Down Styphon!, page 19
part #8 of Kalvan Series
A smile on that sour face was so unusual that it took Tymolara aback for a few moments. “I take it you have good news, as well?”
Verla looked around carefully to see if they were being noticed, then said under her breath, “Yes, Prince Mnestros is back on his seat and the Styphoni have been vanquished from Eubros. Two other princedoms are also in rebellion!”
“That is good news, indeed!” Lady Tymolara quickly put her hand over her mouth, realizing she had spoken too loud. She covertly glanced around and her pulse dropped when she saw that no one was paying them any attention; she had quickly learned to dress drably and wear a frowning demeanor, as it kept men at a good distance.
“Yes, as soon as our friend destroys that snake pit in Balph, we will be free of our own tyrants,” Verla hissed back.
“However, the Arch-fiend has plans for our lad,” she replied.
“What do you mean? What deviltry is he up to now?”
“He plans for Aspasthar to lead the Kings Guard, then die in the defense of Balph. His men will have orders to kill the boy if he survives the battle.”
Verla gasped. “Truly, he’s a daemon in human guise come up through the earth from the Caverns of Regwarn.”
She nodded. Verla didn’t know the half of it. She still wept silently for the young girls Archpriest Grythos had murdered. “You must pass the word. Maybe our friend will be able to protect him.”
“I will do my best. When will the arch-devil be departing?”
“In the spring with most of his troops.”
Verla smiled openly, revealing gaps between her teeth. “Then the bloodbath will begin.”
* * *
TWENTY-TWO
I
The fleet was just off the Florida Keys when the lookout announced, “Ships, ahoy!”
The ocean was glassy with only some small swells rocking the caravel Kalvan was using as his transport. After the last two nights of constant rocking, he was pleased that he’d been able to keep his breakfast down. He had been suffering from seasickness ever since the boat had left Xiphlon harbor.
He preferred the caravels, which were similar to the ships Columbus sailed across the Atlantic, to the triremes. The Xyphloni galleys were too noisy and stank to Styphon’s Sky-Palace! Plus it made Kalvan sick to see the rows of slaves chained to their oars. He had attempted to explain the economic realities of owning slaves to High King Roldolf of Xiphlon, but it had been a complete waste of time.
Overhead, the sky was gunmetal gray and there was a light rain splattering the deck.
Kalvan had been expecting a Styphoni attack farther up the coast, but here was as good as anywhere. Thirty of the Hostigi naval schooners were at the forefront of the eighty or so galleys and caravels carrying the first part of the Hostigi army, horses and armaments. High King Roldolf of Xiphlon had refused to send any of his warships for fear of alienating the Styphoni.
The Hostigi-designed caravel Kalvan was sailing on was well in the front third of the fleet and he made his way cautiously up the mast to the crow’s nest—over the captain’s objections—so that he could watch the upcoming battle. He hated the movement of the crow’s nest, but more importantly he needed to see how the battle fared.
The schooners held several surprises for the oncoming Styphoni fleet of galleys, most of them large triremes and biremes. Naval warfare here-and-now wasn’t much advanced over the Roman era of Marc Anthony and Julius Caesar. The galleys all had rams and carried boards, or crows as the Romans called them, for boarding parties. A few of them carried small guns at either the bow or the stern, a relatively new innovation. The Styphoni-built galleys weren’t built sturdily enough for mounting guns on the port and starboard sides.
Kalvan’s schooners had no such problem. The safest course of action would have been to fire their cannons from a distance and destroy the leading galleys. Unfortunately, that would warn the others and most would escape. Instead he wanted to draw the Styphoni fleet into a fire trap few would evade.
He watched with great interest as the first galleys, three big triremes, closed in on the lead schooner. Suddenly a lance of Greek fire shot out and the lead galley’s sail caught fire. Within a minute, the entire boat was engulfed with flames. The forward galleys tried to turn and run, but instead their oars intermingled with a crashing sound while the higher Hostigi ships sent plumes of fire to their decks and sails. Already Kalvan could smell the burning canvas and flesh of screaming men, many of them chained to the boats.
