Great Kings' War (23 page)

Soton clenched his jaw so tightly his teeth ground together like millstones.
This mercenary captain has as much gall as the so-called Great King of Hos-Hostigos
! "I have heard as much. Aren't you burying Lamochares without bothering to find out if he's dead?"

"I am far from interring the worthy Lamochares, Grand Master. I wish him long years and an honorable career. However, all my wishes will not drive out the marsh fever and rattle-lung in time to let him take the field this season. His healer says it's Styphon's Own Miracle he has lived so long, but if by another such miracle he recovers, he will never ride a horse again. If Lamochares' company is not put into the hands of an experienced captain it will be lost to Styphon's service this year."

That was true enough, particularly since one of the things Soton did know was that Lamochares had become careless about the pay and equipment of his men as the fever worsened. Too much of the paychest spent on quacks and leeches. The late Petty-Captain Ephentros had done his best, but that hadn't been good enough. Lamochares' men would need a good deal of discipline hammered into them and silver spent on their arms and appurtenances before they were any fitter to take the field than their captain.

They would probably also follow the man who gave them what they needed like lost sheep following a shepherd. And almost certainly if said man had the reputation and—Hadron take the man, but there was no denying it—the commanding presence of Captain Phidestros, the Blue Company would be reformed into a useful unit. "How will you heal the bad blood between your men and Lamochares' troopers?"

"As recompense for their losses, the Iron Company has helped pay for their drink and victuals. We also shared our lodgings with them when I learned that the company paychest was empty and they were being evicted from the Bent-Horn Tavern."

Phidestros' answer demonstrated that he too had been doing a great deal of thinking on the matter, too much thinking, in fact. Soton began to have the feeling he was listening to a superb actor playing a part in one of the Fireseed Plays. However, it was not the sort of feeling Soton was prepared to let carry him away when plain facts were shouting in his ear.

Fact: Lamochares' men would indeed be leaderless if they weren't put under some other captain.

Fact: If they were left leaderless, they would not be taking the field this season when every man would be needed to crush the Usurper Kalvan, even if they were nothing more than cannon fodder. The Blue Company would be left behind, idle, unpaid and a menace to the lawful subjects of Harphax City whose fondness for mercenaries would doubtless run out when the mercenaries' purses did.

Fact: Phidestros had a deep enough purse to give Lamochares' company everything they needed. That would save one hundred and fourteen troopers and two good guns to the service of Styphon—an addition not to be despised.

Fact: Under Phidestros the men would also be under a captain loyal to Styphon's House—or at least as loyal as any mercenary captain could ever be—they would not be under Prince Philesteus and Duke Aesthes or obeying Styphon's House through the offices of Grand Duke Lysandros. Soton knew enough about those men to trust the first two hardly at all, and Lysandros only as long as his ambitions for the throne of Hos-Harphax were not threatened.

Fact: Phidestros' Iron Company strength was now one hundred and thirty-seven men. With Lamochares' company, Phidestros would have a double company with over two hundred and fifty men.

Soton had far more pressing concerns than Phidestros' cold-blooded ambition if his current estimation of the Harphaxi Armies incompetence was correct. The mercenary's claim to Lamochares' Blue Company was worth granting—at a price.

"Captain Phidestros, I have already discussed this matter in detail with the Provost Marshal and shall render a final judgment today despite my concerns that I have only have your word for some important matters regarding the murder of Petty-Captain Ephentros."

"So be it, Grand Master. My men and I have little to fear, for Styphon will guide you to the truth."

Soton had to hold back the laughter that threatened his poise. It would not serve his purpose to reveal his suspicions so blatantly. However, he needed to caution Phidestros against placing that long nose of his in places where people might be tempted to cut it off. "Before I render judgment, I will warn you, Captain Phidestros, that another such
incident
as this will not be so easily dismissed! Am I understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

"I would also add that if I do find you fit to take command of Lamochares' men, I will request one further thing of you."

"Ask, and if it is lawful in the sight of Styphon, first among gods, and Galzar Wolfhead, it shall be done."

"It is lawful," Soton said tightly. He wanted badly to say
, Oh, demons fly away with your false piety and drop it in Kalvan's chamber pot!
Prudence silenced him. "It is certainly lawful to ask you to have Lamochares' guns fitted with trunnions and the new style carriages at
your
expense."

