The Fireseed Wars

Lysandros suspected they had come unaware of the boy's motives and still held loyalties to their deposed Great King. Why do I not command such loyalties?, he wondered. Why do men of lesser birth, like this outlaw Kalvan and that jumped-up mercenary., Prince Phidestros, command such loyalty? He suspected this was something he would never understand. However, it was his duty to protect this boy, since he was his first conquest in Hostigos.

"I shall accept your fealty, Carvros and crown you Prince of Nyklos. We shall do it here in the presence of my sworn men." Before taking the boy's oath, he directed Demnos to have General Tythos brought to him at once.

"To guarantee your loyalty, you will send your mother and three sisters to Us as hostages."

The boy turned as pale as the white ash that covered everything still above ground and clung to the blackened branches of the trees like dirty snow.

"They will not be harmed. I will have them escorted under guard to Harphax City where they will be treated as the loyal vassals I'm certain they are. I am certain that you, as their protector, will never do anything to cause their harm."

The boy shook his head, as if that would be the last thing he would ever do. "You have my oath, Your Majesty."

"Good." He needed a few loyal vassals if he was to hold this formerly lost land. Prince Sthentros, the new Prince of Hostigos, was full of complaints and a turncoat. He could never be trusted. However, his daughter was the most desirable woman he'd ever seen and would make a proper Queen for Hos-Harphax, so he tolerated her father-just barely.

"Look out!" cried Demnos. "Trouble's coming."

It was Archpriest Roxthar beating his horse's flanks in an effort to reach them before the Nykosi party left. What now? Lysandros wondered.

"Your Majesty, I understand we have some Hostigi-those blasphemers!" He pointed to the Nyklosi delegation. "Have them sent to my party!"

Demnos put his palm on the Investigator's chest to keep him from lunging off his horse and onto Prince Carvros' mount.

The young Prince and his retainers were deathly still, their faces pale and trembling.

"Investigator!" Lysandros shouted, "Control yourself. These are not Hostigi, but Harphaxi subjects. This is Prince Carvros of Nyklos, my loyal vassal."

Roxthar's eyes tried to bore a hole into his skull. "I can smell the taint of heresy upon them! Boy, do you make obsequies to Dralm?"

"Don't answer him, Prince," Lysandros ordered. "Archpriest, you are here at Our sufferance. Do not make a nuisance of yourself, or you will find your freedom curtailed."

"I am here by Styphon's Will-not man's. I will do what I have been told to do by the highest authority. These are former Hostigi subjects-let them deny it!"

"What they have been is of no importance. They are now loyal subjects of Hos-Harphax and myself, their Great King. My subjects still have the right to choose their own gods. As long as they do, you and your Investigation will stay out of my realm-or you can argue with my Guard's swords."

Roxthar was at a complete loss for words; a sight Lysandros had not seen before and one he wished would continue for the rest of the campaign. Finally, Roxthar gave him a menacing glare, then turned and rode away on his horse.

Demnos leaned over and said, "I applaud your courage, King, but you have made a bad enemy this day."

Lysandros nodded. "I'll not let priests give orders to me in my Kingdom!"

After Roxthar had left, Lysandros motioned General Tythos over. "General, this is the new Prince of Nyklos. I want you to escort him back to the palace with a suitable guard."

"Yes, Your Majesty." In a low voice, he said, "The lad's men do not look trustworthy."

"No, they don't. Take a company of soldiers and a commander you trust and leave them with the Prince as a bodyguard. Then return with Princess Nicla and her children and see they are escorted back to Hostigos Town. From there, I want them sent to Harphax City. They are to be billeted at my palace; give orders that they are to be treated as guests."

Lysandros turned to the Nyklosi delegation. "If anything should happen to my new Prince, I will see that all of you are brought before Archpriest Roxthar. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the spokesman replied, his voice quaking.

"You are all dismissed."

SEVENTEEN

Verkan's eyes ran wearily over the stacks of paper, visidisks, data cylinders and memory cubes piled high on his horseshoe desk. I was not, he decided, cut out to be a politician. Unfortunately, that was the nature of the job of Paratime Police Chief.