Kyron The Warlord, page 1
Kyron the Warlord
Peter Rhodan
Copyright © 2024 Peter Rhodan
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Xenoxmachina
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
For Leanne:
Without you this wouldn't happen
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Where to next
Books by Peter Rhodan
Chapter 1
King of Marhingia
Colonel Frinz Geswich entered the throne room and marched confidently forward until he was only a couple of paces from Kyron, then stopped and bowed his head slightly.
"The whole Kingdom is yours, General Kyron."
Kyron, of course, already knew that this was the case. He was orchestrating a public spectacle to honor the successful return of the Colonel to whom he had given command of the small army allocated the task of securing the long peninsula that ran east from the capital.
"You have my thanks and the thanks of everyone here, Colonel Geswich. Step forward one pace and kneel, please."
The Colonel had been of great assistance to Kyron, both in planning the campaign and executing it. He was both competent and had the seniority that meant he could lead a separate command. Kyron knew that it was very unlikely the Colonel would ever be allowed to return to the Finewenian Empire. Not unless the ruling family changed, and even then, many senior nobles would have problems with Geswich returning to the Empire. Kyron stood, leaned forward, and put a hand on Geswich's head.
" Kern Gatford was killed at the Battle of Alderford. His son, both his cousins, and their sons all died in the battle of Killeigh." It hadn't really been a battle, as it was largely about the city being sacked after Kyron had forced the gates. "My Senechal has researched the Kern's lineage as best he can, and despite his best efforts, he could find no remaining heirs within three degrees. While there is no doubt there are many distant possible heirs remaining, it is my command that Frinz Geswich be awarded the title of Kern Gatford and be entitled to all the estates and responsibilities that come with that title. Frinz Geswich, do you accept the charge I have placed upon you?"
To say that Geswich was surprised would have been an understatement. He stared up at Kyron, too stunned to speak. Finally, he gave his head a shake.
"Are you serious?"
"Never more so. You have been of invaluable help in planning and executing this campaign. You followed my orders while at the same time being prepared to question those orders and even act on your own initiative when necessary. You are the first person I have decided to reward, but you won't be the last. Are you prepared to accept this charge I lay upon you?"
Geswich stared up into Kyron's face for just a moment and then nodded.
"I accept the position that you are giving me. I undertake to serve faithfully and to govern the lands and the people you have put into my care to the best of my ability and in a way that you will be proud of."
Kyron held out his hand to the newly made Kern, who reached up and clasped his forearm and allowed Kyron to pull him upright. Kyron grinned at him and then motioned for him to step to one side.
"Karthan, of the Dryarns. Step forward."
Karthan had been standing quietly off to the left with a group of the other mercenary officers but now came forward grinning slightly.
"Kneel," Kyron commanded, and Karthan did as he was told. "Kern Bostore was captured at the Battle of Killeigh. According to the evidence supplied by the few remaining survivors of the mercenary troops massacred by the former King of Marhingia, Kern Bostore oversaw the harsh treatment of those who survived the initial massacre. He then ensured that they were largely worked to death in appalling conditions in the years that followed. The Kern was executed for his actions, and by my decree, his family is disinherited from any lands or titles they may have held in perpetuity. I am aware your people do not customarily have family names, but I would be grateful if you would adopt the surname Dryarn, my friend."
Karthan looked a bit surprised at this but nodded.
"Very well. By my command, you are now declared Kern Bostore. Do you accept the charge I am laying upon you?"
"Yes, I do, my liege. I undertake to serve faithfully and govern the lands and people you have put in my care to the best of my ability and in a way that you will be proud of."
Kyron reached down and clasped forearms with his friend as he pulled him to his feet. They grinned at each other, and then Kyron moved on to the next reward. Myron Cytharn of Cytharn's Light Horse was made Kern Redham. The Captain of the Grey Guard had preferred a cash reward rather than a title, but Urvan Orthiac became Shaku Jellian. Weldan Dorthmic of the Red Lancers became Kern Alderford. Ambron Hallen of Karthan's Kutters preferred cash, but Lilman Jenest became Shaku Trescan. Most of the other mercenary commanders welcomed cash as well.
Most of the national commanders were happy with a cash donative. Princess Lorianne persuaded Sergeant Killian to accept the position of Captain of the Marhingian Guard along with the title of Shaku Perthic. The Sergeant's wounds had resulted in him becoming quite friendly with the local lady who had been tending them, so being persuaded to stay in Marhingia was no great sacrifice for him. The only commander of one of the national forces who elected to stay was Arkenor Huthan of the Camran Legion. He had brought his family with him for the campaign and a letter from the Emperor asking Kyron to find a suitable reward for Arkenor if Kyron won. Apparently, Arkenor had several dubious political connections, and the Emperor didn't want him back in the Camran Empire any time soon. Kyron offered him the position of Kern Alford, which he gratefully accepted.