He felt his stomach roil, and fought it back down. It wouldn’t look good for the Hostigi commander to lose his lunch in the middle of a battle a half mile away.
Some of the forward galleys were firing their bow chasers and the Hostigi schooners were taking a few minor hits. A four or six pound cannonball wasn’t going to do a whole lot of damage, except to any soldier or marine who got in its way.
Suddenly the schooners in the main group began to fire their guns. It reached their boat like distant thunder. Several of the sailors whispered prayers to the weather goddess.
“Pray to Galzar!” cried one of his men on deck. “He’s the one who will save you from slavery, not Lytris!”
Some of the galleys had taken direct hits, and two of them were sinking. Others were floundering. Most of the ones in the rear were trying to change course, causing more collisions. The butchers bill for this battle was going to be high. The lead schooners were now among the main fleet, causing the rest of the galleys to try and flee. Many crashed into other galleys or began to sink when their bottoms were shot out by the Hostigi artillery.
Now more than thirty or forty of the Styphoni galleys were on fire, and were causing collisions as they veered off and in one case spun around in circles. One of the Hostigi schooners came too close to a burning galley and suddenly went up in flames. More broadsides thundered out, smashing and sinking the fragile galleys. The air was rent with the screams of galley slaves being burnt to death or pulled under the ocean by sinking boats.
The Styphoni fleet was now in a complete rout. All they could think of was escaping the Greek fire and broadsides of the schooners. The schooners trailed the now fleeing galley fleet like hounds after a wounded bear, picking off the weak, galleys or those with damaged oars. By the time the battle drew out of eyesight, he estimated the Styphoni losses at a hundred sixty to a hundred and seventy boats.
Admiral Herad boarded Kalvans boat just before dark with his action report. His usually perfectly groomed hair and beard were in disarray and there was soot on his face, which made the toothy smile on his face stand out in stark relief. “Your Majesty, this has to be the greatest sea victory in history!”
“I believe it,” Kalvan replied. “What were our losses?”
The Admiral shrugged. “Very small, two ships sunk with minimal loss of crew. Another damaged by fire, but still afloat. A few sailors were lost to musket fire. All together we lost less than two hundred and eighty men, while the Styphoni lost thousands, not counting slaves chained to their oars. We tallied over a hundred and fifty boats sunk or burned to the waterline, Your Majesty!”
Kalvan shook his head. There were typically four men chained to each oar; therefore, each ship had to have had two or three hundred slaves, which meant more than thirty thousand slaves went down with the doomed galleys. Well, if he had his way, this would be the last great naval battle here-and-now using slave rowers.
“Its all clear sailing ahead, Sire. We chased them until our crews were exhausted. They won’t leave port again unless Styphon’s Own Voice orders them to. Even then, many of them will desert. They’ve never tasted defeat like this before, I promise you!”
II
From Kalvan’s latest message, Hestophes knew his Great King was now on his way to Hos-Bletha, there to join up with Duke Skranga and Democriphon, who was now a great king. We do live in strange times, he decided. I should be with them, though. And would have been if the Great King of Fencesitters would ever make up his mind.
Now, his orders were to return to Thagnor Town and join up with Great Queen Rylla, instead of joining Great King Kalvan and the Army of Styphon’s Destruction. The message had come over a moon ago and he’d had plenty of time to mull it over. What is Queen Rylla up to? he wondered. The faster he got away from Zygros City and back to Nos-Hostigos, the sooner he’d get his answer.
Finally, after endless delays, Hestophes had been granted another private audience with Great King Phidestros. This time I hope hes made up his mind. Kalvan had been emphatic that he remain in Zygros City until he had a firm reply from Phidestros. He knew it was an important job, for if Phidestros were to bring his troops into Hos-Harphax to back Great King Geblon, the Hostigos Army of Styphon’s Destruction could be in jeopardy.
As Phidestros’ page led him into the king’s private audience chamber, Hestophes noticed that a desk had been added to the room. A familiar looking piece of furniture. It looked almost identical to the one that had been in Great King Kalvan’s study in the summer palace in Hostigos Town.
