Gunpowder God (32 page)

Phidestros might be the most powerful and feared ruler in Hos-Harphax, but surely Arminta was the most beloved. Her devotion to Yirtta Allmother and her various charity work had made her a favorite among the commoners, while the fact that she had been the
de facto
ruler of Argros when her father had devoted most of his time to hunting game, had gained her respect from the nobility.

As far as the Harphaxi Study Team was concerned, Styphon’s Voice had made a big blunder by abducting the Princess. And now they were about to pay, as the Harphaxi replaced one impotent ruler (Great King-Elect Selestros) with Prince Phidestros’ proxy (Prince Geblon).

Phidestros would not rest until he found retribution for his wife’s kidnapping. The word on the street was that Geblon’s first proclamation, after Princess Arminta’s fate was determined, would be to raze all the Styphon’s House temples in the Princedom of Harphax with the loot and property going to the Iron Throne.

With most of the princes beggared by the Fireseed Wars, there would be little opposition. Most would do likewise as soon as they returned to their domains. Everyone knew that Prince Phidestros had the largest and best standing army in the Five Kingdoms. The biggest surprise to most of the Harphaxi was that Phidestros was not claiming the Iron Throne for himself.

Sirna and the Study Team had their own views regarding that subject.

“I think he’s too preoccupied with rescuing his wife,” pronounced one of the academics, an elderly man with a white beard longer than Primate Xentos’, from Dhergabar University. “Phidestros is letting personal problems interfere with consolidating his power.”

“Scholar Rogard, I disagree,” Maldar Dard returned. “Phidestros is smart enough to know that he has no real claim as Great King of Hos-Harphax and that if he put himself forth as Great King that he would face resentment and envy from every Prince in the realm.”

“So what,” Professor Butrol, an historian and expert on Fifth Level Social Hierarchies, replied. “His proxy, Prince Geblon, the so-called Prince of Harphax, has no more legitimate claim to the Iron Throne than a streetwalker. He hasn’t been Prince of Harphax for more than a few ten-days. Before that he was Duke of Sashta for less than a season and a trumped-up general under Phidestros the Tyrant.”

Maldar Dard seemed to be controlling his breathing. “It’s not that the other princes respect or even like Geblon, it’s just that he’s a better alternative than another dynastic war. Prince Soligon, the only other possible candidate—Prince Necolestros is out since he’s a founding member of the Union of Styphon’s Friends—is not the sharpest sword in the Kingdom. Everyone knows that Princess Arminta has pulled her father’s strings for the past decade, which also means putting him on the Iron Throne would be like having Phidestros there. Plus, Geblon’s a non-entity to them and likely not a threat. They’d rather see someone they didn’t know take the Throne, than someone they feared like Phidestros.”

“Don’t they know that Geblon is only Phidestros’ tool?” Sirna asked.

“They don’t see it as that clear cut,” Maldar answered. “All they know about Geblon is that he’s one of Phidestros’ former generals and underlings. Few of these Princes have much faith in loyalty, since they don’t own any themselves. If they were in Geblon’s position, they would quickly assert themselves over the man who raised them up. From the conversations I’ve overheard in the Palace, most of the Princes see Geblon’s elevation as Phidestros’ folly.”

“More fools them,” Sirna replied. “I’ve spent time with Geblon and gotten to know him. He’s as loyal as a mastiff to his owner.”

Professor Butrol snorted, “That kind of emotionally biased evaluation is why the University doesn’t put undergraduates in positions of outtime authority. If Geblon gets enthroned on the Iron Throne, I’ll give him two years before he tosses his greaves back into Phidestros’ teeth.”

Sirna bit back a caustic rejoinder. With her untimely disappearance and shaky academic background, she couldn’t afford to alienate any of the Study Team professors.

Maldar Dard laughed. “I’ll bet you ten thousand Paratemporal Exchange Units that at the end of two years Prince-Regent Geblon is still Phidestros’ faithful retainer.”

Butrol shook his head. “I see gambling as a reversion to primitive outtime social practices. I fear you’ve spent too much time away from Home Time Line, Agent Maldar.”

Maldar shook his head. “You’re the one who’s spent too much time in your Ivory Tower and not enough time in Old Town Dhergabar where you would see as much gambling as in any sin city on Fourth Level Europo-American. Or maybe it’s just that you don’t have any faith in your predictions.”

