The Fireseed Wars

Arminta tapped her fingers on the chair rests. "Kyblannos, here's what we're going to do. Since the League's defeat, we can safely assume that most of the Princes in Hos-Agrys are fearful that Soton will send his army west to punish them for their attack. Most will be holed up in their tarrs. This means that a small band of Styphon's House agents will be able to freely travel across the land, although they may have problems with bandits and lawless deserters from the League's army. Still, even if we could get this knowledge to the League in time, there is no certainty that the Princes of Hos-Agrys could guarantee the safety of these heirs. Some of them might even use the heirs as bargaining sticks with Styphon's House.

"That means it is up to us to try to find Thalros' son and secretly bring him safely to Greater Beshta where he can be under our protection. Our only vassal in Hos-Agrys is Grand-Captain Ranthos. We still haven't received word from him and do not know whether or not he survived the battle with Soton. Therefore, Kyblannos, I want you to take an armed party of what you deem of sufficient strength to find the League's Army, or what's left of it, and contact Grand-Captain Ranthos, should he still be alive."

"That tough old buzzard will still be here long after I go to Galzar's Hall," Kyblannos said. "If he's in Hos-Agrys, I'll find him. I've spent six campaign seasons in Hos-Agrys and know most of the back roads and deer trails. What orders am I to give him?"

"They're too dangerous to put in runes. Tell him that he's to enlist the help of anyone in Hos-Agrys he trusts to help him find Thalros' son. Once the boy has been found, he is to ensure that he is not recaptured by the Styphoni. If it is possible, he is to bring him here to us even if he has to desert his post with the League. That being impossible, he is to see that the boy is placed with a Prince or ally who can guarantee his protection. If Ranthos has come to harm, you will try to find the boy yourself."

Kyblannos nodded up and down. "Ranthos will know what to do. On more than one occasion the Captain took him into his confidence and he gave good advice. If anyone can find the boy, Ranthos is the man. Failing that, I'll find him myself!"

FORTY-EIGHT

Kalvan and Verkan stood watching as the troops passed by the temporary reviewing stand. Over half of the missile infantry were carrying arquebuses and muskets, while the other half carried crossbows which were being phased out as quickly as the new Greffan Gunmakers Guild could turn out replacements. The traditional spearmen had been upgraded to pikemen. The new Greffan Army marched light on their feet and looked far better than the ragged outfit that the Hostigi petty-captains had begun to whip into shape two moons ago.

With a good signing bonus, they'd been able to add a lot of Theovacar's former veterans to the muster lists as well as a lot of eager recruits. Verkan had taken ownership of the King's fireseed mills and started work on several new ones. He was hoping to corner the fireseed market from Greffa down to Xiphlon. If anyone could do it, Verkan would. He'd also put his prisoners, those soldiers who wouldn't recant their loyalty to Theovacar, to work building earthworks on the outer walls.

The City had responded to its new leadership. Shops and businesses were busy and the streets were swarming with people, from Greffans to Urgothi nomads. Verkan had even started his own constabulary while outlawing private armies. Some of his touchier nobles had been offended, but the majority of his subjects felt safe-many for the first time. The peasants were back in their fields and there promised to be a bumper harvest in the fall.

Kalvan had sent out his own buffalo and cattle hunting parties, some foraging as far as the mid-western plains, Iowa and Nebraska. He would have a lot of buffalo and beef jerky to take with him when he returned to Thagnor.

The big surprise had been the visit by his old friend Var Wannax Ranjar Sargos.

"Your Majesty," the huge warrior king said. "I never expected to find you seated in Greffa! After our return from the Mexicotal Wars, some peddlers and traders told yarns of how the Styphoni dogs drove you out of Hos-Hostigos, saying you had settled in Thagnor. I didn't believe them and had some of them whipped through the streets!"

"That much is true." Kalvan gave him the condensed version of all that had happened since the Battle of Ardros Field and the Trail of Blood.

When Kalvan told him how they had outmaneuvered the King of Greffa and taken his home seat, Sargos' face broke into a wide smile, showing off his jack-o-lantern teeth. "I've always hated that son-of-a-diseased sheep of unknown parentage. Is there anything me or my people can do to help you in this war against the manure eaters of the false god Styphon?"