can’t—”
“Oh, shut up .” Maklavir stared hard at the nobleman. There was no more kindness in his eyes. “The time for games is over, Erbritter. Like you yourself said, we Valmingaardians have suffered tremendously. We’re facing enemies on both fronts, and we’re desperate. The three of you have food. We need it. And if you’re too stupid to sell it to us at a reasonable rate, then we will take it by force.”
Krampf strode forward and pounded a fist on the table. The teacups and plates rattled. “You dare threaten us! By Eru, we’ll kill whatever men you throw at us, Maklavir. Just come and try it. We Merewithians know how to fight!”
“Do you now?” Maklavir said. “Well, I must say that is a relief. I was under the impression that your duchies consisted mostly of uninspired serfs and tired fat noblemen.” He gave his tea a stir. “Not to mention that the population of Vorten alone, even after the Despair, is probably three times that of all your holdings put together.” He shrugged. “But if you’re so confident, who am I to judge?”
Duke Mainz glared icily at Maklavir. “The Emperor will bring state troops up. When they arrive, you—”
“Again, I am so relieved.” Maklavir stared coolly at all three noblemen. “With all the fighting going on in the south, I was under the impression that the Emperor was stretched thin, not to mention all the squabbling going on among the other barons and dukes there.” He sat back in his chair, his expression unmoved. “But since you’re so confident of receiving support, I’m sure none of you have anything to worry about. Good day.”
“You’re bluffing, Maklavir.” Lord Erbritter’s face was pinched and drawn. “You don’t have the men to invade. Not while you are fighting the Kalinglanders and the Baderans at the same time.”
Maklavir raised an imperious eyebrow. “It’s true, we are spread thin. But when our men know that there is corn aplenty to be had just over the border, I’m sure we’ll have no shortage of volunteers to form together into militia and guard units.” He gave the tiniest hint of a smirk. “As the Kalinglanders have been teaching us, it doesn’t take much discipline to mount a good old-fashioned raiding party.”
Mainz opened his mouth, then shut it tight again. “You’re…a monster ,” he seethed at last.
“No,” said Maklavir calmly. “Just practical.”
Krampf took an angry step forward.
The two guards standing near the door behind Maklavir reacted instantly, hands tightening on their halberds.
Krampf took one uncertain glance at the men, then slowly backed off.
There was a long moment of silence.
Maklavir lifted his teacup easily in one hand and took a deliberate sip.
Erbritter cleared his throat. “I think we were perhaps a little hasty, Maklavir. Your terms from this morning seem more than generous.”
Maklavir gave a half-smile. “I thought they might be.” He stood from his chair. “I’ll expect those food convoys crossing our border within the week, gentlemen. Until then, I am afraid I have other pressing matters to attend to.” He gave an elegant bow. “I bid you all a good day.” He turned without looking and strode out of the room.
In the hall, Maklavir turned into another, empty room. He sighed heavily, rubbing the neatly trimmed black goatee that covered his chin.
Behind him another man entered the room and closed the door softly behind him. “They sure left in a huff. What did you say to them, anyway? Did they agree to sell us the food?”
Maklavir turned with a thin smile. “Actually, Sir Vladi, I threatened to invade their lands with our army.”
Vladi, a portly man in his sixties with gray hair and busy eyebrows, stared in shock at Maklavir. “You…did what ?”
Maklavir gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Relax, it was just a bluff. They bought it, though.” He grabbed a wine bottle off the table and pulled the cork free. “They should send the food in a
“Oh, shut up .” Maklavir stared hard at the nobleman. There was no more kindness in his eyes. “The time for games is over, Erbritter. Like you yourself said, we Valmingaardians have suffered tremendously. We’re facing enemies on both fronts, and we’re desperate. The three of you have food. We need it. And if you’re too stupid to sell it to us at a reasonable rate, then we will take it by force.”
Krampf strode forward and pounded a fist on the table. The teacups and plates rattled. “You dare threaten us! By Eru, we’ll kill whatever men you throw at us, Maklavir. Just come and try it. We Merewithians know how to fight!”
“Do you now?” Maklavir said. “Well, I must say that is a relief. I was under the impression that your duchies consisted mostly of uninspired serfs and tired fat noblemen.” He gave his tea a stir. “Not to mention that the population of Vorten alone, even after the Despair, is probably three times that of all your holdings put together.” He shrugged. “But if you’re so confident, who am I to judge?”
Duke Mainz glared icily at Maklavir. “The Emperor will bring state troops up. When they arrive, you—”
“Again, I am so relieved.” Maklavir stared coolly at all three noblemen. “With all the fighting going on in the south, I was under the impression that the Emperor was stretched thin, not to mention all the squabbling going on among the other barons and dukes there.” He sat back in his chair, his expression unmoved. “But since you’re so confident of receiving support, I’m sure none of you have anything to worry about. Good day.”
“You’re bluffing, Maklavir.” Lord Erbritter’s face was pinched and drawn. “You don’t have the men to invade. Not while you are fighting the Kalinglanders and the Baderans at the same time.”
Maklavir raised an imperious eyebrow. “It’s true, we are spread thin. But when our men know that there is corn aplenty to be had just over the border, I’m sure we’ll have no shortage of volunteers to form together into militia and guard units.” He gave the tiniest hint of a smirk. “As the Kalinglanders have been teaching us, it doesn’t take much discipline to mount a good old-fashioned raiding party.”
Mainz opened his mouth, then shut it tight again. “You’re…a monster ,” he seethed at last.
“No,” said Maklavir calmly. “Just practical.”
Krampf took an angry step forward.
The two guards standing near the door behind Maklavir reacted instantly, hands tightening on their halberds.
Krampf took one uncertain glance at the men, then slowly backed off.
There was a long moment of silence.
Maklavir lifted his teacup easily in one hand and took a deliberate sip.
Erbritter cleared his throat. “I think we were perhaps a little hasty, Maklavir. Your terms from this morning seem more than generous.”
Maklavir gave a half-smile. “I thought they might be.” He stood from his chair. “I’ll expect those food convoys crossing our border within the week, gentlemen. Until then, I am afraid I have other pressing matters to attend to.” He gave an elegant bow. “I bid you all a good day.” He turned without looking and strode out of the room.
In the hall, Maklavir turned into another, empty room. He sighed heavily, rubbing the neatly trimmed black goatee that covered his chin.
Behind him another man entered the room and closed the door softly behind him. “They sure left in a huff. What did you say to them, anyway? Did they agree to sell us the food?”
Maklavir turned with a thin smile. “Actually, Sir Vladi, I threatened to invade their lands with our army.”
Vladi, a portly man in his sixties with gray hair and busy eyebrows, stared in shock at Maklavir. “You…did what ?”
Maklavir gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Relax, it was just a bluff. They bought it, though.” He grabbed a wine bottle off the table and pulled the cork free. “They should send the food in a
Similar Books
