by John F. Carr
"How are things on the streets?" Lavena asked.
It sounded as if the Queen was starved for information. Her courtiers probably didn't want to pass on more bad news, or didn't care.
"Things are calm at the moment. That will probably change at dusk, when most of the soldiers return to their barracks. Only a few will do night duty and they keep to the better parts of town." Where they get bribes to stay on guard from the merchants and the nobles.
"If only the army could keep the curfew."
Probably not, because many of them are among the worst of the rioters, certainly the looters.
"Maybe it's time to consider leaving the capital, Lavena."
"Sirna, you're joking. And go where? Hostigos Town, which is now a cemetery, and stay with my father? He can't even protect himself."
"You're right. There is nowhere to go that's safe. At least the Army is on your side."
"For now…"
III
Hestophes himself was now in charge of the operation to put a Hostigi on the Throne of Light; it was too important a job to leave in Ranthos' hands, although the former Greffan had done a good job of rescuing the lad. Hestophes was seated in the Great Hall of the manor waiting to be reunited with his wife, who had disembarked from the Prince Ptosphes a quarter moon ago. He wondered who she would be bringing to take Dementros' place at the manor in Zeleos.
There was a knock at the Hall door. One of his bodyguards opened it and a petty-captain stuck his head in. "Captain Lysia has returned, sir."
"Show her and her party in."
A moment later his wife came in alone. Without thinking about propriety, Hestophes rushed forward and gathered her in his arms. He might have crushed her but for her steel breastplate. "How is the Great Queen?"
"She is well, but big as a hut! The baby should be born by now. Praise Dralm that it will be a boy and heir to the Throne!"
"What is her opinion of the plan to put a Hostigi on the Agrysi Throne?"
"She was quite enamored of the idea. Enough that she put her godson, Aspasthar, forward to be the claimant."
"Harmakros' son!" he exclaimed, his jaw dropping. "There must be no end of good candidates, so why Aspasthar?"
"Because he's several winters older than his age both in experience and maturity. Not that he still doesn't act like a boy sometimes; I ought to know, having spent a moon half with him and his three compatriots."
"You brought more than one boy?"
"Yes, my love. It was the Queen's idea; she wanted him to have company he could trust and possibly use to pass messages. As the new King, Aspasthar will not be out of Styphoni eyes for a moment."
Hestophes mulled that over for a moment. "She's right. Either Archpriest Grythos or one of his priests will have the boy under constant surveillance. With three more boys to stir the bowl, it will be much harder to keep an eye on any one boy, much less all four. What was Kalvans advice?"
"He is still in Greffa, waiting for the Grand Host to retire," Lysia answered. "King Chartiphon has been making heavy raids upon the Styphoni supply lines and they are growing low on foodstuffs. If the Grand Host of Styphon doesn't leave soon, it will be too late for the peasants to plant their potatoes and corn."
And, if that happens, it won't be good news for anyone in Thagnor City, Hestophes thought. Rations had been tight last winter and without a fall harvest people might starve this coming winter.
"Also, her Majesty and I discussed your plan and made some more improvements."
Hestophes braced himself for the worst. There was no telling what those two she-panthers might have come up with.
"We decided it wasn't safe to leave the boys on their own. The Queen thinks it might be best if we had someone to watch over them."
"But who, my love? The Duke was buried five years ago. The Lady Tymolara hated the old Duke, but who knows how trustworthy she'll be in Agrys City, where she could sell us out for a wheelbarrow of gold?" Wheelbarrows were another of the Great King's gifts, thought Hestophes, one that at first seemed simple and obvious. Once Kalvan had demonstrated them they had spread throughout the Five Kingdoms like dandelion seeds, improving the lives of farmers and workers throughout the Great Kingdoms.
"I know who will take Tymolara's place, my husband. Great Queen Rylla and I discussed this idea and drew the same conclusion." Lysia beamed at him as if she'd just won an archery competition. "It was Rylla's idea that I take her place!"
