“Despite that, here you are, hale and hearty. How did you manage your escape?”
“I didn’t,” said Ludwig. “I volunteered to bring a message to Lord Gebhard.”
“A clever ruse. Now that you’re amongst us once more, things can get back to normal.”
“I can’t. I have to take a reply to Lord Wulfram.”
“Surely you jest?” said Cyn. “Lord Gebhard is getting ready to reduce the place to rubble. You go back now, and you’ll be killed.”
“I gave my word, Cyn. In any event, I’m hopeful we can work something out between these two barons and cease this ridiculous feud.”
“Well, it’s good to have you back, if only temporarily.”
“Thank you,” said Ludwig, “and it’s nice to see you and Sig looking the very picture of health.”
“Don’t use up all your niceties,” warned Cyn. “You’re going to need them for Lord Gebhard.”
* * *
Lord Gebhard Stein sat at a table, a half-eaten plate of food before him. He waved the group forward, watching his son with a look of expectation on his face.
“Father,” began Hagan, “this man comes from Lord Wulfram.”
The elder Stein’s eyes locked on Ludwig. “Aren’t you the one who came up with that plan to capture the keep?”
“I am,” said Ludwig.
“Well, I hope you’re better at carrying messages than planning. That little escapade of yours was an unmitigated disaster. It cost me my one and only Earth Mage.”
Ludwig wanted to tell the baron he had largely ignored the mage's presence during the entire campaign but thought better of it. Instead, he held out the note from Lord Wulfram.
“I have a letter here written by the Baron of Regnitz,” he announced. “He proposes the two of you meet and discuss your differences.”
“Does he, now?” said Lord Gebhard, holding out his hand. “Let’s have it, then.”
Ludwig handed over the letter, then waited as the baron perused it. He had not read it himself, but Rosalyn had assured him her father was earnest in his desire for peace.
The lord tossed the letter on the table. “What do you think, Hagan?”
After reading the letter, his son seemed to fidget. Was he embarrassed by his own opinions or trying to mollify his father? Either way, he was obviously being cautious.
“I think it deserves a look,” Hagan said at last.
Lord Gebhard looked at Ludwig. “My son appears to agree with the sentiment of this letter. What do you think, Master Ludwig?”
“I am not familiar with its contents, my lord.”
The baron frowned. “I have a hard time believing you have braved our lines and yet have no idea what this letter might contain. Tell me, what do you think is in this note?”
“A plea to meet?”
“Precisely. Now, what are your opinions on the matter? Surely you have some?”
“I do, my lord,” said Ludwig.
“Then out with it.”
“I think it worth pursuing, my lord. This feud has cost you both dearly. Perhaps it’s time to put it behind you?”
“Our feud is hardly any of your concern,” said Baron Stein.
“Having said that, you did ask for my opinion.”
The lord shrugged. “I suppose I did. You’ve met Lord Wulfram, what do you make of him?”
“He's reasonable enough,” said Ludwig. “Much like yourself, in many regards.”
“How so?”
“He has great regard for his offspring. If I may be so bold, how would you feel if someone demanded your daughter be married to him?”
“I have no daughter,” declared Lord Gebhard.
“True, but you have a son. Imagine if the duke arranged a marriage for him?”
The baron let out a snort. “I would welcome it. It’s about time he settled down.”
Ludwig decided to try a different approach. “I noted, my lord, you have hired another mercenary company.”
“Yes, the Blades of Vengeance. What of it?”
“Such a famed company must have come at a significant cost.”
“It did,” said Baron Stein, “and I am proud to have them in my employ.”
“Even so,” continued Ludwig, “you are preparing for a siege, something that will take a significant amount of time. I trust you have deep pockets?”
He noted the look of irritation on the baron’s face.
“Get to the point,” Lord Gebhard commanded.
“I’m merely pointing out the fact that the longer this drags out, the more it will cost all parties involved. It is therefore in your best interest to consider what your worthy opponent has to offer, is it not? After all, what harm can come of it?”
