The Fireseed Wars

Phrames nodded. "How will Zykthos, Karphya City or Vulthar respond to Ragyath becoming part of Nos-Hostigos?"

"At first, they will wail and scream, but Theovacar is too busy tending his own wounds to worry over theirs or provide them aid. In the end, they have no choice but to accept Sarrask as the new Prince of Ragyath. All three states together couldn't field an army often thousand men. They are in no position to make us change Our policy. In a few winters, it will be accepted. If We were truly going to stay in this cold land, I would counsel my husband to conquer them as well. Ragyath, on the other hand, was conquered by Theovacar, who then fled in ignominy. We are simply re-establishing order."

"You make a good case, Your Majesty. My other question concerns the bombardment of the Styphoni camp: When shall it commence?"

"Tomorrow. General Alkides informed me last night that it will take the rest of today to remove the last of the rifled cannons from the Great Tower and bring them over to the South Tower. Once the guns are emplaced, you may begin firing."

A smile broke across Phrames' face. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I've been waiting a long time to pay these Styphoni pigs back for the butcher job they performed on Hostigos. And pay them back, I will!"

III

Sirna stopped her palfrey on Ox Bow Road and looked disconsolately at the destruction all around her: shops and multistory residences with roofs caved in and burned fronts. And it's all my fault! Two moons of riots, ever since her damnable play had opened and just as quickly closed, had turned the Harphax City into a battleground. This part of the City looked as if Kalvan's Army had trooped through it on their way to Tarr-Harphax. If he had, the desolation and fire damage couldn't have been any worse.

True, there were portions of the City that were untouched, the Great Center, Merchant Town, High Town, where the nobility resided, and other places that could afford soldiers or full-time guards. A smoke-blackened beggar, with hands outstretched, started to approach her horse, but one of her hard-eyed guards used his sword point to direct him away.

Sirna felt a compelling need to atone for her foolish action of re-casting King Lear into King Kaiphranos. How was I to know that it would shake the City to its very foundations. I thought the people of Harphax viewed their former King as a lovable buffoon, but what I hadn't realized was that their hate for their new Great King had turned Kaiphranos into a folk hero!

Queen Lavena, who didn't really understand the hatred that was behind the fires and rioting, had forgiven her. In fact, the Queen blamed herself for allowing the play to be staged. Somehow, copies of the play "book" had gotten out and it was being played in the provinces. It was creating a groundswell of anger and resentment against Great King Lysandros that Queen Lavena couldn't even begin to imagine.

If it weren't for the Royal Bodyguard, the whole City would have been in flames. Duke Kaphros was on his deathbed and unable to tend to affairs of state, while Chancellor Lyphannes had locked himself up in the Tower of Harphax, fearful that the rioters would next turn their ire upon Tarr-Harphax.

Sirna was on her way to the headquarters for the Harphaxi Kalvan Study Team, disguised as an apothecary shop under the name of the House of Olthos. She knew that turning herself in might mean that she would be returned to Home Time Line in disgrace, and probably expelled from the University. She didn't care anymore; the guilt of all this destruction and death was weighing her down. What she had done, by staying away from her people was not only foolish but dangerous-not just for her, but for the Harphaxi people. Lysandros, when he returned with his victorious army, would punish the people of Harphax as surely as the sun would rise in the morning.

And it's all my fault.

She urged her mount to start again and its heels rang out on the near empty cobblestone street. Merchant Town was free of burnt and collapsed buildings, but the smell of smoke was still noticeable. She also noted guards before every House, including the House of Olthos. She approached the guards and announced her identity as that of Lady Sirna.

"Yes, Lady. What can we do for you?"

Sirna handed him a note that she'd written.

The guard turned and entered the large reinforced door. A few minutes later a man dressed as a servant came out of the door and beckoned her to enter. Sirna followed him into the entrance chamber and from there was taken to a room in the back and down steps into the basement, which was barred by the usual collapsed-nickel door. The servant opened the metal door by tapping out a combination, then pressing his thumb when a small thumbplate was exposed.