Hestophes felt his stomach drop. "But it's too dangerous! Besides, I might not see you again for many winters-"
She grabbed onto his neck so tightly he thought it might bend. He felt her tears as they soaked his ruff. Between sobs, she spoke, "I know, my love… it might be a very long time and I will miss you every moment. Still, we owe the Queen this service. I haven't been happy watching you from afar, suffering under the fools that the League placed over you. I'm glad we decided to tell no one of our plan other than Ranthos and the few Hostigi we needed to smuggle young Dementros, his half-sister and the Lady Tymolara out of Hos-Agrys.They should all be safely inside Thagnor City by now, where they will be kept under assumed names. No one must know, so darling, there is really no one else but myself who can make this deception work."
"I know you're right, but that doesn't mean I like it! It does make me want to take the war to the Styphoni with a vengeance!"
"That's the right idea. The sooner the Styphoni are driven from Agrys City, the sooner we can be together."
FIFTY-THREE
Prince Phidestros watched as General Geblon, holding his banner, a gold thunderbolt breaking a black iron chain on a green field, approached the City Gates of Harphax City and drew within hailing distance. Phidestros was on horseback at the top of a ridge, in his new silvered parade armor, with five thousand horse behind him waiting to see if the Gates would open peacefully or remain closed. At the first sign of armed resistance, his orders were to pull back; he was determined that this was not going to turn into a siege. He had come to Harphax City to restore order at the invitation of the rightful Prince; not to fill the gutters with blood. Not that he cared about a little spilled blood, but Arminta had convinced him that his reputation would suffer unless his entrance was peaceful.
The City's fate was balanced on a knife edge. If they were refused entrance, the riots would continue until the bandits and minions of Yathar, the Death Bringer, ruled the streets. The Harphaxi City Watch had resigned en masse, claiming they weren't paid enough silver to die for their jobs. The pitiful remnant of the Royal Army that Lysandros had left behind had either deserted or barricaded themselves in their own barracks.
Suddenly the gates burst open and several hundred celebrants ran out to greet their liberators. He was glad he didn't have to hide the smile that broke out on his face.
"It looks like the Princess's groundwork opened the old lady's legs, Captain," General Kyblannos hooted.
Phidestros clapped him on the back and laughed out loud. The Princess had sent word to several of her fellow aristocrats to enlist their aid in putting their rightful King back on the Iron Throne. Two days earlier he'd sent Cythros, Captain of the Blue Company, into the City with his most trusted soldiers to secure Great Queen Lavena and Chancellor Lyphannes to ensure they survived the tumult as the Kingdom changed rulers. Lavena and the new baby would be useful in case anything happened to Selestros or he proved difficult to manage, while Lyphannes was necessary to ensure a smooth transition between rulers. He'd met the Chancellor before and knew he was amenable to bribery and intimidation; Phidestros would use whatever it took, even if it meant throwing Lyphannes to the mob as a symbol of Lysandros' oppression.
General Geblon returned with a delegation of city fathers, nobles, High Guildmasters, a Styphon's House Highpriest, a brace of magistrates, an Uncle Wolf whom he remembered from last year's campaign, and several wealthy merchants of note.
One notable Elder in magnificent robes of ermine and dark red velvet approached him, saying, "Welcome, Prince Phidestros, I
am Head Elder Xenophrames. Your Highness, We, the Elders of the City of Harphax, welcome your return and your promise of order and stability. The City is yours and we have prepared a victory celebration to commemorate your great victory over the Usurper King Kalvan."
For a moment, Phidestros had thought the cat was out of the bag and the official was going to say Lysandros.
"Thank you, Your Honor. I give my personal oath as Prince of Greater Beshta that I will restore order to the streets of Harphax City. There will be a dawn-to-dusk curfew and anyone out after light has fallen will be put to the sword. Rioters and thieves will be beheaded. Rapists and murderers will be drawn and quartered."
The City Elders and merchants gave a collective sigh of relief.
"My men, except for those on watch duty, will be billeted in the Royal Army barracks in Tarr-Harphax. They will be given liberty every six days. My own Provost Marshal will be in charge of discipline."
The City Elders nodded in accord.
"Now, about this victory parade?"
That remark defused the tension and everyone laughed.
"Welcome to the City, Your Highness!"
