Archpriest Anaxthenes, First Speaker-who sat at the right hand of Styphon's Voice On Earth, in the Council Hall of Tarr-Ktemnos-put forth the next Dracar sponsored motion. "On the behalf of Prince Lysandros of Hos-Harphax, I move that we send one million ounces of gold to Hos-Harphax to re-equip the Royal Army of Hos-Harphax. All in favor, say Yea."
It was a good motion, he thought, the Royal Army needed rebuilding. Hos-Harphax was the keystone in the Temple's war against the Usurper Kalvan. They were also sending food and stockpiling all they could make of the 'new'-dare he even think it-Kalvan-style fireseed, for shipment by galley to Tarr-Harphax in the spring.
"All opposed, say Nay"
Only Archpriest Cimon was opposed. Styphon's Voice did not bother to vote; he was already asleep snoring loudly enough to keep everyone else awake. One too many of Holy Investigator Roxthar's harangues today.
Archpriest Dracar had become so enamored of Roxthar it was a wonder he wasn't wearing one of the Investigator's white robes. Still the ax had not fallen. What was Roxthar's real game? Surely it was not doing Grand Master Soton's work. What was the Investigator really after at this Council? Would he wait until the last day of the Great Council of Ktemnos and then denounce him before all thirty-six assembled Archpriests of the Inner Circle? Roxthar, without a doubt, had enough evidence to have Anaxthenes' most ardent supporter crying out for his death in hot oil.
Sesklos, his mentor and Styphon's Own Voice was in no position to help. Even awake the old man sat as if frozen to this seat and would not look, much less talk, to his former protege. As First Speaker, Anaxthenes had read all of Sesklos' opening statements and acted in all other ways as Styphon's Voice in uttering declarations.
Anaxthenes most ardent supporters refused to meet his eyes. They knew he was out-of-favor and likely doomed; most of them had voted with Roxthar and his faction on every issue. Only a few die-hards such as the Arch-priest Syclos, Highpriest of Agrys City, and the Peasant Priest Cimon offered opposition to Roxthar. The ash of defeat was bitter in his mouth.
Not that open opposition to Roxthar would have bought much at this late date. The Holy Investigator had used his new powers of Investigation to consolidate his power base in Balph the past few moons. While Roxthar had kept to his bargain and not Investigated any Archpriests of the Inner Circle, he had not held back in Investigating the lesser upperpriests and temple highpriests among the opposition. More than a hundred of Anaxthenes allies and followers had disappeared into the former Temple administration building that Roxthar called his Inquisitory and only five, all maimed and showing evidence of torture, had exited alive.
According to those survivors, the two that would talk to him, the Investigators cut off the first joint of the index finger to show the seriousness of their task, then removed another joint from his other finger, on a rotating basis, every time they found a suspected lie or a reluctance to talk. None of those who had seen the survivors of Roxthar's Full Investigation being wheeled out on carts-limbless, eyeless, and mute like beasts-were unaware of the power he held.
Archpriest Dracar, the man who was Sesklos' heir apparent, stood up to address Styphon's Voice. He looked timorous and not at all triumphant, as he should. It seemed that Dracar had learned that dealing with Roxthar was as difficult as holding Lyklos, God of Lies, to the truth or as dangerous as dealing with Hadron, the Snake God.
"Speak, Archpriest Dracar."
Dracar looked over at Roxthar and, after receiving a nod, began to speak. "First Speaker, I would like to offer the assembled Great Council of Hos-Ktemnos, on the third day of the Moon of Long Nights, the proclamation that henceforth Styphon's Own Guard will act as the martial arm of the Holy Office of Investigation and that each Temple Band shall have its own Investigator Captain for instruction and fidelity to Styphon's Way."
The Great Hall became so quiet that the only sound to be heard was the labored snore of Styphon's Voice. Archpriest Roxthar looked Anaxthenes right in the eye, as if to say get on with it. Anaxthenes felt his heart freeze; Roxthar owned Dracar and the rest of the Inner Circle-the only remaining question was, did he own him too? Anaxthenes looked to the other Archpriests for support but most would not meet his eyes.
