by John F. Carr
"Kalvan is a friend and a man of honor and it is not conceivable that he would act in such a dishonorable manner!"
"Are you a sworn ally of the self-proclaimed Great King Kalvan?" Danthor asked quietly.
Nestor's voice rose. "He has sworn to recognize my title as Great King of Hos-Rathon, but not to aid in the defense of my kingdom. Nor have I sworn to defend Hos-Hostigos."
"My point exactly. Thus, Kalvan could initiate an attack on Rathon without forswearing any oath or treaty: is this or is this not true?"
"That is true. He did offer to form an alliance, but I was the one who decided to forbear until after the war against the… the nomads."
Anaxthenes had to bite down on his laughter. Nestros had almost said 'Knights,' which would have opened up a nest of termites upon the fragile structure of this alliance he was putting together.
Highpriest Danthor continued his questions. "Are you sure that was your decision, or was it Kalvan who withheld from any binding agreement? He is known to be a man who takes great pains to present the appearance of great personal honor, while his friends and allies do as they please. Look at the plague his wife unleashed upon Prince Araxes of Phaxos, a man who had once been another ally, an ally who declined to swear fealty to the False Kingdom of Hostigos. A prince who paid dearly for his dalliance with the Usurper Kalvan, not only with his life, but also the lives of all his family and kin. Is this what you are courting here in Rathon?"
Nestros looked perplexed. "Kalvan and I are friends-at least, I think we are."
"Are you willing to wager your title and kingdom on this supposition of friendship with a man of dubious origin, one whose wife who willfully attacks princes of another Great King?" Anaxthenes asked.
"I don't know-Kalvan is a great warrior and in all matters that I have observed appears to be a man of honor. However, he did spend a lot of time drinking with the barbarian, Sargos."
"I have heard this Sargos is a man of rude appearance and a nomad's demeanor. What nobility could such a man have?"
"He is a man of great strength and fights with honor, but he cannot hold his drink and he listens too much to his women."
"As does Kalvan, who gives the appearance of a household out of order; either that be truth, or he is much more devious and dangerous than he has been credited," Danthor said, as if both statements were the truth and completely obvious.
Danthor would make a good ally and Archpriest, thought Anaxthenes, but one he would have to keep an eye on.
"If I cannot trust Kalvan, whom can I trust?"
Anaxthenes held his hands out. "You do have other friends."
Nestros blinked, looking sheepish.
"Before leaving Hos-Ktemnos I had an audience with Great King Cleitharses and he expressed an interest in your welfare. Since both Hos-Ktemnos and your new Great Kingdom of Hos-Rathon share a common border, Cleitharses thought a mutual alliance between both Great Kingdoms might be of mutual benefit."
Somehow Nestros managed to combine the appearance of both being stunned and thoughtful at the same time, which left him looking like the town idiot. "Does this mean Great King Cleitharses would recognize my title?"
"Of course. As allies Great King Cleitharses could hardly refuse to recognize the new overlord of the Trygath. Both kingdoms would be bound by treaty to recognize each other's titles and territorial claims."
Nestros all but jumped up out of his throne and clapped his hands. "This is what I have always dreamed-" Nestros reddened, when he realized what his loose tongue had said. He regained his composure. "Yes, I would welcome an alliance with the Great Kingdom of Hos-Ktemnos. Would this mean that my title would also be recognized by Hos-Harphax and Hos-Agrys?"
Archpriest Anaxthenes smiled. "Yes, this would mean recognition by all the legitimate Great Kings of the Five Kingdoms, as well as the Order of Zarthani Knights. However, before we can continue these negotiations, there is a painful subject that we must broach."
Nestros' expression resembled that of a beached fish.
Archpriest Anaxthenes smiled. "Of course, Styphon's House will require compensation for the destruction of sixteen Styphon's House temples, including the High Temple of Rathon Town, that occurred while the Usurper Kalvan used Hos-Rathon to stage his invasion of the Order's provinces. Of course, you will assist in the re-building of all the destroyed temples and replacing the golden domes at a cost of a ten thousand rakmars per temple. We will also expect you to help found fifty new temples. Sadly, the priests who were murdered during the sacking of the temples cannot be replaced; however, a thousand nomad slaves will provide some compensation for the Temple and their families' losses." Anaxthenes continued with a list of conditions, declaration and reparations. "Finally, we will require a declaration from you declaring the Usurper to be an outlaw and voiding any and all earlier treaties and agreements with the false king of Hostigos."
