"That is not true, Colonel Tortha is from Xiphlon. Former General Verkan, a Grefftscharrer, was the commander of my Mounted Rifles. I have many able officers, but I do not have enough to lead all my own men, not to mention the Army of Thagnor-and none, whom I trust, who speak Urgothi. We'll do the swearing-in ceremony later, before your assembled officers. I want them all to know that you have my backing and complete support."
Errock felt his back stiffen at these words. The Great King had given him a great obligation, but one that he meant to fulfill even if it meant his own death. He bowed his head.
"You have my oath of service, Your Majesty."
"Good. Now, I've just got a few questions to ask about King Theovacar."
"It's been over ten years since I've been in Greffa City, Your Majesty, but I do get news from my brother and cousins."
"Excellent," Kalvan said, after expelling another small cloud of smoke. "I already know the size of his Navy and Army; I'm just curious as to what you think Theovacar will do now that I've incorporated one of his lesser vassals into Our new kingdom."
Errock pondered for a few moments. "Your Majesty, Theovacar is wily and doesn't always react in obvious ways. However, almost all of his decisions revolve around two things: himself and the greater glory of Grefftscharr. With the improvements you're making to the Thagnor City walls and with most of the Hostigos Army soon to arrive, I do not foresee him taking any immediate military action. For one, it is already too late in the season to dispatch his Navy, most of which is on patrol elsewhere. Secondly, Theovacar knows that your Army is not only larger than his, but far better armed.
"Finally, Thagnor is a tough shell to crack. Theovacar can use his Navy to keep you stitched up and out of the Hassfryth Sea, but on the other hand you can blockade him from the Sea of Aesklos. This is the dilemma that Prince Varrack, and his forefathers, have relied upon to keep Grefftscharr's fleets at bay. Few of the other states, such as Vulthar, Zykthos or Ragyath, will support Theovacar for fear that it will only increase his power, which will be to their detriment the moment your armies are defeated. So, for this year, he will be unable to do anything."
"An astute analysis, Errock. How long do you think it will be before Theovacar is in a position to launch an attack upon Nos-Hostigos?"
"That's a difficult question, Your Majesty. Without any new allies, it will take Theovacar three or four winters to build up an army strong enough to challenge your Army of Hostigos. In that amount of time, many things can change. You have other enemies, the Grand Host of Styphon. He may decide to wait and see if they conquer you without his having to raise a sword. Of course, if the Styphoni defeat your army, then he'll have another enemy to worry over. I suspect he'll wait to see who wins, all the while building up his army and navy. It would be just like him to let the two of you whittle your forces down to nothing, then come in and conquer the survivor."
"Then, I guess, the big question is: Will King Theovacar ally himself with Styphon's House?"
"Under normal circumstances, Your Majesty, I would say no. There is no love for the false priests of Styphon in Grefftscharr. However, these are hardly typical times and Theovacar does not always see things the way his opponents, or supporters, do."
II
Nythros was surrounded and the brass guns and bombard stone throwers were taking big chunks out of the walls. The siege work is going well, Lysandros decided. Clouds of fireseed smoke from the big guns rolled over the Grand Host columns like fog banks. The last Nythrosi sortie had been three days earlier and the entire party had been slaughtered. Already ten siege towers had been built and enough timbers were cut and trimmed for another five or six.
The only failure of their initial attack was that they had been unable to catch the Nythrosi Navy napping. Most of the Navy had been out of the harbor during the initial operation and they had only been able to burn a score of ships, most of those at dock. The rest had escaped and, in daring night time sorties, were ferrying in supplies and armaments to the defenders. However, the raids were decreasing since a score of the Host's guns were mounted as shore batteries. Unfortunately, this prolonged the siege by decreasing the number of guns they were able to use for bombarding the city walls.
Enough riflemen were scattered along outside the walls to keep the Nythrosi off the parapets and so far the Host's casualties had been low. This is no Rathon City, Lysandros thought, with its guns, bastions and earthworks built by Kalvan's engineers. Any time now the Nythros City States will fall into our hands like an over-ripe apple. It's too far from Harphax City to properly govern so I'll graciously allow Aristocles to set up some sort of Styphoni-administrated government.
Then we will hunt down the Usurper, defeat his army and cut off his head. Maybe take his wife as a prisoner and bring her back to Harphax City in a cage to be hung from the City gates. Or, better yet, dress her in rags and have her serve my wife as a slave…
Lysandros' musings were cut short by the bark of Investigator Roxthar. The Investigator was accompanied by Grand Commander Aristocles, whose face was tight with anger and barely contained rage.
"What's wrong?" he asked, as the two men rode up within hearing distance.
"It is time for me to leave this dismal place," Roxthar declared. "My work is needed elsewhere. All are heretics in this wasteland!"
Good, go! was Lysandros' first thought. The mad Archpriest was a hindrance and a liability to the expedition. It was through the Investigator's efforts that the Grand Host was under the Ban of Galzar. Worst of all, Roxthar complained constantly about the lack of work, or butchery, as Lysandros saw it. Or was spouting moon-calf nonsense about Styphon that was enough to turn anyone's stomach, or-even worse-broadcasting complaints about his and Aristocles' incompetence in regards to capturing Kalvan and his subjects.
"What's the situation?" he asked Aristocles.
"The Archpriest received a letter from Lord High Marshal Xenophes recalling him to the Five Kingdoms to aid the Grand Master in his subjugation of Great King Demistophon. It's a direct contravention of Styphon's Own Voice's orders. I am in command of all of Styphon's servants among the Grand Host. I will not allow him to disobey Anaxthenes' orders!"
For a moment, Lysandros felt like a convicted criminal being torn apart by horses pulling in two different directions. He was in command of the Grand Host, but Styphon's House paid all the accounts. He could not afford to offend Aristocles, but if he had to he would. The Host's very survival depended on Roxthar not bringing his Investigation into the Middle Kingdoms. He certainly could not allow Aristocles to dictate orders to his person, or he would lose all credibility as commander.
"This misguided servant of Styphon has refused to allow me to leave with my command!" Roxthar cried.
Beyond the Investigators he'd left behind in Hostigos, Roxthar had four Temple Bands of Styphon's Own Guard and several hundred of his white-robed cohorts. No one, including Aristocles would be saddened by the departure of the Investigators, but the Temple Guard was necessary to keep some of the shakier troops from deserting.
Roxthar was fuming, but Lysandros had an idea. "Let me talk with the Grand Commander in private and we shall come to a decision."
They trotted their horses over to a small copse of trees. "What's your idea?" Aristocles asked.
"You do realize that having Archpriest Roxthar along on this military expedition is much the same as having a fireseed wagon trailing the Grand Host with a lit fuse, don't you?"
The Zarthani Knight commander nodded.
"What you may not know is that my Chief Intelligencer has reliable information that Archpriest Roxthar plans to Investigate all captured Urgothi prisoners for their belief in false gods."