This was only Phidestros' second visit to Kalvan's former palace, both times under duress. The first time had been for his investiture as Prince of Greater Beshta, where he'd felt like the country cousin to the groom at a village wedding. (Being a Prince was going to take more getting used to than being Great Captain-General!) Nor had sharing the dais with his co-prince, Sthentros, made it any easier. This visit, however, was for a council of war led by Great King Lysandros with both the Princely commanders and their Captain-Generals, Prince Sthentros of Hostigos, Grand Master Soton, Prince Valthames of Xanx, Archpriest Phyllos, Prince Epiclytis of Arklos, Investigator Roxthar, Captain-General Anaphon and Xenophes, Commander of Styphon's Own Guard. He was certain he would be the one getting the orders, not giving them.
Before he reached the private audience chamber, he was motioned aside by Chancellor Kyphannes, Lysandros' chief advisor.
Kyphannes, a tall wispy man with a receding hairline, whispered in his ear, "The Great King wants to meet you in private, Your Highness, before he meets with the others."
Phidestros nodded his head. This being called "Your Highness" would take some getting used to!
The Chancellor escorted him into a small handsomely appointed study.
Lysandros saw his eyes examining the room and answered, "This was Kalvan's study." He pointed to the deerskin map on one wall, with the boundaries of Hos-Hostigos marked in red ink. "The Usurper left in too much of a hurry to pack. Unfortunately, he did take time to empty the treasury. Prince Sthentros finds that impossible to accept and has his men poking their way into every palace nook and cranny looking for Kalvan's moneybox."
They both exchanged grins, leaving Phidestros feeling reassured; he hadn't been sure if Lysandros had been completely taken in by Sthentros- or his daughter.
Lysandros suddenly sobered. "There are things we need to discuss before meeting with the others. I've just received an urgent dispatch from Count Hythar. The Highpriests of Galzar have been meeting at the High Temple in Agrys City and have decided to place the Grand Host under Galzar's Ban"
Phidestros expelled a large breath, and began coughing. "I was afraid of this!"
Lysandros nodded. "Styphon's House has rather more enemies in Hos-Agrys than in Harphax or Hos-Zygros. Archpriest Phyllos suspects the League of Dralm is behind this; not that Roxthar and his Investigation have made these charges difficult to justify."
"I warned Roxthar not to Investigate the Hostigi prisoners of war-at least, not where Uncle Wolf Olmnestes could learn of it."
Lysandros struck his fist on the stone wall. "These walls listen better than the Investigator. Why do you think I followed the Army so quickly? Be still, Captain-General, I know you think it was to snatch your mantle of command and put it on my own shoulders, but my real concern was to put some curbs upon the Investigation. I had heard about the rumblings in Hos-Agrys from my intelligencers a moon-quarter before I left Hos-Harphax. The Council of Galzar would have moved faster with their Ban had I not sent a large number of purses to my envoys; they spent them well, or this Ban would have been pronounced a moon-quarter ago."
Phidestros nodded. That was gold well spent.
"Also, I wanted to Invest you as Prince of Beshta as quickly as I could arrange so that you were able to issue an edict banning the Investigation from Beshta."
"Thank you, Your Majesty! I am most happy with your command."
Lysandros grinned, "As I expected. You will like the next one even better! I will transfer all the mercenary units in the Grand Host to the Army of the Princedom of Beshta."
Phidestros was completely taken aback. "But why?"
"I want all the mercenaries in the Grand Host, almost all of whom are loyal to Galzar, in the Army of Beshta."
Phidestros shook his head in puzzlement. "I don't understand."
"According to my most recent dispatch, the Council of Galzar has publicly cleared you of all charges of torturing prisoners. Thus, Beshta-and you-are not under the Ban, since the government of Beshta did not exist when the Ban was ordered."
"Roxthar will be livid!"
"I do not need his permission. All of Styphon's House's soldiers, including the Zarthani Knights are under the Ban of Galzar."
"Does Soton know this?" Phidestros asked.
"No, not yet; nor does Roxthar, or even Archpriest Phyllos."
"How is this possible, Your Majesty?"
"It is We who control the roads through Hos-Harphax into the False Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos-not Styphon's House. I have had my men waylay Styphon's messengers, claiming they carry the plague. We will release them when it is to Our advantage; if only I could do likewise with the highpriests of Galzar-but there's no need to further antagonize them."
Phidestros nodded his agreement. Lysandros was far more devious than he had suspected; he would have to be even more careful about his plans now that he was a Prince and under the Great King's eye.
"Thanks to the Investigator's excesses, the Royal Army of Hos-Harphax is also under the Ban." Lysandros face was red and he was breathing faster. "If only I had my-Enough, I cannot change what already is." He took a few deep breaths and continued, "Furthermore, I will open negotiations with my Princes and vassals to transfer any of the Galzar faithful, who so request, from the Royal to the Princely armies."
"Excellent idea, Your Majesty! That will buy us time and help convince Uncle Wolf Olmnestes that you are acting in good faith and are not connected to, or in support of, the atrocities the Investigation has committed in Styphon's name-not yours! In addition, it will take moons to transfer that many soldiers, complete with pensions, to the Princely armies."
Unspoken was the fact that it would also reduce the power of the Iron Throne. Now, having actually seen first hand Lysandros work at power-brokering, Phidestros suspected the Great King might be just as formidable on the battlefield as he was in the upper chambers! As one of Lysandros' Princes, it was now to his advantage to help weaken the Royal army in whatever way possible. This was a good start.
Plus, he could see another advantage to Beshta from Lysandros' plans: once word got out that the Investigation was not allowed in Beshta, Hostigi from all the other Princedoms would flock to Greater Beshta. Phidestros could see all manner of ways of taking advantage of this flood of skilled artisans, road builders, mapmakers and former Hostigi soldiers.
"Now," the Great King continued, "I have another reason for not wanting to have the Royal Army chase Kalvan hill over vale. As you are no doubt aware, some of our Agrysi Princes would like to march into Ulthor and add it to the Great Kingdom of Hos-Agrys; however, stuck in Hostigos they will be unable to realize that ambition. Just as our Ktemnoi allies would like to add the Princedom of Kyblos to Hos-Ktemnos. It is My will that all those lands that were once part of Hos-Harphax shall once again be brought to their rightful place in the order of things. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. You have my complete and unwavering support both as one of your Princely vassals and as the Grand Captain-General of the Grand Host."
Lysandros allowed himself a small cat-like smile. "You will do better as Prince than my courtiers and your fellow Princes expect. I have chosen well. Let us now put these plans into action."