John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

Roxthar appeared to be taking over the duties of the Host's paymaster and commander-in-chief. He hoped Soton would be able to rein him in. Anaxthenes could not foresee Great King Lysandros firing the one man-despite the fact he was Lysandros' most dangerous subordinate, both because of his popularity with the people and his military prowess- who could protect him from the Holy Investigator. Clearly, Investigator Roxthar was out of control, after his rampage in Hos-Hostigos, and was now a danger not only to himself and those around him, but to Styphon's House, too.

It had been their pact that Soton would keep the Investigator out of Balph until winter to give him time to dispose of Sesklos and win election as Styphon's Voice. Sesklos had just survived another winter, his ninety-third. He would not survive another summer, even if Anaxthenes had to pillow his face himself.

About Phidestros he didn't care a bent phenig. He'd been a useful tool in the war against Kalvan, a tool whose usefulness was coming to an end.

"Grand Master Soton will leave in Our hands those forces necessary to continue Styphon's Work among the heretics and unbelievers of the False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos. Meanwhile, the Grand Master will continue to pursue the Daemon Kalvan until he is vanquished. When the Usurper's army is destroyed, I will forsake my work here and Investigate all Hostigi captives until I have convinced them of the error of their ways so that their spirits will be free of the taint of heresy when they leave this world.

Your Obedient Servant in Styphon's Work,

Roxthar

Holy Investigator"

One of the Archpriests said, "Does this madman actually believe the Highpriests of Galzar will sit there quietly while he brazenly kills prisoners taken in battle? His actions have already brought Galzar's Ban upon the Grand Host."

"He believes what he wishes, I fear," Anaxthenes said. "It was our gold, given by Great King Lysandros, that stopped the Interdict of Galzar. If Roxthar continues with his Investigation, the High Temple of Galzar will be forced to pronounce the Interdict upon the Grand Host-then where will we be?"

"Stop Roxthar!" Archpriest Zemos exclaimed. "Only death will stop that madman. Does Roxthar not realize the consequences of the Interdict: no Uncle Wolfs to tend the wounded, no rites of Galzar for the dead and dying, no parley or surrender and all god-fearing men's hands turned against them. No believer in Galzar or the gods will fight in an army under Interdict-not even the soldiers of the Sacred Squares. Can we not have the Grand Master remove the Investigator or put him in exile?"

"As long as Roxthar has the Temple Guardsmen to enforce his edicts, they will be obeyed. The Guard will kill Uncle Wolfs as easily as wringing turkey necks. The last thing we can afford is a war between Styphon's Own Guard and the Zarthani Knights, who still hold Galzar in high esteem. The political ramifications would shake the Temple to its foundation!"

"How is it that this wolf in human guise gained such loyalty among Styphon's Own Guard?"

Anaxthenes smiled. "I worried over that bone myself until I learned the answer: Roxthar gives the Guard one third of all monies and properties seized by the Investigation."

One Archpriest whistled. "No wonder Xenophes bought a new palace last winter!"

"Captain-General Xenophes is no fool. He shares half the proceeds with the Band captains and troopers."

"Where does the rest of the plunder go, Anaxthenes?" Heraclestros asked, as if he wanted his share. Having met Heraclestros' new wife, a tavern singer with airs, Anaxthenes suspected the Archpriest needed all the gold he could find.

"One third to the Temple Treasury and the last third to the Investigation. Our Roxthar is quite generous with other people's wealth. The Investigators themselves are given a third of the Investigation's share, but each Investigator can only collect his own share when he's mustered out of the Investigation-and who knows when that will be!"

"Ahhh. I wondered how Roxthar held their loyalty. I know it's not out of love!"

They all laughed.

"What will happen to the Grand Host after Kalvan is defeated?" Archpriest Lymachor asked.

"That is why I called this meeting. Even with our success on the battlefield Styphon's House faces a crisis unlike any in the past, one that threatens the very existence of the Temple."

"The Fireseed Mystery."

"Yes. It is no longer a secret and dungrakers all over the Five Kingdoms are building their own fireseed mills, with their Princes' and Kings' complete support. Thus, in a blink of an eye Styphon's House's greatest source of income is gone. True, our cotton plantations, our sugar trade, tobacco fields and Great Banking Houses will continue to bring us gold, but now we will face increased competition from other trading houses. Soon even the Middle Kingdoms will vie for our markets. Our political power and domination over the Five Kingdoms will only last to the day that the first Great King decides to tax our collections or temples. Then our favored status will not even last our lifetimes.

"Therefore, we must act in all haste. After Kalvan has been defeated or chased into Grefftscharr, we will use our Grand Host to bring to heel the Northern Kingdoms and consolidate our control over all the Five Kingdoms before it disbands."

"How do we get Soton to go along with this?"

"Much of this is the Grand Master's own scheme. He enjoys his power, which is greater than even the most powerful of Great Kings, because of the Temple. Soton does not want to see the Order dissolved or crippled by the collapse of Styphon's House. He will plant the idea of Investigating the Great Kings and Princes of Hos-Agrys and Hos-Zygros who did not support our war against the Usurper-how could Roxthar resist such bait?

"The Grand Host will bring the Great Kings of Hos-Agrys and Hos-Zygros to heel, and even Lysandros should he object. When all the Northern Kingdoms are under our domination, we will truly rule all the Five Kingdoms and enjoy even greater wealth than we possess today!"

Someone broke out a cask of mead and golden goblets were passed around.

"To Styphon's Great Victories-may they never end!"

"To First Speaker Anaxthenes, may he soon be Styphon's Voice!"

"Aye, aye," they agreed.

"We need his hand on the rudder of our ship of state," Archpriest Zemos said, who had been the former head of Styphon's Great Fleet.

"And around Roxthar's neck!" someone else shouted.

They all laughed. Anaxthenes smiled; it was a pleasant image.

Heraclestros added, "And a toast to the Daemon Kalvan and a quick death! Only Dralm himself can save him from the fate rushing his way."

True, thought Anaxthenes. But there's no Dralm to help Kalvan, and most of all-no Styphon to help Roxthar!

The Hostigi host had been camped outside Ulthor Town for almost a moon-quarter. Prince Kestophes had offered Kalvan the use of his own palace to use as his personal quarters and command post, but Kalvan had turned him down. His people needed him here. Rumor had it that Nestros the False had brought a large army to the south to prevent the Hostigi from foraging or settling within the borders of Hos-Rathon. Kalvan found himself in the position of a missionary whose first convert had just invited him to dinner-as the main dish.

It was tempting to conquer Hos-Rathon, which was both poor in firearms and skilled captains. Unfortunately, that would leave Kalvan sharing borders with both the Zarthani Knights and Hos-Ktemnos, neither of whom could be expected to welcome their new neighbor with anything but the house shotgun.

Maybe they could settle in the border areas of Grefftscharr, Dorg or Wulfula and sell their swords as mercenaries. The real problem was there were just too Dralm-damned many Hostigi soldiers and refugees to make any king comfortable.