The Fireseed Wars

"How will the people react?"

"With garlands and waving hands. My husband, you are the greatest Harphaxi military commander in two hundred winters. The man who defeated Great King Kalvan and drove him from Hos-Harphax. How could they not but love you? As long as you don't rise above your station, or overstay your welcome."

"What about Great King Lysandros? He's not going to accept being deposed. As soon as word reaches him, he'll pull his army out of the Grand Host and return to Hos-Harphax like he's got a torch riding his arse!"

"That, my husband, I will leave up to you. As we've discussed before, Lysandros has already given you the better part of his army and they will follow you to the Caverns of Regwarn! Meet his host in Hostigos and bring back his head preserved in salt for the mob in Harphax Town."

Phidestros nodded as he thought of the best place to attack Lysandros. It was up to the gods as to which one of them would return, but he wouldn't have bet a bent phenig on Lysandros' chances.

"What will we do with Queen Lavena? She's a bit of a wind head, but she was friendly to both of us."

"I like her." Arminta replied. "We'll put her under light restraint. A nice apartment with all the royal appointments and a good guard. We'll make sure that all the blame for this mess falls upon her husband's head. Let our intelligencers spread word she was just a backwoods girl taken in by an older man. The rabble will eat it up; she's pretty enough to win their hearts."

"Good. When this all settles down, we'll send Lavena back to Hostigos to live with her father. But what about the baby?" He took his forefinger and drew it across his throat.

Arminta's forehead furrowed.

Phidestros knew she had a soft heart, and he was curious to see what her solution might be.

"If it's a girl, there won't be any problem. If it's a boy, we can place him under our protection. If Prince Selestros doesn't have any legitimate heirs, we will be able to shape the heir to the Iron Throne. His brother, Philesteus, married young and died childless. For all the rumors of Selestros'affairs, no bastards have ever been produced. King Kaiphranos was childless until he was some forty winters old. Lysandros appears to be the only one of that dynasty who has no problems siring an heir."

Phidestros rose and lifted Arminta up off the hearth and into his arms. He gave her a big squeeze, saying, "That's one of the things I love about you. You always come up with the best solutions to our problems."

FORTY-FIVE

For the first time in his life, King Theovacar knew what it was like to feel like an old man. He was seated in the inner chamber of the Ragyath palace and could not get warm, even though it was almost summer. The loss of his Northern Fleet had hit him like a physical blow. When coupled with his defeat at the hand of the Usurper's army, it left him shaken like nothing before in his life. It was even worse that his army had only been saved from total annihilation by King Lysandros, a man he despised! He tried to drink from his goblet, but his hands were shaking so hard that he couldn't lift the wine to his mouth without spilling it on his beard.

He'd lost almost a third of the men he'd brought to Thagnor from Greffa. They were either dead or suffering from wounds that would leave them crippled for life. The remainder of the Army was shaken to the core; they had never faced so many fireseed weapons and men-at-arms who were better armored and better trained. The most embarrassing part was how poorly they had appeared to the Zarthani and their masters, Styphon's House.

He didn't even want to think about the disaster that had struck his Navy and Marines like some terrible gale! Fortunately, they still had the Southern Fleet to keep their enemies from taking advantage of this terrible defeat. Regardless, it would be years before enough ships were launched to replace all those lost in Thagnor Harbor.

There was a knock at the door and one of his Companions called out, "Captain-General Petrus is outside, Your Majesty. He has an urgent message from Greffa."

What now? Theovacar wondered. Has Thanor struck the Great Palace with one of his lightning bolts?

Petrus, his face pale and shaken, walked reluctantly into the chamber.

"What is it, Petrus?"

"Your Majesty, the City has fallen! The City is now in Kalvan's hands!"

"AAAAhhhh!" he screamed, throwing his arms up in the air to implore the gods.

"Is everything all right in there?" asked one of his Companions, banging on the door.

"Yes," answered Petrus, before it was kicked in by the Guard. "The King has just received more bad news."

"My wife, my children?"

"They were evacuated before the Hostigi arrived."

"Praise the gods! My people, what of them?"

"Prisoners or dead. I know not which as this news is a quarter moon old."

"We must return to Greffa!"Theovacar cried as he looked around in all directions.

"No, Your Majesty. We do not have enough men left to retake the City. If we go off half-cocked, we will be finished."