“You have made a good point,” said the baron. “I shall have you take back a reply. If our esteemed colleague, Lord Wulfram, is in agreement, then you will return to us to arrange things.”
Ludwig bowed. “I’m sure His Lordship will welcome the chance, my lord.”
23
Parley
Spring 1095 SR
* * *
It took days of near constant back-and-forth communication to settle all the details of the parley. Lord Wulfram, wary of a trap, wanted his attacker to enter the keep, but Lord Gebhard, likely having his own fears, wanted everything done out in the open.
They finally agreed to meet on the field, which lay before the drawbridge. Baron Stein would be represented by a small group, namely himself, his son, Hagan, and three guards. Baron Haas, for his part, would be accompanied by Ludwig and three soldiers of his own.
There then remained arguments over every conceivable detail of the meeting, including which day, what time of day, even whether or not food would be served. All of this led Ludwig to pass back and forth over a dozen times. He finally got to the point where he would simply negotiate on behalf of Lord Wulfram and talk it out with the baron afterwards. In at least one thing, however, he considered himself fortunate, for he had convinced Lord Gebhard to use the Grim Defenders to act as his guard, thus significantly reducing the chance he might use the opportunity to attack his guest.
So it was that on a late spring day, Ludwig rode across the drawbridge with Lord Wulfram and three warriors. The horses' hooves echoed as they crossed the wooden planks, then they proceeded onto the field beyond where a small canopy had been erected to keep the sun off the two barons. It was accompanied by four chairs and a small table, which held some goblets along with a few bottles of wine.
Ludwig dismounted, passing the reins to one of the warriors. Off in the distance he could make out Sigwulf and Cyn, along with a sour-faced Baldric. He nodded as his eyes met those of his sergeant, and then Lord Wulfram began walking to the table, breaking his attention and forcing him to catch up.
“What do you make of this?” asked Lord Wulfram. They were approaching the table, which was only about twenty paces from their present location.
“All is as it should be,” said Ludwig. “You may rest assured, my lord, there is no treachery this day.”
“I’ll believe that once we’re done and I’m safely back inside my keep.” He took another step, extending his hand in greeting. “Lord Gebhard, good to see you this day.”
His opponent wore the same smile. “And you, Lord Wulfram. Come, let us have some refreshment before we begin the day's discussions.”
Ludwig marvelled at the insincerity of it all. These two men obviously loathed each other, but despite that, all was smiles and graces. They shared a drink, then got down to the business at hand.
“Now,” began Baron Stein, “let us discuss the terms of your surrender. I am willing to let you leave Regnitz Keep, provided you leave Lady Rosalyn with us.”
Lord Wulfram stared back. His face was calm, but Ludwig could see the tenseness in his neck muscles.
“I shall do nothing of the sort," said Baron Haas. "You, on the other hand, should consider withdrawing your troops back to Mulsingen.”
“You are in no position to dictate te
rms,” said Lord Gebhard. “After all, you’re the one bottled up in his keep.”
“If you think I’ll let your whelp marry my daughter, you're sadly mistaken.”
“Then I shall reduce your keep to rubble and force her to marry my son.”
“She’d rather die!”
“On the contrary,” said Baron Stein, “I’m sure she’d readily agree to marriage if only to prevent your own demise at my hands.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” shouted Lord Wulfram.
“Wouldn’t I?”
“Gentlemen, please,” interrupted Ludwig. “You serve no one by taking such a stance when we’ve only scarcely begun the process of discussion. Aren't there any items on which you can both agree?”
“Possibly,” said Baron Stein, “but on the important issues, we are at loggerheads.”
“Then I believe a discussion of those points is in order, provided you two can agree not to let your emotions get the better of you.”
“How would you suggest we proceed?” asked Lord Gebhard.
