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Nachhexen-14-2492

"Can someone tell me why the dead have not received Morr's blessing?" was the first thing I said as I looked upon the outskirts of Montfort, when the former general of the Imperial forces in Bretonnia came out to greet us.

"Eh… there was no time to worry about the Bretonnians. They only withdrew not long ago, and I wasn't about to risk my men working in the snow. I was waiting for spring's warmth to begin the work," the general answered clumsily.

"Idiot. Do you not know there's a necromancer in the Grey Mountains we need to hunt down, and you leave hundreds of Bretonnian corpses ready for him to raise into his service? Are you so stupid that you can't see it?" I shot back, glaring at him.

"The winter cold here is severe, it wasn't feasible…," he tried to reply.

"Oh yes, of course. Much better to wait until we have a horde of corpses devouring our soldiers, with brothers-in-arms rising against us," I responded, folding my arms.

"I'm doing what I can. I barely keep a few men who still obey me; the ravens we keep in the castle do nothing but fight each other. The nobles refuse to risk their numbers and have sabotaged every attempt to impose discipline," the general said with an air of defeat.

I turned to the prince, who was watching everything with great attention.

"Rebellious nobility… infighting… what happened?" I asked again, looking back at the general.

"I lost control quickly when the nobles began bribing my captains to expand their influence. My first intention was to strike at Gisoreux: if we took the city, we'd secure the river and cut reinforcements to Parravon. But the nobles wanted to secure Parravon first, as it was more fertile and easier to defend. They forced me to yield. After crushing the local duke and pushing north, we ran into the full Bretonnian host gathered together. It became impossible," he confessed.

"So it wasn't a tactical mistake… the nobles had you as their puppet," I answered with contempt.

"What could I do if my own men no longer obeyed me?" he defended himself, raising his hands.

"Looks like we've got plenty of troublesome nobles. This is going to be a serious problem, don't you think, Imperial Prince?" I said, turning to Karl Franz.

"Many of our forces don't answer directly. Fifteen thousand are yours, ten thousand serve my father. The rest belong to nobles who brought their personal troops. The problem will come when reinforcements from the Elector Counts arrive. Reikland will send another ten thousand in the coming months, and in total we expect sixty thousand more. It's likely we'll have to give in somewhat to noble politics," Karl replied.

"Bah… nobles are either cowards or fools. You only need to scare them enough to obey you. And if they're the latter, they'll accept a duel; then you beat them to death in front of everyone, so they see what happens when someone disobeys," I answered coldly.

"That would only serve temporarily, Elector Albrecht. We must ensure they join us and don't conspire out of hunger for power. A few promises and some rewards will win them over, avoiding disunity. Brutality would only isolate you in court," the prince replied calmly.

"Perhaps… but I don't care. Honestly, my political power is already sufficient: gold, weapons, and loyal soldiers. I don't need other nobles. I have no time for endless negotiations. I prefer methods that guarantee immediate obedience. The sooner we begin the maneuver, the sooner we'll have our great victory," I replied, mounting my horse to head toward Montfort's fortress.

The ascent path was deserted; most of the inhabitants had been taken to Reikland as prisoners, making the place more defensible in some ways.

"What happened to the Duke of Montfort and his family?" I asked the general walking at our side.

"He remains a prisoner, though without chains. He was released months ago to be treated according to his rank. As long as the campaign isn't secured, his death could cause diplomatic trouble when negotiating peace," he answered.

"So that dog still lives," I muttered as we ascended. Imperial soldiers were scattered throughout the fortress, though few truly acted as guards.

When we reached the great hall, we heard shouting: nobles quarreling, as always.

"That's how it is every day. They fight over anything: sending patrols, garrisoning castles, reacting to raids from Bretonnian warbands… always arguing over plunder and prestige, never in silence," the general explained wearily.

"If you wish, I could try to mediate between the nobles and convince them to set aside their differences. I only need some time," the Imperial Prince intervened.

"Don't bother, Franz. Better stay away from me and let them see you as the voice of reason. I'll give them the fright of their lives," I replied, stretching my arms and cracking my knuckles.

"Franz…" said the Prince, raising a brow at me.

I smashed the hall doors open with a kick, flinging them wide so violently they nearly rebounded, the crash thundering through the chamber. The noise alone was enough to silence the nobles, who until then had been shrieking at one another like barnyard hens. They turned at once to face us.

"WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT, GOOD-FOR-NOTHINGS? STOP GAWKING AND SHOW RESPECT TO THE IMPERIAL PRINCE!" I roared as I strode heavily toward the throne still in its place. A noble occupied it, seated with false dignity. I walked straight toward him. Before I could reach him, the coward leapt to his feet and fled, escaping before I could drag him out by force—ruining my plan of humiliating him publicly.

"Very well, you pieces of trash. I know exactly what you've been doing while playing with the lives of Imperial soldiers," I continued, letting my voice thunder through the hall. "I'll tell you directly: I am in command. If I hear of any schemes or attempts at internal sabotage…" I took a step forward, locking eyes with each noble one by one, "…I will make sure it is your last act before you draw your final breath in Morr's garden."

