John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

Most of the successful traders and merchants of Greffa aped the nobility to excess; it was a common phenomenon over all the Levels wherever there were titles, including Home Time-Line.

After the required exchange of pleasantries, Ruffulo got to the point of his visit. "I understand that you are able to arrange things."

Verkan nodded. He had helped a few nobles who had earned Theovacar's wrath sell their property and find residences in the countryside, which they could use as boltholes, or even buy estates in Hostigos. Some of the wiser lords were beginning to realize that King Theovacar was not going to be happy until he consolidated his power over the peerage. No one was sure of who might win if it came down to open rebellion, but it didn't hurt to have a hideaway in case things went the King's way.

"I also understand that your word of honor can be trusted."

Verkan nodded, wondering to whom Ruffulo had been talking.

"I recently had an audience with the King. He has charged me with a mission that may well cost me my life, if discovered, and will make me many enemies whether found out or not."

"How can I help, Lord Ruffulo?"

"I will entrust you with ten thousand ounces of gold, which I would like for you to invest for me outside of Grefftscharr. I also have another five hundred ounces of gold for the purchase of a small estate in Wulfula. Here is my draft on the Greffan Trader's Bank."

Verkan took the large parchment, which had the seal of the Greffan Trader's Bank. "Many lords are buying estates in Hos-Hostigos. They are inexpensive due to the war-"

"I'm not worried about cost, I want a refuge for my family in case something dire happens to me. However, I don't want to take them out of the raven's beak and drop them into the panther's mouth!"

Verkan nodded, wondering whether the other lords and merchant princes of Greffa shared Ruffulo's dismal view of Kalvan's plight. He'd put Kostran on it in the morning; maybe they knew something the Paratimers didn't. "I will do as you ask, Duke Ruffulo."

"Thank you, Trader. In return, I will pay you a thousand ounces of gold and should the event that I fear take place, I will give you the deed to Fireside."

"But I'm not buying-"

"I know, but if 'people' believe that I have taken loans out from the House of Verkan it will not only explain my visit, but lead them to the conclusion that I am doing less well than they had formerly believed. I will trust in your honor to see that any money realized from Fireside's sale will be held in escrow for my family to do with as they see fit. Less your usual commission-ten percent, I've been told."

"That is correct. You have my oath, Duke Ruffulo." Nothing wrong with Ruffulo's brain matter, thought Verkan. It would also allow Verkan to take possession in the event of a Throne takeover and stop Royal confiscation of the Duke's estate.

"I will have your property and possessions assessed. Should some unforeseen calamity happen to yourself, I will see that you are compensated at your new estate-or, in the event you are unable to join them, your family is well-provided for."

For the first time since his arrival, the Duke smiled. "I can see my information regarding your wits was not exaggerated." He picked up the goblet and took a sip. "I can also see that the potency of Ermut's Best was not overrated. May both our Houses prosper!"

A cloud of dust on the far horizon usually meant a herd of buffalo or cattle were moving across the Sea of Grass. Today Arch-Stratego Zarphu knew it was neither; it was the advancing Grefftscharrer Army. His scouts had already told him the disposition of the enemy army: six thousand infantry, mostly carrying long spears and firesticks, four thousand heavy cavalry and two thousand light auxiliaries, mostly Ruthani cavalry recruited from the grasslands. He told one of his orderlies to fetch the Highpriest.

The Highpriest Arkemanes rode quickly to his side in a very soldierly and un-priestly manner of which Zarphu heartily approved. "I see the enemy is closing."

Zarphu ignored the snorts of disapproval from his senior officers; he knew the difference between priests and soldiers even if his officers didn't. "This is not an ideal place for a battle." He paused to indicate the flat lands on all sides. "Nor is it a good place for an ambush."

The Highpriest, who no longer wore his yellow robes, nodded. "If we can defeat the Grefftscharrer Army here, we can perform both a service to Styphon and a disservice to the Usurper Kalvan. The Kings of Grefftscharr only rule as long as they show enough strength to cow both their under-lords and the powerful merchants of Greffa. It has been rumored that arms have been shipped from Greffa to the false kingdom of Hostigos. A win here will be the first victory of next year's campaign!"

Zarphu was impressed with the priest's knowledge of things other than arcane rites and offerings of his trade and wondered if he had served in a military order before putting on his robes. He had learned from the fat merchant that Styphon's House had two military arms of its own. Zarphu had tried to question Arkemanes about his past; he might have had better success with a stone, could any be found on this endless grassland.

Zarphu was not as convinced as the priest that his army-though greater in size-would be able to seize the battlefield. His knowledge of the enemy was negligible and his own army had no experience fighting against the firesticks. The Highpriest had demonstrated the noisy and smelly 'muskets' and they had proved to be capricious. The fireseed had to be dry or they would not fire. However, the muskets were deadly when fired-if they hit their target. Unlike his archers, who could hit the eye socket of an approaching enemy from a hundred paces.

His soldiers were all experienced troops-fourteen maniples of a thousand men each, eight of horse and six of foot soldiers. Plus, two maniples of the Lord Tyrant's own Immortals-heavy armored cavalry who fought with spear and broadsword.

Zarphu turned to Stratego Lyphar and ordered, "The enemy is two marches away. When they are one march, have the foot archers and skirmishers run ahead and engage the enemy. They are not to hold, but fall back and draw the enemy in."

He turned to another general and ordered him to support Lyphar's foot with his light cavalry, mostly horse-archers and javelin throwers. Then he addressed Highpriest Arkemanes. "I would have taken the river route that my scouts recommended, but I also thought it might be best to test the mettle of the Eastern ironmen."

Arkemanes looked over in surprise, and even had the grace to blush. It was the first time Zarphu had read any emotion on the priests' face. If these priestly troops of Styphon's were not soldiers at arms, they were soldiers of the heart.

"You must remember Highpriest, our records go back almost two thousand winters. We have traversed these lands and trails more times than there are nomads upon the Sea of Grass. While it is true that trade between us and the Middle Kingdoms has dwindled to a trickle, there are still among us those who trade along the old routes. Several of these are among our scouts. I am as anxious as you are to see how well my men hold against the firesticks. However, I suspect you will be the more surprised."

It was also true that Zarphu sounded more confident about his troops than he felt. His people had heard stories about these fire weapons for centuries, and had obtained more than a few over the years of trading. However, as long as the fireseed was scarce, they were more curiosities than real weapons. One of the former traders had told him that the fireseed mystery was no longer a secret. If this were true, he would take back more than gold from these distant lands. With the firesticks, the Lord Tyrant would be able to complete his conquest of the city-states and expand his reach into the Sea of Grass and maybe even farther.