Nestros was reeling; his ruddy complexion blanched to the color of fresh snow. "What about Prince Ptosphes and his party? What will I tell them?"
"Get rid of them. Send them back to Hos-Hostigos. Or let Styphon's Own Guard place them under arrest." Anaxthenes smiled at the thought of leading a chain of Hostigi prisoners into Balph headed by Prince Ptosphes, Chancellor Chartiphon and Prince Phrames. Investigator Roxthar would be so busy that the Inner Circle might be spared the Investigator's harangues for half a moon, at least!
Nestros' shook his head as if he were rising out of a deep pool. "Your blade of negotiations is double-edged. I must meet with my advisors and talk again to the Hostigi delegation. You demand too much, Archpriest! Kalvan has warned me about how you priests speak out of both sides of your mouth. Yet, he has not always been forthright with me, either-I wonder about all those wagon trains going from the Sastragath into Hostigos."
Anaxthenes let his fish wriggle against the hook, then set it. "It's your choice, Your Majesty. You can stay an outlaw and outside of the Five Kingdoms-remaining a provincial lord who claims to be a Great King. Or you can join your equals and be one with the Great Kingdoms. We will discuss this further after the sun rises."
II
The assembled princes, barons, highpriests, kinsmen and captain-generals filled the Great Council Hall at Tarr-Harphax with their fur robes, velvet finery and silvered breastplates. Duke Mnestros noted with interest that the smaller the realm, the larger and more colorful the plumage. He even recognized a few princes from the northern princedoms of Hos-Ktemnos, although the majority of the Ktemnoi nobles, including Great King Cleitharses, were too far away to attend on such short notice.
Most noticeable, however, by their absence were the Great Kings of Hos-Agrys and Hos-Zygros. Of all the Great Northern Kingdoms, only the recently crowned Great King Lysandros was in attendance. The piglet going by the name of Great King Demistophon was still hiding in his palace, blaming his loss in Nostor to Prince Ptosphes on Styphon's House, while the Great King of Hos-Zygros had sent two parchments ripe with excuses why he would not be able to attend the Great Council of the Union of Friends of Styphon's House.
It was a pity about the death of King Sopharar's only son, but Prince Pariphon was doomed at birth. His uncle, now Prince Eudocles, wanted nothing more than to be Great King, and like Lysandros here, only fratricide stood between him and his heart's desire. It was unfortunate for Hos-Agrys, thought Mnestros, that Demistophon was an only son and the issue of a long-lived line.
As the representative of the Princedom of Ubros, Duke Mnestros was one of the few pro-League of Dralm nobles in attendance. He had offered to take his father's place to better learn the faces and names of their enemies. Few outside of Ubros knew of his captaincy in Kalvan's army, since the fighting last year had been on the frontier, but he still felt like a plucked turkey dropped into a kennel at feeding time. He was surrounded on all sides by yellow robed highpriests and Styphoni sympathizers.
As the organizer of the Union's first council, Great King Lysandros was seated on a raised dais to the right of Captain-General Phidest
ros, the commander of the Grand Host. To Phidestros' left were seated Grand Master Soton, who looked as if he'd rather be any place else, and Archpriest Phyllos in the yellow robes with red trim of the Inner Circle of Styphon's House. Phyllos, a great debaucher, was said to be concealing both his gold and his mistresses so they would be safely hidden when Investigator Roxthar arrived in the spring. Soton, who was said to have just arrived from Balph by horseback, looked drawn and fatigued. Seated he appeared normal sized, but the Grand Master was reported to be much shorter when on his feet.
