For all intents and purposes, the Third Legion was gone. If Carpos' father had any sense left, the incompetent Duke would be stripped of his title and exiled, not that Carpos had much faith in his father's sense.

The legions were supposed to merely be passing through Notos on their way to the Darklands, but it would take little for them to march eastward. Now that the Alliance had a taste for power, would they so easily cede ground as they did when they were weak and few? The Alliance had indeed grown stronger, but the First and Second Legions were not made of the same stuff as the Third Legion. There were also the fanatics of Archbishop Gamaliel, his Army of Light, to consider. Though they no doubt lacked martial prowess, they were many and would stop at nothing to follow what they believed to be God's will. All the Alliance's efforts could be wiped away in the span of a month or two.

Rowland responded to the arrival of the Zephyrians with a plot unrivaled since the capture of Maximilion. His Black Xotika wench was to use her treacherous arts to infiltrate deep into Kalonis, kill Duke Cronos, and capture Carpos' parents while the Nanos Lord Garm and barbarian Akasame drew out the broken remnants of the Third Legion garrisoning the city.

Carpos' role was to move on Babophos and delay the First Legion from moving on Kordai. The legate Lord Aristides was close in his father's confidence, so it would be entirely impossible to turn him to Carpos' side, but perhaps he was not so close that he knew of the Prince's betrayal. Everywhere he had gone, only Duke Cronos seemed to hold the truth and no doubt the King as well. Turning Aristides was impossible, but if he did not know that Carpos had turned on his father, delaying him would be easy enough.

As he approached the city, Carpos turned the thought over in his head. Aristides could not be turned, but he was one man. How many officers, how many men were truly willing to throw their lives away in the Darklands? His own ranks were bolstered by mutineers from the Third Legion. Could the same be done with the First Legion?

If the First Legion was out of the way, perhaps he could negotiate a deal with Archbishop Gamaliel. True, the Archbishop despised him as an unholy abomination, but there was more that motivated him than blind dogma. If the Church's standing was improved, even an abomination might find God's grace. If Carpos could reach an agreement with the Archbishop, that pious old fool Xenomachos would follow along like a loyal cur and the Second Legion would pose no threat.

This was one of the best opportunities to achieve his ambitions. Everything hinged on Lord Aristides. Depending on what he knew and how he acted, Carpos' plan could go off perfectly or end in utter disaster.

The formation was called to a halt two miles from the city. Typical perimeter patrols only went a mile out and Carpos did not wish to reveal his true numbers too soon.

Sir Sappheiros rode up to the head of the formation shortly thereafter.

He saluted the Prince and said, "Hail, Carpos!"

Carpos waved in his usual manner and said, "Sir Sappheiros, you will be in charge while I parley with Lord Aristides. Deploy the men and be ready for an attack if the negotiations go ill."

Carpos then looked to Patrocles and said, "Raise the white flag. We ride."

Patrocles sighed.

Carpos grinned.

Carpos motioned for them to ride out. He had a twenty-man retinue with Patrocles riding at the head of the formation bearing the white flag. They missed any patrols along the way to the city gate. That may or may not have worked to their advantage.

As they got closer to the gate, a guard atop the wall shouted, "Who goes there? Speak and identify yourself!"

Patrocles held up the white flag higher and shouted back, "Open the gate in the name of His Highness Prince Carpos!"

Although Carpos had made allowances for the possibilities, it would go poorly for him if they were rebuffed here or, worse, if Lord Aristides dispatched men to apprehend them. It was a gamble he had to take.

It was quite some time before anything happened. When the gate did open, nothing less than the entire First Legion was waiting on the other side. Archers emerged on the walls, very nearly standing shoulder to shoulder.

Some of the horses shifted nervously. Carpos held out his hand to have his men hold their ground. The ranks of the legion continued to advance and six centuries of infantry took up positions between Carpos' retinue and the wall.

Refusing to show any sign of being intimidated by the show of force, the Prince said, "I would speak to Lord Aristides."

The legionaries stood silent, so Carpos repeated himself.

Still they said nothing. No centurion or tribune stepped forward to treat with him. For a moment, Carpos could feel the fear creeping upon him. Even with the mercenaries added to his ranks, his forces were no match for a legion at full strength. Even less so when those forces were over two miles away.

