The Fireseed Wars

"We have enough supplies, if we're careful, for about another moon. There is a large supply train on the way from Hos-Ktemnos, and it should reach us in a moon half. If it does, it will give us another moon of victuals. Soton also purchased another two moons' worth of supplies in Glarth, but we will need a safe harbor on the Sea of Aesklos. Once we reach Hos-Rathon we should be able to forage for supplies, unless Queen Rylla has burned them out, as well.

"It was Soton's plan to winter in one of the cities that could be reached overland by trails from Tarr-Ceros so that supplies could be shipped up to us. There is a water route, but it is too dangerous. Fortunately for us, none of these cities, except Greffa, have fortifications that would stop our guns."

Lysandros nodded. "Won't taking over one of these cities make us new enemies?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, so we must pick a city that is vulnerable with few allies," Aristocles said. "You must remember, it was not our original plan to travel this far west. It is Kalvan who has dictated the length of our march."

Lysandros, being a king himself, knew that Theovacar-even were he only half as ambitious as rumor had it-would not welcome another major player in Middle Kingdom politics, especially one like the Usurper Kalvan with over sixty thousand soldiers. On the other hand, the Greffan king might view the Host as a counter to Kalvan's obvious ambitions in his territory.

"So be it," Lysandros pronounced. "If Rathon City does not fall within a moon half, we will move the Host to the Sea of Aesklos and find a city to winter in."

III

Xenophes, High Marshal of Styphon's Own Guard, stared at his subordinate in disbelief. "What do you mean that in all of Hos-Ktemnos you could only find one hundred and eighteen recruits for the Temple Bands?"

"Most of the good recruits, at least those that aren't fighting with the Grand Host, have joined Styphon's Voice's Sephrax Guardsmen."

"Marshal, you mean Anaxthenes' private army!" Xenophes cried out, pounding on the table top.

"Yes, sir. The war with the Usurper Kalvan has dragged on too long. All the good recruits are either in the army or dead. We need to raise our enlistment bonus in order to compete with the Sephrax Guardsmen."

"And here, after all these years, I thought we were Styphon's Guard."

"True, we were until Anaxthenes was Elected as Styphon's Voice. He has found our support of Investigator Roxthar unacceptable."

"Before the Fireseed Wars, this would never have happened," Xenophes declared. "In those days we had almost twenty thousand men in scarlet. Now we field less than half that number, and most of those are either with the Grand Host, or supporting Investigator Roxthar's work in the False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos. I had hoped to muster enough recruits to put at least three Bands back on the rolls. We have lost the 2nd, the 4th, the 9th and the 12th Band and on and on… Why so many? Has this been Grand Master Soton's doing?"

"No, High Marshal. The Temple Bands always fight in the thick of the battle; we are also renowned for never surrendering and, if captured, our men are tortured or hanged. I learned this at Ardros Field. The Hostigi call us the Red Hand of Styphon and cry, "No Quarter! No Mercy!" when fighting us. Our casualty rate is much, much higher than other units. Nor has it helped that this cursed war has dragged on for many winters. Our support of the Holy Investigation has further incensed our enemies."

"Yes, but this Investigation has been extremely profitable."

"Not if we lose our power base, sir." Marshal Stratos said.

"By Styphon's Beard, there is truth in your words."

"Maybe it is time to recall some of our Bands, sir?"

"And announce to all the world of our weakness? Then, Commander, you will see the wolves really come out of the woods."

"What else can we do, High Marshal?"

"I will not accept defeat at the hands of some stepped-up Archpriest. We will leave Balph while we still can, heads up and our glaives held high. We will tell Grand Master Soton that we are leaving in support of his advance into Hos-Agrys. He will not like it, but he cannot refuse our help, nor will Anaxthenes allow him such a liberty. It will please Styphon's Voice to see us leave."

"But isn't that a retreat?" the Grand Commander asked.

"No, it's a strategic withdrawal, while we still have the upper hand. We will establish a new base of operations in the Northern Kingdoms. It is time they learned of Styphon's real fist! After we have rebuilt our forces, we will return to the Holy City."

"What about the Investigator? Won't he be displeased?"

"Roxthar is our tool, not the other way around, Commander! Remember that. I will send him a letter telling him of our efforts to lay the groundwork for the Investigation of the Northern Kingdoms, and request his aid. If I know our man, he will bolt out of the Grand Host like one of Kalvan's rockets?'

NINETEEN