The Fireseed Wars

"Kestophes is going to be even more unhappy after Rylla and I move into his palace. Allow him to sequester one of his nobles' manors; let it be his choice. This will not gain him any friends. Make sure his new quarters are secure, but not under obvious guard."

Klestreus nodded.

"Now, notify the Great Queen of this so she can begin to gather her things. She will be very pleased; she's lobbied for this course of action for a moon quarter."

II

Archpriest Anaxthenes looked with favor upon his fellow band of conspirators. Despite some setbacks and the insufferable meddling of Archpriest Roxthar, they had come a long way from the days of meeting in graveyards and under the ruins of the old Temple of Dralm. Soon they would be elevated out of the basement to rule as the predominant faction of the Inner Circle. Today they were assembled in his own private chambers at the Great Temple of Styphon with no fear of agents-inquisitory, intelligencers or Styphon's Own Guard breaking down the door. As the First Speaker, Anaxthenes was acting Styphon's Voice and shortly he would be wearing the red robe of primacy; that is, as soon as all the Electors of the Inner Circle arrived in Balph.

The most delicious irony of all was that Archpriest Roxthar would be the last to know that Anaxthenes had fixed the Election. He was looking forward to watching Roxthar rant and rave as his appointment was confirmed by the College of Electors-he imagined the Investigator foaming at the mouth and turning apoplectic. How long have I suffered this madman's insolence? Well, it won't be for much longer.

"Is everyone here?" he asked.

"Yes, Your Eminence," Archpriest Neamenestros answered. He was an old friend and for many winters had been the bedrock of Anaxthenes' support within the Inner Circle. Neamenestros would make a good First Speaker after his Election to Styphon's Voice. If I even need a Speaker.

"Good. I called this meeting to discuss what best to do with the Grand Host of Styphon now that Hos-Hostigos has been conquered. Any suggestions, Archpriest Grythos?" Grythos was one of the newest members of the cabal and the only one with military experience. After more than two decades of service, he had retired with distinction as Knight Commander from the Order of Zarthani Knights.

Grythos stood up, saying, "Your Eminence, I believe the Host's most important job is to dispatch the Usurper Kalvan while we have him on the run, before he eludes us and finds sanctuary in the Trygath or the Middle Kingdoms. Twice the Usurper has almost destroyed Styphon's House! If we allow him to escape now, we will only have to fight him again. And the next time may be under circumstances of his choosing-not ours."

"Wise words," Archpriest Euriphocles said, waving his thin arms that stuck out of the yellow sleeves of his robe like brown sticks. "The Daemon Kalvan is like Hadron, Lord of the Dead, able to resurrect himself at will." His voice broke. "He must be sent to join his fellow devils in the Caverns of the Dead!"

Anaxthenes sighed. "Despite your fears, Euriphocles, Kalvan is a mortal man. He received a bad leg wound at Ardros Field. He can be killed and he will be killed. But, I do agree with you that Archpriest Grythos' words contain much wisdom. However, Styphon's House on Earth has other enemies, Kalvan being only one among many." Anaxthenes counted them off on the fingers of his right hand. "First, there is Kalvan; second, there is the turncoat King Demistophon; third, there is Dralm's puppet Great King Sopharar and finally, our own internal enemy-the Holy Investigator, Archpriest Roxthar. We must destroy them all before they bring Styphon's House down upon our heads!"

There were murmurs of agreement from his fellow conspirators.

When the voices had stopped, Archpriest Grythos continued. "It is my counsel that we finish off Kalvan and his army before we turn our attentions elsewhere. I have seen battles lost because their commanders were too ambitious and thus lost in small actions that which could have been won in the main."

"There is truth in your words, Grythos. However, we do not have the luxury of time. It may take a year or two before Kalvan is brought before the headsman: Can we afford to wait that long to settle our other problems?"

Most of the Archpriests shook their heads.

Archpriest Neamenestros said, "The First Speaker is correct. We must deal with these other threats before they deal with us. Great King Demistophon will sack our temples and kill our priests if he thinks he can get away with it. He is, after Kalvan, our most dangerous threat and the League of Dralm counts the majority of its members among Demistophon's Princes. If the Grand Host chases the Daemon Kalvan into the hinterlands, the League will see this as an opportunity to strike from within. Demistophon will condone their treachery for they would only be doing that which he himself wishes to do."