John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

"You are right to stop the Grand Host now. Look what the Styphoni dogs have done in Beshta and Sashta-trampled fields and burned farmhouses; looted towns and torched villages and driven off or killed most of our subjects. We can't let them destroy Hostigos, too."

"They've done everything but poison the wells and salt the fields," Kalvan said. "That's probably next, if I know Roxthar. We have to stop them here."

A knock at the door interrupted Rylla before she could respond.

"Let me answer the door, Kalvan. You finish your first meal. It may be the only one you take out of the saddle today."

Aspasthar, Kalvan's page, was at the door. He was smiling for the first time Rylla could remember since Harmakros' amputation. He looked older, too. She was learning war did that to people, especially children.

"Some good news, at last, Your Majesties!"

"What?" Kalvan asked. "Has Roxthar's horse thrown him and broken his head on a rock?"

"Not near that good, Your Majesty. But good, nonetheless. One of General Klestreus' intelligencers has just reported that the entire Army of Hos-Bletha had to retire from the Grand Host because of a revolt in Bletha City."

"Skranga's work, Dralm be praised!" Kalvan shouted. "I told you that old horse-thief knew what he was doing, Rylla."

She rolled her eyes. They'd had their first argument since the Phaxos incident when Kalvan had let Skranga and several hundred valuable troopers leave on his crazy mission. She had thought then, and still did, that it had been hatched more to save Skranga's bacon than cause any inconvenience to the Styphoni. That it had worked probably had surprised Skranga as much as herself.

"You were right, dear. I'm still amazed that Skranga didn't run off to the nearest tavern and spend every gold piece you gave him on drink and worse."

"Skranga may be as crooked as the Nyklos Trail, but he does have loyalty and keeps his word. If he keeps this up, I'll make him Prince of Arklos after I hang King Lysandros from the battlements of Tarr-Harphax."

"If his work in Beshta makes that day one hour closer, I myself will weave the gown for Skranga's coronation!"

Kalvan laughed. "Atta girl. Now, Aspasthar, go get Captain-General Hestophes, Prince Phrames, General Alkides, and the rest of the general staff."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Before you leave, any word on General Verkan and the Mounted Rifles?"

"Not yet. At last report, the Mounted Rifles were holding off a large body of Harphaxi cavalry waiting for reinforcements. Enemy casualties were heavy."

"That sounds like one of Verkan's dispatches. I'm sure there was a lot of blood spilled. Have any of the other units reported in?"

Aspasthar looked crestfallen. "Not yet, Your Majesty. The courier who brought this had to fight his way to our lines. I'll be back as soon as there's any news. These dispatches are over a day old."

Kalvan shook his head and gave a guarded look to Rylla.

"Thanks, Aspasthar. How is your father?"

He brightened up. "I just received a letter this morning from his scribe. He's feeling much better and wishes he were back in the saddle."

Rylla noticed her husband kept his thoughts to himself; she herself doubted that Harmakros would sit in a saddle this season or next. The infection that had set in after the amputation had been bad-serious enough it would have killed a lesser man. His stump was still as sensitive as a baby's rump. Harmakros was one of Hostigos' best generals and Kalvan needed his expertise and command skills now. They missed him a lot.

"Now get my generals."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After his young page scampered off, Kalvan filled his pipe with fresh tobacco and turned to Rylla. "I'm worried about Verkan. I don't like that his dispatcher had to fight his way out of Styphoni lines to reach our forces."

"I agree. I will say a prayer to Allfather Dralm for his success."

Kalvan nodded. She knew he only gave "lip service," as he called it, to the True Gods, but in all other ways was a good husband. Until he found his faith she would continue to pray to Dralm, Galzar and Yirtta for the both of them.

"Before they get here, let me run over my plans with my favorite general."

"Flattery will get you everything."

"I know, my love. I'm going to command the center, with half the Royal Army and the Princely army of Sashta-where I can keep an eye on it."

Rylla nodded. "I don't trust Balthames' nephew anymore than I trust my cousin Sthentros."

"Have you located him or his wife?" Kalvan asked.

Rylla shook her head in the negative. "We did question his friend Baron Euklestes; he knew nothing except that Sthentros and Lavena disappeared almost a moon ago."

Kalvan gave her one of those questioning looks she so hated. At times, it was almost as if he were a stranger, judging her. "No, I didn't torture him- well, not very much."

He cleared his throat. "I'm sure Euklestes knew nothing of importance, or you would have wrung it out of him."

She shrugged her shoulders. "The Baron still has his life." More than the dog deserved, she thought. Euklestes knew his old friend was up to something untoward but kept his worries to himself. This made him a traitor too, in her eyes.

"It's not unexpected after General Klestreus' report on the Hyllos semaphore station. It's not like Sthentros to go off on his own, without a lot of boasting to his cronies and vying for their attention. We should have kept better track of that traitorous dog."

"You don't think he's with the Styphoni?" Rylla asked.

"Of course, how else would he get his reward for suborning the semaphore station. I should never have put so many locals into the stations."

"You were trying to keep the veterans close to their families, my husband. Most of our Hostigi soldiers would die for the crown. How could you have known that Sthentros had his own traitor's nest in Hyllos? For a moon half all we got were false messages from the Beshtan border."

"If I ever see that traitor, I'll geld him first, then I'll-"

"How do you think I feel? I've known Cousin Sthentros all my life! I never liked him, but he was of my Mother's blood…"

"I know. Don't take it too hard. I'll have to tell you about the Borgias sometime-maybe not."

"It doesn't help that your best spy master is off fighting in Hos-Bletha, either."

Kalvan nodded. "I never thought I'd say it, but I miss that old turkey-thief Skranga."

"Still," added Rylla through clenched teeth, "Dralm help Sthentros, if I ever get my hands on that spineless pigeon-brained cousin of mine…"

Kalvan cleared his throat. "Anyway, as I was saying. I'm going to keep Duke Euriptos and the Army of Sashta right under my nose; that way, if he tries to bug out I can turn my Tymannian Guard on him."

Rylla laughed. "He turned beet red when you told him that! I've heard turkeys that gobbled less than Euriptos. After what happened to his Uncle Balthames, he's frightened to death by the tame Sastragathi of yours, Vanar Halgoth!"

"Which only goes to show Euriptos has more brains than either of his uncles! But getting back to business, I'm also going to add the Army of Nyklos, the Army of Ulthor, and all twelve thousand mercenary horse and foot."

"Is it best to put all our softest eggs in one basket, my husband?"

"Yes, if you've got half the Royal Army to prop them up with. I don't want anyone else to have to wonder if Duke Euriptos will change sides and join the enemy at the last minute like his Uncle Balthar did at the Battle of Tenabra, or loot our baggage. With some thirty-five thousand troops, the center will be the anvil for Hestophes and Phrames to hammer the Grand Host."

"What about me?"

"I haven't forgotten you, dearest. You'll be in command of the rearguard. I want you where you can do the most good."