As Archpriest Anaxthenes walked through the ante-chamber to Great King Nestros' audience room, Archpriest Heraclestros whispered, "Over there, that's Prince Ptosphes of Hostigos."
The Prince, sitting stiffly in one of the marble seats, was making a determined effort not to be intimidated by the large delegation from Styphon's House: six highpriests, three archpriests and the commander of Styphon's Own Guard, High Marshal Xenophes. Prince Ptosphes was a dignified man of some fifty winters with a silver beard and heavily calloused hands. Sitting beside him was a white-haired man who looked like another former soldier, wearing the chain of chancellery, and a handsome young man with a princely crown, said to be Prince Phrames of Beshta.
Interestingly enough, the party from the false kingdom of Hostigos had arrived a moon-quarter earlier, but Great King Nestros seemed to have gone to great lengths to ensure that both parties would meet before his chambers today. Was this an attempt to intimidate him, or the Hostigi? Maybe Nestros was trying to bargain more concessions from the Hostigi and thought that by letting his party into the King's chambers first, the Hostigi would be willing to increase their earlier offers? From the scowl on Prince Ptosphes' face, he was willing to bet that stratagem would fail.
King Nestros was seated upon a throne big enough for two men-big but crude, like his capital, Rathon City. Nestros was a tall, powerfully-built man with ash-colored hair and a well-trimmed beard in the Northern Kingdoms' style. Unfortunately, his attempt at sophistication was undone by his under-slung chin and puppy dog eyes.
After the lengthy introductions and formal proceedings were finished, Anaxthenes decided the best way to answer Nestros' insult was to address it directly. "Upon Our arrival for a private audience with Your Majesty, We noticed that the emissaries for the Usurper Kalvan and False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos are present and awaiting an audience as well."
Nestros squirmed in his seat. "Well… yes, the Hostigi ambassadors arrived earlier to negotiate an alliance between Hos-Hostigos and Hos-Rathon. We have had several meetings and We are giving their offer serious consideration after taking into account their help against the nomads and Sastragathi tribesmen last spring."
Not so serious that you were willing to wait a moon-quarter to see what we might offer, Anaxthenes thought. "I did not know that the Usurper now desires to extend his dominion into the Trygath. Kalvan's ambitions are legendary, but this effrontery is without precedent."
Nestros face purpled. "Hos-Rathon is a mighty Kingdom, comprised of nine principalities all united under Ourself as one Great Kingdom. In territory, We have more cubits than Hos-Zygros and Hos-Bletha combined." Nestros continued in this vein, recounting all the glories of his new kingdom.
Anaxthenes had to fight back a yawn.
Nestros finished with, "We are Kalvan's equal-not his vassal."
"Is that what the Usurper told you?" Highpriest Danthor asked, in a moderate tone of voice.
"Well, no. But he has negotiated with Us in good faith and aided Us in our victory over the Warlord Ranjar Sargos."
Anaxthenes nodded almost imperceptibly to Highpriest Danthor and he began speaking again. "Is this the Sargos who also now calls himself Var-Wannax, or Great King, of the Sastragath? The one who is now the Usurper's sworn ally?"
"Yes, but-"
Anaxthenes interrupted, "Now, looking into the future, say after the Usurper Kalvan defeats his rightful liege lord, Great King Lysandros of Hos-Harphax, what's to stop him from turning his army to the west against Rathon? I'm sure his good friend Wannax Sargos would love to annex part of your Kingdom-or split it with the Usurper. With strong allies to protect your flanks, this might be a matter of little concern. However, should you persist in this one-sided alliance with the Usurper, who calls himself a Great King, you could well lose your own throne to him or his ally, the self-proclaimed Great King of the Sastragath."
"Kalvan is a friend and a man of honor and it is not conceivable that he would act in such a dishonorable manner!"
"Are you a sworn ally of the self-proclaimed Great King Kalvan?" Danthor asked quietly.
Nestor's voice rose. "He has sworn to recognize my title as Great King of Hos-Rathon, but not to aid in the defense of my kingdom. Nor have I sworn to defend Hos-Hostigos."
"My point exactly. Thus, Kalvan could initiate an attack on Rathon without forswearing any oath or treaty: is this or is this not true?"
"That is true. He did offer to form an alliance, but I was the one who decided to forbear until after the war against the… the nomads."
Anaxthenes had to bite down on his laughter. Nestros had almost said 'Knights,' which would have opened up a nest of termites upon the fragile structure of this alliance he was putting together.
