John Carr - Kalvan Kingmaker

"Good. You have an idea, Captain-General?"

"The first glimmerings. Already we have a mock Royal Army on display in Harphax City. Well, how about we take this mock army on maneuvers, close to Phaxos? Surely, not even Kalvan's captains can expect to subdue the Royal Army of Hos-Harphax with this expeditionary force they've taken into Phaxos."

"Keep coming up with these kinds of ideas and you may finish your career as a Duke of Hos-Harphax."

Phidestros stood up and made a mock bow. "Thank you, Prince. There are some difficulties ahead; after all, if the Hostigi did decide to attack, well, half the Royal Army might desert upon contact! Still, it will be up to me to ensure that the armies do not achieve physical penetration."

"It's a strange military strategy, but these are unusual times. So you are saying that all we need do is make a show of our presence, and that should be sufficient to halt the Hostigi advance."

"Let's look at the overall strategic picture, Prince Lysandros. If Kalvan truly meant to attack Hos-Harphax, he would base his operations from Beshta. He already has Prince Phrames Beshtan Army, as well as Kalvan's own Army of Observation under Captain-General Hestophes, who by all reports is an able military leader. Besides, Beshta is the closest Hostigi staging grounds to Hos-Harphax, and he already has built a road that runs from Hostigos Town to Tarr Beshta for his supply lines."

Once again he could hear Lysandros grinding teeth; he had forbidden mention of Kalvan's Great King's Highway, as he considered neither Kalvan a Great King or his goat's path a highway. Phidestros disagreed on both points, but was smart enough to keep such 'traitorous' thoughts to himself.

"Therefore, despite how it may appear," Phidestros continued, "the Hostigi Army attacking Phaxos was not sent to conquer Hos-Harphax. If I were Kalvan, I would send out the Army of Observation and have them move into the Princedom of Arklos, which would act as a feint and keep the Royal Army from reinforcing far off Phaxos. Since he has not done this, we might assume that his intention is to draw out the Royal Army and wait until they have reached Phaxos before swinging down with the Army of Observation and either catching the Royal Army in a pincers movement-allowing him to encircle and destroy it-or have the Army of Observation strike Harphax City. Since the Princely Army of Arklos was mostly destroyed last year at Chothros Heights, he would not be remiss in believing that there would be minimal opposition all the way to Harphax City."

"Thus, you are telling me, we are in a position to do nothing, either to aid our subjects or harass our enemy?" Prince Lysandros asked, in a voice that intimated that his Captain-General had better find a way out of that box he had just put Harphax into.

Also reminding Phidestros that Captain-Generals could be fired as fast as they were made. "There is a way out. We take most of the Royal Army-every worthless one of them-and march them into Balkron, which is close enough to Beshta that Phrames will have to give serious thought to any movement that brings the Royal Army behind him. The army's presence will also protect the princedoms of Dazour, Balkron, Thaphigos and Argros from the invading Hostigi Army."

"What about Phaxos?"

"We have no choice there, all we can do is wash our hands of this faithless dog Araxes. If we take the Army into Phaxos, we take the very good risk of showing the world our sham of a Royal Army, or giving Prince Phrames a free run to the gates of Harphax City. Let us say, as our official position, that Araxes has bought this trouble by swearing an oath to our enemy and that we can see of no more fitting punishment than having his suzerainty abolished by his Hostigi friends."

Lysandros rubbed his hands gleefully. "That might well work. I'll draft a document to that effect. Do remember, I will be watching to see how well the Army of Hos-Harphax takes to the field."

I bet you will, Phidestros thought; so would everyone else who saw him as a puffed-up mercenary captain with more luck than brains. They would learn-assuming he could actually get those whoresons of his into at least appearing to be a credible military force! Royal Army of Hos-Harphax, indeed!

Ahead the smoke of the burning Phaxosi village grew thicker. Behind Xykos the sound of musketry grew louder. Now it was almost loud enough to drown out Prince Sarrask's voice shouting orders. On his right side, the banner of Queen Rylla's Mounted Lifeguard, a white horse under a gold crown on a blue field, flapped in the wind.

Great Queen Rylla sat upon her horse with as much patience as the gods had given her, which wasn't very much. Xykos was glad the gods had sent to the queen a man who could endure her tongue and temper. Himself, he would have thrashed such a woman, and no doubt been shortly repaid with a dagger in the ribs.

In spite of her fidgeting, the Queen had gone quietly enough when Sarrask suggested she might want to observe the right flank. Was she really willing to do her old enemy's bidding, to make him respected in the eyes of the Army of Hos-Hostigos? Xykos had learned enough about war in the past year to know that such things were possible. He had also learned more about the Great Queen, enough to doubt she would move a finger at Sarrask's request unless she had reasons of her own. From the expression on her face, Xykos judged he was about to learn what those reasons might be.

The Hostigos Army had spent the last moon quarter taking border tarrs and maneuvering for position against the out-numbered Army of Phaxos.

Today was the first time that both armies had met on the field. The Phaxosi fighting from dug in positions and on familiar ground had had the advantage, at least all morning long.

"Xykos!"

"Your Majesty?"

"Can you see the First Royal Carabineers?"

Xykos had dismounted to spare his horse; mounts that could carry his weight were none too common. A good stout oak tree was ready to hand, to let him see even farther. He scrambled up, then down.

"They're still behind that little stream, the Ox Bath they call it, Your Majesty."

Rylla tapped her teeth with a gauntleted finger. "Damn Sarrask! No, that's not fair. Few have learned as much about my husband's way of fighting as the Prince of Sask. No great harm that he has forgotten to send the Royal Carabineers here. But the work must still be done. Xykos, how many men can the Queen's Bodyguard spare?"

Xykos grinned. "Your Majesty will stay."

"You dare to bargain with your Great Queen?"

"Nobody else around to do it, Your Majesty. And it's my head if you lose yours, too."

"I could take yours first, you know."

"Yes, but you wouldn't. Not for trying to save our Great King from having to sleep alone the rest of his days."

Rylla had the grace to blush, then laugh. "Very well. I will stay out of the village until you say it is safe. How many men, then?"

The bargain they struck gave Xykos thirty of the Bodyguards to lead into the village. That was only half of the Beefeaters in Phaxos, a third of the total strength. The growing strength of Rylla's personal bodyguard had already won Xykos promotion to Captain. Of course, to properly shield Queen Rylla from all the dangers she faced in battle would require a bodyguard so big a Captain-General could command it! As it was, she would have thirty Beefeaters and four squadrons of her Lifeguard to protect her while he was away.

Xykos slung Boarsbane, his big two-handed sword, across his back before he led his small command into the village. He took his horse's reins and it followed behind. The big sword was really too heavy to carry just as a luck token, but Xykos always felt better with it slung over his back, ready to hand. He also had two pistols and a musketoon double-charged with smallshot, at the ready.