"Which makes it even more urgent to chase him down now, before he makes his move," Phidestros said. "Kalvan has a genius for making friends: Look at how he was able to turn that barbarian Sargos into a close ally. King Nestros, too. It was not Kalvan's fault Nestros stabbed him in the back. Right now, we have our best opportunity to strike the demoralized Hostigi army, to kill Kalvan and to put paid to his legend."
Geblon was about to speak when a loud knock halted their conversation.
"What is it?" Geblon asked.
"A visitor, a Captain Ranthos. He wears the uniform of Styphon's Own Guard."
They all spat on the plank floor.
"He says it is urgent. He gave me a dispatch."
Geblon sighed and opened the door, taking the offered parchment. "You can leave." He shut the door and walked it over to his commander.
Phidestros opened the parchment and read: "I am wearing a disguise. To demonstrate my trust, I will tell you that I am a Greffan, who was working in the Royal Foundry of Hos-Hostigos. I was able to escape the night the Investigators attacked us and have been on the run ever since. I am in contact with other Hostigi, including Saski and Nostori who are interested in becoming your subjects. If you listen to me, I believe I can present you with a proposition worth your time."
Kyblannos whistled. "That must be some story."
Geblon nodded. "Shall I have him brought in?"
Phidestros smiled. "I have long desired to hear from my new subjects."
They all laughed.
"Bid him enter, but disarm him first."
"In case Roxthar's up to something?"
"Exactly."
Geblon shortly returned with a broad-shouldered man whose pate was completely bald. Underneath two pitiless gray eyes was a large moustache. Phidestros was impressed both by his bearing and his ability to return his gaze.
"Who are you and what is your real name?"
"Your Highness, Aranth was my Name Day gift. I changed it to Ranthos, after the Foundry was sacked, when I went into hiding. I am a former Greffan artillery officer, who became a mercenary in Hos-Agrys in order to learn more about your guns. There is little quality fireseed in Greffa, so I left to serve in the Five Kingdoms. I worked my way up to Captain of the Black Horn Battery based in Agrys City. We were recruited by a Styphon's House highpriest to fight in Sask for Prince Sarrask. My battery was captured at the Battle of Fyk by Great King Kalvan. He needed workers for his new Royal Foundry. I was offered terms and put in charge testing all the new guns for the Foundry.
"After the debacle at Ardros Field, I assumed that anyone picked up outside Hostigos Town with a Greffan or Zygrosi name would be immediately tagged for the Investigation. That's not an experience I intend to endure." The grim set of his mouth made it quite clear that if Ranthos were to be encouraged to leave this world, there would be a blood price.
He found it interesting that the Greffan called him by his less known Princely title, not his military one. "What is this 'proposition' that you believe I will find of interest?"
Ranthos said, "I offer you two companies of former Hostigi who would like to both continue living and soldiering. Many of these men have fought or lived in Hostigos and Sask. I believe the Red Claws and the Silver Companies might be of some value to Your Highness."
Phidestros paused to re-light his pipe, which had gone out during all his hand waving. "First, a few questions: Why are you still in Hostigos and not with your Great King?"
The man nodded as if he thought it was a good question. "Most of us were not able to leave with our King. Some had families they did not want to leave behind, others for various reasons did not want to flee again to foreign lands-maybe never to return."
The grin he gave made it quite clear that while they all might be soldiers, they might not be the most reputable.
Phidestros knew those soldiers were often the best fighters-if not, well, Tarr-Beshta was rumored to contain a large dungeon.
"Of what value to me are men of questionable loyalty?"
"Maybe, because we know things that only we have learned in the service of the Great King. Things we can teach you and your soldiers."
Phidestros nodded, not commenting out loud. "What else?"
Captain Ranthos smiled. "While I am out of touch with day-to-day-events in Hostigos Town, we do get occasional news. The fact that the Grand Host is still here is informative."
He nodded. "Continue."
"I expect the Grand Host will be on the move soon. If they plan to pursue Kalvan, they will need a warm trail. I am certain, if what we know of Grand Master Soton is true, that the Grand Master chafes under the Holy Investigator's anchor."
Phidestros nodded. For an outsider, this Ranthos appeared quite conversant with the Grand Host's current logjam. "Continue, Captain."
"Meanwhile, back in Greater Beshta, events are taking place beyond your present control. Investigators will come when you leave. Thieves and bandits will take advantage of the lack of central authority. Your new subjects will flee, preferring to take their chances in Hos-Harphax to death under the Investigation, or rape and pillage by bandits. It might take you years to rebuild what has been lost in one campaign."
Ranthos had tapped into his greatest worry. He suspected that Archpriest Roxthar was already setting up the Investigation of his lands while he was still in the field-it would be just like the white-robed murderer! Especially after he had insulted Roxthar over the woman Sirna, the Greffan healer. He'd put Captain Cythros in charge of Beshta, but he'd only been able to spare him a double-company.
"So how can you help solve my problems?"
"I don't expect you to trust me, or my men, right away. I'd suggest you send some of your own personal troops along to guarantee our loyalty. These Hostigi troopers, most of whom are deserters or men who could not join their Great King due to injuries, know what will happen to them if they are captured. So far, we've been lucky. But our numbers have grown so large that we have taken to ambushing the Investigation parties and wearing the armor and capes of the Red Hand. Still, sooner or later, we will be caught and called for an accounting."
Phidestros could see the man made sense. He had heard rumors of missing Investigators; Archpriest Roxthar had demanded that he send regulars to search the hillsides for bandits and escaped Hostigi army units. So far, he'd been able to refuse. Captain Ranthos was not only audacious but clever as well. He had proved that merely by surviving in the present climate. The remaining question was: Is he useful and trustworthy?
The big man made a flourish as if rolling all the bones in both hands. "So as you see, Your Highness, our time here is limited. In Greater Beshta we could help restore order to your lands, and-as you know-we have a vested interest in keeping the Investigation beyond your borders."
Phidestros laughed. "You do at that!" He liked this blunt-speaking foreigner. If Kalvan had relied on him to protect his precious Royal Foundry, he must be of trustworthy character. And, it was also true, that Captain Cythros could use all the soldiers Phidestros could send to Greater Beshta to help hold his lands. The next question was: Why did Ranthos leave Kalvans service? "Why didn't you personally follow your overlord, King Kalvan, into retreat?"
Ranthos smiled as if he'd been waiting for that question. "I was not oath-sworn as an officer of the Royal Army, but as a guard and advisor to the Foundry. My oath and duty ended when the Investigators arrived and killed my co-workers and burned the Royal Foundry to the ground. Of course, we sent some of the Red Hand as an escort to Galzar's Hall. Still, I was lucky to escape with my life."
A good answer, thought Phidestros. He could also see why the Greffan captain might not want to report to Kalvan after leaving his post in ruins. It was also true that he needed more men he could trust in Beshta while he was on campaign. I can spare a company of the Iron Band to escort these new soldiers. The trick would be raising even more when they arrived.