Professor Butrol harrumphed and changed the subject.

Sirna shook her head. She was beginning to believe that a University education was overrated, if the professors she’d met outtime were any example of what she could expect. The idea of joining up with the Paratime Police Department looked better every day.

Prince Phidestros sat drumming on his desktop with his fingers as he waited for Kyblannos to arrive. During the entire time his friend had been gone, he had thought of nothing else but Arminta and his unborn child and the danger they were in. When he wasn’t out in the parade field dressing his troops, Phidestros spent his time in the workshop building a desk out of aged black walnut. Carpentry took him back to his youth when he was a simple apprentice and his only worries were getting enough to eat and the occasional flask of ale. Woodworking was more relaxing than sword practice and concentrated his mind better than too much drink.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Cap’n,” Kyblannos said. His trusted companion looked as if he had dropped around three ingots of weight between his rushed trip to Harphax City and his quick return.

“Do you have it?”

He held up a metal wine cask. “Selestros’ head is inside,” he said, knocking on the side of the barrel for emphasis. “Do you want to see it?”

Phidestros shook his head. “I’ve seen more than enough dead bodies these past couple of years. How did the Harphaxi take your cover story?

Kyblannos threw up his hands. “Who knows? I told them Selestros had betrayed you, by helping Styphon’s House kidnap the Princess to eliminate you as a rival to the Throne. It sounded just cockeyed enough to sell. Few people really believed in Selestros’ sudden conversion to Dralm and even those who did weren’t convinced it was sincere. Most saw it as a ploy to win the Iron Throne. The stench of Styphon’s House’s foul deeds reek to the Sky-Palaces of the True Gods, and the people of Harphax City believe that beneath Selestros’ false-gown of piety he is still a wastrel and whoremonger. So, the idea of Selestros’ selling out to Styphon’s House seems plausible.

“Fortunately, Princess Arminta is quite popular among the commoners and her kidnapping by the Styphoni helped turn their hearts from Selestros and his
miracle rebirth.
Stories of Arminta’s efforts to help her subjects during the Siege of Beshta, as well as the fact that she allowed herself to be taken prisoner—when she could have safely remained inside Tarr-Beshta—went over well in Harphax City where such behavior is unheard of. Besides, you’re still the hero of Ardros Field, the man who restored peace to the realm and the one who took the head of Great King Lysandros, the Regicide.

“Those who don’t believe our yarn are just thankful that this will bring an end to the dynastic struggle over the Iron Throne. The people are saying that Galzar will be the true judge of our deeds.”

“Good. How are they viewing Geblon’s elevation?”

“Things are going smoothly,” Kyblannos said. “There was little objection to Geblon acting as temporary Prince-Regent until the Electors were called together; or at least, not once they learned it was your will. I think many of the princes and nobles thought you had Selestros beheaded for your own aggrandizement. They were all relieved to find that you had no interest in seating yourself on the Iron Throne.

“Furthermore, everyone recognizes that a firm hand is needed during these times, but no one wants to be under a woman’s rule, especially one as questionable as Great Queen Lavena. Fortunately, she doesn’t have the flame for being monarch. She likes the formal aspects of being Great Queen, the dressing up, the balls and revels, not the audiences, adjudicating and conferring. Lavena is resigned to allowing Geblon to do the day-to-day details and dirty work. The only problem I can foresee is if the baby is a girl. That could bring us some grief.”

“How do you think the Electors will vote, if I’m here in Besh Town?”

Kyblannos paused for a moment. “Not all of the nine Electors, including yourself, will be in Harphax City for the Election. Several of the Union Princes are either dead or afraid to show their persons in Harphax City. Your vote could well be the deciding one, but it’s best that you stay away. It shows a certain forbearance that will play well with the other Electors.”

“In other words, they’re afraid of me.”

Kyblannos nodded. “And for good reason, Cap’n. You command an army not only larger than any other prince, but larger than all the Harphaxi princes combined!”

“So, even without my vote, you believe Geblon has a good chance of being Elected as the new Regent?”

“Yes, I do. The only other credible candidate is Prince Soligon and, without your wife speaking into his ear, everyone knows he’s incapable of ruling on his own.”

Phidestros nodded, taking out his tobacco pouch. “Still, it would be best if Geblon married the Great Queen, then all the Electoral House would have to do is ratify his enthronement.”

