As Duke Ruffulo walked into King Theovacar's private audience chamber with one of the King's Companions on either side, he noted that it was decorated in marked contrast to the gilded throne room. Theovacar's private inner sanctum contained scrolls and finely glazed amphora with battle scenes from the Western Sea. A large mosaic covered one wall showing the Kingdom of Grefftscharr, outlined in gold, and its vassals Lyros, Brythar, Helmout, Maumue, Rhinnar and even Thagnor, which was a vassal in name only.
The Duke noted that both of the King's Companions, his sworn bodyguard, left the room after a slight nod from Theovacar, an observance signaling both trust and honor to his guest. When King Theovacar rose to touch palms, he noticed the dark circles under Theovacar's eyes and lines of worry that bracketed his mouth. Ruffulo was known in the Assembly to be an occasional ally of the king, but this was the first time he'd been invited for a private audience.
The Duke wondered what Theovacar's price would be, since the king never did anything by accident; all was by design, down to the silver oil-lamps in sconces on the stone walls made in the image of Thanor's hammer, which was Theovacar's personal emblem.
After the expected formal greetings were expressed, King Theovacar asked, "Duke Ruffulo, you are well known to be a respected leader within the Assembly of Lords. Is this not true?"
Ruffulo knew this was a question that needed no answer, just as he was certain he wouldn't have been invited to a private audience with the King were it not the truth. He nodded his head, avoiding the King's direct gaze. Theovacar's eyes were an endless pool of gray ice, like the heart of a frozen glacier. All knew tales of shamans on the Sea of Grass who practiced spells that enslaved free men. He would not be surprised to learn that the King had taken instruction from such a magician.
"I need someone to represent Our interests in the Assembly, someone who is not known to be in Our confidence."
The Duke nodded.
"The Ros-Zarthani army is a moon quarter's march away from our borders. I have heard there is strong sentiment that We should mobilize Our army to stop them."
"I have heard this," Ruffulo said cautiously, careful only to repeat common knowledge. "Prince Varrack of Thagnor claims we must punish these interlopers before they reach our Kingdom. Many others agree. Prince Fridrek of Rhinnar believes these Ros-Zarthani are but the skirmishers of a much greater army waiting to fall upon our lands.
"What do you believe?"
The Duke knew this question was as much a measure of him as it was of the Assembly of Lords. "It is my belief that we should escort the Ros-Zarthani army out of our lands with an army large enough to keep them away from temptation. The envoy of the False God Styphon, Archpriest Prysos, tells us that they have engaged this band of mercenaries to fight in the Fireseed War against Great King Kalvan, whom they call the Usurper. These false priests of Styphon have lied before, but this tale appears to be truth."
Theovacar stroked his sable-colored goatee. "This is what We believe, as well. Were this truly an invasion there would be three or four times as many soldiers. Still, We must show the Ros-Zarthani that We are prepared for any misadventures upon their part. Or next time We may be facing a real army of invasion."
Ruffulo smiled. "Since the Trader Verkan brought the fireseed formula to Greffa we have been free of the fireseed priests' demands. Maybe someday we will use this fireseed to return some of our gold to the Treasury."
"Yes, and with interest. We would also like to punish these arrogant priests of Styphon's House who act as if they were still the only source of fireseed. This Kalvan, Thanor be praised, has given us the ability to make our own fireseed and escape their usurious charges and penurious lots."
Ruffulo nodded his accord. Styphon's House had proscribed fireseed sales to the Middle Kingdoms shortly after its discovery. Over the centuries it had been made available in small lots, but only after the price had been raised so high that one pound of fireseed was as expensive as an ounce of gold dust and the supply so limited that the great guns on the City Mole were fired but once a year. Nor was it unusual to find that the fireseed was spoiled. The Fireseed Works had brought the price of fireseed way down and the City Magazines were full for the first time in Greffa's history.
"However," Theovacar continued, his voice rising, "this is not the time to involve Ourselves in the Fireseed Wars. Let the Ros-Zarthani break their spears on Kalvan's armor, and we will destroy the fleeing Ros-Zarthani should they again dare to trespass upon our lands when they leave with their tails tucked up under their hind-quarters!"
The Duke nodded. He agreed with Theovacar's assessment, but the voices in the Assembly of Lords were in opposition to any measured solution. Prince Varrack had them convinced they were honor-bound to oppose the Ros-Zarthani barbarians. He felt differently, as history had shown the Ros-Zarthani were not some loose confederation of tribes from the Sea of Grass temporarily joined together for loot and brigandage. No, the Ros-Zarthani were a disciplined, trained force with centuries of tradition and martial success behind them. True, they lacked arquebuses and bombards, but they made up for that with good morale and training. Furthermore, even with all the fireseed they could burn, the Grefftscharrer armies were still short of firearms.
"The Assembly is so like minded that no words of yours, Your Majesty, will change their views."
Theovacar grinned from ear to ear. "I have no intention of stopping those blockheads from rushing to their deaths. In fact, I want you to counsel them to do so."
"But, Your Majesty, your representatives have told the Assembly repeatedly that you oppose attacking the invaders."
"Of course, how else to get Varrack off his endparts!"
"What if Prince Varrack is successful?"
"Then he has lost soldiers to the Ros-Zarthani that might have opposed Us in the future."
Not for the first time this afternoon, Ruffulo regretted being called to attend this private audience with King Theovacar-not that he had a choice! Of one thing he was certain, he did not like the slippery way his King's mind worked and he doubted he would sleep as soundly having found out. Theovacar acted as if his honor were as loose as a slattern's shift. Nor did Ruffulo like serving as the King's tool, but Theovacar was known to punish those who thwarted his will-and their families as well.
Unfortunately, Ruffulo's past support of the King had cost him the friendship of the very allies that could free him from this trap. Once again Theovacar would use the Assembly of Lords; Ruffulo hoped-vainly he suspected-that someday things would not always be such.
"What part am I to play?"
Theovacar's smile was not a pretty thing to watch. "I am going to send five thousand soldiers to Bundt Town, which is our westernmost outpost. This will quiet the opposition and still the cries that I'm not defending Grefftscharrer territory. However, they will be under orders not to attack the Ros-Zarthani unless attacked first."
Ruffulo nodded. "There is little of value in that small town to tempt the Ros-Zarthani, yet it will still the cries in the Assembly that you are ignoring this 'invasion'."
"Yes, and your role will be to encourage Prince Varrack to take his army into the Sea of Grass to fight them."
"He will not bend to my will."
"Of course not, or you would not be having this audience. You will encourage him, even if it means ridiculing him on the floor of the Assembly of Lords."
He blanched, looking down. Yes, it could be done; Varrack was hot tempered and impetuous. However, if Theovacar's plan came to fruition, and Varrack suffered serious losses or public humiliation-he would earn himself a very bad enemy. Of course, if he defied Theovacar, he would earn an even greater enemy, as well as one who shared the same city.
When Ruffulo looked back up he could not help but notice the triumph in Theovacar's eyes. Now that the King was in a good mood; it was time for a gamble of his own. "I will need gold, lots of it. I need to purchase some of Varrack's friends, since I am not of their circle. They will not come cheap."
"Yes, We will see that you get your gold. We will give Our Treasurer orders to accept your drafts."