John Carr - Kalvan Kingmaker

Prince Araxes slumped down in his throne like a man forsaken by his own self and all others. As far as Oroblon could tell, that was pretty close to the truth. He might even have been tempted to feel sorry for the Prince had he himself not been caught in the web that Araxes had tried to spin.

Queen Rylla unconsciously banged her fists on the saddles pommel. She wanted to be at the walls of Tarr-Phaxos, but she was not 'allowed' to be in the vanguard by all her many protectors-sometimes it felt as if the entire Army of Hostigos was in league with Kalvan to keep her 'safe,'-from Prince Sarrask to her bodyguard, Xykos. However, of one thing she was sure: they would all be busy elsewhere when her husband returned from the Sastragath! Kalvan's most recent dispatch told of the combined Hostigos and Rathon defeat of the nomads and the alliance with the Warlord Ranjar Sargos, which had followed. Now the newly formed allies were joined together against Great Master Soton. She wondered how many more moons this campaign would encompass.

Rylla heard the familiar bellow of Prince Sarrask as he forced his way through the tightly packed horses. She called a halt and waited for him to come forward.

"Queen Rylla, I just received word from one of our intelligencers that the Styphoni butt-kissing Harphaxi Army has left Harphax City and is moving toward Phaxos. The Prince of Thaphigos has already called out his Army, about two thousand horse and half as many foot. The Thaphigosi will wait for the Royal Army, but we'll be out of Phaxos before they reach the border-the cowardly swine."

"Just as I predicted," Rylla said, trying to keep the I-told-you-so tone out of her voice. "Captain-General Phidestros doesn't want to risk another beating by the Army of Hos-Hostigos. Besides, he has a hundred and fifty miles of bad roads and more ridges to pass over than Xentos has wrinkles. I suspect he'll take his time, as well. Phidestros is only bringing out the Royal Army to prove to his Prince's already shaken vassals that they are alive and possibly useful in a fight. He almost has to after the humiliation of Chothros Heights."

Sarrask licked his lips, "Har, that were some arse-kicking! Almost as much fun as we've had with this sorry bunch of Phaxosi halfwits."

"If Phidestros had twice as many troops, I might take his army seriously. I've half a mind to go into Thaphigos, after we finish with Araxes and give Phidestros a good thrashing, too."

"Please! Your Majesty," Sarrask cried out. "There'll be enough explaining to do when Great King Kalvan returns. Let's not present him with an all out war with Hos-Harphax!"

"If I had Phrames support, there wouldn't be another war by the time my husband returned, but a conquest! I know that if Phrames marched into Thaphigos in a moon quarter we could catch the Royal Harphaxi army flat-footed, encircle it and crush the Harphaxi completely. Then our combined forces could march straight into Harphax City with nothing to stop us but Phidestros' camp followers!"

Sarrask shook his head wearily, as if he'd heard this argument one too many times. "You have my support, Queen Rylla. But without Phrames help we are facing an uphill run. It will take us at least another moon half to besiege Tarr-Phaxos and the countryside. While we're busy fighting here, everyday more troops flock to the Harphaxi Army. Not enough to embolden Phidestros to march into Phaxos, since then Phrames would have to come to our aid. No, what we have here is a stalemate. But be content; we have won two glorious battles with minimal casualties. Even Kalvan will be impressed."

"I hope so," Rylla said, as much to convince herself as Prince Sarrask. "I, however, am convinced we are making a terrible mistake by not conquering Hos-Harphax before they have a chance to recover from the beating they took last fall. Phrames, I could wring his neck-"

"Your Majesty! Phrames is one of the throne's most loyal paladins. He is faithfully following his Great King's orders. It's unfortunate that they disagree with yours, but he is not being disloyal. Too cautious, aye, but not disloyal."

Rylla had to keep from breaking out in a grin. The idea of Sarrask defending Prince Phrames caution was like hearing a Styphon's House highpriest praise Dralm. A miracle brought about by her husband, so wise in many ways and so thickheaded in others.

"I do have some good news. They've brought up one of the mobile batteries so we should be able to fire the first shots into Tarr-Phaxos."

Rylla smiled happily. With the Wargod's blessing, they should have Tarr-Phaxos invested and broken within a quarter moon. Then her retribution against Prince Araxes and his family could begin. After the example she set here, no mere prince would ever dare embarrass the throne of Hos-Hostigos again, by Galzar's teeth!

Captain-General Phidestros stalked around the perimeter of the camp. He couldn't sit still, not knowing that the Hostigos Army was so close-yet so far away. It was his duty to repel and punish invaders within Hos-Harphax and, yet, here he stood with his shell-army all around him unable to do anything but fume. And worst of all; he was being bearded by a woman! True, not any woman, but Great Queen Rylla of Hos-Hostigos. A battling beauty he'd like to tame himself. Still, she was a woman who commanded an army that demanded respect, but was giving him disrespect.

Phidestros heard some rustling and turned to see Archpriest Grythos, the Styphon's House observer sent to report to the Temple about the Hostigi invasion. Grythos, a former Knight Commander with the Zarthani Knights, was a surprisingly good choice. He understood military realities and why Phidestros was forced to sit and wring his hands, while Phaxos Town burned. As a Knight Commander he served in the Temple as a Styphon's House Archpriest-so he was aware of Balph politics. He was even apologetic about his role as official spy.

Phidestros on more than one occasion had found himself confiding in Grythos and even once or twice asking his advice. Grythos was a tall, bald-headed man with a mustache and no beard. His hair was mostly silver and he walked with a pronounced limp.

In the distance, Phidestros could see an orange halo that marked the burning town. "I can't tell you how much it vexes me to stay here and watch Phaxos Town burn!"

"It has been sacked for a moon quarter, I'm surprised the Hostigi found anything left to burn. When you return to Harphax City, many voices will say you should have attacked the Usurper's army. If they were here and saw the rank and file, there would be no questions."

Phidestros nodded. He was not anxious to return to Harphax City to tell First Prince Lysandros about the Hostigi Army's successful siege of Phaxos Town, only three days of shelling and the walls came tumbling down! It appeared that Tarr-Phaxos, which had been besieged for over a moon quarter, would fall soon, thanks to those mobile batteries of Kalvan's. He needed lots of them for his own army. Maybe it was time for another talk with Kyblannos.

"Captain Geblon, find Grand-Captain Kyblannos for me and bring him here. Some scouts captured some Hostigi gunners today and I know he'll be somewhere nearby." One of the Hostigi mobile guns had lost a wheel and some of the gunners had stayed behind to fix it. When the Harphaxi scouts found them, shots were fired. Three of the gunners had died protecting their gun; two of the gunners were badly wounded and wouldn't finish the night. The remaining artilleryman had been temporarily knocked out and was under heavy guard.

"Aye, Captain-General." Geblon, Captain of Phidestros' former Iron Company, of course, passed Phidestros' order on to a petty captain.

"Who is Grand-Captain Kyblannos?" the Archpriest asked. "I thought I'd met all your officers."