Warrior King, page 13
“Is that where my escort came from?”
“That realm, yes, but from another city named Elandril.”
“Saints alive,” said Ulfric. “How many cities do these Elves have?”
“That’s an excellent question,” replied Ludwig. “I shall be certain to ask High Lord Sindra the next time I see her.”
“Her? Shouldn’t she be the High Lady, then?”
“That’s not their custom and has no bearing on our discussion here today. Lord Sigwulf is correct. They likely have a smith or two who can work sky metal. Oh, and they call it ithilium.”
“Ah, yes,” said the duke. “I remember you mentioning that word back in Klermacht. Does that mean they’d be interested in buying it from us?”
“I can’t guarantee it, but from what I understand, ithilium is used for the construction of magical items, and the Elves seem to have lots of those. I suppose that’s what comes from having so many mages.”
“Mages?” said Augustine. “Just how many mages have they?”
“Their High Lord is certainly one, and I’ve met three others in person, two talons and a healer.”
“And you trust the Elves not to use their magic against us?”
“Let me put your mind at ease, Majesty. Hadenfeld has a mutual defence pact with the Goldenwood.”
“You’re allies?”
“Only if either of our kingdoms is under threat of attack.” Ludwig went quiet. Was that the answer to this situation? “What if I offered both of you the same?”
“How would that work if Hollenbeck invaded us?” asked Augustinian.
“The simple answer is it wouldn’t, but if any other kingdom threatened you, say Aldor, for example, then we’d send warriors to defend your lands.”
“Would that include taking the war to the enemy’s lands?”
“If they were the aggressors, yes, but I’m not about to support an ally who goes to war for no good reason.”
“I find that eminently acceptable,” said Ulfric.
“As do I,” added Augustinian, “although speaking of my realm, I possess few troops to contribute to the defence of a kingdom the size of Hadenfeld.”
“Could you manage two hundred men, Majesty?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“And you, Your Grace?”
“Two hundred would be acceptable.”
“Good,” replied Ludwig. “Then I shall instruct Father Vernan to draw up the document authorizing it. Now, with the threat of invasion dealt with, and a potential buyer for the sky metal, can we begin working out a method by which this saintly treasure may be located?”
The rulers both nodded.
Ludwig continued. “Have we any maps of the area?”
“Not on my part,” said Ulfric.
“Nor on mine,” added Augustinian. “But there is a road that cuts through the forest… well, more of a trail.”
“Yes, I remember,” said Ludwig. “My party took it when we travelled from Klermacht to Freimar, but we need to search the area north of that. I propose a joint expedition consisting of groups of three horsemen each.”
“How many groups?” asked Ulfric.
“At least ten,” replied Ludwig, “possibly twenty if we can manage it. Any more, and we risk them getting in each other’s way.”
“They should map as they go, making note of any landmarks for future use.”
“An excellent idea. And we could also…” Their discussion continued well into the night.
* * *
Most of the servants had long since retired when Father Vernan found Ludwig sitting by the fire. “Your declaration of mutual defence is written, or at least the first draft is. You’ll want to review it with everyone to ensure it meets their satisfaction. Once that’s done, we can make a copy for each ruler to take home.”
“Thank you. Your hard work is much appreciated.”
“My work? You arranged all this, Majesty. My part was that of a simple scribe. You’ve become quite the diplomat.”
“I didn’t expect it would go so smoothly. I must thank Sig for that.”
“Why? What did he do?”
“He suggested the Elves might purchase the sky metal. It’s not as if many other realms could do anything with it.”
“I’ve heard that Dwarves are skilled at smithing it.”
“True,” said Ludwig, “and if the Elves of Nethendril prove unwilling or unable to buy the ithilium, I shall use my connections with the smiths guild to locate a Dwarven smith who’s capable in that regard.”
“You know a Dwarven smith?”
“No, but I’ve made the acquaintance of one of their couriers, Rurlan, although I don’t see him very often.”
His own words gave him pause. Rurlan was his sole link to Charlaine, the means by which they’d exchanged correspondence over the last few years. It had been some time since he’d heard from the Temple Commander. Was she still in Arnsfeld, or had she been reassigned? “How long do Temple Commanders remain in their position?”
“It varies considerably,” replied Vernan. “The regional commander of the Temple Knights of Saint Mathew has been in Deisenbach for a dozen years at least. Are you thinking specifically of Temple Commander Charlaine?”
“I am. Why? Does that make a difference?”
“I would say so. She’s been at the centre of trouble since she joined the order.” The good father held up his hands. “I’m not suggesting she caused trouble, merely that she has proven adept at dealing with it. With skills like that, she’ll be in demand and likely to be reassigned to wherever something is brewing. Mind you, I have absolutely no idea where that would necessarily take her.”
“Who decides such things?”
“The Grand Mistress of the Order.”
“Not an archprior?”
“Saints, no. Commanding the Temple Knights is at the sole discretion of the appropriate grand master.”
“Is there a rank between the Grand Mistress and a Temple Commander?”
“Not in my order, nor any other, so far as I know, except for the Temple Knights of Saint Cunar.”
