The Fireseed Wars

"I have taken this into consideration, but it is a pertinent question. First, the Great King's death will take place in about two moons, which means that the Grand Host will either be chasing the Usurper into the Trygath, or be at battle with his army. As the commander of the Ktemnoi forces, Anaxon will not find it easy to disengage from the Grand Host when he is most needed, To do so would leave the Prince and the Kingdom of Ktemnos open to blame should the Grand Host fail in its mission, or worse bring a charge of cowardice. Anaxon is no fool."

"He could abdicate his post to Grand Master Soton who is fully capable of leading the Host to its inevitable success, Your Divinity."

Anaxthenes smiled, shaking his head. "No. Grand Master Soton will not be re-joining the Grand Host instead he will be marshalling a new force to attack the bloated pig that sits upon the Throne of Light!"

"King Demistophon?"

"Yes, now that Kalvan is out of the Great Kingdoms and on the run, it is time to cleanse all the houses in the Five Kingdoms, starting with Cleitharses and Demistophon, and ending with that Dralm-lover King Sopharar. When they are all gone, Styphon's House will rule over the temporal rulers like the Inner Circle rules over Styphon's Highpriests."

It struck Danthor as a remarkable plan for both its arrogance and its strong chance for success. Anaxthenes was on his way to turning Styphon's House into a true theocracy, and he was going to have to help him-or else.

"So, Archpriest, are you with me, or are you going to disappoint me?"

"I will do as you bid, Your Divinity. Styphon's Will Be Done!"

Danthor summed it up: "That, Chief, is how I got sucked into Anaxthenes' plan to dominate the Five Kingdoms."

Verkan tugged at his beard. "You did all the right things, Danthor. Your friend there had you by Styphon's Own Bollocks. You have to join his conspiracy, unless you want to disappear-by the way, where does Anaxthenes think you are now?"

"I told him I would take a short vacation so that Cleitharses would miss our readings and thus want me even closer than usual at his attendance."

"Good procedure."

"So you don't think this might qualify as Paratemporal Contamination?" Danthor asked.

Verkan shook his head. "Sorry, you're not going to get out of discorporating the Great King. It's something any member of the Inner Circle could-no, would-do, if so ordered by Styphon's Voice; no Paratime Contamination involved. If you don't go through with it, it'll shoot down your credibility as an Archpriest-if Anaxthenes doesn't have you killed right away to plug any leaks. Sorry, Danthor, but you're going to have to go along with the plot."

Danthor sighed. "I've done everything I can do. But, you're right, Verkan, this is too good a position to throw away for someone who's already a dead man, but just doesn't know it yet."

TWELVE

Grand Master Soton was at the Grand Arena seated in the best box, reserved for Styphon's Own Voice, waiting for Anaxthenes to arrive. Roxthar had already left for Hostigos in a huff, while Soton had been busy putting together a large train of supplies and troops for the Grand Host before he left. In some ways his return to Balph had been exhilarating; everywhere he was acclaimed as the man who had destroyed the Daemon's Kingdom-"Styphon's Fist!" He only wished that he'd been able to bring Kalvan's head with him to mount on the city gates. Regardless, after all the recriminations he'd taken for the loss at Phyrax, it was nice to receive some credit for a victory well won.

He wondered why Anaxthenes had invited him to the Great Arena, as he watched a band of swordsmen (condemned prisoners of war most likely) dressed in Hostigi uniforms fight against a small unit of Styphon's Own Guard in full regalia. He tried not to yawn at the pedestrian display. Only an idiot would believe that there was any other possible conclusion to the fight than complete destruction of the Hostigi fighters. Now, give those Hostigi rifles, and it would be a different game.

The slaughter of the swordsmen by the Guardsmen was so interminable, he was tempted to go back to his quarters and retrieve his warhammer and show them how it was done. At least, he was spared one of Roxthar's equally interminable rants. He supposed one could come to miss them, but not anyone he knew.

There was a sudden roar and Soton looked up to see one of the Temple Guardsmen skewered on a Hostigi sword. The crowd was screaming its approval, showing that Styphon's Own Guard were no more popular in Balph than they were in Hostigos.