Gunpowder God (31 page)

Eudocles laughed. “I have many desires.”

“But only one reigns supreme,” the Archpriest intoned, as if Styphon Himself were granting him a favor.

“And that you cannot give me, Your Sanctity,” Eudocles replied.
These priests know too much. If they know my heart’s desire, how many others do as well?

“No, but we can help you snatch it. I have a vial that contains a draught that, if introduced to food or drink, can induce death within days. Its symptoms closely mimic those of pleurisy.”

Eudocles’ heart began to beat rapidly. He’d considered poisoning his brother many times, but that meant finding a cooperative apothecary who would not break under torture. The last one he’d used had failed him when the young Prince had recovered. Although, by Trickster’s Own Luck, the boy had ridden his horse before fully recovering and was killed anyway. When Great King Sopharar died there would be many eager to lay the deed at his feet. He didn’t trust alchemists or herbalists, many of whom were quacks and frauds. Besides, gold could buy many things, but not silence unto death.

“What will it cost me?”

“Nothing, Your Grace, but your cooperation,” Archpriest Danthor said.

This was a most interesting proposition. One of the King’s food tasters owed him a great deal of money; he was an even worse gambler than Eudocles. If he could dose the King’s cup before it reached his brother’s mouth, all the food tester’s debts could be forgiven.

“And what will this ‘cooperation’ consist of?”

“Once you’ve assumed the Ivory Throne, all we would ask is that you disband the Zygrosi branch of the League of Dralm and keep their troops from entering Hos-Agrys.”

“I can order it done, but I doubt they will follow my orders.”

“Then it will be up to you to stop them,” Danthor said, his voice turning hard. “We will provide you with gold to purchase all the Free Companions you might need.”

Eudocles paused in thought. Styphon’s House was not well liked in Hos-Zygros and its Union of Friends boasted only two Zygrosi princedoms as members. Both Princes were heavily in debt to Styphon’s Banking House, while Allfather Dralm was very popular among both the peasantry and the townspeople.

Personally, Eudocles thought all gods were old wives’ tales designed to keep the lower orders in their place. He understood Styphon’s House and how they had used their monopolies, especially of fireseed, to control the Five Great Kingdoms. If he hadn’t been related by blood to the Royal Family, he might have joined the Temple himself as a young man.

“If I do as you ask, Your Sanctity, it may well lead Hos-Zygros into chaos. I am not a popular figure in Hos-Zygros; maybe I’m too headstrong. Unlike my brother, who is beloved by both the upper classes and the commoners, I am not liked. In addition, I’ve made many enemies—I speak bluntly and do not brook fools. I’m a warrior by nature and those weaker than myself envy and resent my strengths. It is very possible my ascension to the Ivory Throne will bring civil war to the Kingdom.”

“If your words be true, Your Grace,” Archpriest Danthor said, “then you will need the Temple’s support even more than you know. If the Zygrosi League of Dralm is successful in helping their counterparts in Hos-Agrys fight off the Temple, then you will never ascend to the throne as your princes will know their own power.”

The truth of the Archpriest’s words pushed him back in his seat. He needed a moment to think and used his bell pull to call his manservant. “Vosg, bring wine for my visitors. And another log for the fire.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

While they waited, he pondered his predicament. If the Zygrosi League of Dralm were successful with its intervention into the Agrysi civil war, that would mean the end of Styphon’s House dominance of the Northern Kingdoms, including Hos-Harphax where his bastard son apparently called the shots. This would also mean that if he were to ever ascend to the Ivory Throne, he would have to gain the support of the Zygrosi princes, which he knew would
never
happen.

If he didn’t gain his princes’ approval, they would find another candidate for the Throne. If he tried to stop them, he would have to raise an army which would cost a small fortune—a fortune he did not have. Furthermore, they could call upon their counterparts in the Hos-Agrysi League of Dralm for support in their rebellion. Unfortunately, it appeared his own fortunes were closely tied to those of Styphon’s House.

After fresh wine was served, he turned to Archpriest Danthor. “Your Sanctity, I hope you realize that if I am enthroned as the new Great King of Hos-Zygros at this time, there will be discord and maybe even war as a result.”

The Archpriest nodded. “That is why the Temple is willing to provide you with two hundred thousand ounces of gold to purchase mercenaries and build your army in preparation for that eventuality. As soon as you become Great King, we will send your treasury a half-million more gold ounces. Once Hos-Agrys is pacified and our control has solidified, if necessary, we can send Grand Master Soton and his Army of Styphon’s Deliverance to help subdue any rebellious princes and barons.”