Great King Lysandros made a chopping motion which stopped the noisy chatter that filled the room. Lysandros, with his short black beard and black hair, now shot with silver since Kalvan's arrival, made an imposing figure as he rose to his feet. "Grand Master Soton," Lysandros paused to give Soton-who was sitting besides Phidestros-a nod, before continuing, "has told us of the preparations the Order and our allies in Hos-Ktemnos have made for the invasion of the False Kingdom of Hostigos. The Grand Host will be joined by eight thousand Brethren of the Holy Order of Zarthani Knights, four thousand Holy Warriors from Hos-Ktemnos and two thousand Order foot. We have been told Great King Cleitharses will be supporting the war with the reformed Royal Square and six of the Sacred Squares of Hos-Ktemnos."
Lysandros went on to name all the Ktemnoi princes and how many additional troops they had promised to send in the spring. Mnestros wondered whether, with all these mouths to feed, there would be a single stalk of barley or cob of corn left in Hos-Harphax before they returned to Hos-Ktemnos.
"Now," Lysandros continued, "I would like to introduce Grand Captain-General Phidestros who will be commanding the Grand Host."
Mnestros couldn't help but notice the way Soton's jaw muscles tightened at that announcement. He wondered if this were a possible fracture in the Styphoni alliance or Soton's indigestion.
Lysandros continued, "Grand Captain-General Phidestros is the only man alive who has faced the Daemon in three different battles. His under-commander, Grand Master Soton, defeated the Usurper Kalvan's army at the Battle of Tenabra. This fall our Grand Captain-General captured a castle right under the nose of the Usurper's murderous wife and two of his best captain-generals. Next spring we intend to take the war into Hos-Hostigos and make Kalvan pay the butcher's bill! I give you the man who will lead the Grand Host to victory-Grand Captain-General Phidestros."
Phidestros, looking martial in a high-combed burgonet helmet with green and black plumes and a battle-scarred but polished steel back-and-breast, stood up, standing half-a-head taller than the Great King. As he looked out over the crowd, Phidestros smiled, like a wolf ready to lunge upon its prey. According to the yarns and minstrel ditties in the Harphaxi wineshops, Phidestros had done just that in the Princedom of Thaphigos where he'd devoured the Thaphigos army and bested Price Eltar in single-handed combat. His legend was beginning to grow as fast as Kalvan's.
After Great King Lysandros sat down, the Grand Captain-General made his formal address to the assembled dignitaries. He had a gravelly voice that demanded attention-and he got it. Phidestros quickly got to the meat of his speech. "We are in a life or death struggle with the Usurper Kalvan. We have one last chance to stop this devil in human guise from sacking our towns and cities, pillaging our homes and ravishing our wives and daughters. You have all heard how he has made Great Kings out of Trygathi bumpkins and made blood-oaths with Sastragathi barbarians. Is this the same man the peasant priests of Dralm call a Man of Peace? The man who says he wishes harm to no other man?"
Heads nodded their agreement. A voice cried, "Kill the Daemon!"
"His lands are stolen from their rightful overlord, Great King Lysandros. This Kalvan is no king, just another ambitious bandit or warlord from the Trygath. The Usurper will not be satisfied until he has deposed all rightful Princes and lords from their hereditary lands and estates."
Phidestros pulled something out of a tall silver urn from behind his chair. Holding it by its hair, he raised up the half rotted and decomposed head of the Prince of Phaxos. Bits of rock salt fell from the head and rattled off the marble floor. There were horrified murmurs from the assembled lords. Having just fought the nomads, Mnestros had seen far worse outside Tarr-Ceros, but not at the dinner table-his own stomach lurched.
"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE DAEMON!" Phidestros shouted. "If we do not stop him now, this will be the fate of all of you!"
The assembled lords looked back and forth at each other in horror. Then Phidestros tossed the severed head into the audience.
Prince Mylestros of Balkron tipped back in disbelief as the head landed in his lap. He picked it up by the hair, looked at it and cried, "It is Araxes! May Styphon Be Merciful! Kill the Daemon Kalvan! Kill the Daemon Kalvan!"
Soon the huge hall echoed with "KILL KALVAN! KILL KALVAN! KILL KALVAN!"
Mnestros noted with interest the frown that crossed Lysandros' brow as he watched his princes and noblemen fall under Phidestros' sway. Mnestros would not want that malevolent gaze aimed in his direction.
