The Fireseed Wars

There was another ragged volley of cannon fire and Kalvan had to open his mouth wide to keep his ears from plugging up. "We should control Thagnor City by nightfall," he shouted. "Count Vinaldos, what have you been able to learn about the fort's provisions?"

"Your Majesty, one of the prisoners we took yesterday was a former guard at Vart-Burgult. He claims that they're supposed to keep two seasons' worth of victuals, but they're usually short because the Prince's purchasing agents buy the cheapest bread, beans and salt pork, much of the meat spoiled or worm ridden. The bread is hard as stone and full of weevils. He said there's usually not more than two moons worth of edible rations in the fort."

"That's what I expected. We'll send a herald and offer the castellan terms. If they refuse, by mid-winter they should be down to shoe leather and harness belts. Then they'll be eager to parley."

Vinaldos frowned. "The fort will keep our new fleet tied down to the shorefront, Your Majesty."

Kalvan smiled. "We're not going anywhere this year, Count. Winter is on the way. It'll give us an opportunity to make repairs and refit the Thagnori fleet." He paused while the Ptosphes fired another broadside. The ship shuddered and then, when the last gun went off, slowly rocked back and forth, the rigging creaking and gun crews shouting hoarsely aboveboard.

"That will give us time to put more guns on the ships. Plus, we'll be busy repairing and rebuilding the city walls. I want bastions, palisades and gun emplacements along all of the outer walls, as well as earthworks and bigger and thicker walls-maybe even a third outer wall to protect some of the outlying farms. They probably won't come this winter, but by next spring I expect to find the Grand Host knocking on our gates. I want the walls strong enough that they'll repulse anything the Styphoni can throw at us. I want them to gnaw on trees and chew rocks while we toss them cannon balls and shells from safe behind our walls.

"But first, we have to win over the Thagnori people."

Count Vinaldos smiled. "Former Prince Varrack has made that easy for us, Your Majesty. Varrack is the worst sort of tyrant, one who cares not one whit for his people and parades the wealth and goods he has stolen from them right before their eyes! The Thagnori taxes are so high that the City's population has been in decline for years. The poor and wretched number over half the Princedom's population. Many are free men in name only. Most of the work is done by slaves and indentured servants. Even the nobles and merchants are disgusted with his highhanded ways and misuse of City Treasury funds. It will not be difficult to win their loyalty, even their love.

"However, Your Majesty, the same will not be true of his neighbors."

III

Prince Phrames had not expected much in the way of opposition once the Army of the Saltless Sea had blasted a breach in the city walls, but even he'd been speechless when the Thagnori contingent cowering behind the walls had immediately surrendered. He'd left the prisoners, numbering over a thousand, under guard and split the Army of the Saltless Seas into ten divisions, each one taking a different route through Thagnor City.

The narrow cobblestone and brick city streets were mostly empty of people with only an occasional barricade at the larger intersections. After a musket volley or two, the Thagnori soldiers behind the barricades would put their helmets on their swords and cry out, "Oath to Thanor!," the Urgothi war god. He'd have their weapons confiscated and send the prisoners back to the breach under guard, where they'd be gathered together.

Every once in a while someone would fire a crossbow bolt or old arquebus out an upstairs window and they'd storm the building, but overall casualties were very light. It wasn't until they reached Old Town, which held the Prince's palace and several civic buildings, that they ran into any determined opposition.

IV

"What can we do to stop the Usurper Kalvan?" Duke Osthwuld asked. The sound of gunfire echoed through the palace walls. He peered out a narrow window and saw several companies of Hostigi soldiers taking command of the streets; one company had several small artillery pieces drawn by horses they were moving into position.

He jumped back when a shot went thwaack just short of the window slit!

"What was that?" Osthwuld asked.

"Must be from one of Kalvan's firesticks the Hostigi call a rifle," said Captain-General Errock. "I've read reports on them; they're supposed to have three to four times the range and accuracy of a musket."

"Why aren't your men stopping them?"