The Fireseed Wars

"Oh, yes, I see you brought that tiresome Primate of Dralm with you. I've grown weary of his pronouncements and warnings."

Prince Bosphros felt his face burn with heat. "Danger is at hand, or does Your Majesty perceive otherwise in regards to the guns hammering upon the walls of Agrys City?"

"The walls are strong and Soton has few guns. We will outwait his attack."

"Your Majesty, Grand Master Soton is guided by the will of the Inner Circle of Balph and the Holy Investigator Roxthar; he will not cease his attack until he's sprung open our gates. I suspect that the Investigator will make short work of you upon his rack."

That appeared to have captured Demistophon's attention; he looked as if he were about to either cry or throw a temper tantrum.

The Chamberlain wrung his hands, saying, "You have upset the King! Leave now!"

The King's bodyguard appeared lax and bored as if they'd heard these same arguments all too many times.

Xentos cried out, his voice booming throughout the audience hall. "Hear Prince Bosphros out, Your Majesty. In answer to your pleas, he has helped bring a mighty army from the west to save your realm."

The Chamberlain looked as though he were about to faint from all the excitement. A young lad came up to fan his face.

"Speak, and then be done with it," Demistophon bellowed. "I have my afternoon respite to consider."

"Your Majesty, we, the Princes of the League of Dralm and Hos-Agrys, have assembled an army of some twelve thousand soldiers to come to your aid and relieve the siege that threatens to end your reign."

"It's taken you long enough. When is this tiresome siege to be ended?"

"The plan is to attack two days from now before sunrise, Sire. We hope to catch the Styphoni before they're completely awake and in their tents."

"Then do so. I await your victory."

"Your Majesty, we need your army to attack the Styphoni at the same time; otherwise, we will not succeed. The Host of Styphon's Deliverance has over eighteen thousand men and we are outnumbered three to two."

"If you catch them by surprise, you will prevail," the King pronounced.

"That is a possibility, Your Majesty, but the Grand Master's troops are veterans of the Fireseed War while our troops for the most part are untested. If the Royal Army attacks the Styphoni at the same time as our attack, we will win. Otherwise, it is up to the gods."

"The Allfather is on our side; right Primate?"

"Of course," Xentos replied. "However, Allfather Dralm does not directly involve himself in worldly affairs, so to take his beneficence for granted may well be an error."

King Demistophon tugged on his iron-colored goatee and reflected for a few moments. "Prince Bosphros, We have already lost three thousand men to a failed sortie pushed upon Us by Our former Captain-General. We now have less than four thousand regular soldiers and twice that number of City Militia under Our command. What would happen to Agrys City were the League to lose this battle?"

"A disaster, of course, Your Majesty. However, with your twelve thousand men attacking from the front while the League's Army strikes from the rear, we will have enveloped the Styphoni Army and victory will surely be ours."

"I have heard these words before from Prince Aesklos when he assured me that the Princedom of Nostor was ripe for the plucking. At that time, the Usurper Kalvan was fighting the Host of Styphon and appeared to be losing. Prince Aesklos' army was then destroyed by Prince Ptosphes. It cost the Kingdom good men, several thousand defecting mercenaries and a hundred thousand ounces of gold in ransom. What's not to say that the League's Army might not suffer a similar fate? In which case, who will remain to defend Our City?"

"Hear me out, Your Majesty! Without the League's help, Agrys City and yourself are doomed. The Host of Styphon's Deliverance is like a wolf pack worrying a lone moose; they will not let go until their prey has expired and been devoured. Surely, you can see that."

Demistophon's face was red and he thrust himself as far up from his Throne as his weight would allow. "I see nothing of the sort! I will pray to Allfather Dralm that the League's Army prevails, but I will NOT send a single soldier away from their duty at the City walls to die in case the Styphoni should prevail. The Royal Army is the last wall between us and the false idolaters of Styphon!"

Bosphros felt a sinking sensation that started in his chest and fell to his toes. If this was the King's final word, the attack was doomed. He needed to quit the City and inform Prince Vython, the army commander, of Demistophon's decision.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty, but I must leave at once."

Demistophon settled back into his throne, with a smirk. "You will not be allowed to leave, Prince. Captain, take this man to one of our guest chambers. Leave a guard in place to ensure that he doesn't leave. Treat him with the respect due to his rank, but I want him held in isolation until the attack is over."