The Fireseed Wars

A young man with a shaven head, like his own, and black robe and cowl answered the bell. "Your Divinity, you rang?"

"Yes. Have Archpriests Danthor, Heraclestros and Grythos brought to my chambers."

"Yes, Your Divinity," the underpriest answered as he scampered out the door.

It was interesting, as well as a sign of his own popularity, that most of the novices and underpriests now shaved their heads. In a manner of speaking they were all his sons, he thought, with more satisfaction than he'd have previously credited such a notion.

Archpriest Heraclestros was the first to arrive. He was a big man with arms like thick branches, and a wide face with two deep-set dark eyes.

"Your Divinity, you requested my presence."

"Yes, old friend. I have need of your services. We have received word that Great King Demistophon has had Our High Temple Highpriest murdered and our temples pillaged."

"Demistophon? Where did that tub of whale blubber get the stones to oppose us?"

"I suspect it was orchestrated by the Hostigi, Primate Xentos of the False God Dralm. He has long been a dagger in our side. It is time to remove him and his traitorous Council of Dralm. Without Xentos to urge them on, the League will dissolve."

"You have my support, Your Divinity."

Anaxthenes sighed. "I didn't ask you here for your support! I want you to take the first ship to Agrys City and to personally oversee the rebuilding of Our temples there. You were Highpriest of the Agrys High Temple for twelve winters before your elevation to the Inner Circle. You know Agrys City and its people.

"You can take fifty upper priests, two hundred lower priests and a thousand novices with you. You will use the gold stolen from Us and whatever else you need from the Royal Treasury to do so. I will give you explicit orders in my own hand. Anyone, including the Holy Investigatory, who countermands them will face my wrath! Is that understood?"

"Yes, but I'm doing such good work here in Balph, Your Divinity."

Sure, Anaxthenes thought, you've got your own harem and a new mansion on the outskirts of Balph that is the envy of the rest of the Inner Circle.

"I need someone familiar with Agrys' nobility and politics. As former Highpriest of the High Temple of Hos-Agrys, you know where all the dead bodies are buried, as well as which nobles have supported Us and which have not. This is not a request, Heraclestros, but an order! As of this moment, you are the new Highpriest of Hos-Agrys. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Your Divinity," Heraclestros said, his face as white as the underbelly of a fish.

"Good. I want you to join Grand Master Soton and the Host of Styphon's Deliverance so that you will be in place to see Our work is done as soon as the Agrys City falls. Grand Master Soton will also be given orders to support your work with the full weight of his army over all other Archpriests-that includes Archpriest Roxthar! Is that clear, Heraclestros?"

"Styphon's Will be Done, Your Divinity."

There was a polite knock at the door.

"Yes!"

"Archpriest Danthor is in the anteroom, Your Divinity," the underpriest announced.

"Tell him to wait. Heraclestros, you may prepare for your leave-taking."

"Yes, Your Divinity."

When he had left, Anaxthenes rang the bell that summoned the underpriest. 'Archpriest Danthor may now be admitted."

The underpriest bowed and left.

A few moments later, Archpriest Danthor entered the chamber. "Apologies, Your Divinity. I would have answered your summons sooner, but I was at the Temple Archives."

Anaxthenes nodded. "It's nothing urgent, but I do have some questions for you. First, what is your opinion on how the new Ktemnoi regent is doing his job?"

Danthor paused for a moment. "Grand Duke Lukthos is doing a good job in that he rarely takes an interest in the affairs of state except when directed to do so by Archpriest Neamenestros. Then Lukthos does as he is told. He is vastly more interested in using his position to seduce the daughters of the nobility. We've already had to pay off fifty thousand ounces in gold to keep his indiscretions under the covers, so to speak."

Anaxthenes laughed. "That we can easily afford. What we can't tolerate is Lukthos showing any interest in Ktemnosi politics."

Danthor smiled. "I don't think there's much chance of that happening, not in this lifetime."

"Don't be so sure. We have received disturbing news that Prince Selestros of Hos-Harphax has 'been touched' by Allfather Dralm-if you can believe that!"

"Next, pigs will fly!"

Anaxthenes said. "I like that expression. I've never heard it before. Did you find that in some crinkled old scroll?"

Danthor shrugged his shoulders. "Probably. I read a lot. Are you sure that this is Prince Selestros, His Majesty of Sties and Sluts, that we're talking about?"

"Yes, I have it on good information from one of Archpriest Phyllos' informers. Even worse, he is now preaching that Dralm is the First God and that Styphon is the Lord of Demons. The peasants and townsmen appear to be devouring his words."