Heraclestros, holding a torch, was the first to arrive at the Tomb after Anaxthenes, and was quickly followed by the other seven Archpriests who were the core of the Inner Circle cabal against Roxthar. The Relic Tomb was damp and cold despite the heat outside above the streets. At the center of the Tomb were the sacred bones of Trythos, the priest of Styphon who had discovered the true value of the Fireseed Secret. The bones were covered in gold leaf and placed in a glass coffin edged with gold and silver.
"The Usurper is vanquished!" Heraclestros announced.
"Not truly, he still breathes," Anaxthenes said.
"As does Sesklos," someone else intoned.
Anaxthenes ignored the jibe; Sesklos would dwell in Regwarn's Caverns soon enough-as would Kalvan. "The Grand Host will bring the Usurper to heel soon enough, if the Inner Circle stays out of the commander's path. I have more interesting news to impart.
"Today Sesklos received a post from the Holy Investigator," Anaxthenes paused to pick up a parchment filled with runes that looked like they'd been burned into the sheepskin. "Let me read Roxthar's own words:
Styphon's Voice On Earth,
Tarr-Hostigos, the last symbol of the Daemon's rule over this accursed land, was destroyed today. The siege under Grand Master Soton and Grand Captain-Phidestros took a moon to conclude. All of Kalvan's minions and imps died today when Styphon caused the tarr's fireseed stores to explode-ending this blasphemy against the True God for all time. Let all of Balph rejoice in His victory-All Hail Styphon!
Our mission here is not complete, as heresy is deeply rooted in the blighted lands of the False Kingdom Hos-Hostigos. We are resolved to Investigate every man, woman and child in this Styphon-forsaken kingdom until we have ended Kalvan's pestilence for all time.
The omens have augured well for the Investigation; the skies have opened and voiced their displeasure upon the False Kingdom, deluging the earth with water in an attempt to scour the very memory of Hos-Hostigos from the land.
We will not be returning to Balph until winter at the earliest. Grand Captain-General Phidestros, who has proven unworthy of the trust we have placed in his hands, will shortly be dismissed as Commander of the Grand Host. Great King Lysandros has invested him, in reward for his service to the Iron Throne, as Prince of Greater Beshta, which is comprised of two Princedoms of the former False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos. He refuses our offer of Investigation, for now. We will deal with Prince Phidestros and his heretics when our more pressing duties have been completed."
Anaxthenes tried to remember the chain of command of the Grand Host. Grand Captain-General Phidestros had been forced by Lysandros to relinquish his command of the Royal Harphaxi army to become overall commander of the Grand Host. Regardless, Phidestros was oath-sworn to Lysandros so, despite Roxthar's pronouncement, Phidestros could only be dismissed by his Great King. Both, of course, in actuality were in the pay of Styphon's House. Still, they believed themselves free men and would continue to act in this manner, despite Roxthar's wishes, until Balph cut off the flow of gold-which as long as Anaxthenes had a say in the matter was not going to happen until Kalvan was dead.
Roxthar appeared to be taking over the duties of the Host's paymaster and commander-in-chief. He hoped Soton would be able to rein him in. Anaxthenes could not foresee Great King Lysandros firing the one man-despite the fact he was Lysandros' most dangerous subordinate, both because of his popularity with the people and his military prowess- who could protect him from the Holy Investigator. Clearly, Investigator Roxthar was out of control, after his rampage in Hos-Hostigos, and was now a danger not only to himself and those around him, but to Styphon's House, too.
It had been their pact that Soton would keep the Investigator out of Balph until winter to give him time to dispose of Sesklos and win election as Styphon's Voice. Sesklos had just survived another winter, his ninety-third. He would not survive another summer, even if Anaxthenes had to pillow his face himself.
About Phidestros he didn't care a bent phenig. He'd been a useful tool in the war against Kalvan, a tool whose usefulness was coming to an end.
"Grand Master Soton will leave in Our hands those forces necessary to continue Styphon's Work among the heretics and unbelievers of the False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos. Meanwhile, the Grand Master will continue to pursue the Daemon Kalvan until he is vanquished. When the Usurper's army is destroyed, I will forsake my work here and Investigate all Hostigi captives until I have convinced them of the error of their ways so that their spirits will be free of the taint of heresy when they leave this world.
Your Obedient Servant in Styphon's Work,
Roxthar
Holy Investigator"
One of the Archpriests said, "Does this madman actually believe the Highpriests of Galzar will sit there quietly while he brazenly kills prisoners taken in battle? His actions have already brought Galzar's Ban upon the Grand Host."
