John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

"It is not my decision to make. I leave all policy matters to Your Majesties," Harmakros answered, giving Kalvan a cat-that-ate-the-carrier-pigeon smile.

Rylla turned her fury upon Kalvan, who held up his hand. "Whoa! I haven't said anything yet!"

"Then you agree with me?"

Kalvan shot Harmakros a look that would have dropped a Sastragathi warrior out of his saddle from fifty paces. Kalvan had read about the Israelis' attempts to integrate line troops and some of the problems, besides the fraternization, they'd had.

"Unlike Our Captain-General, I will not dismiss your idea out of hand. But there are certain problems involved in having women in combat positions."

"Yes…"

"In the Cold Lands we had a few such mixed male and female infantry units, and they had some special problems."

Harmakros looked horrified that Kalvan hadn't dismissed such nonsense out of hand.

"Besides the issue of unwanted births, which was no small problem, they found that male soldiers would not abandon wounded women even under fierce enemy fire. Many men died in futile attempts to save women soldiers, who later died anyway from their injuries."

Rylla nodded. "I could not leave you on the battlefield, wounded or dying."

"Nor would I leave you, my love. This is a real problem because when men and women live together, train together and kill together, deep bonds develop. If we are going to have women in the Royal Army, other than as healers-another tradition from my Homeland-then I suggest we segregate them into all-women units."

"I agree, my husband."

"Also, if we are going to start with the orphans, I suggest we only take determined volunteers. Many of the girls will offer to fight only out of obligation to Us or fear of the future. We only need those who have a burning desire to be warriors, for only then will they make good soldiers."

"I agree in all things. I will, of course, want to have a personal hand in their selection, and insist that in all other ways they be treated as men would be."

Kalvan nodded. Preferential treatment for any special caste of soldier only bred discontentment unless they were elite troops picked for ability alone and thus had the respect of their comrades. "It shall be done, my love."

Rylla smiled contentedly, while Kalvan wondered how big the ripples from this change might grow in the next few generations. He could already hear the Styphoni propaganda machines working the instant they learned Kalvan was using women soldiers on the field of battle-the ungodliness of it all! The sad part was the people here-and-now, most of whom didn't know any better, would buy it lock, stock and fireseed barrel.

Archpriest Anaxthenes found upon his return to Balph that the waterfront was almost deserted, with only a few dockworkers on the wharves. Where are the transports and merchant ships? he wondered. Half of the Inner Circle met his party at the Rydos Docks. Archpriest Roxthar was noticeable by his absence.

On the carriage ride back to the Great Temple of Styphon, Anaxthenes was peppered with questions about the coronation of Great King Lysandros and the latest news on the Usurper, and was told of Roxthar's Investigators' latest outrages. His longtime allies, the Archpriests Heraclestros, Euriphocles, Neamenestros and Zemos shared the carriage along with Grand Master Soton.

Anaxthenes noticed that for mid-day the traffic in the streets of Balph was almost non-existent. "Where are all the wagons and carriages? Is the entire City in mourning over Sesklos' illness? I had not thought he was so popular among the people."

"No, Sesklos' illness has been little noticed," Neamenestros answered. "But the Investigation has been going night and day since you and the Grand Master left. The merchants avoid even the Central Plaza for fear of Roxthar's Investigation. His Investigators have been known to drag a man out of his wagon and take him into the Office of Investigation from which most do not return, for nothing more than failing to doff a hat at a passing Inspector in his white robes. The Holy City hasn't lost so many townsmen since the Great Plague."

"Has Balph now become the City of Butchers instead of priests?"

"Many with impure hearts have fled before the Terror of the Investigation," Neamenestros answered.

"What Neamenestros really means is anyone with any brains has left Balph until the Terror is over." Archpriest Zemos was known for his plain speaking, which had delayed his appointment to the Inner Circle by many winters. "Like most of Balph's priests, Neamenestros sees white robes in his sleep and is afraid to speak his own mind."

"It pains me to see the Holy City in a state of siege," Anaxthenes pronounced. "It is as though the Usurper Kalvan and his army are at the gates. Only worse, because the enemy has come from within the gates! We must stop Roxthar before he destroys the Temple. Do we have enough votes to stop Roxthar's stooge, Dracar, from being Elected the next Styphon's Voice on Earth?"

"Speaker, we have talked to most of the Inner Circle," said Heraclestros, "and you can count on at least twenty hands raised in your support as Styphon's Voice, as soon as Sesklos makes his journey to Regwarn. True, Sesklos named Archpriest Dracar as his successor, but he would be fortunate to count ten hands, including that of Investigator Roxthar.

"Who else, besides yourself, has enough support to stop that madman Roxthar from imposing his will upon the Inner Circle? While you were absent in Hos-Harphax, the Investigator once again attempted to pass a decree placing Styphon's Own Guard under the powers of his Office of Investigation. Even the most cowardly of the Inner Circle rose up in protest. Roxthar has moved too far and too fast, and all the Archpriests now fear his Investigation. Once he has the Guard under his personal command, it will not stop outside the Inner Circle."

Anaxthenes nodded. Self-preservation is a good fulcrum, he thought. "They are not wrong, for Roxthar's ambition knows no limit. Nor his piety, which is what is most frightening. We are all allies in this carriage, so I can speak my mind." The other three men looked at Grand Master Soton, who nodded his head in agreement. The archpriests visibly relaxed.

"In the beginning, Roxthar was good for the Temple-a goad to get us up off our hindparts. He forced the Inner Circle to realize that Kalvan was the Temple's undoing and if he were not stopped would bring an end to Styphon's House on Earth. It is also true that Roxthar helped prepare us for the upcoming battle against the Usurper. Now, he wastes his time and our blood, thinning the ranks of Styphon's House of its priesthood searching for that which cannot be found-true believers. Other than Archpriest Cimon, they do not exist. Am I right?"

"Yes, Speaker," they all joined in.

"I've been told that there are many true believers among the priesthood of Dralm, but few have ever existed among the upper priesthood of Styphon's House. Roxthar might as well search for gold in a privy pit! He is mad, yet he is also our best weapon against the Usurper. We must balance the good of the Temple against our own safety."

"A most delicate balance, Anaxthenes," Soton said. "I do agree with your reasoning. We have to leash this panther and release him upon the Temple's enemies, while keeping ourselves out of his jaws."

"This is true," Heraclestros said. "And Speaker Anaxthenes is the only one amongst us who can restrain this panther. At long last, the Inner Circle has come to see the truth. Too many of us have lost friends and colleagues to Roxthar's ravenous appetite. Even the people are beginning to stir. In the last moon-quarter, four Investigators have been found dead in the City's gutters, with their throats cut. The Investigator's efforts to find the perpetrators have left a thousand dead and the city in an uproar!"