The Fireseed Wars

"Your Majesty, we were afraid of that. I know that you will not kill the innocent Citizens of Greffa; however, Theovacar will blame us for the sacking of Greffa, and many of us will lose our heads. All, this, because he stripped the City of its defenses to attack you without provocation in Thagnor. The proof of our treason will be the fact that we did not die in defense of our City, despite the fact that we were outnumbered and outfought. I do not speak just for myself, but for all the people of Greffa, as well as my friends and family, who do not want to go into exile to survive our King's return."

Kalvan lit his pipe and took a deep draw of tobacco into his lungs. After expelling a small cloud of smoke, he said, "You will have to excuse me. This is an unexpected turn of events, although I do see that it might work out for Us as well as your people. However, if We add Greffa to my realm of Nos-Hostigos, We will be purchasing the undying enmity of King Theovacar. Is that not true?"

"Yes, Your Majesty; however, by sacking, looting and destroying his capital, you have already purchased it-regardless of whether or not you take Greffa as a vassal. Theovacar is a vengeful man and will not rest until either he or you no longer draw a breath."

"That is a good point, Duke Ruffulo," Kalvan said. "Soon I will have all of Grefftscharr up in arms against Nos-Hostigos; it won't hurt to close the back door by ruling Greffa. However, this will mean changes in both the City's government and laws."

"We have studied your laws and heard about your rule in Hos-Hostigos, as well as your recent investment of Thagnor. We believe our best interests are in serving Your Majesty as loyal subjects of Nos-Hostigos and will resist with our lives any attempt by our former tyrant to re-take the City."

"Thank you, Duke Ruffulo. You have given me much to ponder. I will give you my decision within a quarter moon."

III

King Lysandros was glad to be back on horseback again, even if it was just to bring reinforcements to King Theovacar, whom he found offensive. Still, it got him away from the siege works. The bulwarks of Thagnor City had proved even more forbidding than those of Rathon City; Kalvan had once again thrown up massive earthworks in front of his stone walls which devoured shot like soft butter. The city walls of Harphax City were like fences in comparison.

Once his Princes learned of these new star forts and earthworks, he wouldn't have a moment's peace. Not only had Kalvan disseminated the Fireseed Mystery to one and all, but he was now showing everyone how to build impregnable fortresses! If any of his Princes began to build one of these fortresses, he'd have to tear it down immediately. He'd already destroyed what was left of Tarr-Locra after the Hostigi abandoned it. He could easily imagine Phidestros ringing Greater Beshta with such forts. This was one problem he was going to take in hand before he no longer had a Kingdom.

Kalvan had also cleared all trees and brush within ten to twelve marches of his walls, making it impossible to mask the Host's camps and troop movements. The only thing it did provide was relief from Kalvan's skirmishers who had preceded the Grand Host all the way from Nythros City, sniping at officers and men alike. Many of them were armed with rifles that were accurate up to a march away! They had been Styphon's Own Lot to capture, and had forced him to order all his officers to wear regular dress and armor. Even he was wearing a cavalry trooper's back-and-breast, breeches and plain morion helmet with a golden circlet.

The closer they had come to Thagnor City the more audacious Kalvan's irregulars had become. It was so bad that no foraging party with less than two companies was allowed to leave the main body. They'd lost so many scouts to enemy fire that he was beginning to suspect that most of them deserted as soon as they left the burn zone that Kalvan had created around Thagnor and reached the woods. Either that or the Hostigi were killing them by the droves. Or both.

It was beginning to look doubtful that they would ever take Thagnor City and that the siege was a disaster in the making. It had been a quarter moon since the last supply train had arrived; half the guards, drovers and muleskinners were dead and several hundred wagons of supplies had been lost. The drovers refused to leave camp and return to Hos-Ktemnos-even at the threat of death. Even the camp followers were frightened. At least, it had ended the desertions of the regulars.

A shot rang out and he looked around cautiously.

He saw one of his scouts up ahead galloping toward the van. He was waving his musket and must have been responsible for the shot. Captain-General Demnos rode up to meet him, and then escorted the scout to Lysandros' side.