The Fireseed Wars

Grythos continued, "He's also loyal to Styphon's House, although I wouldn't consider him a true believer. However, I could be wrong. They are so unusual among the higher ranks of the Order that it's sometimes hard to convince oneself they exist."

Styphon's Own Voice grinned wryly. "We even have a few among the Inner Circle."

"We live in debased times," Archpriest Euriphocles intoned.

Several of the archpriests laughed.

Anaxthenes silenced them with a frown. "If we'd have taken Roxthar more seriously, three winters ago, he'd be nothing but bones and sinew moldering in a grave now. Instead, with one look, he causes grown men to soil themselves." He noticed among his cabal that only Grythos looked him in the eye. Such poor iron will never be forged into steel, he thought.

"Grythos I want you to go to Thebra City as my eyes and ears. The rest of you are dismissed."

As the other Archpriests of the Inner Circle departed, most of them studying the floor tiles, Anaxthenes indicated with a nod to Grythos that he should follow him to his private chamber. Inside, he served Grythos from his best wine, a vintage so rare and fine that it was reserved for only Styphon's Own Voice.

Grythos took a sip from the goblet he was handed and said, "This is a magnificent vintage. Thank you, Your Divinity."

"It is just one of many things that I share only with my trusted advisors."

"Then I am doubly favored."

"I want you to go to Thebra as my personal representative. You will accompany the expeditions' paychests, which will guarantee you a favorable welcome from the Order. As a veteran of the Order, Soton may be inclined to share information with you he would not do so with any other highpriest."

Grythos nodded. "Soton is notoriously tight-lipped, but his usual confidants are either in the Middle Kingdoms or Tarr-Ceros. Your plan may have some success."

"Certainly more so than with any of these fools. I won't ask you to worm your way into Roxthar's confidence because I don't think it is possible. However, if he should leave his back unprotected, carve him into pieces. His usefulness to Styphon's House is over; he is now-even more so than the Usurper Kalvan-the Temple's greatest liability. And, should you convince Soton to do this work for you, I will be doubly grateful."

"As you wish, Your Divinity," Grythos answered, his eyes gleaming with avarice.

II

"Demi-Stratego Tymos, come to my tent. We need to talk."

"Yes, Arch-Stratego."

"Tymos, do you find it strange that we are sleeping outside the Nythros City walls, while all the other branches of the Grand Host are safely inside her walls?"

Tymos laughed bitterly. "Not in the least. Neither King Lysandros nor the Grand Commander value us, but see us as barbarians. I overhear them speak; the Zarthani swine think we are too stupid to learn their tongue which is only recently removed from our own."

Zarphu nodded, urging his subordinate to continue. He wanted to be certain that the men in the field shared his own concerns.

"Despite all we have done and the blood we have spilled to bring down the Tyrant Kalvan, they always put us at the head of the battle line and waste our men on feints that are doomed to fail. During their siege of Tarr-Hostigos, they sent us into to Glarth Town to take sea transport to Baltor."

"That was to save on supplies," Zarphu said. "From what I've heard of that siege, it was a cock-up from the start. We would have lost many men there. Praise the gods, the Zarthani are so arrogant they didn't see our value.

"Also, it was our job to ensure that those food and weapons shipments from Glarth Town arrived safely in Baltor. Styphon's False Temple does not have a large presence in the Saltless Seas. Someone was needed to ship the supplies to Baltor Town, build a supply depot and see that it remained undisturbed, while the Host squandered time destroying the turkey pen in Hostigos when the torn was long gone. Several times Grefftscharri intelligencers came by to assess our strength.

"Thanks to our field preparations outside Baltor Town, the Urgothi gave us proper respect and we had no problems. We were able to collect the rest of the shipments as they arrived. King Lysandros, rightfully, did not trust his Baltori agents. Furthermore, traveling by boat saved us from a grueling and unsatisfying overland journey with the rest of the Grand Host."

"Granted, Arch-Stratego, but that was not done for our comfort. Now that Arch-Stratego Phidestros and Grand Master Soton are gone, we are of little value to the Host. After our breakthrough at the Battle of Ardros Field, they at least valued our contributions and took us into their councils. These new Strategi use us badly, almost as if they want to spend our force before we can leave, which makes little sense since our Lord Tyrant has already been paid in gold for our services."