“Why is that?” asked Ludwig.
“What need has an order for a general unless it marches to war?”
“So if the Antonine goes to war, the Cunars will lead the Holy Army?”
“Absolutely. The same goes for the Holy Fleet. An admiral of theirs fought at the Battle of Alantra.”
“So there’s such a thing as a Temple Admiral?”
“Not exactly,” replied Father Vernan. “Admiral is a position rather than a rank. At Alantra, that position was held by Temple General Marius, but I couldn’t tell you if he’s still the admiral. Bear in mind, I’m not a military expert, particularly when it comes to the fighting orders, but I believe the grand master decides when to replace Temple Generals, which I assume only happens when they’re planning a Holy Crusade since there’s nothing for a general to do in times of peace.”
“But wouldn’t Temple Commanders report to them?”
“Only when on the march. Temple Commanders of the orders are, in effect, regional commanders, each in charge of several commanderies. It varies by region, but what they all have in common is that they report to the office of the grand master. Think of a Temple General as a field rank rather than an administrative one.”
Ludwig grinned. “You claim to be no military expert, yet here you are, telling me the inner workings of the fighting orders. Are all the orders organized in the same way?”
“There are a few obvious differences. The Ragnarites, for example, use the same ranks but don’t operate commanderies other than their training facility in the Antonine. Similarly, the Augustines are only present in half a dozen locations to guard Holy Relics, while the Ansgarites send individuals out to conduct their investigations.”
“I don’t know much about them.”
“Nor would I expect you to since they only operate within the confines of the Church hierarchy.”
“So only the Mathewites, Cunars, and Agnesites operate commanderies?”
“Yes, except in more remote locations requiring fewer Temple Knights. We refer to those as detachments, and although smaller than a full company, they still operate under the command of a Temple Captain and report to a regional commander.”
“Are the regions the same for each order?”
“I’m not certain what you’re asking,” said Father Vernan.
“I know Captain Hamelyn reports to a regional commander in Deisenbach. Would that realm host the regional commanders of the other orders?”
“As far as I’m aware, no, although there are some exceptions where all three can be found in one realm.”
“And who makes that decision? The grand master?”
“You know, I’m not entirely certain. Why? What is it you want to do?”
“It occurs to me that it might be advantageous to have a regional commander based in Harlingen. It would certainly make it easier for Captain Hamelyn to coordinate things with his superior.”
“True, but for that to happen, the regional commander would have to relocate from Deisenbach, which could be viewed as a slight against their king.”
“It was just a thought,” said Ludwig. “It’s getting late. We should both get some sleep; it’s going to be a busy couple of days.”
* * *
As they hammered out details, Ulfric and Augustinian grew closer, warming to the thoughts of being allies, and the possibility of finding the sky metal. By the time they were done, they’d agreed to full cooperation and sharing the results, along with securing a promise from Ludwig that he’d send men to act as a neutral third party. The biggest surprise of all came when Lord Nikolaus volunteered to carry out the task on behalf of Hadenfeld, freeing up Ludwig to return to Harlingen.
* * *
The cool weather was a sign that autumn was fast approaching. Ludwig rubbed his hands together as he saw his guests on their way and then prepared to depart himself.
Baron Wendt came to see him off. “You’ve done well, Majesty. I must congratulate you on your success.”
“Thank you, although you were as much a part of it as I was, and your offer to oversee things is greatly appreciated. I shall not forget your service.”
The baron bowed. “The honour is mine, Majesty. Please give my regards to the queen.”
“I shall. Farewell, Lord Nikolaus. I hope you enjoy your time in the south.” Ludwig mounted his horse, waiting as Father Vernan did the same. Neither spoke until Udenacht was far behind them.
“You’ve made a new ally,” said the Holy Father.
“Technically, two,” replied Ludwig.
“I was referring to the baron. It’s most remarkable, particularly when you consider that not so long ago, he fought alongside King Morgan. You hold an admirable ability to forgive in the truest tradition of Saint Mathew. It marks you as a great ruler.”
“All I did was secure our southern border.”
“Oh, you did a fair bit more than that. You took two rulers prepared to go to war and made them allies and, dare I say it, even friends. A most remarkable transformation.”
“Ulfric feared a war with Mirantha, and Augustinian was afraid of Aldor threatening his southern border. All I did was reassure them that Hadenfeld would come to their aid if necessary.”
“And at the same time, you convinced them to come to our aid if needed. That, in itself, was a stroke of genius.”
“I do not intend to go to war anytime soon.”
“True,” said Father Vernan, “but who knows what fate has lined up for us. The future is uncertain, Majesty, but you’ve given us a steady hand with which to steer the ship.”
Ludwig chuckled. “You’re getting philosophical in your old age.”
“Old age? I’m not much older than you!”
Ludwig sat back as he realized, with a shock, just how long he’d known the Holy Father. They’d met in ninety-five when Vernan was only a Brother of Saint Mathew, and Ludwig, a baron’s spoiled son. Now, here they were, ten years later, he a king and Father Vernan, his spiritual advisor.
