The Fireseed Wars

Rylla nodded in agreement, with a scowl on her face. She was still unhappy about Kalvan's lack of enthusiasm for returning to Hostigos.

Duke Mnestros slumped into a chair. "I was hoping otherwise, Your Majesty. This time around it is we who need your help."

"By 'we,' do you mean the League of Dralm, who ignored our pleas of help, the Kingdom of Hos-Agrys, which attacked us without provocation in the Year of the Wolf, or the Princedom of Eubros and you yourself who has faithfully worked on our behalf?"

"All of them, Your Majesty. We just got word from the High Temple of Dralm that Grand Master Soton will be invading Hos-Agrys this campaign season."

"That's very interesting news!" Kalvan interjected.

"And why is that important to us?" Rylla asked, frowning.

Mnestros held out his hands. "We need your help. I have observed the Hostigi art of war, but I am still a student. My reputation and age are such that it is unlikely that I will be put in command of the League's army. I volunteered to seek out Your Majesties and plead for a Hostigi Captain-General to return with me to co-command the League's Army."

Rylla looked as if she were about to explode until Kalvan shot her a look. He knew that she was still smarting from Xentos' refusal to help Hos-Hostigos in their hour of need. However, she was forgetting one of his favorite dictums: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If the League of Dralm could defeat Soton in Hos-Agrys, the Styphoni would be forced to remove more troops from the Grand Host, or even abandon their efforts in the Upper Middle Kingdoms all together.

"It is an idea worthy of our consideration, Duke," Kalvan said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I asked Allfather Dralm for your aid."

Rylla fumed and all but had smoke shooting out of her ears.

Kalvan said, "We will need time to ponder your request. You will have our answer either tomorrow or the day after."

"Thank you, thank you," Mnestros said, as he all but scraped the floor with his bowing while making an exit.

Kalvan made a sigh of relief when the Duke left the chamber.

"Are you mad, Kalvan?"

"No. If the League attacks Soton while he is besieging Hos-Agrys it will hold up his conquest, and that is good for Hostigos."

"How, my husband?"

"If Styphon's House is forced to fight a war on two flanks, it will take pressure off their war upon Nos-Hostigos. They will have to supply two big armies, and that will tax even Styphon's Houses's reserves. It may even mean they will be forced to abandon their efforts here in the Upper Middle Kingdoms; there are those among the Inner Circle who see our pursuit as Roxthar's Vengeance and would love to end it. This war is costing Styphon's House a fortune in gold and materiel.

"Furthermore, supporting the League of Dralm will buy us good will with our friends in the Five Kingdoms and thereby leave the door wedged open for our eventual return to Old-Hostigos, or Uld-Hostigos as our subjects are calling it."

"Well, those words are music to my ears, even though I loathe supporting that nest of traitors and backstabbers in Agrys City, including Primate Xentos."

"I know how you feel, but put this under the heading of realpolitik."

"Machiavelli again?"

"No, Bismarck. But you're in the right neighborhood. Machiavelli came from a time in my lands' history very similar to this age. Instead of Styphon's House, there was the Church of Rome and not-so-Holy Roman Empire. Treachery, duplicity and assassination were the watchwords during his time."

"Much like that of Balph or King Theovacar's Court," Rylla stated.

"Exactly. I would like to lead the League forces myself, but our hold here in the Middle Kingdoms is still slippery enough that I cannot afford to leave."

"You'd better not! We've been separated far too much as it is this year."

"I know, darling." She looked at him again with a look that was completely for private consumption. He was glad she'd miss this year's fighting; he didn't know what he'd do if he ever lost her.

But, back to business. "Hestophes, I know you are just newly returned from the Sea of Grass and a newlywed, but are you willing to leave with the Duke for Hos-Agrys and co-command the League's forces?"

"My wife will understand and, with Her Majesty's permission, accompany me."

"Of course, Hestophes," Rylla said with affection. She liked the unpretentious general, who after Kalvan was the Kingdom's greatest commander. "I will miss Captain Lysia as she is one of the Pioneers'best captains."

"If you don't mind, Your Majesty, I will tell her your words."

"Yes, tell her."

Hestophes raised his eyebrows. "But Your Majesty, if I'm in Hos-Agrys, who will lead the attack upon Greffa?"

"Good question, my husband. Phrames is busy consolidating his new Princedom and will not be able to vacate his throne. Who do you have in mind?"

"Me. I'm going to lead our forces straight to the Gates of Greffa. Let Theovacar put that in his pipe and smoke it."

** SPRING**

THIRTY-THREE