Without thinking, he blurted out, “By Dralm, is that King Kalvan’s old desk? How did you ever get it out of Tarr-Hostigos in one piece?”
Phidestros looked up shyly. “No, it’s a new one. I built it myself based on Kalvan’s design.”
Hestophes ran his right hand along the desktop. “Very nice work, Your Majesty. Where did you learn working skills like this?”
Phidestros’ face flushed with pleasure. “When I was a boy, I was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker. Back then, I hated every candle of the time I spent woodworking.” He shook his head in wonderment. “Sometimes we don’t know when we’re well off.”
Hestophes nodded in agreement. “My father was a publican. I was his only son and he wanted me to take over his tavern. There are times I wish I had stayed with him. Still, there is much to be said for being a nobleman or great king.”
Phidestros laughed. “Very true, Duke. I must apologize for keeping you here in Zygros City for so long, but I have had a difficult decision to make.” He paused to take a maple-candy and offer one to Hestophes. “In the end, after much thought, I have decided to take Great King Kalvan up on his offer. My army and I will stay here and keep out of the upcoming war; in exchange, I will receive a third of the battle-spoils and treasure from the Styphon’s House Temple’s Treasury, its temples and Great Banking House. Those were his terms, am I correct?”
Hestophes bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty, those were Great King Kalvan’s terms.” He paused to pull out two parchment documents he had kept in a leather satchel. “And thank you, Your Majesty.”
He waited while Phidestros finished his candy and slowly read over the terms of the agreement. When he was satisfied, he wrote his signature in runes on both documents. Kalvan’s signature and Royal Seal were already on both. After his signature was finished, he heated some red wax and fixed it to each of the documents, then used his signet ring, with the Zygrosi Royal Device, to seal one copy.
Phidestros waited a short while for the wax to dry, then handed the sealed document back to Hestophes who put it back in the satchel.
“My Great King will see that your shares are delivered once he has returned to Old Hostigos. Have you selected an emissary to keep track of your shares?”
“Yes, Duke Kyblannos will act as my eyes and ears. Is that acceptable?”
Hestophes bowed his head. “Of course, Your Majesty. After his return from Harphax City, the Duke and I shared a cold evening together. He is a wonderful storyteller and a good trencherman and drinker. I had trouble matching him cup for cup.”
Phidestros smiled. “He is that, and much more.” He paused, then added, “I suspect he is looking forward to this journey. I got the feeling that he has some difficulty in adjusting to civilian life.”
“Yes, he’s a born wanderer and soldier. I will miss his good company. I wish I could join him, but I was ordered to return to Thagnor Town.”
Hestophes got the feeling that Phidestros had a bit of wanderlust himself and an ache to get back up on his charger. It must be tough to hang up your spurs after a lifetime of warfare and soldiering. If this war goes well I may have an opportunity to find out for myself.
TWENTY-THREE
The boat ride from Xiphlon had been at its worst when they had swung around the peninsula of Florida. The Florida Keys had been as deserted as they were when Ponce de Leon had visited them in the Sixteenth Century. Massive untouched mangroves hugged the coast, making him wonder if there was anyone living there. The profusion of garish wildlife, especially the birds, had to be seen to be believed. If it hadn’t been for the occasional fishing ship, he would have believed the entire coastline was uninhabited.
Kalvan was thrilled beyond belief when the broad-beamed caravel finally arrived at Dalthax Port’s harbor, which was in the same spot as Savannah, Georgia back on otherwhen. Despite the lack of storms the last two days of his voyage had been very unpleasant, as the boat rolled like a pig in mud, creaking and groaning as it pushed its way through the Atlantic Ocean swells. He had suffered the worst case of sea-sickness in his life. As he was lowered off the side in a bosun’s cradle to the wharf, Kalvan swore that he would never board another boat. If it wasn’t for his royal dignity, he would have kissed the ground when his feet landed on the wharf’s planks.