I kept walking slowly, letting my words sink in.

"So, unless any of you has something else to say, you will send your men immediately to collect the bodies of the dead Bretonnians and prepare them for Morr's priests. There is a necromancer loose in the Grey Mountains, and I will not hand him a ready-made army of fresh corpses," I ordered in a severe tone.

Silence spread. The nobles glanced at one another, waiting for someone brave enough to state the obvious. No one wanted to be the first to take a fist to the face.

Finally, one stood up. A noble of Talabecland; I did not recognize his heraldry, but embroidered on his clothing were the words "Deus Taal," a clear display of his faith.

"By what authority do you come here to demand of us, servants of the Empire and of the gods?" the noble exclaimed firmly.

I smiled immediately. Just what I needed: a victim. I advanced toward him without a word. The difference in size and weight was obvious, yet the man did not show fear. We stood face to face. Then I seized him violently by his clothes and, with all my strength, hurled him against the table in front of him. Wood cracked under the impact, and before he could react I drove my elbow into his throat, pressing down with all my weight.

The noble struggled, scratching helplessly. His face reddened as the air left him. I lifted him for an instant and slammed him back onto the table, drawing a strangled groan as blood spilled from his nose. The hall remained in absolute silence.

"BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE EMPEROR… FILTH! You will obey and carry out every one of my orders, or next time I will have your head cut off for insubordination!" I finished, driving my elbow into his abdomen, wrenching another near-agonized moan from him.

As the noble writhed on the floor, curled in pain, every eye in the chamber was fixed on me.

"And this goes for all of you. If I give an order, you obey. Heads will roll for insubordination… is that clear? Now get out there and collect the Bretonnian corpses before I decide to test my sword's edge on your necks," I said in a cold tone that chilled the air of the hall.

Slowly, some nobles began to rise and leave in silence. Then the rest followed quickly, each trying to avoid my gaze. Even the Talabeclander noble, staggering and dragging his feet, stumbled toward the exit.

"Von Mackensen… wait outside. We'll talk later," I ordered, fixing my eyes on my old guardian, who had tried all this time to avoid my sight.

In the end, only the prince and the members of the Reiksguard remained, standing firm.

"See? Simple," I said as I wiped blood from my gauntlet. "This was one of my father's first lessons: a bit of muscle and the right threat, and every coward who doesn't want to be next obeys without complaint. No one wants to end up in a duel that could cost their life and the humiliation of being remembered as a criminal for insubordination."

"A bit… brusque, honestly," the Imperial Prince replied, keeping his composure. "This could have been discussed. Though I must admit, the speed with which you brought them under your command has been… remarkable."

"As I told you, most nobles are either cowards or too proud. If you smash their faces in public, they're humiliated. It's better for them to be in the group that obeyed silently than to be remembered as the example. Let them scheme about stabbing me in the back—it doesn't matter. As long as they remember what awaits them if they step out of line, everything becomes easier," I answered with a smile, removing my helmet.

"So, what next? Cleaning up the dead and giving them Morr's rites?" Karl asked.

"Yes. And afterward, we'll organize trusted men in Montfort to patrol and hold the garrison. We'll cut off a few heads of corrupt captains who took bribes, lash some sergeants who sold out, and put those soldiers who refused to answer their state armies in the front line. Then, we'll begin construction of a bridge into Bretonnia and prepare our defenses while the Bretonnians are forced to move south," I answered decisively.

"Are you going to punish the troops?" the prince asked, serious.

"If I don't, they'll think they can take bribes without worrying about consequences. Well, here are the consequences. I won't tolerate noble politics in my army, much less a lack of discipline or loyalty. I'll make it clear that they now answer to a general who won't allow the slightest attempt to weaken the army's readiness," I replied, walking toward the exit.

As I left the hall, I came across familiar faces. "Well… well… well… If it isn't my old favorite guardian, Margrave von Mackensen. And Joachim… what a pleasure to have you here," I said with a smile heavy with intent.

Both exchanged a look in silence. The Margrave remained stern, though Joachim no longer looked as nervous as I remembered.

"Hello, Albrecht," Joachim said calmly.

His father looked at him sternly, clearly uncomfortable with his son's familiarity toward me.

"A pleasure to see you again, Margrave," I continued, fixing my gaze on him. "What happened between us is in the past. I hold no grudge." I saw him widen his eyes, surprised at my words. I inclined my head slightly and added coldly, "But don't test me… because I will not hesitate to take your head."

I took a step forward, closing the distance. "Gather your men and set them to patrolling Montfort. We have much to do. As for your son… I need him as my aide, if you have no objection."

The Margrave nodded immediately, repressing any reply. "No… general, no objection," he said in a grave voice, and at once descended to the lower levels of the fortress.

I turned to Joachim, placing a hand on his shoulder."Come on, friend. We have much to do now," I told him as we returned to the great hall.

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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

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