Sacrificing his retinue, he might be able to save himself, but if he fled so easily, he would lose the respect of his men. The mercenaries would leave him in an instant and even members of his honor guard would have their loyalty shaken. He had to make a show of strength even in weakness, no matter how great the risk.

While the Prince was busy worrying about the next move, lines of Equestrians filtered through the centuries' formations, at least a turma of light cavalry on either side. Only when the Equestrians were in position did a small group of riders including the legion's various signiferi approach straight up the middle. In the center of this group was Lord Aristides himself.

The old legate could have been carved out of granite. A hard, cold man who could not easily be moved. A legate was only supposed to serve for three or four years, but it had been sixteen years that Aristides commanded the First Legion. For all his talk of reforms and high-minded ideals, the King knew how to keep his favorites in positions that served him best. That hypocrisy would make for a fine weapon to use against him.

Knowing that there was nothing he could do to endear himself to Lord Aristides, Carpos did not so much greet him as simply acknowledge his presence.

The legate responded in kind.

No one beside his parents ever addressed the Prince by his name alone and even they did so rarely.

Taking offense on his behalf, Patrocles warned the legate, "You are addressing His Highness, Lord Aristides."

Lord Aristides was unmoved, however.

So he knew the truth after all and did not flinch from declaring it in the presence of his men. He would not make the same mistake as Duke Cronos, but it did not mean that all was lost. Perhaps he could use the truth to his advantage. If any doubted this mad venture, knowing there was an alternative might move them to his side. Even Aristides himself might be persuaded to see reason. It was worth trying.

Incredulous, Lord Aristides played along, asking him, "And what good judgment do you wish to see?"

Carpos could feel himself losing his nerve, but he struggled through it all the same. If he could present a show of strength, it might be enough to achieve his purpose.

He spoke as a believer and that bode ill for Carpos' efforts. There was conviction in his words, but it was not a blind faith, so not all hope was lost, not yet.

Aristides frowned and said, "This is why you shall never be King."

This angered Carpos, but he held his temper in check. He could not turn Lord Aristides, but his men were not all spoken for. He would turn his attention to them.

Raising his voice, the Prince shouted, "Men of the First Legion! If you would not die needlessly in the Darklands, if you would treasure your lives and the prosperity of our homeland, join me now!"

Showing no sign of fear that his men would answer the call to mutiny, Lord Aristides kept his gaze fixed on Carpos as he shouted, "First! Behold the former prince of our land! He has betrayed the King to join the rebels in this land! His hands are dripping with the blood of our countrymen! Will you too betray the oaths you have sworn?"

He did not stop there. He then addressed Carpos' retinue and told them, "You who follow Carpos, surrender now and you will be judged according to your crimes by a fair trial. Continue on this path of treason and you will know why the First Legion is called the Hammer of Zephyr! Those who would lay down their arms, do so now!"

Carpos could not give ground now and called to the men of the First Legion, "You who would join me, do so now!"

In the end, no one moved. The legionaries held their ranks and Carpos' men remained at his side.

Lord Aristides gave his men a passing glance, then looked back to Carpos and said, "It would seem our men have already made their decisions."

Not even one would dare to see reason? Was it so easy to throw away their lives tomorrow rather than risk them today? It was all Lord Aristides' fault. If he were not so obstinate, his men would not be held so fast in his grip.

There was nothing Carpos could do for the moment but withdraw. If Aristides was less honorable, he would have killed or captured the Prince then and there. Instead, he let Carpos go so that he could crush him utterly if the Prince chose to march against him.

As they drew closer to Carpos' forces, he told Patrocles, "Set the mercenaries in the van. We march on the city, lure the legion out, then withdraw to Kordai."

Carpos was loath to sacrifice his numbers, but if he had to risk anyone, he was more willing to hazard the mercenaries. They would be the first to face the enemy and the last to withdraw. It would be acceptable losses. After all, he could not simply do nothing.

It was a distant hope, but if the attack on Kalonis was successful, his troubles would be greatly relieved and he could avenge the humiliation of this day.

Whether Patrocles appreciated this or not, he dutifully replied, "Yes, Your Highness."