Forests South West of Hamburg – 1114, winter

Henri sat astride his horse as the army marched through the forest, Andreas beside him, they were all tired, all dirty…all running away


Andreas, do you have the latest reports?

Andreas rummaged in a bag, and withdrew some parchments before replying

Aye my lord…he began to read whilst they rode on…seems the Germans are at our heels but we have outpaced them sufficiently but it is still a matter of a dozen miles between us and it is by no means certain we will reach Frankfurt before being overtaken.

Henri looked pensive

That…is not…good news Andreas…Henri abruptly smiled at Andreas though…still the Duc of Lorraine awaits us in Frankfurt and re-enforcements are on their way East also, we will prevail Andreas..take heart.

Andreas smiled also but it was much more weakly and there clearly wasn’t too much belief in his eyes…he continued to read

Ah…reports on a few Chevaliers who have made themselves known in court..

Andreas handed them to Henri who read them

Hmm…he threw one to the ground off hand…ok…another went into the mud on the road as he muttered to himself…ahh…now this man interests me Andreas…he passed the parchment back to Andreas

Him? This man my lord? But why, he appears quite ignoble by all accounts…almost brutish…what interests you of this man?

HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE ARMY BEHIND US?!? Henri alarmed himself with his volume and animation but looking at the hollow eyes of his tired men around him he bent in closer to Andreas before continuing in low tones

…that army behind us Andreas could destroy all of Lorraine, such troops we have not faced before or even seen their quality..ever…what interests me of this man is the same essence that abhors me about him. He is ignoble, perhaps even a brute but we will have ignoble work ahead of us and I am a Prince of the Realm not to mention the Captain of a Noble Order of Chivalry.

Andreas started to realised what Henri was suggesting and paled

No my lord, what are you suggesting?

Andreas, faithful servant and guardian, you have taught me well the ways of Chivalry, of honour but you also told me that often not such high ideals have no place on a battlefield. When..and I mean…when, we defeat that Satan spawned army behind us…we must think hard on what to do and it is a man like this I will turn to, to ensure our ultimate victory.

Andreas couldn’t quite believe the young man in front of him and what he was intimating, what had become of Henri?