engulfed the jewel of Valmingaard and destroyed so much.
The Despair had taken everything from Vorten. It cut Maklavir like a knife to know that the city would never be the same again. At least not in his lifetime.
Erbritter took a casual sip of his tea. “It’s nothing personal, Maklavir. Surely you know that. But we have problems of our own right now.” He shook his head sadly. “I feel bad for you Valmingaardians. No one doubts that you have all suffered tremendously during this Despair, especially here in Vorten.” He spread his hands, as if to demonstrate his helplessness in the matter. “But you and the King have nothing to offer us.”
The other two noblemen silently nodded their agreement.
“Yes,” said Maklavir quietly, “I know that Merewith has had its own share of problems.” He shifted his gaze to Erbritter. “But I believe that the terms that King Luxium has offered are more than generous. You have been promised payment for the foodstuffs your duchies can provide for us. We will escort any food convoys with our own troops. We are only asking for the surplus, gentlemen. For the extra food that your own people cannot eat. And a bit of profit for you as well. Now tell me, how is that unfair?”
“Tell you?” Duke Mainz’ face was twisted in a condescending sneer. “Valmingaard is in a desperate place, Maklavir. It is ready to fall any week, and you offer us coinage stamped with the face of your king?” He gave a snorting laugh. “It is of questionable value, to say the least.”
Maklavir’s eyes darkened ever so slightly. “Any money you would be paid with would have the full backing of the monarchy of Valmingaard.”
“And that,” said Krampf roughly, “is precisely the problem.”
Erbritter took an experimental bite of one of the small biscuits set out on the table. “You could, of course, pay us in gold .” He grimaced and put the half-eaten biscuit down.
Maklavir tried hard not to stare at the uneaten food. It was more than a lot of citizens in Vorten would eat tonight. “You know very well that we can’t,” he said. It was taking every ounce of effort he had to maintain his poker face. “With Varnost under siege—”
“Other supplies, then,” Krampf chipped in. “Lumber, iron ore, even furs. Something of real value .”
“I think,” said Maklavir slowly, “that you gentlemen may be misunderstanding the extent of the situation Valmingaard is in. We need all our natural resources right now to continue the ongoing war effort.”
“I’ve heard enough.” Mainz pushed his chair back and stood. “I told you. This windbag is wasting our time.”
Erbritter gave a sad nod of his head. “I’m afraid that I must agree, Maklavir. I really am sorry, but there is nothing more we can do.” He got up from his chair.
Krampf got up as well. He tossed his napkin back on the long wooden table with a snort.
“I see.” Maklavir’s face was calm, but there was a strange fire in his eyes that none of the other men in the room seemed to notice.
“Thank you for your hospitality.” Lord Erbritter gave a bow. If you are ever in the north of Merewith, Maklavir, I would be honored to return the favor.” He turned for the door.
It was done. Time for his last card, the one ace up Maklavir’s sleeve.
“You will be,” Maklavir said airily, “but not for me . Valmingaard’s men-at-arms, on the other hand, would no doubt love both food and accommodations.” He reached for the teacup.
All three of the Merewithians stopped cold in their tracks. For a moment there was a tense silence in the room.
Krampf swung around. “What the devil did you just say, Maklavir?”
Maklavir took a sip. “I threatened you with military invasion, Sir Krampf.”
That took the old soldier aback. He spluttered for a moment, his face turning red.
Lord Erbritter managed a smile. “Come now, Maklavir, there’s no need for that . We came in peace, and there’s no reason why we
The Despair had taken everything from Vorten. It cut Maklavir like a knife to know that the city would never be the same again. At least not in his lifetime.
Erbritter took a casual sip of his tea. “It’s nothing personal, Maklavir. Surely you know that. But we have problems of our own right now.” He shook his head sadly. “I feel bad for you Valmingaardians. No one doubts that you have all suffered tremendously during this Despair, especially here in Vorten.” He spread his hands, as if to demonstrate his helplessness in the matter. “But you and the King have nothing to offer us.”
The other two noblemen silently nodded their agreement.
“Yes,” said Maklavir quietly, “I know that Merewith has had its own share of problems.” He shifted his gaze to Erbritter. “But I believe that the terms that King Luxium has offered are more than generous. You have been promised payment for the foodstuffs your duchies can provide for us. We will escort any food convoys with our own troops. We are only asking for the surplus, gentlemen. For the extra food that your own people cannot eat. And a bit of profit for you as well. Now tell me, how is that unfair?”
“Tell you?” Duke Mainz’ face was twisted in a condescending sneer. “Valmingaard is in a desperate place, Maklavir. It is ready to fall any week, and you offer us coinage stamped with the face of your king?” He gave a snorting laugh. “It is of questionable value, to say the least.”
Maklavir’s eyes darkened ever so slightly. “Any money you would be paid with would have the full backing of the monarchy of Valmingaard.”
“And that,” said Krampf roughly, “is precisely the problem.”
Erbritter took an experimental bite of one of the small biscuits set out on the table. “You could, of course, pay us in gold .” He grimaced and put the half-eaten biscuit down.
Maklavir tried hard not to stare at the uneaten food. It was more than a lot of citizens in Vorten would eat tonight. “You know very well that we can’t,” he said. It was taking every ounce of effort he had to maintain his poker face. “With Varnost under siege—”
“Other supplies, then,” Krampf chipped in. “Lumber, iron ore, even furs. Something of real value .”
“I think,” said Maklavir slowly, “that you gentlemen may be misunderstanding the extent of the situation Valmingaard is in. We need all our natural resources right now to continue the ongoing war effort.”
“I’ve heard enough.” Mainz pushed his chair back and stood. “I told you. This windbag is wasting our time.”
Erbritter gave a sad nod of his head. “I’m afraid that I must agree, Maklavir. I really am sorry, but there is nothing more we can do.” He got up from his chair.
Krampf got up as well. He tossed his napkin back on the long wooden table with a snort.
“I see.” Maklavir’s face was calm, but there was a strange fire in his eyes that none of the other men in the room seemed to notice.
“Thank you for your hospitality.” Lord Erbritter gave a bow. If you are ever in the north of Merewith, Maklavir, I would be honored to return the favor.” He turned for the door.
It was done. Time for his last card, the one ace up Maklavir’s sleeve.
“You will be,” Maklavir said airily, “but not for me . Valmingaard’s men-at-arms, on the other hand, would no doubt love both food and accommodations.” He reached for the teacup.
All three of the Merewithians stopped cold in their tracks. For a moment there was a tense silence in the room.
Krampf swung around. “What the devil did you just say, Maklavir?”
Maklavir took a sip. “I threatened you with military invasion, Sir Krampf.”
That took the old soldier aback. He spluttered for a moment, his face turning red.
Lord Erbritter managed a smile. “Come now, Maklavir, there’s no need for that . We came in peace, and there’s no reason why we
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