“That’s true, but first we have to convince Queen Lavena that this is her best course of action.”

“How hard is that going to be?” Phidestros asked. “She strikes me as decorative, but with a head full of feathers.”

Kyblannos nodded. “It’s not easy since Lavena is still in mourning for that flint-hearted bastard she married. I’ve asked Lady Sirna to use her influence for Geblon’s suit.”

“Good. Sirna’s smart and capable, and has won a place in the Queen’s heart. I wish I could find a place for her in
my
retinue.”

Kyblannos shook his head. “No, no, no. More than one hen in this coop would be unnecessary distraction. Sirna’s just fine where she is and she’ll be doing even better when things have settled down. The Queen will probably give her a duchy and a permanent place in her court after the baby’s born.”

“Yes, the heir,” Phidestros said. “I think the marriage needs to occur before the birth. That way Geblon gains legitimacy regardless of which sex the child displays. If it’s a girl, we can always arrange a suitable marriage.”

“Such as to your own son,” Kyblannos said with a smile. “Didn’t the witch woman claim your unborn child was a boy?”

“They say the old crone has the gift of second-sight. Besides, even if this one’s a girl, the next may be a boy.”

“Let’s not put the carriage before the horse, Cap’n. We have to get the Princess back from those Styphoni devils first.”

“Agreed,” Phidestros said, his face flushing in anger. “I swear to Ormaz himself, I will bring the Temple down in ruins—”

“Not now, Your Highness! Wait until I can negotiate the return of the Princess, first.”

“You’re right, you’re right. I’m not used to having to wait and being helpless like this….”

“Cap’n, I suggest we save your revenge for next spring. Right now the roads are a mess and we’ve already had one small snowfall. I’ll travel to Balph with a small party, say twenty men including Uncle Wolf Dyron.”

“Why so few?”

“If we march across the border with an army, Prince Necolestros is liable to think we’re invading Syriphlon.”

Phidestros nodded, while reloading his pipe. Prince Necolestros’ princedom bordered Hos-Ktemnos and he was a member of the Union of Styphon’s Friends alliance. Unfortunately, Necolestros had not gone off with Lysandros to fight Kalvan in the Middle Kingdoms, instead he’d kept his army at home. His border reivers had tried to invade Beshta and Sashta on several occasions while Phidestros was fighting Kalvan so he owed him nothing but a belly full of steel for not reining in his liegemen. On the other hand, this was not the time for revenge or settling past grudges.

Arminta and the baby’s safety were his primary concern. “What do you suggest, Kyblannos?”

“We know that Prince Necolestros is in debt to Styphon’s House so there is no reason to take a large army into his Princedom. If the Styphoni dogs want to hurt the Princess or stop you from bringing her back, it won’t matter how many men we bring. She’ll be just as dead. Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

Phidestros bit down on his pipe stem so hard his teeth dug gouges in it. “You speak to the sword point, Kyblannos. I cannot fault you for it, old friend. In fact, it does me good to realize just how helpless we are in securing the Princess’s continuing health. You’re right, we have done our best to comply with Anaxthenes’ demands.”

“Exactly, Cap’n. Which is why I believe we should be able to enter Hos-Ktemnos with a small force. If Anaxthenes is an oath-breaker, we will die regardless of how many men we take—unless you bring the entire Army. And his oath-breaking will raise every sword arm in the Five Kingdoms against Styphon’s House.”

Phidestros nodded. “I want you to take Captain Lythrax with you. He feels personally responsible for not protecting the Princess.”

“There isn’t anything he can do,” Kyblannos said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Lythrax likes the Princess. He wants to avenge her kidnapping.”

“Lythrax doesn’t like anybody,” Kyblannos said. “And nobody likes him. He’s a killer, through and through.”

“Somehow Arminta touched him, by some act of kindness. Which he wouldn’t repeat, even under torture. He will protect her with his life. If the Styphoni have harmed her in any way, he will stay in Balph and take his revenge on Styphon’s House.”

Kyblannos threw up his hands. “Lythrax makes my skin crawl. He’s a cold-blooded killer and I do not understand what the Princess sees in him, but if it’s your wish he should accompany me, then he shall.”

Phidestros nodded. Sighing, he asked the question he had been dreading. “Do you think Styphon’s Voice will truly release her?”