Highpriest Danthor continued his questions. "Are you sure that was your decision, or was it Kalvan who withheld from any binding agreement? He is known to be a man who takes great pains to present the appearance of great personal honor, while his friends and allies do as they please. Look at the plague his wife unleashed upon Prince Araxes of Phaxos, a man who had once been another ally, an ally who declined to swear fealty to the False Kingdom of Hostigos. A prince who paid dearly for his dalliance with the Usurper Kalvan, not only with his life, but also the lives of all his family and kin. Is this what you are courting here in Rathon?"
Nestros looked perplexed. "Kalvan and I are friends-at least, I think we are."
"Are you willing to wager your title and kingdom on this supposition of friendship with a man of dubious origin, one whose wife who willfully attacks princes of another Great King?" Anaxthenes asked.
"I don't know-Kalvan is a great warrior and in all matters that I have observed appears to be a man of honor. However, he did spend a lot of time drinking with the barbarian, Sargos."
"I have heard this Sargos is a man of rude appearance and a nomad's demeanor. What nobility could such a man have?"
"He is a man of great strength and fights with honor, but he cannot hold his drink and he listens too much to his women."
"As does Kalvan, who gives the appearance of a household out of order; either that be truth, or he is much more devious and dangerous than he has been credited," Danthor said, as if both statements were the truth and completely obvious.
Danthor would make a good ally and Archpriest, thought Anaxthenes, but one he would have to keep an eye on.
"If I cannot trust Kalvan, whom can I trust?"
Anaxthenes held his hands out. "You do have other friends."
Nestros blinked, looking sheepish.
"Before leaving Hos-Ktemnos I had an audience with Great King Cleitharses and he expressed an interest in your welfare. Since both Hos-Ktemnos and your new Great Kingdom of Hos-Rathon share a common border, Cleitharses thought a mutual alliance between both Great Kingdoms might be of mutual benefit."
Somehow Nestros managed to combine the appearance of both being stunned and thoughtful at the same time, which left him looking like the town idiot. "Does this mean Great King Cleitharses would recognize my title?"
"Of course. As allies Great King Cleitharses could hardly refuse to recognize the new overlord of the Trygath. Both kingdoms would be bound by treaty to recognize each other's titles and territorial claims."
Nestros all but jumped up out of his throne and clapped his hands. "This is what I have always dreamed-" Nestros reddened, when he realized what his loose tongue had said. He regained his composure. "Yes, I would welcome an alliance with the Great Kingdom of Hos-Ktemnos. Would this mean that my title would also be recognized by Hos-Harphax and Hos-Agrys?"
Archpriest Anaxthenes smiled. "Yes, this would mean recognition by all the legitimate Great Kings of the Five Kingdoms, as well as the Order of Zarthani Knights. However, before we can continue these negotiations, there is a painful subject that we must broach."
Nestros' expression resembled that of a beached fish.
Archpriest Anaxthenes smiled. "Of course, Styphon's House will require compensation for the destruction of sixteen Styphon's House temples, including the High Temple of Rathon Town, that occurred while the Usurper Kalvan used Hos-Rathon to stage his invasion of the Order's provinces. Of course, you will assist in the re-building of all the destroyed temples and replacing the golden domes at a cost of a ten thousand rakmars per temple. We will also expect you to help found fifty new temples. Sadly, the priests who were murdered during the sacking of the temples cannot be replaced; however, a thousand nomad slaves will provide some compensation for the Temple and their families' losses." Anaxthenes continued with a list of conditions, declaration and reparations. "Finally, we will require a declaration from you declaring the Usurper to be an outlaw and voiding any and all earlier treaties and agreements with the false king of Hostigos."
Nestros was reeling; his ruddy complexion blanched to the color of fresh snow. "What about Prince Ptosphes and his party? What will I tell them?"
"Get rid of them. Send them back to Hos-Hostigos. Or let Styphon's Own Guard place them under arrest." Anaxthenes smiled at the thought of leading a chain of Hostigi prisoners into Balph headed by Prince Ptosphes, Chancellor Chartiphon and Prince Phrames. Investigator Roxthar would be so busy that the Inner Circle might be spared the Investigator's harangues for half a moon, at least!
Nestros' shook his head as if he were rising out of a deep pool. "Your blade of negotiations is double-edged. I must meet with my advisors and talk again to the Hostigi delegation. You demand too much, Archpriest! Kalvan has warned me about how you priests speak out of both sides of your mouth. Yet, he has not always been forthright with me, either-I wonder about all those wagon trains going from the Sastragath into Hostigos."
Anaxthenes let his fish wriggle against the hook, then set it. "It's your choice, Your Majesty. You can stay an outlaw and outside of the Five Kingdoms-remaining a provincial lord who claims to be a Great King. Or you can join your equals and be one with the Great Kingdoms. We will discuss this further after the sun rises."