Geblon guffawed. "You're right, Phidestros. There were a couple of times in Hostigos when we wanted to do the same to Roxthar ourselves!"
"I don't miss that demon in human form," the Prince replied.
"I've never met him," Princess Arminta said.
"Consider yourself blessed by the gods," Kyblannos said. "We got to see his handiwork first-hand in Hostigos. It wasn't pretty."
"Do you believe Soton will buy your excuse for not joining his force?" Arminta asked.
"He's in no position to order a loyal liegeman of Great King Lysandros into battle, even at Styphon's Own Voice's command. Especially not against a fellow Great King who is not at war with Hos-Harphax. Besides," Phidestros paused to smile at his wife, "we have a second wedding to attend next moon in Argros."
While she was just this side of homely, the Princess had one thing that heated his blood more than pretty features-good breeding. In intelligence and horse sense, Arminta was his perfect match. Together they made a formidable pair, one that other rulers would underestimate at their peril. He had enjoyed Lady Sirna, but it had been a union born of lust and convenience. Still, despite their closeness, there had always been a wall between them; maybe because Sirna was in her heart still a Grefftscharrer. He had been lucky that he'd sired no bastards with her; he would have had to adopt them or they'd have been outcasts-future problems either way.
From now on, by Galzar, I'm going to keep my privy part busy at home, away from foreign ports. Arminta may not be much in the looks department, but she has deep fires burning down below. He took Arminta's hand and squeezed it.
She smiled lovingly in return. "Do you think he's learned of our union yet?"
"It's not a secret in Harphax City and I'm certain that Balph's agents in Hos-Harphax have reported my every movement, although the smart ones are probably more entranced with the new Great Queen."
Geblon nodded. "We uncovered about two or three hands of Styphoni intelligencers the first moon or two after we arrived. We branded them as false Hostigi." He smiled wickedly. "They all died hard after we released them into Hos-Ktemnos. Now, few of Styphon's agents appear anxious to cross our borders."
"What about the Princedom's Styphoni priests?" Arminta asked.
"We have them all under watch by our own intelligencers," Geblon answered. "None of Styphon's Highpriests survived Kalvan's purges. Those freshly arrived have few followers in Beshta and little to do. Thus, little need for new recruits. There is no love among the Prince's subjects, since the Investigation began its work in Hos-Hostigos, for Styphon's false priests or their allies. Our most difficult job will be keeping those Styphoni who remain alive."
There was a chorus of "Hear Hear!" and then Mynos came in with the news that the Grand Master had arrived.
"Should I have brought my bodyguard?" Soton asked, as he ran his eyes around the chamber counting the ordnance worn inside, stroking his beard. He was a head shorter than even Arminta, but as thick across the middle as a barrel.
Phidestros rose and they clasped upper arms. "You are welcome in my House."The Grand Master had always treated him with grudging respect. He could not do otherwise, now that he was in Phidestros' home. "You already know Generals Geblon and Kyblannos. The Princess is my wife, Arminta."
Soton made a courtly bow. "Most pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Highness."
"Likewise, a pleasure, Grand Master," she returned, with a nod.
"Good, Let Styphon's Will Be Done!" With that, the Grand Master took a flagon of winter wine, raised it in a toast and drank carefully, just enough not to insult, but not enough to cloud his judgment.
Soton looked up as though surprised that no one had followed his lead in praising Styphon. He examined Phidestros expectantly.
The Prince replied, "I've seen enough of Styphon's work in Hos-Hostigos to last me a lifetime." Everyone else in the chamber nodded their accord.
"I'd like to make a toast to the Wargod." Phidestros raised his goblet, saying, "To the Judge of Princes and to Galzar's Way!"
Soton nodded his accord to the new toast.
"What brings you to our seat, Grand Master?"
Soton tucked his chin down as though to say "So it's going to be like that, is it?" He grimaced and then made his face into an agreeable expression. "I would like to have you and your Princely Army of Greater Beshta join our Host of Styphon's Deliverance and help us pull the Great King of Backstabbers off his perch."
"What has King Demistophon done to earn your wrath now?" Phidestros asked.
"He has sent his troops across the Harphaxi border into Thaphigos while your Great King has been fighting off the False Hostigi. More so, he has refused to send any troops to aid our cause in the Middle Kingdoms."
"I saw Agrys troops fight with the Grand Host in Hostigos," Phidestros answered.
"True enough, but they were not from the Royal Army or the King's levy; they were volunteers from Styphon's Union of Friends in Hos-Agrys."
"That was their choice, just as it was King Demistophon's choice not to support the Holy Host. I do not see this as an act of treason. I, however, do not smile upon the treachery of his actions in regards to Thaphigos. In the spring, upon Great King Lysandros' orders, I will remedy the problems in Thaphigos once and for all. However, I doubt it will be necessary to violate our border with Hos-Agrys."
Soton spoke as if he had to scrape the words out off his tongue. "We could use your help in besieging Agrys City. I am prepared to offer you half the booty we recover."
Phidestros paused for a moment. Agrys was the richest city in the Five Kingdoms; it was a tempting offer, even though half of it would never reach the depots. However, now that he was a free agent again, he didn't want to put Styphon's harness back on. "I don't think so. I just spent the last few years helping you to bottle up Kalvan only to see him set free because the Grand Host was more interested in besieging an old tarr than taking its sword to the enemy's belly."
The Grand Master made a sour face, as if he'd just bit into rotten fruit. "In Hostigos we were burdened by too many kings, too many captain-generals and one too many priests. This will be a simple and straightforward conquest."
"I have heard that you will be accompanied by at least one priest. Is that rumor false?"
Soton made a face as if he had just passed a large kidney stone. "I will keep him occupied."
"So you say, Grand Master. And what else do you have to offer?"
Soton smiled, as though glad to be back on familiar territory. "In addition to half the treasures of Agrys City, I have been authorized by Styphon's Own Voice to offer you a quarter million ounces of gold, a million of silver and your choice of up to ten thousand Agrysi slaves-to do with as you see fit, as I know that you do not approve of slavery. Sadly, I'm not authorized to offer you another princedom or two." He beamed as if it were his backing that had led solely to Phidestros' current position.
Geblon's mouth dropped open, and even Kyblannos appeared impressed. Arminta's face revealed nothing.
In other times and in other circumstances, this was an offer that Phidestros would have snapped up, but things had changed. He no longer wanted to labor as one of Styphon's lackeys. He had his own path to break and being known as one of the captains who had deposed a "neutral" Great King might jeopardize his future course of action.
"I must apologize, Grand Master, it is a tempting offer; however, I have other plans."
"By Styphon's Beard! What plans could be more important than the Great God's work?"
Phidestros looked lovingly at his fiancee and said, "I am to be married in less than a moon and we are preparing our visit to Argros Town."