John Carr - Kalvan Kingmaker

"Now, I shall ask Highpriest Xentos, Chancellor of Hos-Hostigos and Highpriest of Hostigos, the only one among us who has met and talked to King Kalvan, to give us his judgment. Highpriest Xentos."

Xentos rose and tried to formulate answers that might please the assembled highpriests, but none were forthcoming. "True, I have met the man known as King Kalvan. He came to us in strange clothes with no knowledge of our language. He carried with him a miniature tinderbox and a pistol the likes of which I had never seen. He told us that he was sent from another time, a thousand winters in the future. He had a great enemy, an evil wizard, who tried to kill him. Another wizard who was his friend sent him far away from the Cold Lands, so not to be sorcerously slain. Thusly, Kalvan was sent far back into the past and into our own time, landing in the Princedom of Hostigos.

"I do believe he is not like other men. Whether he comes from the future, past or is Dralm-sent, I do not know. Kalvan has never shown fear and is at all times filled with great curiosity. He arrived not knowing our tongue; yet quickly did he learn to speak and even write."

There was a collective sound of in-drawn breath at that announcement. It was most unusual for anyone past the age of puberty to learn the runes and how to decipher them. This alone marked Kalvan as a special and unique personage.

"He has always acted with the highest regard in his relations with women and children. He is friendly to everyone, irrespective of rank. When the Princess Rylla accidentally wounded him in battle, he quickly won her heart and then her hand. Kalvan's fearlessness in battle is beyond reproach. All the great lords of Hostigos quickly fell under his spell and he was given the title Lord Kalvan."

"All this is known and documented, Highpriest Xentos," the Highpriest of Meligos City said. "What we need to know is whether he was sent by Dralm, or the Undergods."

"I do not have any sign from Dralm that tells me Kalvan was sent from the Cold Lands at Allfather Dralm's direction. However, I do know for certain that he is no friend to the Undergods, neither Hadron, Ormaz, nor Styphon. I believe, from the first, when he gave away the Fireseed Secret, he proved that he is an enemy of Styphon, the Devil god, and his false priests. He has not to my knowledge, or that of anyone else in Hostigos, made devotions or sacrifices to the Undergods.

"What are you telling us?" Highpriest Davros asked. "That there are no earthly means to determine how or why Kalvan was sent to our lands?"

"Yes. In my heart, I want to believe that he is Dralm's son, but belief does not make truth, nor does Kalvan claim to be god-sent. Yet, he shows the proper reverence and respect to the gods, including generous donations of silver and gold. The only aspect of Kalvan that is worrisome is his mastery of Galzar's tools and his love of war, but then it could easily be said that he is Galzar Wolfshead's son. And there is much evidence for that."

Highpriest Davros' voice rose in pitch. "Then what of the people whom Great King Kalvan counts among his family and friends?"

"I know them well. First there is Prince Ptosphes, a reverent believer in the true gods and a beloved ruler. He is fair and honest. No better man has ruled Hostigos since his great, great grandfather's time. His daughter Rylla is as beautiful and radiant as the summer sun, and as hot tempered."

The last statement brought a few laughs.

"Rylla was brought up without the benefit of a mother, when the Princess Demia died in childbirth. Perhaps, not having a son, Ptosphes not only spoiled the girl, but also encouraged her in manly arts. I have known her all her life; she even calls me Uncle Xentos. Still, I have been dismayed on numerous occasions by her quick temper and violent nature. It is said that she laughs with glee upon the battlefield. And shows little mercy to the vanquished. We have shared bitter words over this fault."

There was a collective drawing of breaths.

"I fear she encourages her husband in the battle arts, rather than the ways of peace, may the Allfather forgive her. I have pointed this out to both of them on numerous occasions to little result. I fear that the Great Queen's influence on Kalvan is not for the best."

"Are you saying that she is under the spell of the Undergods?" asked an elderly highpriest, with a white, tobacco-stained beard that coursed down to his waist.

"No. I believe she means well, but her nature was tainted by her father's desire for a man-child to continue the line. I pray for her every day."

"This is disturbing," Highpriest Davros said. "If Kalvan is Dralm sent, why has he picked this woman as his consort? I fear that we will not be able to declare his divinity until the will of the gods has manifested itself. True, he has worked miracles, defeated large armies and done well for the common folk of Hos-Hostigos, but yet he is still besieged by the Devil Styphon's spawn and their armies, and even legitimate rulers debate his qualities. Until these matters are resolved, we cannot recommend that the rulers of the northern kingdoms and princedoms supply Kalvan with gold, weapons or fireseed."

The Highpriest of Glarth stood up. "I do not understand this reluctance to support and aid the one man who has many times over defeated our greatest enemy, the false god Styphon and his corrupt priesthood. Those of you in the north have not yet seen the false-priests of Styphon buy their way into your provinces, as we in Glarth have seen. Styphon's agents grow bolder day after day. Those nobles who cannot be bought directly with the False Temple's gold, are seduced with loans from Styphon's banking houses and led into debt whereupon they are beholden to Styphon's money lenders. They are then encouraged to leave the Temple of Dralm and worship only at Styphon's altar. What say you to that?"

Highpriest Socratos, former Highpriest of the Harphax City Temple and now in exile, stood up and spoke. "As you all know, I was fortunate to escape from Harphax City less than a moon ago, after Great King Kaiphranos left us to ascend into Allfather Dralm's Court. Now, since his leaving, there is open persecution of Dralm throughout Hos-Harphax. Never before have Temples been sacked and burned in the Northern Kingdoms until the Usurper Kalvan arrived! I lay this all at his feet."

The Highpriest of Glarth, his face blood red with anger, cried, "Are you saying that Kalvan is now burning and destroying Dralm's Temples?"

"No, but he has angered the Archpriests of Styphon's House and nobles and prince of Hos-Harphax, turning them against Allfather Dralm. Were Kalvan still in the Cold Lands, I would be safe in my former Temple and on the avenues of Harphax City. Yes, we have had disagreements with Styphon's Archpriest before, but they were always resolved amicably; until this Usurper Kalvan arrived!"

"Styphon's House is buying their support with gold and their Temple Guard. We need to support Kalvan, not vilify him! He is the only ruler in the Northern Kingdoms who dares to defy Styphon and his minions."

Davros stood stiffly. "Anyone whose beliefs can be bought with gold and silver is not worthy to worship at Temple of Dralm. I do not fear Styphon's moneylenders, what I do fear are Styphon's armies. And before Great King Kalvan, they stayed home in the south; now they threaten us all. As High-priest Socratos has so clearly explained, Kalvan-be he Daemon or demigod-has brought Styphon's armies to our lands.

"Will the Temple of Allfather Dralm support the man who calls himself Great King Kalvan, or do we recommend that the northern kingdoms hold back their gold, arms and soldiers? How do you vote? Yea or Nay."

"Nay," came the almost unanimous voice of the Council of Dralm. The Highpriest of Glarth and few other northern Harphaxi highpriests voted yea. Xentos, because of his friendship with Kalvan and Rylla, did not vote.