If he had to, he would walk back to Nos-Hostigos. Halgoth and his bodyguards weaved back and forth along the dock like a bunch of drunken sailors as they tried to get their land legs. The Great King’s party was met dockside by a large group of dignitaries. He spotted some of the princes dressed in white togas and wearing golden crowns. Kalvan’s jerkin was already soaked; he realized he was going to have to start wearing togas himself if he was going to stay in this muggy climate for long. Thank the gods that winter was on its way.
Duke Skranga was the first to arrive, his scraggly red beard as long as a billy goat’s. Next was a broad-shouldered man wearing the gold circlet of a prince. More names to remember....
“Welcome, Great King Kalvan," a prince he didn’t recognize said in stentorian tones.
“Thank you, Prince—”
Duke Skranga interrupted, “Your Majesty, I would like to introduce you to our loyal ally and First Prince of Hos-Bletha, Prince Vythron of Taurnos.”
Kalvan made a slight bow in the princes direction, who fell to his knees and all but kissed the ground.
“Prince Vythron, please rise. I suggest we meet tomorrow for a real talk, but right now I need some rest. It was a long journey from Xiphlon and I need to get my legs and body accustomed to being back on land.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. We can meet at the Dalthax Guildhall. Would midday be good?”
“Yes,” he replied, turning to Skranga. “Do you have a room for me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We’ve reserved an entire floor at the Seaman’s Inn.” He waved his hand in dismissal, and the crowd began to scatter. “I will accompany you there, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you,” Kalvan replied, as they made their way down the street. The streets were lined with rubberneckers and he wondered if half the city was out to see him.
Inside his spacious bedchamber, Kalvan told his advisors he’d speak to them later in the evening after he caught up on his sleep. Cleon helped him strip off his jerkin, removed his doublet and britches. Kalvan fell onto the bed and promptly fell asleep. He woke up the next morning to a lighted room, suddenly noticing he still had his boots on.
Kalvan grabbed the nearby bell pull and Cleon, followed by a page, came into the room with candles to help him get dressed again. He washed his face in a bowl of scented water and let his manservant put on fresh clothes. “Thanks, Cleon.”
His manservant blushed, even after all this time with Kalvan he still wasn’t used to being thanked.
“I know there’s a roomful of dignitaries downstairs waiting on me.”
Cleon nodded.
“Have they picked a meeting room?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As I suspected, he thought. He turned to his page and said, “Tell them I’ll be right down.”
As the Royal Page rushed off, Kalvan tried to sort through his thoughts. When he had a reasonable plan of action, he left the room where he was joined by Halgoth and two massive bodyguards.
Duke Skranga was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. “Your Majesty, it is good to see you again.” He even managed to sound sincere.
Kalvan smiled, as he noted the heavy gold chain around the Duke’s neck and the massive bejeweled rings on every finger. “I can see you’ve done well here. So you’re Chancellor now?”
“Yes, Great King Valthros highly respects my confidences.”
Kalvan smiled.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sire, for including me in this mission. I’ve never had such a wonderful time, although it was dangerous on occasion. I got to play a Styphon’s House highpriest! It was the role of a lifetime. I’d never realized I had the bent for acting, but I may have missed my calling....”
“Maybe, maybe not. I can see that your rank has done you well.”
Skranga laughed embarrassedly. ‘Well, Your Majesty, I will admit my time here has been profitably spent. The Royal Treasury has done well, too. I’ll leave Democriphon to fill you in on that.”
“Before you take me inside, what’s the inside information on the major players?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I wouldn’t let you enter the great hall without a briefing. I’ve obtained a small room off the hall where we can talk in private.”
Kalvan followed his Chief of Intelligence through a warren of hallways and small rooms to a back room full of barrels that had been hastily cleaned. Skranga sat down on an upended barrel and he did likewise. His bodyguard stayed outside guarding the thick wooden door.
“As you know from our letters, it wasn’t until after our arrival in Hos-Bletha that we decided to use the Orphan Prince gambit. The letters were infrequent and in code so there’s a lot you don’t know.”