Only two sons of Kerns killed in the fighting were confirmed in their positions, the four-year-old Kern Neresy and the eight-year-old Kern Shifton. A nine-year-old who was the son of the deceased Shaku Burto was also confirmed in his position. In each case, they were given a Regent in the form of an experienced mercenary officer who had been wounded in the fighting and wouldn't be serving in the field again. Irildur became Shaku Arlingo. Arryn became Shaku Meliton, and Selinth became Shaku Elersham. This still left Kyron with a lot of the noble seats empty.
Not only that, but the invasion had been equally hard on the younger sons and collateral lines of all the noble families. He stood up and raised his hands to bring silence to the throne room. This meant there were still large tracts of the country with inheritances being sorted out.
"After rewarding those people standing in front of you, I am still left with many estates of the minor nobility and collateral lines where the families have been decimated in the war. It will take time to work out exactly how many empty estates there are, but what I intend to do is break up those that are empty and offer a land grant to any veteran of this war, be they mercenary or national trooper, who wishes to stay here and make a new life for themselves. I know many of you won't wish to lose your well-trained veterans, but I would very much like to make this offer known to all the troops who participated in the campaign."
He held up a hand to quell the rising hubbub this announcement had created.
"Bear in mind that word will get around the army faster than a horse can be ridden. You all know how quickly news travels in a military force. Plenty of small business opportunities should also be available, possibly even things like fishing boats, depending on where the casualties fell and who was left. There might even be a few attractive widows looking for husbands. I also want to make it very clear to all of you who elect to stay that this land will be governed far better than it has been in the past and better than most of the lands I have traveled through. There will be no room for the oppression and the harsh treatment that is meted out to peasants in many lands."
He paused to look around the room. "In fact, in the new Marhingia, I want the exact opposite. I want a happy population where those who are on the bottom are treated fairly by their masters rather than being ground down into the ground in search of even more wealth by the great nobles. I will be instituting a People's Assembly that will have representa
Once more, he paused and looked around the room. Most of the faces had a look of disinterest, as befitted those who weren't staying, but those who were staying were clearly thinking about the things he had just said. Several Kingdoms had people's assemblies of one sort or another. What was common to all was the lack of any real power. He wasn't sure just how much power he would give to the Marhingian People's Assembly yet, but over time he was certain it would come to have more power than any other assembly he knew of.
"Does anyone have anything they wish to say?"
Kern Paigby stepped forward. "I say we give three cheers for King Kyron the First of Marhingia!" he bellowed.
Someone else started the cheer as Kyron went to wave it away, but the voices in the room ignored him and gave three lusty cheers led by Karthan. He glanced at Verenia and saw tears running down her cheeks even as she was smiling at him. He walked over, took hold of her hand, and held it over their heads.
"Three cheers for Queen Verenia!" Karthan yelled.
This time, it was Rothar who led the cheers, grinning broadly. When the noise eventually died down, he waved his free hand for silence while continuing to hold Verenia's hand with his other hand, although he lowered their hands to a normal height.
"You're all free to go and enjoy yourselves. On the other hand, I will now have to sit down with the representatives of the surrounding Kingdoms and learn how to engage in diplomacy. A worse fate I can't imagine!"
This brought laughter among the assembled soldiers, who began exiting the throne room. As they left, Kyron looked over to where Arlin Del Lee was standing, looking rather intimidated.
"So, who has paid you the most in order to be the first I see?"
Arlin went bright red and stammered for a moment before collecting himself. Then he shook his head firmly. He was still getting used to Kyron's easy manner and even more Kyron's perspicacity.
"Kern Yeobury of Swasalia offered the most, your Highness, but I refused to accept it. Or any of the other offers that were made, pursuant to your strict instructions, your Highness."
Kyron had gone to great lengths to make it clear to the fellow that matters in his court would be dealt with by a combination of importance and a simple process of first in, first out. If Palace staff of any rank were found to be accepting bribes, they would be punished according to a sliding scale, depending on the size of the bribe. It would start with them losing their dominant hand and proceed to them losing their head. Kyron wasn't sure how well the proscription would work, but he intended to set up a Royal Intelligence Service, one of whose duties would be looking for instances of officials accepting bribes, be they civilian or military.