Soton again wanted to laugh; Phidestros was finally looking unsettled. "We have already fitted the eight-pounder with trunnions and my petty-captain is building a carriage. But fitting the eighteen-pounder they call the Fat Duchess will take some time, Grand Master, and also a good deal of gold."

"None the less, I must be satisfied that you will take proper care of the weapons entrusted to your care before I raise you higher among the captains serving Styphon's House. Is this not also lawful?"

"Yes, Grand Master, it is lawful. You shall be so satisfied, Grand Master."

"Good. I then rend my judgment of Not Guilty in the murders of Petty-Captain Ephentros and trooper Vilthos. You may leave."

Phidestros didn't look so sure of himself as he left the chamber. Soton kept a grin off his face until the Captain had departed, drained an entire goblet of wine and, without taking it from his lips, hooted with laughter.

Adding the Provost's hefty fine for the brawl at the Drunken Harlot to the cost of refitting the two guns, and even the Saski loot would be stretched a bit. Then Phidestros might also be encouraged to give up his intrigues and ambitions and settle down doing the work he knew so well. Styphon's House had plenty of ambitious would-be-allies; it had rather fewer reliable captains of mercenaries.

It wasn't until Soton entered Great King Kaiphranos' audience hall that he finally began to understand how Kalvan had been so successful so quickly. The Grand Hall was dingy and filled with ancient furniture that looked as if it had been used for pistol practice. The only window worthy of the name had been laboriously carved through the wall, but otherwise the only outside light came through firing slits made for arrows. When they built the keep of Tarr-Harphax, petty barons and outlaws were fighting almost yearly over the lands left vacant by the annihilation of the Ruthani tribes. Princes and kings who wanted to sleep peacefully at night built for defense, not comfort. While still stout—the ancients built their tarrs to last—Tarr-Harphax hadn't been well maintained for a hundred years.

At least Kaiphranos had beeswax candles to light the Great Hall, not the grease-soaked tapers that filled the rest of the castle with a great deal of smoke and stink. Most of the hangings and tapestries were faded, some ripped or frayed at the ends. Even the Iron Throne of King Kaiphranos IV showed rust stains along the arms and legs. Soton had seen better furnishings in the longhouses of Sastragathi headmen.

Kaiphranos himself seemed hardly more than another shadow. He was bent and crooked, while his wispy white hair splayed out of his crown like an unruly bird's nest. Even from a distance his red velvet robe showed dark purple wine stains.

Flanking Great King Kaiphranos in lesser chairs of state were his eldest son and heir, Prince Philesteus, and the stooped, white-bearded Captain-General of Hos-Harphax, Duke Aesthes. Philesteus wore armor under his robes and was eccentric enough to go clean-shaven, which left his thick neck and double chin exposed to all. Duke Aesthes could hardly carry himself at all; at seventy winters and suffering from arthritis he was past active campaigning. During the thirty past winters, a time when Hos-Harphax didn't need to take war and armies seriously, this wouldn't have mattered. Now, however...

Across from Kaiphranos sat his much younger half-brother, Grand Duke Lysandros, a slender fine-featured man of middle age whose mink-lined, gold-filigreed robe was worth more than the entire contents of the Hall. Out of all Kaiphranos' advisors, he was the only adherent of Styphon's House and the fittest general. For once Soton wished he had a purse full of Anaxthenes' little vials, so he could put the scales of Hos-Harphax back into balance.

As he sat down next to Lysandros, Soton wished even more that he had a drink in hand, preferably good winter wine. From the look on Lysandros' face he knew this was going to be an ordeal. He leaned over and whispered to Lysandros, "Where's Prince Selestros?"

The Grand Duke answered in a voice loud enough to startle Kaiphranos. "Selestros is out wallowing with some he, she or it."

Great King Kaiphranos cleared his throat. Quite unnecessarily, Prince Philesteus barked, "Give ear to the Great King!"

The Hall was so silent that Soton could hear the creaking of his joints as Kaiphranos straightened up in his throne.

"Grand Master Soton," Kaiphranos said, in a whining voice that reminded Soton of a befuddled old tutor who had roamed the streets of Geas, the village where he'd grown up, then left as soon as the first whiskers graced his chin.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Is it true, what I've heard? That you plan to leave Us with tomorrow evening's tide?"