Did the fools not realize the implications of Roxthar's latest demand? If Roxthar were granted the power to place his own captains in charge of the Temple Guard, the Holy Inquisitor would from that time forth be immune to any action the Inner Circle might take against him. It would make him Tyrant of Styphon's House and he would rule the Temple as no Archpriest had before him in Styphon's House's history. Already many of the Temple Bands supported Roxthar and his Investigation; if this proclamation passed, they all would.
What should he do? What could he do-even Grand Master Soton had deserted his ranks? It would probably pass even if he made a suicidal gesture and opposed it. The world he had known all his life was changing and he didn't like the form it was assuming. Maybe most of all, because he no longer had a say in how it changed.
Ever since Kalvan the Usurper had appeared out of seeming nowhere, turning the backwater Princedom of Hostigos into a Great Kingdom, everything had begun to fall apart-turn sour. And, yet, if any man could alter Kalvan's destiny, Roxthar was that man; the only priest in Styphon's House who could face up to Kalvan and mobilize the full resources of the Temple. Yet, he could also end it with his fierce determination to cleanse the Temple and its followers.
Yet, Roxthar already owned power enough to defeat the Usurper. This time he had gone too far, and it was up to Anaxthenes to try and stop him. Anaxthenes spoke loudly into the farhailer, saying, "No. The martial arm of the Temple has always been under the direct control of the Inner Circle. There is no evidence of treachery or impropriety within the ranks of Styphon's Own Guard. The Holy Investigators have all the power they need to do their Investigation. The Guard is needed to fight the Daemon Kalvan, not question peasants and farm priests of Dralm.
Anaxthenes noticed the other archpriests were sitting taller in their seats, watching him with interest. Maybe all was not lost. As Thessamona had said, Roxthar could never rule the Temple. Sesklos was only a winter or two away from his last breath. Who else was there to lead the Temple? This was a perfect opportunity to rally his supporters and show the Inner Circle that Roxthar did not yet own Styphon's House.
"I, First Speaker, move that this Proclamation be denied. I will vote nay. Who will join me?"
"Halt!" Roxthar's voice shattered the air. "Styphon's Own Guard only exists to serve Styphon's Will and Styphon's Will is that my Investigators root out all priests guilty of heresy and disbelief in the True and Only God-Styphon, Be Praised!"
Every archpriest in the Great Hall turned and looked away from each other's eyes. In Roxthar's own words they were all guilty. Anaxthenes felt a flutter of hope inside his chest. The Investigator had gone too far this time. Did he not truly realize they were all unbelievers?
"Earlier, did not Archpriest Dracar say, it was Styphon's Will that we gather the Temple's gold and fireseed to defeat the Usurper Kalvan? The Kalvan who stole our Fireseed Mystery and 'gave' it to every bandit and horse thief in the Five Kingdoms! I say Styphon's Will is fighting the Holy War against the Infidel Kalvan and the Rogue Princedom of Hostigos. Not Investigating Styphon's Own priests."
Anaxthenes looked into each and every archpriest's face. They were coming around. Starting to realize that if they gave Roxthar and his faction any more power, someday it would be the Inner Circle that would be Investigated. And, only one archpriest-other than Roxthar-would survive that purge, Cimon the Peasant Priest.
"Again, I, First Speaker, move that this Proclamation be denied. I will vote nay. Who will join me?"
There was a moment of stunned silence, then a sudden babble of voices, then dozens of heads slowly nodding affirmation. There were many who voted aye, but enough who voted nay to doom the proclamation. Roxthar himself gave a look to Anaxthenes that would have turned his flesh into stone had Roxthar been a god. This was Roxthar's first defeat since his rise; he hoped that it would not be the last.
"So be it, the Proclamation has been denied. The Council's will has spoken, Praise Styphon!"
The world had just tilted and nothing would ever be the same. Anaxthenes dismissed the Council for the day, and surely and steadily walked past Archpriest Roxthar. It was a small victory, but a needed one to maintain what little was left of his self-respect and the Temple's independence.