Balph, the hub of Styphon's House, lay downstream on the Argo River from Ktemnos City. While nowhere near as large as the capital with its half a million people, Balph was still large enough to be called a city-the Holy City.
Despite being the fourth largest city in Hos-Ktemnos, its major industry was religion. Its secondary trade was shipping. Old Balph, the original trading settlement, had long ago been encircled by its strange offspring, except near the dockyards. Someday the old buildings would be leveled for some new monument to Styphon's glory. Balph proper was already home to Styphon's House Upon Earth, an old golden-domed basilica that contained Styphon's Own Image, sixteen Great Temples and the Shrine of Styphon's Ascension, the Temple Treasury, the Temple Academy, the Supreme Priest's Palace.
Supreme Priest Sesklos sat at the apex of the Inner Circle's Triangle Table, with First Speaker Anaxthenes to his right and Archpriest Dracar on his left, facing Styphon's Golden Image, the huge idol of Styphon that the lay members only saw during times of great crisis or special events. As Speaker of the Inner Circle, it was Anaxthenes' duty to provide the voice for the mechanical bellows that allowed the giant idol to mimic human speech. Typically, this duty was the province of Styphon's Voice, but when Sesklos had reached eighty winters Anaxthenes had assumed some of Sesklos' formal duties.
Ever since Sesklos' talk with Dracar, opposition to Anaxthenes' coalition had evaporated. With a clear majority of the thirty-six Archpriests of the Inner Circle behind him, Anaxthenes was forging a program that would change the shape of Styphon's House in ways the others would never realize until it was too late.
After the ritual Blessing of Styphon, benedictions and ritual chants, the Fifth Council of Balph unanimously passed a resolution to lend two hundred and fifty thousand ounces of gold to King Kaiphranos to hire mercenaries and buy supplies for the war against the False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos. Next they'd put together the First Edict of Balph, condemning the Usurper Kalvan, but leaving an escape clause for any of his princes whose loyalty was wavering.
By Styphon, thought Anaxthenes, they would crush this interloper before another winter passed!
As he'd been prompted earlier, Archpriest Neamenestros spoke up. "I suggest we frame a reply to the false rumors spread by the Daemon's dupes, that Styphon's House recognizes no other gods but Styphon."
A polite way of saying what Archpriest Zothnes and the dearly departed Krastokles had said in public should have only been said in the privacy of the Inner Circle: that Styphon's House recognized no other god but Styphon. The truth was even harsher; Styphon's Archpriests believed in no gods, including Styphon.
Archpriests Roxthar and Cimon squirmed in their seats but kept quiet as promised.
"Why should the Council of Balph deny the special divinity of our God, the brightest star in the night sky?" Archpriest Timothanes snapped.
"Because the mercenaries we need to win this war against the Usurper worship Galzar with a fervor our priests lavish only upon the offering bowl," Anaxthenes replied. He hoped that would be enough to make Timothanes think twice before opening his mouth again.
He continued, "The time for declaring Styphon's sole divinity will come when the Usurper's bones are moldering in their grave cloths. Already some of the Wargod's priests openly counsel their charges to side with the Usurper in the coming war. We must keep our peace with Galzar before Kalvan forces a breach. He who owns the mercenaries, owns the Five Kingdoms."
"Yes," Heraclestros agreed. "And we own most of the gold."
"Wise words," Styphon's Own Voice declared. "I call for a vote."
"Aye, aye," said twenty-four voices, while twelve said "nay." Dracar and his allies looked like cats passing fish bones.
"The resolution passes. It is Styphon's Will. It shall be decreed that Styphon respects the divinity of all true gods, except for the False God Dralm. We also offer the services of our healers to any and all priests of Galzar engaged in the struggle against the unlawful Usurper who calls himself Great King Kalvan of Hos-Hostigos. Styphon's Will Be Done."
When Styphon's Voice had fallen silent. Anaxthenes added, "The Daemon Kalvan and his minions threaten not only our lives, but the very timbers of Styphon's House On Earth, as well. King Kaiphranos is but a poor weapon, one easily broken or thrown aside, against the might of the Daemon Kalvan. Should this weak tool be broken, I fear that Kalvan's path will lead straight to the Holy City itself!
"We need a sharper sword. Why not that of Great King Cleitharses of Hos-Ktemnos? Let him lance the boil of Hos-Hostigos that corrupts the body of the Five Kingdoms. I say we must issue a proclamation, calling for the Sacred Squares of Hos-Ktemnos to come to the aid of the God of Gods."
