John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

"Blackmail?" Ranthar asked with a frown.

"No. Eldra was nice about it. She just reminded me of a promise I'd made to her when she left: I'd told her I'd do her a favor if ever she needed one."

"Some favor. Does Dalla know any of this?"

Verkan shook his head.

Ranthar whistled. "Dalla has always had a temper. And jealous! I remember that time she caught you with that prole scarf dancer-"

"You were there. You know it was perfectly innocent!"

"Sure, but it didn't look that way to Dalla. It didn't help that the girl had lost all her scarves in the riot-not that it made much of a difference!"

"And, since I've never told her about Eldra…"

"Yes," Ranthar said, trying to keep a straight face. "It would look bad."

"Eldra even offered, I guess to sweeten the pot, to go undercover and spy on her own cohorts. She's the one who spotted the redhead sending up message balls to Hadron Tharn."

"She's done a good job. After that little tussle I just partook in, no one would ever accuse Eldra of being our agent. You should have heard some of the creative language she used on both Lala and me. Still, Verkan-"

"A stupid blunder-I've never even told Tortha! I'd never hear the end of it. I didn't even want to tell you, but someone needs to know and since you'll be Johnny-on-the-spot, well, Eldra's going to be the party's black widow spider and spy mistress."

"And just when this was sounding like fun!"

"It's not that bad. She may not be working with your team. I haven't drawn up the assignments yet."

"Praise Dralm! And, Chief, you'd better think of telling Dalla about your history with our spy vixen. If she ever hears it from Eldra, Styphon be damned, it will be a disaster-your disaster!"

As his horse came over the rise, Duke Skranga had his first look at the Locra Valley in over a winter. Tarr-Locra was an old castle that had been expanded as part of the war against Hos-Harphax. There was now a small town where there had been a village and it was a hive of activity. Tarr-Locra now covered the entire hilltop and at the base was one of Kalvan's new star forts. Instead of a circular outer wall at the base of the hill, the Great King had Captain-General Harmakros build a large star with about a dozen points that Skranga could see from his position on the opposite ridge. There were eight and ten-pound culverins set at each point.

While his party was stopped at the gate by the guard, Skranga got a closer look at the walls themselves. They were about ten lances tall and about a third that in width. Tarr-Locra would be a tough nut to crack even for the entire Harphaxi Army. Skranga's estimation of Harmakros went up several notches. He hoped that Hestophes could fill his superior's shoes. Skranga mentally reviewed what he knew about Captain-General Hestophes:

First, at twenty-three winters Hestophes was the youngest general on Kalvan's mostly youthful General Staff. His father was a publican; he owned the Silver Stag. Like many other businessmen in Hostigos, his tavern had flourished under Kalvan's rule-war was always good for business. Hestophes had been an infantry officer in the Army of Hostigos when Kalvan had arrived.

During the war with Nostor, Hestophes had been the captain who had held the Narza Gap with little better than two companies and two old guns. Hestophes had beaten off ten times his number three times before advancing and forcing the enemy to retreat back into Nostor. Kalvan had been impressed enough to make him one of the first generals in his new Royal Army of Hos-Hostigos.

Hestophes' record during the battles at Chothros Heights and Phyrax was such that Kalvan had elevated him to baron and awarded Hestophes a nice estate and castle at Eython. That was when his rising star had begun to stall; Hestophes had met the Lady Lavena, the daughter of Baron Sthentros, whose estate at Hyllos bordered the young Captain-General's. Hestophes had become besotted with Lavena, and he wasn't the first either, so Skranga had learned when he'd arrived undercover as an itinerant peddler in Hyllos to see if there was any truth to the rumors reaching Hostigos Town. While no lady, Lavena was a comely wench and Skranga-had he been a pup like Hestophes-might have followed her dragging his tail behind his legs, too. Still, he knew trouble when he saw it, even if it walked on two lovely legs.

After his report to Kalvan, it had been the Great King's idea to immediately reassign Hestophes to Tarr-Locra and put him in charge of the Great Kingdom's eastern frontier. And from the vigilance of his guards, Skranga would have to say Hestophes had made a good job of it.

While Grand Captain Myklon saw to boarding his horses and seeing to his troopers, Skranga was taken up to the fortress for an audience with the Captain-General. Hestophes was seated behind a large desk that looked as if it were modeled after Kalvan's desk at Tarr-Hostigos. When the Captain-General stood to press palms, Skranga realized just how truly large a man Hestophes was. While not as tall as himself, Hestophes was almost half as wide as he was tall, but without an extra ounce of weight. He was as strong-looking a man as Skranga had ever seen.

"What can I do for you, Duke Skranga? I see you brought two companies of reinforcements which we greatly need."

"I'm sorry, Captain-General, but these troopers are but my own personal guards."

"Really!"

"Yes, I've been charged by King Kalvan to leave for Hos-Bletha on a secret mission."

Hestophes' eyebrows went up. "I think you had best tell me just what you're up to."

Skranga pulled out a scroll from his side pouch. "Read this, orders for you from Great King Kalvan."

Hestophes frowned, and for a moment Skranga wondered if he, like Harmakros, were unable to read. Surely no crime, but a disadvantage in the new Hos-Hostigos.

Hestophes picked up the scroll, unwound it and began to slowly and quietly read out loud.

Skranga was able to smoke two bowls of tobacco before Hestophes sighed and set down the paper scroll. "The King says I am to trust you and give you any aid that you require. He does not say why."

Skranga took out his pipe and began to fill it with tobacco again. Kalvan had not said not to share his mission with Hestophes, and he might even be of some help. In actuality, he was surprised Kalvan had authorized this mission at all; it was just a sign of how desperate things were getting as Hos-Hostigos prepared to meet the Grand Host. Maybe he could help Kalvan. Now for the hard part, convincing Captain-General Hestophes.

Skranga removed a flask from the inside of his buff jack and presented it to Hestophes. "Some of Ermut's Best."

"Hmmm." Hestophes turned to pick up two goblets and fill them with the dark liquid.

"As you may or may not know, Great King Niclophon of Hos-Bletha has been squeezing his Kingdom dry to aid Styphon's House in its war against Hos-Hostigos. The Blethans are relatively poor and, outside Bletha Town, there's little support for either their King or Styphon's House. Now that Niclophon has sent most of his army to Balph to aid King Lysandros, we thought this might be a good time to start a revolt within Hos-Bletha. At worst we might pin down units that would otherwise aid in the fight against Hostigos, while at best King Niclophon might have to recall the Blethan Army."

Hestophes shook his head. "You actually sold this dream story to Kalvan? I'd heard you were silver-tongued enough to sell a dog to an Uncle Wolf, but I didn't believe it until now!"

Skranga held both hands to his chest. "Truth: it was Kalvan's idea, not mine. You don't think it will work?"

"Whether it works is of little importance right now, since it certainly isn't going to do any good before next spring. Meanwhile, you've got two companies of good troops who could be used in the defense of the realm chasing fireflies… I take it they are former Blethan mercenaries?"