Soton felt a deep chill that came from more than just the cold stone walls and barrenness of Archpriest Roxthar's cell. Roxthar himself wore little more than his usual thin white robe, and Soton could see the outline of his ribcage where the cloth pressed against his chest. Roxthar's face was as lean as that of a starving wolf, and just as friendly.
"Sit down, Grand Master. I'm sorry I don't have more comfortable furnishings to offer you, but I find they distract me from my meditation with Our God."
Roxthar didn't sound the least bit sorry, but at least he was making an attempt at being civil, which told Soton he was still in the Investigator's good graces-or what passed for them! "I'm an old campaigner, Archpriest. I take comfort where I find it."
Roxthar nodded.
Soton sat down on a short three-legged stool. He could very easily see how it might discomfort a pampered highpriest. And, thanks to Roxthar, there were fewer of them every day. Next to Kalvan, Roxthar had done more to change the Temple than anyone in the history of the Five Kingdom's.
Now if he doesn't destroy the Temple, thought Soton. Roxthar's Holy Investigators had everyone in Balph looking over their shoulder. It was as Archpriest Anaxthenes said: 'Too much of that and everyone might forget who the real enemy was-the Usurper Kalvan.'
"What was it you wanted to see me about?" Soton asked.
"I have a decree from Supreme Priest and Styphon's Voice Sesklos I want you to read."
Sesklos had grown so weak, it was said, that he couldn't lift his hand, much less a quill to parchment. As he and Anaxthenes had suspected, Roxthar had been manipulating the Inner Circle through Archpriest Dracar while they had been attending Lysandros' enthronement in Harphax City.
Soton took the parchment from Roxthar with a sinking feeling in his stomach. It was well known in Balph that when Roxthar nodded, Dracar bowed. He read the short document with growing disbelief.
"By the Wargod's Mace, this is horse droppings!"
"Must I remind you, Soton, to whom you are speaking?"
"I am more than aware of that. Let me remind you that while you might run Balph, when I'm in the field I take orders from no one! To serve under a man who was a mere captain in my own command two winters ago- Dralm be damned!"
Roxthar's face turned into an evil mask. "Don't ever utter that name in my presence!" he shouted. Then his countenance returned to its usual lupine state. "No one, including myself, believes that Captain-General Phidestros is a better commander than yourself. Nonsense, of course.
"However, the political situation in Hos-Harphax is very unstable and would be worse yet if not for the debacle in Phaxos and Phidestros' successful storming of Tarr-Veblos. Now, after single-handedly vanquishing Prince Eltar, Phidestros is viewed by the people of Hos-Harphax as a hero."
"That was an act of pure insanity!" Soton said with a snort. "Phidestros is a top-notch cavalry officer, but Eltar was renowned as a warrior. That gesture could have landed Phidestros in a burial mound and doomed the campaign against Kalvan even before it started."
"This may be true, but it worked. He has won the hearts of the populace. Is it not also true that certain prominent members of the Harphaxi nobility still hold you responsible for their defeat at Chothros Heights?"
Soton nodded his head in agreement. As much as he didn't like the words, denying their truth would not change the Harphaxi blockheads.
"Lackwits, morons, imbeciles, every mother's son of them! They lost that battle through the damned stupidity of their own commanders and the cowardice of their soldiers."
"Your charges ring true, Grand Master. However, this is a political compromise requested by Great King Lysandros to Styphon's Voice to placate his Princes. The Electors of Hos-Harphax are afraid of Styphon's House- as they should be!" Roxthar paused to regain his composure. "And, their Great King, too. We need Lysandros and his Princes' support if we are to defeat the Daemon. It has been agreed by Styphon's Voice and the Inner Circle that we will give Lysandros anything he asks us for to aid his fight against the Daemon Kalvan."
"I understand Lysandros' position; it took almost a winter before his Election to Great King. Yet…"
"Do you doubt this Phidestros' qualifications? It was said that you recommended him to be Lysandros' new Captain-General."
