"Which would be a good thing, Verkan. Let me tell you about the meeting we had yesterday afternoon. I was called into Anaxthenes' quarters-a penthouse at the top floor of Styphon's High Temple, formerly the headquarters of Styphon's Own Voice Sesklos. Even the God Alexander, on Fourth Level Alexandrian-Macedonia, doesn't have such opulent furnishings. The overall effect, whether he's aware of it or not, is a hypnotic induction from all the over-stimulation and ceremonial ritual involved in a face-to-face meeting."
He used his first level recall to reconstruct the meeting for Chief Verkan:
"Archpriest Danthor, I take it you are happy with your new position in the Inner Circle?"
"Yes, Your Divinity. It is afar distance from my previous temple in Bletha Town."
Anaxthenes laughed. "I'm not laughing at you, Archpriest, but at my memories as the youngest son of a Baron who had more children than he could feed. I know neglect as well as the boredom of hayseed provinces. I helped elevate you, Archpriest, because I saw that we shared a similar background and need for acclaim. Is that not right?"
"Yes, Your Divinity. I cannot thank you enough for your faith in my abilities and for my present high position in the Temple."
"Good," Styphon's Voice said, all but smacking his lips. "Then, maybe you can help me with a difficult problem."
"What would that be, Your Divinity?"
"Great King Cleitharses has begun to present Us with a bit of a problem."
Danthor raised his eyebrows, fearing what was to come. He liked the gentle king with his love of reading and scroll collecting. King Cleitharses had the best library outside the Temple Archives in the Five Kingdoms.
"It appears that the old fool is going to appoint Marshal Valthros as the new Lord High Marshal of the Ktemnoi forces in the Grand Host and request that Prince Anaxon return to Ktemnos City."
"Your Divinity, how does this bode ill for Styphon's House?"
"Ever since the disastrous Battle of Phyrax, when Soton retired from his position to protect his Knights and left the Ktemnoi forces to face Kalvan's guns unsupported, Anaxon has blamed Grand Master Soton for the destruction of the Ktemnoi Sacred Squares. He has confided to his most trusted advisors-some in Styphon's House's pay, of course-that upon his uncle's death he will 'cleanse the palace of those cowardly yellow bedsheets and rule as a proper Great King. Not as some plaything of some pox-ridden priests."
"Truly, "Anaxthenes continued, "it is not in the Temple's best interests to have Prince Anaxon return to Ktemnos City-either now, or later-to be invested upon the Golden Throne. He is needed now in the fight against the Daemon Kalvan; later when the Usurper is vanquished, an accident may befall him. After all, wars are dangerous places and many people die in battle."
Danthor nodded, wondering where all this was leading, and fearful that he knew.
"However, Anaxon's premature return could cause us problems with both maintaining the Ktemnoi soldiers now in Hos-Hostigos and those whom We may wish to send there in the future."
"What do you want me to do, Your Divinity?"
"I want you to act as my agent and ensure that King Cleitharses dies under normal conditions."
Danathor blanched. This was not something he'd enjoy explaining to the Paratime Commission-even if he were willing to kill a harmless old man.
"I understand this may be difficult for one not accustomed to the realities of life in Balph. However, most of us who have risen so high in Styphon's favor have bloodstains not only on our hands, but our robes as well."Anaxthenes nodded down to his scarlet robe of primacy and grinned evilly.
Danthor felt a chill run down his spine.
"Now, I fear, Danthor, it is time to dirty your hands. You are the only member of Styphon's House that the old fool will permit in his presence."
Cleitharses may be a silly old woman, but he's not stupid, thought Danthor.
"I would have him dealt with in my own way, but so many have been poisoned in Balph these past few years that even Cimon, our Peasant Priest, would be suspicious. We know the old King's habits very well; every half moon he has a concubine brought to the palace from the Brothel of Zaphrya to administer to his baser needs. Zaphrya is a very discriminating madam and I've convinced her that forging a good relationship with Styphon's House was more valuable than the King's gold coins."
Anaxthenes' smile was chilling. "Since I threatened to denounce him as a pedophile, King Cleitharses has abandoned his child lovers-which is unfortunate as it will make it more difficult for us to undermine his authority. The people have little patience for those who voyage upon such paths. I have arranged with Zaphrya to provide the King with a concubine that we will procure."
As far as Danthor had been able to determine, Cleitharses had never laid a hand, or anything else on his Royal Pages; however, he was nice to them, which in this culture meant he might very well have less obvious and more base motives. The old king was smart enough to have figured out that if Anaxthenes might blackmail him for things he might have done, then others might not be far behind. These days he was never alone with any man younger than his nephew and his current pages were all well past puberty.
"The new concubine, who has worked for us before, will come to the palace. I want you to see that she is undisturbed and bears witness to the Kings 'natural' death."
"But-"Danthor began.
"I'm not asking you to do the deed yourself. She will give him a small dose of some compound which will leave his system weakened. Then she will press down upon him in the act of their union so that he has difficulty breathing. If this is not effective, she will smother him with a pillow. Either way, he will die. And, you will arrange it so that you are available to offer your services as a healer. They trust you in the palace and will believe you when you explain that Cleitharses expired due to his congress with the woman.
"Trust me, once word is out, the old fool will find himself more highly regarded in death than in life. Are you with me, Danthor?"
Danthor knew Dralm-damned well what his future would be if he refused Anaxthenes' orders. He 'wouldn't live long enough to see the old king die.
"Yes, Your Divinity. It is a very well thought-out plan. There does appear to be one possible problem you have not anticipated."
"Really?"
"What if Anaxon decides to return to Ktemnos when he learns of his Uncle's death and assumes the Golden Throne? What then, Your Divinity?"
"I have taken this into consideration, but it is a pertinent question. First, the Great King's death will take place in about two moons, which means that the Grand Host will either be chasing the Usurper into the Trygath, or be at battle with his army. As the commander of the Ktemnoi forces, Anaxon will not find it easy to disengage from the Grand Host when he is most needed, To do so would leave the Prince and the Kingdom of Ktemnos open to blame should the Grand Host fail in its mission, or worse bring a charge of cowardice. Anaxon is no fool."
"He could abdicate his post to Grand Master Soton who is fully capable of leading the Host to its inevitable success, Your Divinity."
Anaxthenes smiled, shaking his head. "No. Grand Master Soton will not be re-joining the Grand Host instead he will be marshalling a new force to attack the bloated pig that sits upon the Throne of Light!"
"King Demistophon?"
"Yes, now that Kalvan is out of the Great Kingdoms and on the run, it is time to cleanse all the houses in the Five Kingdoms, starting with Cleitharses and Demistophon, and ending with that Dralm-lover King Sopharar. When they are all gone, Styphon's House will rule over the temporal rulers like the Inner Circle rules over Styphon's Highpriests."
It struck Danthor as a remarkable plan for both its arrogance and its strong chance for success. Anaxthenes was on his way to turning Styphon's House into a true theocracy, and he was going to have to help him-or else.