The Fireseed Wars

"He used the other Archpriests' fear of Roxthar-highly understandable, of course-to coerce them into supporting his Election to Styphon's Own Voice and his reforms."

"That's not at all like any of the Anaxthenes we know from the Kalvan Control Time Lines! Are you certain he's not been replaced?"

"No, there's no First Level involvement; I've watched his personality transform myself; it's been enlightening."

Anyone else but the Scholar would have used the word incredible.

"He's also created his own army, the Sephrax Guard, with special uniforms and absolute loyalty to Styphon's Voice. He used the other new Archpriest, Grythos-a former Knight Commander of the Order of Zarthani Knights-to create it for him."

Verkan nodded. "Anaxthenes knows that Roxthar owns the Temple Guard down to the soles of their boots. It makes sense that he'd create his own praetorians to counter Roxthar's ability to coerce the Inner Circle and the priesthood."

"It's understandable, but this crew of his makes the Red Hand look like Boy Scouts. From all evidence, including his 'retirement' from the Order of Zarthani Knights, I believe Grythos is a sadist and misses military life for the opportunities it provided him to indulge his desires for domination and humiliation. A lot of the ex-soldiers he's recruited for the Guard are out-and-out sadists and bullies."

"How did they miss jumping aboard Roxthar's Investigation?" Verkan asked.

"Roxthar is a true believer; he recruits from the lower ranks of Styphon's priesthood. Grythos has gotten the majority of his men from gaols, dungeons and Styphon's debtor houses in Sephrax, which is the most backwards princedom in Hos-Ktemnos. A lot of them are ex-mercenaries that were cashiered for atrocities and exotic tastes that even their commanders couldn't stomach."

Verkan said, "In wartime a plethora of those types emerge and have the opportunity to indulge themselves. 'Like flies to wanton boys.'"

Danthor looked up, surprised. "You're familiar with the Bard's works?"

"Yes, I'm too young to have met him, though."

"That's a shame. I met him as an undergraduate-he died a couple of years later. Queen Bess, too; now, there was a ruler. We had our tiffs, but getting back on track, Anaxthenes' next step was to coerce the Inner Circle into declaring a State of Emergency, granting him full powers."

"I thought the Grand Host just defeated Kalvan, not the other way around."

"No, this has nothing to do with Kalvan, and everything to do with Holy Investigator Roxthar, who is neither holy nor much of an investigator. However, he is an expert at picking up fear and taking advantage of it; he may be a latent precognitive. It's too bad he's not an empath."

Verkan grinned wryly. "These types usually aren't; empathy would blow his mental circuits."

"Which would be a good thing, Verkan. Let me tell you about the meeting we had yesterday afternoon. I was called into Anaxthenes' quarters-a penthouse at the top floor of Styphon's High Temple, formerly the headquarters of Styphon's Own Voice Sesklos. Even the God Alexander, on Fourth Level Alexandrian-Macedonia, doesn't have such opulent furnishings. The overall effect, whether he's aware of it or not, is a hypnotic induction from all the over-stimulation and ceremonial ritual involved in a face-to-face meeting."

He used his first level recall to reconstruct the meeting for Chief Verkan:

"Archpriest Danthor, I take it you are happy with your new position in the Inner Circle?"

"Yes, Your Divinity. It is afar distance from my previous temple in Bletha Town."

Anaxthenes laughed. "I'm not laughing at you, Archpriest, but at my memories as the youngest son of a Baron who had more children than he could feed. I know neglect as well as the boredom of hayseed provinces. I helped elevate you, Archpriest, because I saw that we shared a similar background and need for acclaim. Is that not right?"

"Yes, Your Divinity. I cannot thank you enough for your faith in my abilities and for my present high position in the Temple."

"Good," Styphon's Voice said, all but smacking his lips. "Then, maybe you can help me with a difficult problem."

"What would that be, Your Divinity?"

"Great King Cleitharses has begun to present Us with a bit of a problem."

Danthor raised his eyebrows, fearing what was to come. He liked the gentle king with his love of reading and scroll collecting. King Cleitharses had the best library outside the Temple Archives in the Five Kingdoms.

"It appears that the old fool is going to appoint Marshal Valthros as the new Lord High Marshal of the Ktemnoi forces in the Grand Host and request that Prince Anaxon return to Ktemnos City."

"Your Divinity, how does this bode ill for Styphon's House?"