"He believes what he wishes, I fear," Anaxthenes said. "It was our gold, given by Great King Lysandros, that stopped the Interdict of Galzar. If Roxthar continues with his Investigation, the High Temple of Galzar will be forced to pronounce the Interdict upon the Grand Host-then where will we be?"
"Stop Roxthar!" Archpriest Zemos exclaimed. "Only death will stop that madman. Does Roxthar not realize the consequences of the Interdict: no Uncle Wolfs to tend the wounded, no rites of Galzar for the dead and dying, no parley or surrender and all god-fearing men's hands turned against them. No believer in Galzar or the gods will fight in an army under Interdict-not even the soldiers of the Sacred Squares. Can we not have the Grand Master remove the Investigator or put him in exile?"
"As long as Roxthar has the Temple Guardsmen to enforce his edicts, they will be obeyed. The Guard will kill Uncle Wolfs as easily as wringing turkey necks. The last thing we can afford is a war between Styphon's Own Guard and the Zarthani Knights, who still hold Galzar in high esteem. The political ramifications would shake the Temple to its foundation!"
"How is it that this wolf in human guise gained such loyalty among Styphon's Own Guard?"
Anaxthenes smiled. "I worried over that bone myself until I learned the answer: Roxthar gives the Guard one third of all monies and properties seized by the Investigation."
One Archpriest whistled. "No wonder Xenophes bought a new palace last winter!"
"Captain-General Xenophes is no fool. He shares half the proceeds with the Band captains and troopers."
"Where does the rest of the plunder go, Anaxthenes?" Heraclestros asked, as if he wanted his share. Having met Heraclestros' new wife, a tavern singer with airs, Anaxthenes suspected the Archpriest needed all the gold he could find.
"One third to the Temple Treasury and the last third to the Investigation. Our Roxthar is quite generous with other people's wealth. The Investigators themselves are given a third of the Investigation's share, but each Investigator can only collect his own share when he's mustered out of the Investigation-and who knows when that will be!"
"Ahhh. I wondered how Roxthar held their loyalty. I know it's not out of love!"
They all laughed.
"What will happen to the Grand Host after Kalvan is defeated?" Archpriest Lymachor asked.
"That is why I called this meeting. Even with our success on the battlefield Styphon's House faces a crisis unlike any in the past, one that threatens the very existence of the Temple."
"The Fireseed Mystery."
"Yes. It is no longer a secret and dungrakers all over the Five Kingdoms are building their own fireseed mills, with their Princes' and Kings' complete support. Thus, in a blink of an eye Styphon's House's greatest source of income is gone. True, our cotton plantations, our sugar trade, tobacco fields and Great Banking Houses will continue to bring us gold, but now we will face increased competition from other trading houses. Soon even the Middle Kingdoms will vie for our markets. Our political power and domination over the Five Kingdoms will only last to the day that the first Great King decides to tax our collections or temples. Then our favored status will not even last our lifetimes.
"Therefore, we must act in all haste. After Kalvan has been defeated or chased into Grefftscharr, we will use our Grand Host to bring to heel the Northern Kingdoms and consolidate our control over all the Five Kingdoms before it disbands."
"How do we get Soton to go along with this?"
"Much of this is the Grand Master's own scheme. He enjoys his power, which is greater than even the most powerful of Great Kings, because of the Temple. Soton does not want to see the Order dissolved or crippled by the collapse of Styphon's House. He will plant the idea of Investigating the Great Kings and Princes of Hos-Agrys and Hos-Zygros who did not support our war against the Usurper-how could Roxthar resist such bait?
"The Grand Host will bring the Great Kings of Hos-Agrys and Hos-Zygros to heel, and even Lysandros should he object. When all the Northern Kingdoms are under our domination, we will truly rule all the Five Kingdoms and enjoy even greater wealth than we possess today!"
Someone broke out a cask of mead and golden goblets were passed around.
"To Styphon's Great Victories-may they never end!"
"To First Speaker Anaxthenes, may he soon be Styphon's Voice!"
"Aye, aye," they agreed.
"We need his hand on the rudder of our ship of state," Archpriest Zemos said, who had been the former head of Styphon's Great Fleet.
"And around Roxthar's neck!" someone else shouted.
They all laughed. Anaxthenes smiled; it was a pleasant image.
Heraclestros added, "And a toast to the Daemon Kalvan and a quick death! Only Dralm himself can save him from the fate rushing his way."
True, thought Anaxthenes. But there's no Dralm to help Kalvan, and most of all-no Styphon to help Roxthar!