"Agreed, but spreading their knowledge will ensure that the fireseed arts live on even if we do not. While Rylla has provided me with some surprises, they appear to be of an acceptable nature-for a change!"
They both laughed.
"When will Queen Rylla's party reach Nos-Hostigos?"
"Within a moon or two, depending on the rains. Or…" Kalvan let the sentence hang.
Phrames nodded. "I believe it's too late in the season for the Grand Host to catch-up to the Army of the Trygath. They too will face rain, mud and possibly early snows. Winter hits the Trygath along the lakes with greater ferocity than the Great Kingdoms. Won't the Host need some place to rest when winter strikes?"
"Yes, that's what I've been counting on. The snow storms and ice will make resupply from the Great Kingdoms or Tarr-Ceros difficult if not impossible. They'll need some place to hole up for winter." Kalvan went over to the deerskin map behind his desk. "If we assume they're about two moon quarters behind Rylla's Army of the Trygath, the Grand Host is probably just entering the Princedom of Cyros now. It will be late fall before they reach Rathon City, which limits their ability to lay siege to the city. In fact, with all the improvements Chartiphon's making to the city walls, they probably won't hang around for long. Their minds, if I know Grandmaster Soton, will be more concerned about the coming winter. There are not a lot of nearby cities large enough to support the Grand Host."
Kalvan pointed his sword at the Princedom of Mybranos (Cincinnati), at the southwestern edge of Rathon, on the large deerskin map. "Mybranos Town is far too small to billet the Styphoni." He moved his point to Morthron Town (Toledo). "Morthron might be big enough to hold the Styphoni, but it's right next door to Tnagnor. If I were Soton, I'd be worried that we'd link up with the Morthroni and hit his army at will. The closest defensible city, big enough to hold the Grand Host, would be the Nythros City States."
"Of course!" Phrames cried, "and the Nythrosi transported us to Thagnor so in Soton's eyes that will make them the Host's enemies."
"The friend of my enemy is no friend of mine," Kalvan muttered.
"I believe you're right, sire. Shouldn't Your Majesty contact the Nythrosi ambassador with this information?"
"No," Kalvan said. "First of all, we're only guessing at where the Grand Host might winter. Secondly, the Nythrosi, being closer and having more agents on the ground, will have a much better idea of the Host's threat than we do. Furthermore, it's to our advantage to have the Grand Host appear as an aggressor, since everyone in the Upper Middle Kingdoms views us in that vein. Plus, it will help neutralize King Theovacar. If he allies with the Styphoni, who are proven aggressors, how can he convince his allies that we are any worse? On the other hand, if he sides with us he gains the enmity of Styphon's House."
Phrames nodded. "I see your strategy, but that does not make us very good friends to the Nythrosi who have ferried us here."
Kalvan held up a finger. "First of all, the Nythrosi are neither friends, nor allies. They moved the Army of the Saltless Sea as they would any other cargo, and were well paid to do so. You and I both know that if I had not taken the Nythrosi ambassador on a tour of the Prince Ptosphes to show him her guns, the Nythrosi Navy might very well have attempted to hijack her for our gold and bonds. Had they done so, and been successful, they would have either killed us all, or failing that, abandoned us on some hostile shore.
"Never once has the ambassador brought up the possibility of an alliance, other than to further their own gains at Theovacar's expense. We can trust no one there until they have unequivocally proven their loyalty."
Phrames appeared crestfallen. "I see the 'big picture' now, Your Majesty."
Kalvan paused to relight his pipe. "Which brings me to the second reason for your visit: I know you were 'promised' the Princedom of Thagnor; however, I'm going to have to rescind that promise."
Phrames looked stricken, and bent over as if he were about to be sick.
Kalvan held up his hand. "Please, Phrames, let me explain. Upon further consideration of Middle Kingdoms politics, as well as Our own need for a home base, I have decided that Thagnor is the ideal place for the capital of our new Kingdom, Nos-Hostigos. I plan to have Highpriest Mytron enthrone me as King of Thagnor."
The Prince nodded, but his eyes were stricken. "I trusted Your Majesty-"
"Stop!" Kalvan said, cutting his friend off before he said something that could not be unsaid.
"I know you're tired of all the incessant warfare-almost four winters now. And, I know you were looking forward to retiring and ruling a peaceful and prosperous kingdom."
"I am sick to death of all the killing and atrocities I've been a part of. I've seen enough killing for a hundred lifetimes…"
"As I well understand," Kalvan said nodding. "I feel the same way at times, but destiny refuses to release me from the death grip it has on the nape of my neck! I have my duty to my subjects and to Queen Rylla and my daughter. These I must place above all other things, including my friendships, my fortune, my life."
Phrames nodded. "I understand, Your Majesty. I would not for all of Lytris' good fortune share Your Majesty's seat."
"I don't blame you. Thus, instead of the Thagnori throne, for your loyalty and good service to the Throne, I intend to crown you as Prince of Gytha."
"But Gytha, Your Majesty, is an independent and free Princedom. Nor are we at war with Gytha."
"Not at the moment, but I'm about to make them an offer they will not be able to refuse. The current ruler of Gytha is an oligarch and friend of Varrack's. We cannot allow them to continue as Our closest neighbors without a change of alignment. This will not be voluntary. Already, our attempts at negotiation have been rebuffed. Furthermore, it is a rich Princedom and we can use its assets. We will start bombardment within the quarter moon."
"Won't this further exacerbate our poor relations with King Theovacar, Your Majesty?"
"Yes and no. Gytha is not, nor has it ever been, a vassal of Grefftscharr. Of course, taking more territory in Theovacar's 'Seas' will anger him. But, this may be inevitable, if Theovacar is not interested in an alliance. Things will get even worse when the Grand Host arrives. Theovacar may even be driven into a partnership with Styphon's House. However, we cannot drive our strategy on 'what might happen' and fears of Theovacar's reactions. Conquering and holding Gytha will make any attack on Nos-Hostigos, our new kingdom, that much more difficult. I doubt the Grand Host would deliberate for an eighth of a candle over its conquest."
"True words, Your Majesty," Phrames said, as he put his armor back on. "The Styphoni have no qualms. I would very much enjoy the honor of being so close to Your Majesties, as well as ruling fairly over such a prosperous princedom. The salt of Gytha is known throughout the Five Kingdoms."
"Then you shall be granted your wish, by Galzar's Mace! You shall lead the attack. As soon as we've taken Gytha, I will announce your new title."
TWENTY-TWO
Prince Phidestros looked around, studying the Great Hall of his Beshtan palace. It was newly built over the ruins of the old palace by Prince Phrames and looked solid, but the stone walls were bare. There were no hangings and only a few old paintings. Most of the tapestries and furniture had been removed by the fleeing Hostigi. However, Geblon had made sure that the Iron Company's old banner, displaying a gold thunderbolt breaking a black iron chain on a green field, was hanging from the highest beam.
Former Prince Phrames had rebuilt most of the outbuildings as well, and expanded the audience chambers, putting in stained-glass panels of all the major gods, except Styphon. As long as Archpriest Roxthar didn't Investigate the palace, Phidestros decided that was fine with him.