“What if you were to start, my lord?” said Ludwig. “Present your argument while Lord Wulfram listens. Then, when you’re done, he can present his own with no interruptions.”
“Sounds reasonable. Where shall I begin?”
“With Rosalyn Haas.”
Baron Stein took a sip of wine, then looked Lord Wulfram in the eyes. “You and I both know that family is everything. In order to carry on the name, our children must be allowed to have offspring of their own. Now, you are aware that there are few enough nobles in this area of a suitable age to marry.”
“Hold on,” said Ludwig. “Are you telling me there are no other suitable nobles in Erlingen?”
"Yes, nor in any of the neighbouring realms, it would seem. It, therefore, behooves us to seek an alliance through the marriage of Wulfram’s daughter, Rosalyn, to my son, Hagan.”
Ludwig turned to Lord Wulfram. “What do you have to say in response?”
“I’ll admit there are few prospects for my daughter,” said Baron Haas, “but I shall not simply order her to marry against her will. It seems I must cast a net over a wider area to find her a suitable match.”
“Don’t be absurd,” said Baron Stein. “You know my son is a perfect match.”
“Have you asked Hagan what he thinks?” said Ludwig.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Your son. What does he want?”
“That is immaterial. He needs to beget an heir. That’s the plain and simple truth of it.”
“We both know that isn’t true,” said Ludwig. “I’m sure you have plenty of male relatives who could inherit your lands when you both pass on.”
“That's none of your concern. Look, we originally came here to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage. You were the one who rejected us, Wulfram, and you made it quite clear we were beneath you.”
“I did no such thing,” said Baron Haas. “Now you’re just imagining things.”
“Imagining things, am I? I’ll show you what imagining is.” Lord Gebhard stood, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. Hagan stepped up and diffused the situation by grabbing his father's arm and steadying him.
“Not now, Father,” he soothed. “Not here.”
“Perhaps,” offered Ludwig, “Lord Wulfram might see fit to apologize for his reaction.”
“Yes,” said Baron Haas. “At the time, I was overcome with emotion. I apologize if I gave offence, but you made a demand of me when you should have been seeking consensus.”
“Demand?” said Baron Stein. “I did no such thing.”
“Maybe,” offered Ludwig, “you were merely overcome yourself. It was, after all, a highly contentious meeting, was it not?”
“On that, we can agree,” said Lord Gebhard.
Baron Haas took another sip of wine, then nodded in acknowledgement. “Yes, agreed.”
“There,” said Ludwig. “Was that so difficult?”
“I suppose not,” acknowledged Baron Stein as he sat back down. “So what do you say, Wulfram? Shall we discuss the idea with fresh eyes?”
“While I am willing to discuss the matter,” said Lord Wulfram, “I must still stick to my scruples. I cannot, in good faith, ask my daughter to marry your son.”
“Why ever not?”
“She is opposed to it.”
“She may have any opinion on it she wants, but when it gets down to it, it’s your wishes that count, not hers.”
“Would you have your son marry a woman against her will?”
“Would you have your daughter become a spinster?”
“Gentlemen,” chided Ludwig. “Surely you can do better than that. Have you nothing in common?”
“Nothing at all, apparently,” said Lord Wulfram.
Ludwig felt like he was grasping at straws. “You both serve the duke. Surely that accounts for something?”
“My loyalty to His Grace is not in question,” insisted Baron Stein.
“Nor mine,” added Baron Haas.
“And what do you think the duke would make of this impasse?” asked Ludwig. “Do you believe he would approve?”
“The duke couldn't care less,” said Lord Gebhard. “He’s even said so on numerous occasions.”
“Yes,” agreed Baron Haas. “He delights in watching his lesser nobles fight amongst themselves. It's all purely amusement for him.”
“I cannot believe that,” said Ludwig. "Surely he wants a land at peace, as do we all.”
“Who knows?” said Baron Stein. “But in the end, he is powerless to stop it. That’s why he chooses to stand back and see old scores settled at the point of a sword.”
