Cleon removed the Prince's cloak. Kalvan couldn't help but notice Phrames wince when Cleon bumped his shoulder where he'd taken a bullet wound at Ardros Field.
"How is your shoulder feeling?" Kalvan asked.
"Much better, Your Majesty, but it's still sore."
Kalvan didn't doubt it as Phrames had been riding horseback for almost twenty-four hours. "Let me look at it."
"Yes, sire." Phrames said as he walked over to the fireplace, while taking off his breastplate and padded gambeson. Kalvan examined his shoulder: The slug had entered and exited the muscle leaving a keloid scar the size of a quarter. It was red and inflamed, but it didn't appear as if sepsis had set in.
"Have Uncle Wolf Tharses look at this before you leave the castle."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Phrames said, as he warmed his hands before the coals.
Kalvan tried to find the best way to frame the news he was about to impart. Phrames was as loyal as the day was long, but even the most trusted paladin might be sorely troubled when a promise was revoked. Sorry, old friend, but "realpolitik" has reared its ugly head.
"I asked you here for several reasons."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"First, how did the attack go?"
"The operation went almost as planned, Your Majesty. It was very successful. The men fought admirably; we had less than a hundred casualties, many with minor wounds. We also took almost three thousand prisoners. More are being rounded up as we talk. I have a list with me of officers and soldiers who deserve promotions." Phrames removed a folded-up parchment from his trousers and presented it to Kalvan.
Kalvan set the parchment on his makeshift desk. "I will go over it later and we will then discuss all promotions and prizes."
Phrames nodded his head.
"I want to compliment you on a well-executed and consummated campaign. Few military operations go off as smoothly. A bonus of a thousand crowns of gold will, in a small way, show Our appreciation."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! It's an unexpected reward, but pleasant. I need to prepare new quarters for Lady Eutare and I don't want to do it at the Throne's expense. But, by the Wargod's Mace, I truly owe all and any success to my soldiers and their execution of our orders."
"Soldiers only do well when they are properly led."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Now, I would like to share a letter I just received from Rylla."
Phrames perked up. "Did you happen to hear from Lady Eutare, as well?"
Kalvan smiled and held up another packet. "I'll give you her letter as soon as we're finished talking. It's still sealed."
Phrames blushed. Cleon picked that moment to arrive with mugs of hot tea and a wet cloth. Phrames quickly wiped his face, and then blew his nose.
Kalvan took out his pipe fixings while Phrames composed himself.
When he had his pipe fired and drawing, Kalvan began to read from the second leaf: After arriving at the City Gates, we found entrance to Rathon City much easier than We had believed. After the concentrated guns of the Army of the Trygath dislodged the Gate, the Rathoni were quite eager to capitulate.
"I wonder what she threatened them with?" Phrames asked.
Kalvan shook his head in wonderment. "There's more to this story than the runes scratched onto this parchment, that's for certain. I suspect Rylla threatened the wholesale destruction of the Rathon City, or its population. Since Rylla's proven her words by her actions in the past, I would guess they took whatever threat she threw at them quite seriously."
"As would I, Your Majesty," Phrames said, trying to hide a cringe.
Phrames, as had Kalvan, had been quite outspoken in his criticism of Rylla's decapitation of the Phaxi rulers. Rylla had returned tit for tat, and the two were still barely speaking. Fortunately, Lady Eutare, Rylla's lady-in-waiting and Phrames' fiancee, was the bridge that kept them civil and in infrequent contact. Kalvan hated it that his wife and one of his best friends were at war in all but name, and hoped the passage of time would heal their differences.
"Next she writes:
After seeing the size and importance of Rathon City, I realized that our plan to install Prince Sarrask as ruler was premature. As we both know, Sarrask is a much more able military commander than monarch. Also, he is much more useful for future military actions. Instead, I swore in Our trusted Chancellor, Chartiphon, as the new King of Rathon, with all titles, privileges and lands appropriate to such station.
"Chartiphon!" Phrames cried out, his mouth falling open. "And why the Great Queens regard for Sarrask, our formerly sworn enemy?"
"We discussed this before the Queen left," Kalvan replied. "Prince Sarrask has proved his loyalty and usefulness several times over. We had planned to reward him with a new title and princedom."
Phrames nodded. "I still dislike the man, but no man can say that he has not fought hard for Your Majesties."
"Yes, now let me continue reading the Queens letter:
I know this was not your and my intention; however, upon reflection, I realized that Chartiphon is more valuable to us as a ruler than as a military commander. He is admittedly too old and set in his ways to ever truly learn your new ways of warfare. However, he has long experience at statecraft and could well be an asset as King of Rathon. His loyalty to ourselves and Nos-Hostigos is beyond reproach. As Duke and Captain-General of the Royal Army, Chartiphon has been held in great esteem by our subjects. Already, the people of Rathon have taken to his stern but kindly countenance and I have encouraged him to take a wife of proven fertility so that he may provide his subjects with a suitable heir."
Phrames laughed out loud. "Chartiphon marrying… I wish I could have been there! Heirs… That old stallion! Praise Dralm, Queen Rylla has truly concocted a miracle!"
"Truly," Kalvan responded. "Rylla was always able to get that old goat to eat out of the palm of her hand. It's too bad Primate Xentos wasn't as malleable."
"Yes, he could have provided us with the help we needed to halt the Grand Host and hold Hostigos," Pharmes said bitterly.
"What do you think of Chartiphon as King of Rathon?" Kalvan asked.
"Actually, once over my surprise, I expect that Chartiphon might well prove to be an excellent choice." Phrames shook his head in wonder. "It solves two problems: first, how to reward and remove a trusted commander, whose services are no longer needed as a Captain-General, from the line of command, and secondly, how to provide the Great Kingdom with a loyal vassal who will do his best to obey Your Majesty's orders."
"Exactly, that was my considered conclusion; once I mastered my own surprise. Rylla continues:
I have also decided that our best course is to leave a fifth of our subjects in Rathon City where they will be safe behind the great City Walls and provide the final cement that will wed this new kingdom to Nos-Hostigos. Many are older and weary from our journey and the increasingly colder nights. I have also left the last of the wounded, the widows and women with babes-in-arms. If it is Dralm's will, many of the widows will find Rathoni husbands and further cement our alliance.
I have also promised King Chartiphon five thousand of our soldiers so he will have a loyal cadre from which to ensure the loyalty of his new subjects. Furthermore, I have taken it upon myself to leave him with thirteen wagons of firearms and ten of fireseed, which should provide his needs until such time as his own gunsmiths and fireseed mills establish themselves.
Do not worry, I have only promised him a bare minimum of artisans to teach his new subjects the arts of saltpeter gathering and fireseed making. However, I did have to provide him with enough artisans to create his own cannon foundry. I hope this meets with your approval, my husband.
Phrames grimaced. "I can see that her decision was necessary, but we need those men here, too, for the fireseed mills and the foundry."