The narrow streets and thoroughfares of Harphax City were filled to bursting with crowds of townspeople, guildsmen, merchants, stall-tenders as well as serfs and peasants from the surrounding towns and villages all dressed in their finest clothes. There was a festive air to the occasion and everywhere the Royal Flag of Hos-Harphax flew beside a white banner with the eight-pointed Blue Star of Dralm, which he supposed was the personal banner of Prince Selestros. Surprisingly, Phidestros' and the Iron Band's banner was also displayed openly throughout the City.
Even after reading the reports about the city-wide riots, he was surprised to see whole sections of the town burned right to their foundations; in some cases only a few blackened posts were left standing. On other streets, there were occasional storefronts or buildings burnt-out like blackened teeth in a beggar's smile. In the merchant's quarter there were armed guards before every store. It was almost as if he and the Iron Band were the returning force that had saved the city after a vicious sacking.
Everywhere he went he was greeted with roars of applause and cheers. More than once he heard the crowds chant "Phidestros the Great!" and knew that such words could easily cloud a man's mind to little else. Arminta had warned him about the heating of the blood that such chants could bring about, as well as the bad decisions they fed. His time would come.
"They love you, Captain," Kyblannos yelled into his ear. "By Galzar's Mace, we could take this City with two companies!"
Phidestros let his head fall back and he laughed uproariously. "Yes, for a fortnight, until I restrained their excesses and looting. Then the mob would change its mind and decide that I am Phidestros the Foul!"
"You are right about that, Captain. I remember, when I was with the Gold Eagle Company, we saved a coastal town in Glarth from sea raiders; after two days of leave they were ready to tar and feather the lot of us! I was thinking maybe the Iron Band should ransack this cursed place and leave the ruins to those down-in-the-mouth gentry behind us!"
"It's tempting, old friend," Phidestros said, as he turned to see the City Elders and their pinched faces. They didn't expect I'd get such a fine celebration, he thought. They're probably all scheming to see where their place will be in the new regime. I wonder in which direction they'll jump when King Lysandros returns with his army?
Of course, now that he and his wife were throwing their support behind Prince Selestros, if the meeting came off satisfactorily, then he would be the one who'd have to face Lysandros and the Royal Army. I'd like to muster these civilians into my Army and see just how much support they'd give me when I put a pike or musket into their arms!
He suspected they'd desert in droves.
At last they reached the Royal Palace and the victory parade came to an end as Phidestros was escorted into the private audience chamber to meet with Prince Selestros, the former King of Concubines. It was the first time Phidestros had ever seen the Prince sober and clear-eyed; he was surprisingly handsome and young in appearance, except for his deep blue-gray eyes, which contained the depths of the Great Ocean.
The Prince approached him with open palms.
He laid his hands on the Prince's and said, "Well met, Your Highness."
"Likewise, Your Highness," Selestros returned.
The only other person in the room was Chancellor Lyphannes, who looked like a cat who'd just bitten the head off a songbird.
"Where is Great Queen Lavena?"
Selestros nodded and Kyphannes spoke, "She is secured in one of the upper chambers under guard, as you requested, Your Highness."
Actually, he hadn't requested that exactly, but had demanded her protection as one of his conditions for supporting Selestros' bid to become Great King. Also, as a Prince Elector of Hos-Harphax, he was guaranteed one vote for the next Great King.
"Good." Phidestros said. "Now, Your Highness, let me be direct: what can you grant me to guarantee my loyalty to you as Great King of Hos-Harphax? I have been granted lands and a title by your Uncle and have given him my sworn oath of fealty."
"As my Uncle is a regicide, your oath is invalid both under the laws of man and the gods."
"And what proof do you have of this terrible crime?"
The Chancellor spoke, "Count Hythar, Lysandros' Chief Intelligencer, has admitted to poisoning Great King Kaiphranos under Lysandros' orders."
"How was this information obtained?"
"Under torture, of course. We broke him on the rack, but it wasn't a tainted confession. He gave collaborating details, including who provided the poisoning agent. If you want, you can question him yourself, Your Highness."
