The Fireseed Wars

Verkan nodded. "I will put a fort at Rygen and one over there. However, I suspect I'm not the one who should be worrying. King Theovacar probably won't go after me until you've been properly punished. And that, much to Theovacar's dismay, is not going to be easy."

"I know, let him stew for a while. I need to get back to Thagnor City; Rylla will be giving birth any day now."

"Isn't your return what the Grand Host is waiting for?"

"Yes, I suppose. Either that or for Styphon to fly down from his Sky-Palace and break down the walls of Thagnor City!"

II

Hestophes was pacing back and forth along the parapets of Tarr-Eubros. Primate Xentos and Duke Mnestros, with his father's backing, were doing the best they could to resuscitate the corpse of the League's Army. After the League's defeat by the Styphoni, which had reduced their number by a third including both casualties and prisoners, the Army had split up to make it more difficult for Soton's troops to harry them. They had been given orders to meet later, but less than a third of the Army showed up at the prearranged spot.

Some Princes had left the field entirely, many soldiers had deserted; the end result was that all that was left to face Soton on the field of battle, after he disposed of Agrys City, was a League Army of little more than six thousand men. Some of the survivors were still recovering from wounds taken in the battle for Agrys City, while the remainder were dispirited and ready to abandon their cause. Hestophes was beginning to believe he was wasting his time and longed to return to Thagnor City, which more and more resembled home. He had made one thing clear to both Mnestros and Xentos: he was either to lead the League Army from this point on, or he would retire with his command and return to Nos-Hostigos.

Unlike Prince Vython, he would have never attacked the Host of Styphon's Deliverance until he'd had visual confirmation that King Demistophon's army was leaving Agrys City and advancing. Vython's counterattack against Soton had given the rest of the Army time to retire. However, it had cost Vython his life and splintered his command. Hestophes had asked for command of the reserve for just this reason. His men had survived to fight another day, but bringing the League of Dralm army back to life was going to be almost impossible without divine help.

He was pulled out of his reverie when one of his officers approached. "Captain-General, Captain Ranthos has requested your presence."

"Have him sent to my headquarters. I'll meet with him shortly."

As he went down the keep stairwell, Hestophes pondered why Ranthos wanted to confer with him. Was it possible that Prince Phidestros was sending the League additional troops? As he'd discovered during this long war, anything was possible. The former mercenary captain-general probably didn't see anything to his advantage in allowing Styphon's House to gobble up entire kingdoms, and much to his potential disadvantage.

Ranthos and another soldier he didn't recognize were waiting impatiently inside his headquarters room with several League officers. The chamber walls were covered with maps and the tables were covered with parchments and scrolls.

"Captain-General, I just received some urgent intelligence from Argros."

"What is it, Ranthos?" he asked.

"Can we go someplace private?"

"Of course," Hestophes said, leading them to a small audience chamber at the back of the palace. He put a guard outside the thick wooden door and closed it. "Is that secure enough?"

Ranthos nodded. "This gentleman is Duke Kyblannos, former Captain-General of the Grand Host's Artillery."

Hestophes did a quick double-take. "Kyblannos, I've heard of you!" He had to mentally stop himself from drawing his sword.

The Duke nodded respectfully, "Likewise, Captain-General Hestophes."

"What can I do for you?" Hestophes' head was whirling, as he tried to figure out what one of Prince Phidestros' right-hand men was doing in Eubros.

Ranthos spoke first. "A Styphon's House way station for Temple messengers is located in Greater Beshta. One of the Phidestros' intelligencers has broken the code Styphon's House uses for its secret dispatches and deciphers them for the Prince."

Hestophes was impressed, but he wondered why he was being told such confidential information. It must have something to do with Soton or the war against the League, he thought, otherwise the Prince would never reveal such a secret.

"Has the Prince has uncovered another Styphoni plot?"

"Yes," Ranthos said, "according to this dispatch from Anaxthenes, Supreme Priest and Styphon's Voice, the Styphoni are searching for heirs to the Throne of Light. Duke Kyblannos believes it would be to our mutual advantage to find them before Styphon's House does."