagnor and guides to show you the best routes."

"Yes, and we can send you fireseed and those arquebuses I promised."

"We will put this Kalvan in a vise," Theovacar said with a smile. "And we'll crack the nut of Thagnor until he pops out." He brought his hands together with a loud clap. "This time there will be no escape."

II

BANG! BANG!

Xentos jumped when he heard the banging on his door. His nerves still hadn't completely recovered from the last attack, when Styphon's agents had blown his door off its hinges. The new temporary door was made of thick oak but it was only hung with leather hinges and was still reverberating from the force of the blows. "Who is it?" he demanded, with his right hand grasping the handle of his dagger.

"It's Highpriest Davros. You have a visitor, Primate."

"Is it necessary to break my door down, Davros? The Temple has not fallen yet!"

"I'm sorry, Your Eminence, but he carries a most urgent message."

"Come in."

Davros, in a white robe with an eight-pointed blue star on his breast, walked into the room followed by a much younger man wearing a black traveler's cloak. "Your Eminence, we have an important visitor from Balph."

Xentos reared back and slipped his hand into his blue robe to pull out the blade he kept there.

"No, sheathe your blade. He is a Hostigi intelligencer. A Styphon's House underpriest who was planted into the Temple of Balph by someone he calls Duke Skranga, or the Chief. Have you heard of this Skranga?"

Xentos nodded. He remembered Kalvan appointing the former horse trader as his Chief of Intelligence. He also remembered not liking, nor trusting, the balding redhead. "Duke Skranga was King Kalvan's Chief Intelligencer."

"Primate, I present Upperpriest Mathros."

The young man in black robes entered the room, bowing deeply; Xentos sheathed his dagger.

"Your Eminence, I bring grave news from Balph."

"Who sent you? Skranga?"

"No, Primate. Our cell was run by another, one who works under the Duke. This information I bring was urgent enough that I broke my cover and fled Balph. It's taken me over a moon to sneak out of Balph and work my way through Hos-Harphax."

"What news do you bring? Out with it, then," Xentos said, barely containing his temper.

"Styphon's House is planning to attack Agrys City as soon as spring arrives."

"That is madness! I don't believe it," Davros cried.

Xentos felt his stomach drop. Is this Allfather Dralm's punishment for my lack of support for his favorite, Kalvan? Could he truly be Dralm's son? He shook his head to clear his thoughts. It's of no matter now, you old fool. It's too late to redo the past. Kalvan is dead, or soon will be, as are Ptosphes and Harmakros and who knows how many others under the thrice-cursed Investigation of Styphon's House!

"No, Davros, this is what King Kalvan predicted long ago in my presence would happen should Hostigos fall. Now that Styphon's House has destroyed Hos-Hostigos, they are free to bring down any of the Great Kings who did not support their campaign against Kalvan. Next they will destroy the High Temple of Dralm."

"That is truth, Your Eminence," the young man stated.

"What else, Mathros?" Xentos demanded.

"Grand Master Soton has been ordered to Thebra City to gather the invasion force. Next spring, he will transport his army, the Host of Styphon's Deliverance, by ship to Agrys City as soon as the weather permits."

"Grand Master Soton! I thought he was with the Grand Host of Styphon, chasing Great King Kalvan into the Trygath."

"No, Your Eminence. After Sesklos' death, Soton left the Host to return to Balph for the Election of Anaxthenes as the new Styphon's Own Voice. The Inner Circle directed Soton to raise an army and leave for Thebra City, where he was to prepare stores and arms for the attack upon your Great King."