The Fireseed Wars

"As usual, no one knows what King Theovacar thinks, but I suspect he's worried. Plus, from what we know about Theovacar, he'll be spending most of his time attempting to turn Kalvan's troubles to his advantage. He'll use anything you tell him to advance his interests."

"Theovacar should be worried," Phrames said. "If Kalvan decides to move into this area, he'll be bringing better than thirty thousand soldiers, all of them hardened veterans. I wouldn't want to be in Theovacar's boots."

"Actually, from what King Kalvan told me," Tortha added, "he'd much rather work with Theovacar than against him."

Phrames nodded his agreement. "The Great King always prefers the path of peace, although he's not often allowed to walk that path."

Tortha took a minute to empty his pipe bowl and fill it with fresh tobacco. "Kostran, what's on our agenda for today?"

"King Theovacar told me-well, ordered me-to arrange a meeting with you as soon as you arrived, and before he met with the Hostigi Ambassador." Kostran nodded at Phrames.

"What's your take on that?" Tortha asked.

"He wants to pump you, as a successful Xiphlon trader and potential ally, to find out what he can about what the Hostigi are up to. He's also desperate for information on King Kalvan. Like most merchants of his acquaintance, Theovacar suspects that you'd be more than willing to sell Kalvan out for future tariff concessions and a few sweetheart trading opportunities."

Tortha leaned back in his chair, and made washing motions with his hands. "Let's go trade some crowns!"

Kostran turned to Prince Phrames. "Your Grace, while we're gone, Zinna will take you on a tour of the capital. You can look at it as either a pleasant afternoon ride or a reconnaissance of a future enemy city. Your choice."

Tortha noted that Theovacar had already scheduled him for an early morning audience. It had taken Verkan several ten-days to arrange one two years ago, but that had been before the fall of Hos-Hostigos and the mass migration to Ulthor, which bordered the Saltless Seas-Theovacar's own ponds, as he saw them. Thus, no surprise there. Tortha's own cover was as good as gold since Xiphlon had been under Mexicotal siege for years.

As they left the house and went back to the stables, Tortha asked, "Kostran, is there anything more I need to know before I meet with Theovacar?"

"Nothing, other than to guard your tongue. King Theovacar's volatile and mercurial in his moods, although the dominant theme is megalomania. I've been interrogated by several of his agents-inquisitory-read spies. They're desperate to learn what King Kalvan is up to. As if I would know Kalvan's innermost thoughts, stationed some thousand miles away from him in Greffa.

"There are only a few mercantile houses in Grefftscharr that have set up trading operations in Hos-Hostigos. The House of Verkan is by far the biggest; between the fireseed works and our imports of Ermut's Best-we've made a big splash. Speaking of Ermut's Best, no one is going to be happy when our stocks run out. Is there any way that we can replenish them on Home Time Line? It's a real moneymaker."

Tortha shook his head. "That brandy is one of Kalvan's innovations. While it wouldn't be hard to duplicate, it might be difficult to explain where it came from if Kalvan were to suddenly appear in Greffa City. Maybe we can arrange for some Grefftscharrer vintners to meet with Ermut and set up a local distillery. I could put up the purse."

"I'll talk to my workers and see if we can find the right party," Kostran said as they entered the stables where two saddled and bridled horses were waiting. Tortha needed a hand up from one of the stable boys, but once mounted on the saddle he settled in comfortably. He trailed Kostran and the lead guard, an undercover Paracop whose flintlock pistol contained a needler charge, into the muddy street. Three more guards followed behind. Greffa, for a pre-industrial city, was relatively safe, but much less so during the chaotic post-storm period.

They both slowed their horses to a walk as they came to a flooded intersection where the side street they'd been navigating met with one of the main avenues. There was a bloated corpse bobbing up and down where the water pooled up near the wooden walkways. Two young boys were poking it with sticks until a city watchman chased them away. It took a few minutes to navigate the horses around an overturned wagon that had spilled several dozen crates of broken pottery.

Kostran leaned in close when they were back on firm ground. "Is there any chance we'll see Verkan this season? I know he's got his problems on Home Time Line, but we could use some guidance here. Every day I'm half-way expecting Theovacar to arrest us and the Grerfan Study Team on trumped-up charges as agents of a foreign kingdom."