"No. Phidestros is a good commander, and in a few winters he may even become a great one, but for now he is still green."
"Experience may not be what is necessary to stop the Daemon. Look how poorly the gray-beards did at Chothros Heights and at the Battle of Phyrax."
"There is truth in your words." Soton said. "Phidestros has fought the Usurper three times and lived to tell the tale. Let us hope he brings this campaign to a better conclusion than the last."
"If he does not, it will be his fault. After all, no one except the Harphaxi dimwits will blame the True God if the Harphaxi commander leads the Grand Host to defeat…"
"We had best pray to Styphon that Phidestros wins."
"He will win-with your help," Roxthar said as if victory over Hos-Hostigos had already been pronounced a boon by Styphon. You will be second-in-command. It will be your job to counter Phidestros' inexperience. For your sake, it would be best if we did not have another failure to explain to Styphon!"
"True. If we lose here, the next war might be fought at the gates of Balph itself."
Roxthar's face transformed into one of the fireseed devils that had recently been carved into the facade of Styphon's Great Temple. "That we must not allow! We have to destroy the Daemon Kalvan and all his spawn: Rylla, Ptosphes, Harmakros, Phrames, Chartiphon, and even the baby demon, Demia!"
Soton disagreed with the idea of child murder. He would do what he could for the little child if and when they took Hostigos Town.
"That is why I will accompany the Grand Host in its triumphant march to Hostigos."
While all of Balph knew of the Investigator's plans, Soton had still prayed to all the gods, and even the lesser devils, that Roxthar's mind might be changed. True, Roxthar had accompanied the Holy Host in their first strike against the Usurper Kalvan in the Year of the Wolf, but he suspected that the Investigator would take a much more active role in the Grand Host.
Even though Soton knew Archpriest Anaxthenes' plans depended upon Roxthar's presence with the Grand Host, Soton couldn't prevent himself from trying to discourage the Investigator. War was serious business and no place for civilians, especially meddling ones. "A battlefield is not a safe place for someone of your importance to the Temple. Think of the disorder that would occur if some accident of war were to cripple or kill you."
Roxthar's face writhed as he mulled over those possibilities, and for a moment Soton thought he had won his point.
"Styphon will guard me unless it is his Will that I come to his side. In this world, I will take my own precautions. I will be accompanied by a block of Temple Guardsmen and my own Investigators."
You may be mad., but you're no coward, Soton admitted to himself begrudgingly. "You're not going to bring more civilians along, are you?"
"It is Styphon's Will that the Investigation be brought to Hostigos. We can win the battle against the Usurper and still lose the war against the Daemon's ideas. We must scourge all traces of the Daemon and his spawn from this Earth! It must be done! It will be done! My Investigators will question every living thing in Hostigos, and when we are through there will be no trace, no followers, no children, no memory of Kalvan-it will be as if he had never existed!"
Soton felt goose bumps run up and down his arms. Roxthar was mad, as mad as a Sastragathi snake handler, and twice as dangerous. He was screaming now and foaming at the mouth, mouthing obscenities and curses at Kalvan and his followers. What could Soton do to stop Roxthar that Anaxthenes and the entire Inner Council could not? Nothing.
"Roxthar, let us win the war and then you can do as you will. But if you continue to-"
"I will brook no further obstacles regarding this matter, Master Soton! Is that understood? If you insist, I may again have to review my List of Investigation for the not-so-Holy Order of Zarthani Knights. Do I make myself clear, Grand Master?"
"Completely. Do as you will. But on this I will stand firm. Keep your Investigators out of the way of my troops, or I cannot be held responsible for what happens."
"Do not worry, Grand Master. It is not my plan to usurp your province. Do your job and we will do ours."
The Holy Investigator's final words were cool and without the excess of his earlier ravings. It were as though he could turn his madness off and on again at will. The thought of that chilled Soton down to the very marrow of his bones.