“If I were duke,” announced Ludwig, “I would demand that this type of behaviour cease.”
“And were you the duke,” noted Lord Gebhard, “you would have the right to do so, but the present circumstances are far from your idea of what a duchy should be. You must accept that which you cannot change.”
“He is young,” explained Baron Haas, “and is therefore subject to fits of dreaming. The future is for the young, Gebhard, not two old fools like you and I.”
“Precisely why we must hammer out our differences,” insisted Baron Stein.
“What if your son were allowed to court my daughter?”
“Court her? What do you mean, court her?”
“He could spend time with her at the duke’s court. Dance with her, maybe even indulge in conversation with her. Who knows, in time, she may even learn to put up with him?”
“Put up with him?” said Lord Gebhard. “You make him sound like a buffoon.”
“I’m sure that’s not what he meant,” added Ludwig hastily. “What do you think of the proposal?”
Baron Stein contemplated it for a moment. “I must admit the idea has some merit.”
“Then you’ll consider it?” asked Ludwig.
Lord Gebhard looked to be thinking about it for some time, but then Ludwig saw his jaw clamp down. “No, I’m afraid it’s too late for that now,” he announced.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Baron Haas.
“It means my mind is made up. You have insulted my son, Wulfram, and by your refusal to condone this marriage, you have brought all of this upon yourself.”
Baron Stein slammed his cup down on the table. Ludwig absently noted the wine as it sloshed over the rim and splashed onto the table, staining the tablecloth red. Was this some portent, he wondered? A sign that further blood would be spilled?
“It appears,” said Lord Wulfram, “our time here has been wasted. I shall withdraw back into the walls of my keep, sir.”
“By all means,” said Stein. “I shall grant you until tomorrow morning to prepare yourselves, then I will commence bombardment.”
The two barons stood, then shook hands. It appeared that even as enemies, the rules of etiquette must be followed. Ludwig thought of all who would die to soothe the egos of these two men and felt an inner rage. He was about to turn to leave when h
e spotted Sigwulf and Cyn. What would they think of his failure?
Lord Wulfram saw his hesitation. “Why don’t you take a moment and say goodbye to your friends?” he suggested.
“Are you sure that’s all right?”
“Of course, I’ll wait for you at the drawbridge.” Baron Haas made his way back to his guards while Ludwig went over to his comrades.
“Have you decided to stay?” called out Cyn.
“No, I’ve come to say goodbye.”
“I still don’t see why you don’t just remain here with us. It’s not as if Lord Wulfram could force you to return.”
“I gave my word I would not attempt to escape.”
Cyn looked upset. “Is your word so important to you that you would face death to avoid breaking it?”
“Let him be,” said Sigwulf. “He must make his own choices.”
“Even if it means his life?”
“Yes, even then.”
Cyn shook her head. “You men can be so stubborn at times.”
Ludwig smiled to hide his nervousness. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“What will you do now?” asked Sigwulf.
“Return to my room,” said Ludwig. “The baron has given me the freedom of the keep, but I don’t want to get in his way.”
“So you’ll not resist the attack?”
“No, it’s not my fight. I’ll keep my word and remain neutral.”
Baldric, who, until this time, had remained quiet, laughed. “Neutral? There's no such thing, Ludwig. If you’re inside that keep when the assault comes, you’ll be treated as the enemy, same as the rest of Lord Wulfram’s men.”
“I’m not your enemy,” said Ludwig.
“We’ll see.”
“Why do you hate me so?”
Baldric moved in close, keeping his voice low. “You humiliated me. Now it’s time I returned the favour. I make you this promise, Ludwig. When the keep finally falls, it’ll be me who spills your guts onto the cobblestones. You mark my words.”
“You don’t scare me, Baldric. You attack me, and I’ll do everything in my power to kill you, and it won’t be a mock battle this time.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see.” Baldric sneered, and Ludwig found the sight unsettling.
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