"Yes, it is true. I have been called upon by the Inner Circle to lead the Sacred Squares of Hos-Ktemnos against the Usurper Kalvan."

Great King Kaiphranos' face crumpled like that of an infant about to start squalling. "What have I done to bring this plague upon our land? I have worshipped all the true gods and paid Styphon's offerings. I have given my people peace and now the gods re-pay me with Daemons! Now, the Grand Master prepares to steal away in the night, to leave my Kingdom to death and ruin."

Soton made an effort to keep his expression neutral. He glanced over at Grand Duke Lysandros and saw him roll his eyes.

"I am not deserting anyone. I told Captain-General Aesthes three days ago that I would be leaving soon. I was not sent here to command the Army of Hos-Harphax, but to see that it was fit for battle." Soton raised his voice. "This I have done. Styphon's treasure has armed and refitted the Royal Army you have so long neglected."

If Kaiphranos had been a turtle, his head would have retreated into its shell; as it was he made a passing good imitation of one.

"Styphon's gold has bought you twelve thousand mercenaries and provided you with three Lances of the Holy Order. Your army has a commander, two, perhaps three. You don't need me."

"Grand Master Soton is correct, Your Majesty," Archpriest Phyllos said. Phyllos was Styphon's House top cleric in Hos-Harphax, as well as a member of the Inner Circle and head of the High Temple of Harphax City. "Furthermore, I have just received word that a convoy is on its way from Balph with a hundred tons of Styphon's fireseed and three thousand of Styphon's Own Guard. There is to be another convoy from Agrys City with eight thousand more mercenaries and a fifty thousand ounces of gold for the war against the Usurper."

Soton's head reeled. He'd have to completely re-think the war against Hos-Hostigos. Why hadn't I been informed of these reinforcements? What other surprises are hidden in the sleeves of Anaxthenes' robes?  

"I want the Grand Master to lead Our Army!" Kaiphranos cried. "He will bring us Styphon's Own Blessing."

Soton stamped on his anger until his voice came out in a deadly monotone; after all, it has been the Inner Circle's policy to weaken the central authority of the Northern Kingdoms. Yet, it was Kaiphranos' failure of leadership that had made their efforts so successful. "If you had kept your own house in order, there would be no need for Styphon's troops and Styphon's gold to give you back the kingdom
you
have lost. We are not here at your pleasure, but at Styphon's Will. Remember this: What has been given, can be taken away."

As Soton had expected, Kaiphranos' anger melted away like last moon's snowfall. Left behind were a frightened old man and a son who'd never grown up, puffing himself up in anger. To defuse the situation, Soton added, "Let your son re-unite his future kingdom and earn his spurs. Even in distant Tarr-Ceros we have heard of the fame of the Harphaxi Royal Lancers." It was so easy to salvage Philesteus' pride; yet, it went against Soton's very grain. Let Anaxthenes do his
own
double-tongued work from now on!

"Yes, Father," Philesteus said. "The Grand Master is right. With our own Royal Army we will skin the snake in his own den."

Kaiphranos waved away his son's words. "I want to know more about this army you plan to lead from Hos-Ktemnos, Grand Master. Why do they not open the battle against the Usurper Kalvan?"

"I am not at liberty to speak about their plans. We have learned in Harphax City that even the stone walls have ears."

"Are you accusing me of harboring traitors and intelligencers?" the old king was beginning to get his color back.

"Of course not. But is it not true that a highpriest of the false god Dralm passes through these doors every day?"

Kaiphranos averted his gaze and stared at the floor. A moment later a servant, bearing goblets of wine on a tray, entered the chamber. Soton was shocked when he took one and saw the green corrosion on what appeared to be a golden stem.

"Highpriest Cratos is an old friend and trusted advisor. I could not believe he would violate Our trust. Besides, this war is not about Dralm or Styphon, but about the lands that were stolen from my Kingdom by this Usurper Lord Kalvan!

"Nor is this what We have come to this Council of War to discuss." The old King brightened as though struck by inspiration. "I now want to announce Our decision in the matter of a proper reply to the godless attack by the Traitor, Rebel and Daemon Kalvan into the land of Hos-Harphax one and a half moons ago. We have in this matter sought the advice of our Councilors and Captains and the wisdom sent only by the gods."