A half-million ounces of gold!
Eudocles thought feverishly.
If Styphon’s House is this eager to purchase my cooperation, what more might they deliver?

As if reading his mind, the Archpriest added, “We will also pay you an additional one hundred thousand ounces of gold per year to help you maintain your army.”

“Only a hundred thousand Crowns! Do you take me for a dotard? I accept your offer of a half-million ounces of gold up front, but I want a guaranteed two hundred thousand ounces a year for as long as I reign. The half-million Crowns, after I am declared Great King, will be quickly paid out to repair the war damage that will result from my enthronement.”

“I will send a dispatch to Balph. It might take some time, but I believe that Styphon’s Voice Anaxthenes will not argue with your terms.”

“Good. Give me the vial and send me the first banknote in the morning.”

“By Styphon, it is done.”

Eudocles gripped the Archpriest’s hands to seal the bargain, noting that his finger bones were like those of a bird—easily crushed if need be.

“What is Anaxthenes trying to do?” Grand Master Soton asked, his face turned up to the ceiling as if he expected the gods to answer. He threw the dispatch from Styphon’s Voice he’d just read on the table. “Selestros’ head is not worth the candle. Prince Phidestros will not rest until he has brought down the Temple itself.”

“He won’t if we invade Greater Beshta in the spring,” Horse Master Sarmoth said.

“First,” Soton began, “if we pull the Host out of Hos-Agrys, the League of Dralm will besiege Agrys City and have it back within a moon unless we leave half the army. We need to finish the conquest of this kingdom before we start another war. Most importantly, we do not have as many men under our command as Phidestros.”

“We don’t, but if Knight Commander Orocles attacked Beshta in a combined operation we would have him outnumbered.”

“Maybe, although we really don’t know how many men Phidestros has under his command, not since he’s added Lysandros’ forces to his. The new Prince-Regent, Prince Geblon of Sask, is one of Phidestros’ captains and he can call upon all the Princes of Hos-Harphax. Who knows how many men he could muster in an emergency?”

“What if Phidestros decides to strike at Balph after his wife is returned?” Sarmoth asked.

“Good question, but we don’t even know what Anaxthenes has planned for her ourselves. I sent Styphon’s Voice a dispatch warning that if he did not release Princess Arminta or were to harm her, after his terms were met, that Phidestros would retaliate violently. Even so far as besieging Balph. If such an attack were mounted, I reminded him that he could expect no succor from the Host. Anaxthenes would be on his own and Phidestros is one of the best generals in the Five Kingdoms.”

“Unless he’s a complete fool that should suffice,” Sarmoth said.

They were interrupted when Soton’s orderly brought in a small keg and two tankards of ale.

Soton nodded and the orderly left. He took a deep draught of ale before continuing. “Anaxthenes has a crafty mind and is brilliant at devising plots and counterplots; otherwise, he would not have risen so high in the Inner Circle. However, like many duplicitous men he tends to underestimate his opponents and does not always believe their words, since he’s a consummate liar. And like all prevaricators, he truly believes everyone else bends the truth as he does. Phidestros, on the other hand, is also crafty and devious; however, he never makes a statement he does not intend to honor. He may leave things unspoken, but he is a man of his word. I only hope that Anaxthenes doesn’t attempt to renege on his offer.”

“What do you think will happen if he does honor it?”

“That is a good question; it is impossible to plumb the depths of Anaxthenes’ mind. However, as sure as the gods gave us life, Phidestros will want his revenge on Styphon’s House. But, it will be a considered revenge, not a hot-headed one—as long as the Princess is returned unharmed. He will bide his time until we are otherwise occupied. He will not strike at Balph as long as he knows that we could sweep down upon Beshta from the north. However, if the war with the League fares badly and our forces are tied up, Phidestros will become emboldened and only the gods know what devilment he might spawn. Anaxthenes has done us, nor himself, no favor—no favor at all!”

L
ately, Sirna had been spending most of her time with Lavena as the Queen’s pregnancy reached full term. The baby was due within a moon or two and she knew that the Harphaxi Princes wanted to have a regent in place before its birth. The last thing Hos-Harphax needed at this point was a dynastic struggle over the new great king-elect or prince-regent to be.