"How many representatives of other Kingdoms do we have gathered out there?"
Not all the Kingdoms in the region had diplomatic representatives at the Marhingian Court. Sover definitely didn't have an ambassador, nor did Winlan. Framland had withdrawn theirs some months before the invasion. The fellow had been fairly old anyway and was going to be replaced by a new man, according to Verulian, Kern Crafhamber, who had accompanied the army as the King of Framland's diplomatic representative. Verulian was standing over to the right next to Verenia and Ergania, watching Kyron with what he'd recognized as amusement. Verulian frequently found Kyron's attitudes and actions amusing.
"Only five, your Highness," Arlin replied.
"And who is the most senior?"
They would all be nobles of one description or another. It was the way things were done.
"Kern Yeobury, your Highness," Arlin answered with a hint of a grin.
Kyron snorted. "Of course he is. Very well, bring him in."
Arlin gave him the short bow that Kyron had insisted was all that was required from members of the Palace staff in response to him issuing orders. He certainly didn't want them groveling on the ground like the former King had often insisted upon. Even with his newly acquired title of King, Arlin already knew him well enough not to change how he addressed Kyron. Arlin exited the room through the door on the left, which led to the chamber where the foreign representatives had been collected while waiting for the new King to see them.
Kern Yeobury marched into the room like it was his Palace, not Kyron's. The Kern was a large, swarthy man in his fifties by the look of it. He was dressed in a dark blue shirt, wearing a burgundy coat over the top, pale yellow breeches, and black boots that came up to his calves. He carried a black felt hat with what looked like a bunch of dryarn feathers in the band around the crown. He marched forward until he was five paces from Kyron and gave him the barest minimum of a bow that could be accorded a Royal person.
"Ambassador," Kyron said. "I am hoping for peaceful relations with Swasalia. Could you please convey my greetings to your King and pass on to him my hope for peace and prosperity for both our realms."
The Ambassador looked at him for a moment before replying. Kyron got the impression that he wanted to say something else than what he did say in the end.
"I will do as you ask, your Highness. Your conquest of Marhingia has taken us all by surprise. Everyone is slightly unsettled by such a rapid military operation and is concerned that you may turn your forces against your neighbors."
Kyron dismissively waved a hand. "Most of the forces that were employed in my campaign are in the process of heading home. That, combined with the time it's going to take me to reorganize the Kingdom so it can be run in a more efficient manner, will leave me little time for foreign adventures, I can assure you. Besides, I feel that we should both be more concerned about Sasinlia than any possible military actions that I'm in no position to undertake."
The mention of Sasinlia seemed to catch the Kern by surprise. He frowned when Kyron suggested they might be a problem. Kyron thought it was very undiplomatic of the Kern to show emotions on his face in that manner. Did that mean Kyron pointing out the threat of the Sasinlians had caught him by surprise, or was Kyron not supposed to realize the Sasinlians were a threat? He supposed anything was possible with the three Kingdoms surrounding Marhingia. It wasn't as if there hadn't been one war after another, with states changing sides, seemingly at the drop of a hat.
The Kern regained his pleasant expression.
"My Royal master would be interested to know how you intend to govern this Kingdom you have acquired. Obviously, you are creating nobles from some of your loyal officers, but what about the rest of the country? Are you going to reinstate the noble families that used to rule in the various parts of the Kingdom where there are surviving family members?"
Kyron shook his head. "At this stage, I have no intention of restoring any of the noble families to their former positions apart from three very young members of the nobility for whom I will be installing Regents. The Regents will be tasked with ensuring their lands are run the way I wish them to be, which is substantially different from how they have been managed in the past. As far as restoring other families, or at least choosing the next in line of those still standing, I'm going to have to think about that. In the meantime, those estates should be run via agents of the Crown until something is decided."
The Kern bobbed his head without changing his expression, so Kyron was unsure whether he was happy or unhappy with what he'd just learned. They spent the next few tocks discussing trade, of which there wasn't a lot between the two realms, although that was something Kyron expected to change once his new regime's policies started to have some effect on production. Everything seemed to go cordially, which bothered Kyron, he decided after the Kern exited the room.
The next Ambassador was Kern Knazion of Sasinlia. He was a tall, thin man with a permanently sour expression on his face. Kyron guessed he was in his fifties or early sixties. Although he appeared older than Kern Yeobury, the Kern from Swasalia was more senior as Kern Knazion had only been appointed Ambassador to Marhingia immediately prior to Kyron's invasion. He at least afforded Kyron a proper Royal bow.