Phidestros did not trust men who changed the color of their cloaks so quickly, like Lyphannes. "I will want to see him and the Great Queen after our discussion."
"Very well, Your Highness. Do understand, his health at the moment is quite fragile."
"Chancellor, I've broken a few men myself. I know the effects of rigorous questioning. Of course, if these charges are true, my oaths to Lysandros will be invalidated."
"Exactly," Selestros said. "Your support, as the vanquisher of the Great Usurper, will go a long way in validating my claim to the Iron Throne. To show my appreciation, I will be more than willing to increase your possessions in Greater Beshta, with the addition of the Princedom of Sask. Prince Sthentros, who has claimed the crown of both Hostigos and Sask, will be removed. He was illegally appointed Prince by the regicide and I do not favor traitors, even those that aid the Throne."
Phidestros was impressed with the Selestros' directness and the underlying threat. The implication being that Phidestros' own Princedom, granted to him by King Lysandros, was of uncertain claim were he not to fully support the Prince in his bid to be Great King. On the other hand, there wasn't an army in the Five Kingdoms that could take his lands away from him.
"Your Highness, you do realize that these former Princedoms of Hos-Hostigos are void of not only subjects but farms, towns and even villages? I doubt there are more than fifty thousand people alive in Hostigos and Sask combined."
"This is true, Your Highness," Selestros said, "but we have many subjects here in the City who have no jobs and too much time on their hands; now many are without homes due to the riots. We will provide you with a hundred thousand new subjects for your new princedom of Sask."
Yes, take all the scum out of the gaols and off the gibbets and move them into my lands.
"Your Highness, I have heard stories of how you took the camp followers that trailed your Army home from Ulthor and turned them into hard-working subjects."
Phidestros nodded. We won't discuss at what cost. At least a quarter of them tried to escape and were later rounded-up and hanged. Of course, many of the rest have turned into good subjects. "They will do, although I also want to bring any guildsmen and craftsmen from the City that might volunteer to come along."
"Of cou
rse," Selestros said with a smug look.
As a former apprentice, Phidestros knew there were plenty of young guildsmen and artisans frustrated by the old men who ran the guilds with all their regulations devised to keep them in their place. Selestros would come to rue the day he so cavalierly gave into that provision.
"Now, Your Highness, is there any truth to the rumors that Dralm will be elevated above all other gods and Styphon and His House will be banished from Hos-Harphax?"
Selestros got a beatific expression on his face. "It is Allfather Dralm's will that all the True Gods be worshipped at the same table, although Allfather sits at the head of that table. The False God Styphon, a demon in disguise, is to be driven from the Kingdom, his Temples destroyed and his false priests gathered up and imprisoned."
Aha, thought Phidestros. A quick infusion of gold into the Kingdom's coffers from Styphon's Temples was what the Prince was counting on. He will also be purchasing the undying enmity of Styphon's House. This would mean war with Styphon's House, although at the moment their armies were spread out all over the Five Kingdoms and into the Middle Kingdoms as well.
Phidestros could always renounce his allegiance to Selestros if and when it turned to his advantage. He owed this young tosspot nothing, while Selestros would never dare to sit in his father's Seat if not for his support.
"I'm not certain that this is a wise policy, Your Highness. After Grand Master Soton has devoured Hos-Agrys with his army, he will turn his soldiers loose on Hos-Harphax."
"This is why we will support the League of Dralm with soldiers and gold, thus thwarting Soton's conquest of Hos-Agrys. I have consulted with Great King Sopharar's ambassador; he is willing to make an alliance with Hos-Harphax against Styphon's House if we agree to join the League of Dralm and promise ten thousand soldiers and five hundred thousand ounces of gold." Prince Selestros smiled. "Which will come from the gold taken from Styphon's temple domes!"
This is unexpected, thought Phidestros, while keeping his face expressionless. He had thought that he and Arminta were aware of the latest intelligence, but apparently not all of it. His wife would find this most interesting. I wonder what my father will make of this new turn of events? It will not be to his liking, and may cause him to remove his brother from the Ivory Throne earlier than planned. Whichever way this works, it will be to my advantage.
