John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

"Due to Sesklos' faltering health, the Inner Circle has been unable to convene a conclave to replace any absent members; however, as soon as Sesklos' health has 'improved' a Council of Archpriests will be called and the vacant seats will be filled by myself and another of Anaxthenes' supporters, member-elect Highpriest Grythos, a former Zarthani Knight Commander."

"Wasn't there a background check? For all they know, you could be one of Roxthar's sympathizers."

"The Styphon's House's Temple bureaucracy is quite thorough. Anaxthenes had the parchments confirming my appointment as Iylos Temple Archivist and Highpriest, as well as some other biographical information. While I was working with Archpriest Vyros, I planted some documents in the Temple files."

"Will they stand up to Anaxthenes' scrutiny?"

"Yes, I've spent considerable time this past year planting false documents at the Iylos' Temple and have hypno-meched several priests to confirm them."

"Congratulations, Dras. You've cracked the Inner Circle, something I didn't think we'd be able to do for a decade or two! For some reason, not a lot of my people want to join Roxthar's Investigation!"

They both laughed.

Anaxthenes counted twenty-seven Archpriests seated in the Innermost Circle, in Styphon's House Upon Earth, the formal meeting place of the Inner Circle. Styphon's House Upon Earth was over three hundred years old, the first, and still largest, of the domed temples. Facing them was Styphon's Golden Image, the huge statue of Styphon that was only visible to the public during special occasions or times of great crisis-the only time they were allowed into the Innermost Circle of Styphon's House Upon Earth. Part of Anaxthenes'job, as Speaker of the Inner Circle, was to provide the voice for the mechanical bellows that allowed the giant idol to mimic human speech and Talk to the people. Usually this chore was the province of Styphon's Voice, but when Sesklos had reached eighty winters many of his duties had fallen upon his own more than ample shoulders. Sesklos was not well enough to attend the Council of Archpriests. Soon, even without another of Thessamona's potions, Sesklos would die. Anaxthenes would be Styphon's Voice, this charade would come to an end, and a new chapter of Styphon's House would begin.

He opened the meeting with the formal Blessing of Styphon and led the ritual chants. When the formalities were complete, all the assembled Archpriests took their seats at the Triangle Table; Anaxthenes sat at the point-Styphon's Voice's seat-since he was speaking in Sesklos' place. He told the assembled Archpriests about the meeting with Great King Cleitharses and how the Great King of Hos-Ktemnos refused to support the War Against the Usurper unless certain conditions were met. He played down the role of the Investigation to save them all from one of Roxthar's interminable harangues. His words were met with stunned disbelief.

Archpriest Bynoss, who filled his robes like a sausage, stood up. "Speaker, Great King Cleitharses has been the pillar of Styphon's House. What could have turned him away from the Temple?"

"I'll tell you," Archpriest Heraclestros said, as they had arranged prior to the meeting. "I was there and heard the words from Cleitharses' own mouth." He turned to point his finger at the whip-thin figure of Archpriest Roxthar. "It was his doing. The Investigation has turned the Great King and his subjects away from their god!"

Roxthar jumped to his feet, spittle spraying from his mouth. "This Cleitharses has turned his back upon the Temple! Next he will be proposing an alliance with the Usurper! When this War is over, he will feel the fangs of the Holy Investigation-"

Anaxthenes rose up from the Triangle Table and broke into Roxthar's monologue, horrifying the Archpriests sitting to either side. "If we win this War against the Daemon, you mean, Investigator. And, believe me, we won't win it if we cannot count the Sacred Squares of Hos-Ktemnos as part of the Grand Host. That is truth."

Heads bobbed all around the Innermost Circle. Everyone could see the tension in Roxthar's body as he bit back his response and nodded his head. In a lower voice, he said, "We may have to placate King Cleitharses for the time being."

"Cleitharses' price is the neutrality of the Trygath. I have already informed His Majesty that I will lead a delegation to the false kingdom of Hos-Rathon to negotiate a peace settlement."

Roxthar shot up out of his chair like one of Kalvan's rockets. "Nestros is one of the Daemon's allies! Speaker, you are asking the Temple to clutch one of Kalvan's devils to its breast! If we go to Nestros, it should be at the head of a conquering army. The only thing we should be bringing back to Balph is his head on the end of a pole."

Anaxthenes threw his deepest voice at the Investigator. "I am not proposing a permanent treaty, but one that we can break at our convenience. To placate King Cleitharses, we need to neutralize Hos-Rathon until the war with Hostigos is finished. King Nestros is an uncouth barbarian who will be flattered by our overtures and will welcome an alliance that he thinks will legitimize his new Great Kingdom of Hos-Rathon."

"Is this Nestros not the false king who destroyed sixteen of our Temples and put many of our highpriests to death, including Highpriest Ullnar of Rathon Town, after he joined forces with the Daemon Kalvan?" Archpriest Dracar asked.

"This is the same Nestros. He will pay for his crimes against Styphon many times over."

"What happens to Nestros after Kalvan's army is destroyed?" Roxthar asked, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger.

"Prince Wygarth of Hythar, who was deposed by Nestros, has told me much about this pretender; Nestros is vain and easily led, but he is also a fierce warrior and commands his people's loyalty. It will not be easy to topple him from his throne from the inside; however, once the Daemon Kalvan has been deposed and slain, we will order our victorious Grand Host into Hos-Rathon. Once Nestros has been defeated, I will give this barbarian, who pretends to be a Great King, as a gift to your Office of Investigation."

The smile on Roxthar's face was chilling. "Once we are finished Investigating the Pretender Nestros and his family, we will Investigate the entire Trygath and search out all the Kalvan sympathizers and those unfaithful to Styphon."

Investigating Hos-Hostigos and Hos-Rathon will keep you busy for many winters, thought Anaxthenes to himself with grim satisfaction. "The Temple will rule this new kingdom and Prince Wygarth will act as our administrator."

"What about the treaty?" Grand Master Soton asked.

"Treaties with usurpers are not binding."

All the assembled archpriests nodded sagely at this piece of wisdom.

"I will leave for the Trygath in the morning."

Verkan was still blowing on his hands when Tortha opened the thick plank door. "You've got to do something about that knocker, Tortha. It's as heavy as a cannonball and in this cold it just about froze my fingers, through gloves yet!"

"Come on in. Sit down by the fire." Tortha had a roaring fire blazing in his big flagstone hearth. He passed Verkan a flask of Ermut's brandy.

Verkan took a swig and grimaced. "Very good. Thanks, Tortha, I can feel that all the way to my toes."

"What brings you out on this cold winter night?"

"Inspector Andar Valth just jumped in from First Level. The Prole Liberation Movement has really torn it this time; they've applied to the Council for membership in the Executive Council as a recognized party!"

Tortha nodded. "So the PLM has decided to go from being a gnat to a horsefly. What's the problem? We've been expecting that for decades."

"The problem according to our intelligence is that the Opposition Party has guaranteed their support and the Center Party is leaning in their direction."