The Fireseed Wars

"We counted less than twenty watchmen and scouts. Give me twenty more men and we will send them all to Wind."

"Good. First we need to coordinate this attack with Phrames. Can you reach him before nightfall?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. We encountered one of the Prince's scouts. His camp is about ten marches from the stream. He knows about the ambush and has been awaiting our arrival."

One of Hestophes' bodyguards rode up, trailing a remount. "Here's a fresh horse. Take as many men as you need and tell Prince Phrames to have his men prepare to ford the stream at sun's height. We'll meet him on the other side."

"Yes, sir."

THIRTY

The Great Hall of Tarr-Beshta was decked out in all its finery, with all new tapestries and hangings. Princess Arminta had been to this tarr once before, during the reign of Balthar the Black, and the few hangings in the castle had been in tatters or black with mildew. Now, the Banner of the Iron Band hung proudly from the main beam. One wall displayed a large tapestry depicting the Battle of Ardros, showing Prince Phidestros bathed in light as if he were a demi-god from one of the Mystery Plays.

The Prince, who towered over his retainers, stood in one corner with a flagon of drink. He had strong features and a royal air; he was much more handsome than she had expected. He perked up when he saw her party; she was too far away to see if he was disappointed at her appearance, or surprised. This was the part she hated!

Arminta's mother had died when she was only eight winters old. As the oldest daughter, it had been her responsibility to see that her three brothers and two sisters were raised properly. Her father did not remarry and grew dependent upon her to act as surrogate mother to her siblings. She hadn't minded, having grown accustomed to the disinterest of most of the young men she met. She had resigned herself to being a spinster and, in fact, enjoyed advising her father on both political and dynastic matters.

Now her younger sisters were married and her father had, at Great King Lysandros' demand, bargained her off to this mercenary. The problem for Arminta was that she was no starry-eyed young girl or naive daughter; she was twenty-four winters old. While men appeared to enjoy her company- after all, she had raised two brothers-they had not shown much interest in her as a woman. So why should Prince Phidestros be an exception?

Arminta knew her flanks were too long, her bosom too small and her face too horsy. The burnished steel mirror in her chamber told her all that, as well as the disinterested glances by passing men. However, she had all her teeth and exceptionally good health, and that had to count for something. Also, she had the one thing her soon to be husband lacked-a pedigree. Her family had ruled Argros for over three centuries and her father was Prince of a large and prosperous Princedom. In addition, she was related by blood to Great King Lysandros. She wondered if that would be enough for her new husband.

Arminta didn't mind that Phidestros kept a mistress-she'd heard all about the redheaded Gerfftscharrer, Lady Sirna, the moment she'd arrived in Besh Town-only that he didn't make her an object of scorn or ridicule by parading his mistress in public. Or beat her in private as many husbands did, at least her sisters' husbands.

When the Prince came to meet her, she approved of the way his eyes met her own. She also admired the way he moved her away from the pack of retainers that followed the two of them after their formal introduction.

"I know your father has scheduled a formal wedding for the spring, but I have scheduled a private wedding in three moon quarters, Princess. I hope that meets with your approval, as it does mine," he said, with a wink and a smile.

Her heart melted. Maybe this will work out, after all.

It was not uncommon to have two weddings with arranged marriages as travel and weather conditions often made it difficult to bring the two families together for a formal ceremony. However, for marriages with dynastic implications, it was essential to have a public affair so that the marriage would be officially recognized. With the war against Kalvan still progressing, Phidestros had made it clear to her father that the sooner the ceremony took place, the greater the chance there would be an heir. There was no guarantee that Phidestros might not be recalled to the Middle Kingdoms. Her father had been more than happy to speed things up, immediately sending her and her dowry along with a small retinue, as soon as he had received Phidestros' signed marriage contract.

"Please call me Arminta, Your Highness. And, yes, that does meet with my approval. I brought a wedding gown, the one my mother wore, and several Ladies to help with the wedding details. We will have a formal wedding for my family in Argros Town in the Moon of the First Grass."

"I agree. And, there's no need for titles between us."