Stories Thread

[Braden]

Frankfurt – 1118

“Charles has asked me for aid” Henri sits in the study chambers whilst Andreas idly flicks through one of the government tomes on another table beside him.

“What does he want my lord?”

“Ha! What he’s wanted since he became a knight…land. Forestooth I think his first words in Council were to request land from our Father, I assume he’s been rebuffed again by him as he now writes to me for help….hmm…he believes that opportunity will come to him from his elder brother now he is a Duc eh?”

“Indeed my lord but you can’t just give him land. The Duchy has little enough as it is to produce money and troops.”

Henri waves his hand to dismiss Andreas’ statement “True enough but I feel that to gain we must do so.”

Andreas stops reading and regards Henri with a ‘you can’t be serious’ look on his face.

“Oh my dear Andreas, can’t you see? We are clearly overstretched. The armies facing us on our borders are large and we are…frankly…weak. Had my plans come to fruition we would not be in this predicament but we did not seize Hamburg, Thomas did not seize Magdeburg and Nuremburg has been given to the Germans again. All this leaves us, Lorraine, dangerously exposed from three fronts.”

“What’s in your head my lord?” Andreas was now intrigued.

“Charles can have Staufen. We don’t have the means to defend or Southern borders but Charles will not be left to rot by the King or council, he will be given the means to defend himself and by proxy us. We can concentrate on the threat to the East and the Order can nullify the threat in the North for now. However, we need to get something more ‘overt’ from such a deal. I cannot be seen to just give land to Charles…it would not sit well with my vassals.”

“Ok, my lord, good reason thus far but what can Charles give you?”

“Oh….Andreas…Charles can give me more leverage. You know I favour Villain?”

Andreas baulked at the name “Gah! Yes my lord but I still fail to see why…the man is lowborn at best, base in his action”

“Andreas! Stop that now, you know Villain is a means to an end, he is clearly the correct tool for the job at hand. I am a Prince of the Realm, it is beneath me to conduct a more total solution to defend the Duchy or indeed France. My personal principles hold me to a code of honour that will have us fight the same Germans three or more times…costing countless extra lives…I am sorry you find him abhorrent but he is just exactly the man the Duchy needs now.”

“I suppose so my lord but he is a beast”

“Indeed he is Andreas, indeed he is…but he is our ‘beast’ and I wish to keep him so. I have granted him title but now Charles presents me with a unique opportunity. Adoption”

Andreas nearly fell down through the chair he was sitting on “Adoption?!? Are you mad?”

“Nay Andreas, not mad…far from it indeed. Andreas, you taught me well but we find ourselves in a position where we have Villain, a man you and I know well. You know he will not remain loyal, even with a Barony…but if he had a truly vested interest in the continued health and wellbeing of the Royal household….”

Henri trailed off, the question unanswered. Andreas filled the gap in awe

“Keep your friends close but your enemies…well, potentially deadly enemies…closer still?”

“Very true Andreas and I cannot think of a closer proximity than to be my Brother…can you? Villain will serve the Duchy well and whilst I do not intend to sell him out at anytime, it pays well to have an insurance plan when dealing with such a man.”