On a ship in the Mediterranean:
Jan von Hamburg woke up in a daze. The last day's events were a blur. He remembered being in the Diet and arguing with Duke Arnold over prisoners and protocol. He remembered leaving the Diet and, not being able to find the Duke, heading back to the dock to leave for Outremer. He remembered being ambushed by Arnold and his two minions. He remembered fighting the Duke and getting bested. He remembered seeing his friend Frederick lying on the ground with no head. The Duke was about to kill him as well but soldiers from the local garrison heard the commotion and ran over. The Duke and his men ran off and the soldiers took Jan and put him on his ship. His shoulder hurt. Luckily the armor stopped most of the blow. Nothing to do now but rest and heal. Little did Jan know, that Duke Arnold and his two minions were in a ship a few days behind him.
A few days later:
Jan awoke in his family home in Aleppo and traveled to Antioch to visit the King. He had rested up enough and was eager to get back into action. His shoulder still ached but he needed to get out of the house and get moving again. Jan got caught up in the latest news in regards to Outremer. His father had attacked the tail end of the Mongol army as it forded the river north of Edessa. If only the King and others had listened to him as he recommended placing Elberhard on the river days beforehand. But, what was done was done. What was important, was that Jan get back into action and lend a hand. And for that, he had to see the King and get permission to rejoin the army. After all the arguing in the Diet and the subsequent fight with Duke Arnold, Jan was not looking forward to seeing the King for he feared a scolding. But, better to get it over with.
King's chambers in Antioch:
King Salier looked up when Jan walked into the room. Do I tell him what I know? the King thought. Before the King stood what was going to be, the next generation of Crusaders. Young, eager, and capable, Jan represented both promise and headaches.
"Welcome back, Jan," the King began. "I trust that you have healed up nicely after your little stint with Duke Arnold and his men." King Salier's tone was as acid as anyone had ever heard. "I have read the transcripts of the Diet and there were a few specific points where you could have let the matter drop. But you instead chose to push the issue. Why?"
Jan quickly replied, "My king, out here in the Outremer, we talk a lot about chivalry and faith. And some of us even practice it. But, everyday back home there are members of the Diet who commit unspeakable acts. What are our convictions if we do not speak out? You heard what Duke Arnold had done and you said nothing!"
The King impatiently cut Jan off. "I said nothing because nothing could be done. Duke Arnold had already made up his mind before he gave the order to kill all of those people. It would have been a waste of time and breath." He continued. "Executions of populations have been rare in the Reich's history. I can only think of three cases. Ulrich Hummel at Metz, Lothar Steffin at Ajaccio, and now Arnold at Budapest. In case you haven't noticed, none have such a great reputation in the Diet. It is simply an unwritten rule that those who do exterminate are frowned upon. But you do not press the issue! You work within the system. You pass legislation. You elect like-minded folk, folk who share your views about slaughter. What you did was just provocative."
Jan hastily replied, "So you sit here in Outremer and do nothing!? Meanwhile, our fellow nobles are butchering people for the fun of it! Do we just sit all safe out here in Outremer and try to make this an island of faith while we let the rest of the Reich rot to its core!?"
The King sits and pondered what to say next, "Jan, I do not doubt your faith or your convictions... but I wonder if part of what is driving you is an attempt to get your father's attention and win his approval."
Jan looked punched in the eyes and just stood there quiet. The King continued, "I know you've been disappointed at your last few assignments. But Outremer needs defending on all fronts and I will send soldiers where I think they are needed. Your father and I will discuss your next assignment and we will get word to you. Dismissed."
Jan, obviously disappointed, stood up straight, turned around, and left the chambers. The King sat back and ponders what to do. For spies in Outremer had given the King news that Jan would very much want to hear. So much promise, yet so impatient, the King thought. The King knew that if he told Jan the news, something bad would happen. But, if he didn't tell him, Jan wouldn't stand a chance. While Jan probably would not handle the situation the right way, the King very much wanted Jan to stay alive long enough to learn the right way. Plus, the King never cared much for that Duke and his ways anyways...
He took out a slip of parchment and began writing.
"Hermann!" the King barked. "Take care of this for me."
The next day:
Jan sat around at home waiting for word on his assignment. Getting bored, Jan went into town and sat in a local market munching on dates and watching the people go by. A man Jan never saw before sat down at his table. "Greetings young Hamburg", said the robed figure.