When the room had settled, the Grand Captain-General went on to detail his plans for the invasion of Hos-Hostigos, but not in enough detail to provide any intelligence to the few members of the League of Dralm who'd dared attend, or secret Kalvan sympathizers. He did emphasize the part the Royal Army of Hos-Harphax would play in the proceedings.
"In past battles, we have left it up to the Usurper to pick the battlefields. This spring we will take the war to Kalvan and to the False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos. Our target is the Usurper and his army-not Hostigos Town. We will take our united command and fight this False King on our terms. With the help of our friends from Hos-Ktemnos and Hos-Agrys and Hos-Bletha our army will be great in number and stouter in heart that the False Army of Hos-Hostigos. It's time he tasted our steel!"
There were shouts of agreement from the assembled nobility.
"Our friends in Styphon's House have promised their full support and will provide all the victuals and fireseed we will need. Those of you who are vassals of Hos-Harphax are sworn to bring your standing armies, but we are going to ask for more. In addition, we want you to muster a levy of every man-jack of fighting age in your Princedoms to come to the aid of your Great King and god, Styphon!"
Prince Mylestros rose to his feet again. "I pledge not only my Princely army of three thousand horse and two thousand foot, but I will lead my own bodyguard and another two thousand cavalry, if I have to drag every nobleman in Balkron and his retainers behind me!"
There was a thunderous applause and suddenly almost every lord and Prince in the Hall was on his feet with his own pledge, trying to outdo his neighbor. The only silent ones were those, like Ubros, sworn or sympathetic to the League of Dralm. The Harphaxi were oath-bound to provide their standing armies, although some would be ill-armed and poorly trained. Mnestros saw that both Lysandros and Phidestros had more eyes for those who were quiet than for those Princes who shouted out their contributions to the Grand Host. He decided that this would be a good time to make his exit.
NINETEEN
Kalvan was pacing back and forth in front of the blazing fireplace while he wai.ted for Prince Phrames' briefing on the negotiations with Great King Nestros. Word had just arrived that Phrames-far in advance of the rest of the expedition-had just arrived atTarr-Hostigos. Kalvan suspected that it wasn't good news that brought the Prince so quickly. Something must have gone badly awry in Hos-Rathon. But what? he asked himself.
Has something happened to Ptosphes?'The Prince was clearly unwell and the only reason he'd asked him to lead the expedition was that Nestros would have been insulted if anyone of lesser rank had headed the party. Nestros was too much in awe of titles, and not enough of the people who bore them. Maybe it was part of Nestros' inferiority complex, stemming from the fact that he was the self-proclaimed king of a hick kingdom-at least, that's the way the Northern Kingdoms viewed him. And maybe how he viewed himself. Nestros certainly took a lot of pains to ape Northern
manners.
Of course, it was also true that Ptosphes would have been insulted if he hadn't been invited to head the expedition to Hos-Rathon. Kalvan had purposely sent Prince Phrames along to keep an eye on Ptosphes. His father-in-law had many of the symptoms, shortness of breath and chest pains, of some sort of heart ailment. There were no cures here-and-now for heart disease and Kalvan saw no benefit to having the Prince spend his last years as an invalid-even if Ptosphes would let him, which he doubted. The Prince could be as stubborn and headstrong as his daughter!
There was a knock at the door.
"Enter."
Prince Phrames, his face and clothes travel worn, walked into the audience chamber. "Your Majesty."
"Have a seat, Phrames. Would you like some of Ermut's Best?"
"Please."
While Cleon came and filled two goblets with brandy, Kalvan noticed that Phrames was clearly agitated.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Nestros." He looked sick. "Your Majesty, he's turned down the alliance with Hos-Hostigos."
"Really! He needs the alliance more than We do. It's not as if I was ordering him to attack Hos-Ktemnos next spring! At the least, I was hoping for at least five thousand Rathoni troops for next year's campaign."
Phrames took a long drink, shuddered and said, "No, we'll be lucky if we're not fighting the Rathoni right along with the Styphoni."
"How could this be?"