The Elector Princes of Hos-Harphax had been closeted in Tarr-Harphax for almost a moon quarter. Grand Master Soton was busy consolidating his gains in Agrys City and it was feared, after he conquered the rest of Hos-Agrys, the Host of Styphon’s Deliverance would turn its attentions to Hos-Harphax. With the Kingdom of Hos-Harphax in chaos after four years of constant warfare and the assassinations of two Great Kings and one Great King-Elect, the princes knew that time was of the essence. If they did not unite under strong leadership, the Kingdom of Hos-Harphax would prove fertile ground for Styphon’s House’s new expansionism.

One major shift within the Electoral House was the death of two Electoral princes, Prince Calmoth of Pindar at the Siege of Tarr-Hostigos and Prince Mylestros of Balkron who died during the chaos after Great King Lysandros’ death in Hostigos, both stalwarts of the Union of Styphon’s Friends.

The only surviving direct heir to Kaiphranos’ dynasty, now that the former King’s brother and two sons were dead, was an unborn child. The one man who had the most weight in the Kingdom, Prince Phidestros, was not in attendance, but represented by his cohort, Geblon, the new Prince of Harphax.

Before his death and at Phidestros’ insistence, Great King-Elect Selestros had granted Phidestros the Princedom of Sask and crowned Geblon Prince of Harphax, which gave the Electoral College nine Prince Electors. However, since Selestros’ death there was no clear candidate for Great King, as only an Elector could be in the line of succession for the Iron Throne, either as Great King or Prince-Regent.

Prince Soligon of Argros, Princess Arminta’s father, was former Kings Kaiphranos’ and Lysandros’ cousin on his mother’s side, as was Prince Necolestros of Syriphlon. Of all the Harphaxi Princes, they had the best claim on the Iron Throne; however, Arminta’s father had thrown his support to Prince Phidestros’ claimant, Prince Geblon.

Meanwhile, the Electoral stalwarts of the League of Dralm, Prince Valthames of Xanx and Prince Zylannos of Thaphigos, who were united against any Styphoni candidate, were unsure as to which camp the Phidestros/Geblon alliance represented. Lady Sirna thought of them now as the anti-Phidestros/anti-Styphon’s House party.

Most of the former Lysandros/Styphon’s House faction were not in attendance, either being dead, like Prince Thukyblos of Dazour, imprisoned or in hiding, such as Prince Necolestros of Syriphlon. Since several of the Harphaxi princedoms were vacant and most of the former Hos-Hostigos princedoms were lacking accredited rulers, there were only five out of the possible nine Harphaxi Prince Electors involved in the Election for Prince-Regent of Hos-Harphax.

At the moment, the Electors were split down the middle, since Prince Geblon as one of the Electors could not vote for himself, but there was little doubt within Harphax City of the eventual outcome once Phidestros returned. Mostly they were waiting to see if Prince Geblon was able to wed the Great Queen, a feat which would ensure his Election. If Geblon didn’t, it was always possible that one of Geblon’s supporters might vote for another candidate.

Sirna knew that Geblon’s ascendancy to the Iron Throne was the biggest game in town. Prince Geblon had been making a determined effort to win over Great Queen Lavena, but so far his efforts had had little result. The Queen was delaying any decision regarding remarriage until her mourning period was over. Sirna hoped she didn’t drag out her decision too long, because the baby was due at any time now. Once the baby was born, Lavena would become another pawn in the much larger game of princes and kings going on in Hos-Harphax.

If that happened, things could spin out of her control with the Electors appointing a Prince-Regent of their own who would run the Royal Household.

Unfortunately, for Queen Lavena, there was no Five Kingdoms’ precedent of a Great Queen ruling a kingdom without a Prince-Regent or husband.
It would take someone like Great Queen Rylla to change that situation
, Sirna decided,
and Lavena
—
no matter how close the physical resemblance
—
is no Rylla, nor will she ever be
.

Sirna was currently inside the Harphaxi Study team headquarters in the House of Olthos basement waiting for the Election results. The streets and byways of Harphax City were as deserted as they had been after last year’s riots. Some were predicting bloodshed if the Election went against Phidestros’ candidate while others claimed that was propaganda spread by Styphon’s House. The one thing that was certain, after its losses in the war against Kalvan in the Middle Kingdoms, was that Styphon’s House’s influence in Hos-Harphax was definitely on the wane, especially after Princess Arminta’s abduction.