To the memory of H. Beam Piper,
and his Paratime/Aryan-Transpacific hideaway.
"FIRE!"
The first Hostigi volley tore into the Ktemnoi front rank as if they were a battery of artillery guns firing case shot. A great cheer rose up from the Hostigi ranks. The second volley and third were almost as devastating; the fourth less so. Still the Ktemnoi squares held. Now the musketeers were supposed to sling their weapons and fall back; instead many picked up the pikes of the wounded or dead, while others drew their swords and held their places.
"Pikes advance. CHARGE!"
As Xykos began to run toward the Sacred Square straight ahead, he was amazed at how quickly the Ktemnoi rear ranks moved forward to replace their fallen comrades. It was an admirable display of courage. He would make a toast to Galzar after he buried their bones. The remaining Ktemnoi musketeers fired a last ragged volley at almost point-blank range, then fell back, leaving the billmen to take the Hostigi charge.
There was a cry from ten thousand throats—
"KILL THE DEMON SPAWN!"
The billmen began their charge.
The Hostigi reply came—
"DOWN STYPHON!"
The two armies collided with such a shock that the first two Hostigi ranks disappeared before Xykos' eyes. He was eight ranks deep into what had once been the Ktemnoi line before he came to a stop with his thirty-six inch pike head buried halfway to the end of its iron head into a billman's hip. He dropped the pike and drew the two-handed sword Boarsbane from its scabbard across his back. He had the sword blade out in time to parry a blow from a billhead. His next stroke sent the edge through the billman's shoulder, splitting him down to his tripes.
"My friend Beam Piper would have liked this book."
—Jerry Pournelle
"GREAT KINGS' WAR is a lot of fun, a fine adventure story in the tradition of the original H. Beam Piper works."
—Poul Anderson
"Kalvan of Otherwhen goes resoundingly to battle once more in skilled hands."
—Gordon R. Dickson
"We both enjoyed the book very much. When is the sequel coming out?"
—Robert Adams and Andre Norton
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