That was the prearranged signal to Archpriest Theomenes, spiritual guardian to King Cleitharses, to touch his first two fingers to his mouth. Anaxthenes touched his fingers to his forehead, by way of reply, granting Theomenes permission to address the Council.
"Great King Cleitharses has found his faith disturbed over the misfortunes brought down upon Styphon's House by the Daemon Kalvan. Thus, he will no longer willingly and of his own free will grant that which is ours to ask, but he will listen to our united voice. As we all know, the wise and fair King Cleitharses has little love for the clamor of battle or the open air."
That pronouncement brought snickers from the assembled Archpriests. Cleitharses' last campaign was over ten winters ago against King Leophon, one of three petty kings who claimed suzerainty over the Upper Sastragath. The war had quickly turned into a nightmare of lost skirmishes and misdirected supplies. Only the fighting ability of the steadfast Sacred Squares had saved the Hos-Ktemnoi Army from complete disaster. Since then Cleitharses' idea of military glory was reading about ancient deeds of valor or adding another such scroll to the Royal Library.
"However," Archpriest Theomenes continued, "It is true that Great King Cleitharses is worried about a new Great Kingdom so close to the borders of Hos-Ktemnos, especially one who adds Princedoms as a lodestone pulls iron fillings."
"Who will the Great King choose as his Captain-General?" one of the Archpriests asked.
"Duke Mnesklos, Lord High Marshal of Hos-Ktemnos."
"He has seen over seventy winters! Isn't it time he hung up his spurs?"
There was a loud harrumph from Supreme Priest Sesklos.
Another Archpriest hastily added, "Duke Mnesklos still sits tall in his saddle. It is true that he is good at fighting barbarians in the Sastragath, but will he be able to stop the Daemon?"
A dozen voices attempted to answer that question at once, but Roxthar's voice cut through them like a saw. "The Daemon Kalvan must be stopped. We need a warlord that can be the Fist of Styphon."
Styphon's Own Voice raised his hand for silence. "Archpriest Roxthar is right. We need a soldier of the Temple. Someone we can trust to sow the fields of Hos-Hostigos with the blood and corpses of her sons. I move we call upon Grand Master Soton of the Holy Order of Zarthani Knights to lead our Holy Army."
The Grand Master rose from his seat and bowed. He was the shortest man in the room and also the broadest. Seated he appeared a normal man, but when standing his short legs robbed him of full stature. Still, his presence was undeniable and Soton was known as a terrible foe; few in this room had the temerity to beard him to his face.
There was more shouting, although this time the voices were raised in protest. Soton was known to be as much a servant of Galzar Wolfhead as he was an Archpriest of Styphon's House. The lands he governed west of Hos-Ktemnos and Hos-Bletha as Grand Master of the Zarthani Knights were greater than any two Great Kingdoms combined. His Order Knights were the finest cavalry in the known world.
"Silence!" Sesklos shouted. Anaxthenes jerked back in surprise; he'd not thought old Sesklos had that much strength left in his worn body. After the news of Zothnes' and Krastokles' defection to Hos-Hostigos had reached his ears Sesklos had thrown a fit, fallen to the floor and knocked his head on the flagstones. He had lain paralyzed for a moon quarter; when he had awoken, it was if he'd aged ten winters-and for a moon his right side was paralyzed. Even now he drooled when speaking and his words were often slurred.
"Grand Master Soton is a man of the battlefield," Sesklos continued, "not some lickspittle underpriest currying favor with his superiors."
Anaxthenes smiled. Things were going even better than he'd planned.
"All this weighs in Soton's favor in this endeavor. I shall ask him to bring as many Lances of Knights as he can spare from the outer marches and offer him an additional three thousand Temple Guardsmen. That should stiffen the Army of Hos-Ktemnos enough for our purposes. We shall put the Grand Master in command of the Holy Host, the Army of Styphon and his allies. Let Duke Mnesklos parade before the troops, but it will be Soton who gives the orders."
Suddenly Sesklos appeared to flag and Anaxthenes stood up and spoke. "You have heard Styphon's Own Voice. The time for talk is finished. This Assembly is hereby dismissed. Grand Master Soton, will you attend His Divinity?"
"It will be my pleasure, First Speaker."
Sesklos stiffened. "First Speaker, you and Archpriest Soton will attend me in my chambers. And bring a scribe, too. I have letters to draft."
"Yes, Your Divinity."