Stockholm, 1218
Prince Hakkon eyed his visitor carefully: “The Kaiser said what?”
The Prince’s guest consulted some parchment: “He said ‘I have a mind to find the young Prince and assassinate the cur instead, but no doubt father and son deserve each other’”
Hakkon bridled: “Insufferable, ignorant fool!”
To the guest, it was not clear which angered Hakkon most: Henry’s death threat; being called a dog; or the fact that the Kaiser's reference to a "young" Prince revealed he had been ignorant of 54 year old Haakon’s existence.
“Just because the Reich is so large, they believe they can do anything, say anything. And he said that in a public report to the Diet?”
“Yes, but such reports are not public - only a few of the most influential Electors are privy to those reports. I doubt your King has been informed.”
The Prince sat down. The Danish King Charles was in Antwerp, fighting a long war with the English and Scots. But even so, if the Prince’s treason were common knowledge, Haakon’s position in Stockholm would be under threat. Civil war would be the probable result.
The Prince’s guest said cautiously: “There may be a way you can remove the King. And avenge the Kaiser’s insult.”
Hakkon examined his guest watchfully: “I am listening.”
“You have loyal men in the General Harald’s crusade? Men you can trust?”
“I have loyal men everywhere.”
“Good. My associates have people with Prinz Jobst. Perhaps something can be arranged?”
*****
Swabia, 1218
They were coming - Luka Radman had to work fast. The Danish crusade was marching blind - Prince Hakkon’s men had seen to that. Likewise, Luka had diverted Prinz Jobst’s patrols. The Danish crusade was lumbering unknowingly towards the Imperial army resting peacefully at camp.
Carefully, he led his band of men - clad in red and white - towards the Imperial pickets outside the Prinz’s camp.
“Kill all but one. Let one escape. Make sure he sees you. But make his escape look genuine. How’s your Norse?”
“Not so bad.” the ruffian replied, in passable Norse.
“Good - make sure he hears you too then.” smiled Luka.
*****
Prinz Jobst could not believe it. Here he was, in the heart of the Reich, leading his Army of the Interior to hunt down rebels and suddenly, there was a hostile Danish army bearing down on him. He turned to the wounded survivor in front of him:
“You are sure the men that attacked our pickets were Danes?”
“They wore the Danish livery. And I heard one talking after they had killed everyone else. I could understand some of the words - they are common to our tongue too - but others were different. It was Norse; I’ve met Norsemen before.”
“But why?” asked the Prinz, “It makes no sense? Why would a Danish army be here? Attacking us?”
Luka spoke up: “With Duke Scherer tied up in Rheims, the entire western front is open. Anyway, with the war on France, our frontier with Danish held Antwerp has never been watched carefully.”
Prinz Jobst looked at his advisor: “That may explain the how, but not the why?”
Luka shrugged: “When a man is trying to cut your throat, do you stop and ask why?”
The Prinz nodded reluctantly. “What do we know about the Danish army?”
“They are double your strength. Your only chance is to strike fast and surprise them.”
Prinz Jobst looked at the wounded soldier in front of him: “Sound the call to arms - deploy for battle!”
*****
Stockholm
Prinz Haakon watched his guest leave. Had he gone too far? Conspire to cause a war between his country and the mighty German Reich? When the battle came, who would prevail? The Danish crusade or the Imperial Army of the Interior?
And then, how would the Germans respond? Would they take Antwerp, finishing King Charles, as his mysterious guest had promised? Or would they march north and threaten Stockholm as Haakon feared?
“May God have mercy on my soul.” thought Haakon as he gave a last look at his guest leaving the palace - a tall figure in a swirling black cloak, walking with a limp.
Re: Stories thread - King of the Romans PBM
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