"Who are you?", inquired Jan. Without saying another word, the man reached into his robe, pulled out a letter and pushed it across the table. With that done, the man got up and left. Curious, Jan took the letter and unfolded it.
The letter read:
Duke Arnold and two companions made landfall at Acre yesterday. They are taking the mountain pass and avoiding the main road on their way towards Aleppo. God go with you.
Stunned, Jan sat motionless. "The Duke is here?", thought Jan. He had to be planning on finishing the job. Jan knew he had to do something but he knew he couldn't take the three of them alone. Who to tell? Jan didn't want to tell his father. His father had enough going on in Edessa. Plus, Jan wanted to prove himself and it wouldn't do well to run to his dad every time things got rough. The King probably would be a bad idea as well. Jan got the distinct impression that the King was disappointed in him for his part in this mess. Plus, the King probably wouldn't sanction bloodshed against the Duke while he was in Outremer anyways. The other crusaders probably wouldn't be good to go to either. Elberhard was busy fighting the Mongols. Count Zirn would not be sympathetic to the idea of attacking his Duke. Hummel was busy trying to lead a revolution and Hummel's younger brother was too inexperienced. Matthias and Hans had not arrived yet. Jan knew that his brother-in-law Dieter would lend a hand but Jan did not want to ruin Dieter's political future. Who could he go to? Suddenly, Jan had a thought and headed to the local Chapter House.
The local Teutonic Knight Chapter House:
Jan walked up to an impressive concrete structure with a cross emblazoned on the door and a flag waving from the front. Before he could knock, the two massive doors opened. Puzzled, Jan walked in. "Jan von Hamburg! We have been expecting you!", a voice boomed from inside. Jan walked into a long great hall with swords and shields hanging off the wall. At a large wooden table sat many knights fully armored but un-helmeted. Jan walked down the length of the hall to the head of the table where an old grizzled knight sat. A knight got up from the seat next to him and Jan took his place. "How did you know it was me?", asked Jan.
The head knight replied, "We know many things. We know that Duke Arnold is on his way here to Aleppo as we speak." Jan looks shocked that they could know that and the knight quickly continues, "Jan, if something is ever going on in Outremer that we don't know about, be worried." The knight continued, "We heard about Frederick. Since this was his chapter house, we were all especially close to him here. His loss deeply saddens us. And we do not want you to grieve too much for Frederick did his duty. That and he actually liked you which is not something we can always say about our charges."
Jan quickly stated, "I am deeply sorry about what happened. We were outnumbered and Frederick died trying to protect me. He is a credit to your Order and he was a trusted servant and a good dear friend. I too am grieving over his loss. But, while I am grieving, I still have business to attend to and I am in need of company. As a crusader, I am entitled to be accompanied by a knight from your Order."
The knight looked around the table where there was at least a dozen knights seated and said, "Of course! We're all ready to leave when you are!" Jan was stunned. The head knight continued, "You are planning on confronting Duke Arnold before he kills you. But you need someone to hold off his two goons. We need your help as well. The Grand Master has made it very clear that it would be politically unwise for us to attack a Duke. We profit quite well from our arrangement with the Reich. But, Dane and Grom killed our brother and honor demands that we get satisfaction. You on the other hand have clearly no regard for the political consequences back home so you could get away with attacking the Duke. He did try to kill you. And I suspect that there are those in the Diet that secretly wish him dead anyways but wouldn't dare say it. You take care of the Duke, and we will ensure that his two men will not interfere." Jan was so stunned, all he could do was nod.
Two days later in a mountain pass in the Acre region:
The sand and wind whipped around Jan as he squinted in the sun. Him and twelve Teutonic Knights had rode hard in order to make it to this place in time. For hundreds of years, smugglers had used these routes to avoid the main roads. It was here that the pass narrowed and for a time, there were no forks. Just a narrow crevice. And off in the distance, Jan could barely make out three figures on horse back heading his way. Turning to one of the knights, Jan said, "Captain, I'm going to ride on ahead and take a path that will get me behind them. When they get in the crevice, block off their front. I'll come in from the rear. Remember, the Duke is mine. Just keep those two minions away from me. Good luck and God go with you!"
The knights replied in unison, "God go with you!" as Jan rode off into the dust...
Dread and Chivalry part 2
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