“Do you believe in fate?” asked Ludwig.
“They say the Saints move in mysterious ways.”
“But you know as well as I that the Saints were mortal men and women. We venerate their teachings, not them as gods.”
“True, yet some mysterious force led to our paths crossing back in Erlingen and again in Hadenfeld.”
“Did it, or was that mere coincidence?”
Father Vernan rubbed his hands together. “Ah, just what I like: an ideological discussion, exactly what’s needed to pass the time!”
13
Home
Autumn 1105 SR
Ludwig didn’t wait for the carriage to come to a complete stop before he opened the door and hopped down onto the cobblestones. Young Frederick was running towards him as fast as his five-year-old legs could go. He caught his son, lifted him up, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Good morning, Papa. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. How have you been?”
“A man in grey visited Mama, and she sent him away.”
“A man in grey, you say? Was he a knight?”
“He wore armour like yours,” replied his son, “but not as nice.”
“Where’s Mama?”
Frederick’s face fell. “She’s not feeling well today. Auntie Alex is looking after us.”
Father Vernan stepped from the carriage. “Good afternoon, Highness. My, you’re so tall. Why, you must’ve grown a head taller since we left.”
The boy beamed. “Where’s Siggy?”
“Seeing to my escort,” replied Ludwig. “Don’t worry. He’ll join us shortly. Come. Let’s get inside, shall we? Those clouds look like they’re bringing rain.”
Cyn stood by the door. “Welcome back, boss. I trust everything went well down south?”
“It did. Even better than I expected. We have two new allies, and I averted a possible war.”
“And,” added Father Vernan, “His Majesty secured the loyalty of Lord Nikolaus.”
“That couldn’t have been easy,” noted Cyn. “How did you manage that?”
“I didn’t do anything,” said Ludwig. “He volunteered to oversee a joint venture with Hollenbeck and Mirantha. It seems there’s some sky metal lying somewhere between their two realms, and we convinced them to work together to retrieve it.”
They stepped inside, and he continued. “What’s this I hear about a visitor in grey?”
“A Cunar Temple Commander by the name of Amarand sought an audience to request land for a commandery.”
“I can see where this is going. The queen refused him?”
“Yes.”
“That’s exactly what I would’ve done, but I sense there’s more to this story?”
“There is, boss, but I think it best if Lady Gita filled you in on the details. She and Lord Merrick are inside. They’re sitting in for Her Majesty today.”
Sigwulf’s voice boomed out from behind Ludwig. “Is that the young prince I see? Look at you. You’ll soon be as tall as me!”
Frederick rushed over to the huge northerner, then halted, offering a bow. “Greetings, General.”
“What about me?” said Cyn. “Don’t I get a greeting?”
Sigwulf grinned. “We’ll celebrate later, in private.”
“You must excuse me, Majesty. I need to go and speak with Siggy—in private.” She rushed out the door.
Ludwig laughed. “Come along, my son. There’s work to be done, and the generals need their privacy.”
The great hall was currently furnished with an immense table, around which sat several individuals Ludwig vaguely remembered seeing before. Merrick sat at the head of the table while Gita took notes, but both stood as the king entered.
“Majesty,” said Gita. “Welcome back to Harlingen.”
“Thank you, although I must admit to some surprise. What’s going on here?”
“We are completing the work of rewriting the laws of the land, Majesty, or rather, collating them. These are Royal Magistrates, here to offer their expertise on the matter.”
“Please continue,” said Ludwig. “However, I’d like to borrow Lady Gita, if I may, so I can catch up on what’s been happening in my absence.”
“We’ve been at this for a while now,” said Merrick. “Why don’t we take a break, gentlemen? I’ll have the servants bring in something to stave off the pangs of hunger, shall I?”
Nods from around the table answered his question.
“I think it best we talk in private,” said Gita, nodding towards the magistrates.
“Come, then,” said Ludwig. “We’ll adjourn to the parlour.” He knelt before his son. “Frederick, I need you to go and find Auntie Alexandra. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Good lad. Now off you go.” He watched his son tear out of the room. “I’ll catch Sig up later. Father Vernan, I’d like you present as well, if you don’t mind.”
“It would be my honour, Majesty.”
* * *
Ludwig set down his cup. “By the Saints, I would’ve had the man arrested.”
“The queen remained remarkably calm,” said Gita, “and we discussed the possible ramifications before informing him that his order wasn’t welcome. Unfortunately, he left feeling slighted.”
“I can well imagine.”
“The queen is concerned her actions may have caused some ill will.”
“Nonsense. She handled it much better than I would have. She was good to be rid of the fellow.”
“The concern,” said Merrick, “is that the Church may take some sort of reprisal against us.”
“The Church relies on the generosity of its worshippers. I doubt they’d risk losing the income of an entire kingdom, especially one our size. There may be a public rebuke, likely delivered from the pulpit, but that would soon pass, and we would return to our previous relationship with the Church. In any case, it’s not the Church we refused, only one order of Temple Knights. If anything, it’s the Cunars who should be rebuked for making demands.”
