V&V Stories Thread

[phonicsmonkey]

Chapter Two: The Italian Job (Authored by _Tristan_)

Part One


The Prinz’messenger had come and gone, leaving a letter which stood unopened in Lothar’s hand.

“Won’t you read it, my Lord ?” Guy d’Ollioules asked.

“I’ll wait until we can see the walls of Milan before seeing what the Prinz has to say…Though I already have an idea of what he wishes.”

Turning in his saddle, Lothar checked the advance of the column of his army. Most of the column was mercenaries, drawn to him by the stipends given to them but now bound to him by more than money. Their spirits were buoyed by the victorious crossing of the Po, they felt they could conquer the world. Lothar could not help but wonder at how small the column was. Would it be enough ?

The days wore on until one morning, scouts reported that Milan was just over the next hill.

Lothar rode ahead with Guy in tow to get a first look at the Milanese capital… Its capture meant much to him. If he could add it to his demesne, he could declare himself King of Italy and thus negotiate with the Kaiser on a more equal footing. And if negotiations failed, the Milanese gold would enlarge Lothar’s army, offering him protection from both the Reich, the French or the Venetians.

With Milan sprawled at his feet, Lothar took the Prinz’ message from within his doublet. Committing every word of it to memory, the further he read, the more anger rose in him.

Guy noticed the change of mood in his liege. “What does the Prinz wish ?”

“Gold… The Prinz wishes gold… Milan’s gold…” Lothar answered “Let’s see if we can deprive him of it… But first things first, Guy… Bring me paper, quill and ink… The Prinz deserves an answer.”

Finishing the letter, Lothar sealed it and gave it to Guy. “Have a man carry it to the Prinz but he is to deliver it only in 5 days from now.”

Over the next days, Lothar scanned the positions of Leopold’s army. Soon a plan hatched in his head. It would require a conjunction of many factors, a lot of luck and daring-do but if he succeeded, it would be the perfect heist.

Six days later, as night was falling on Milan, with siege engines built, Lothar gave orders to move out. The horses’ hooves were muffled, chainmails and weapons darkened with soot.

Lothar deployed the main body of his army in front of the south gate while he sent his battering rams to the eastern and western gate with a small escort.

From the city, night watchmen called in their rounds. It was the signal Lothar’s men were waiting for. The rams were slowly rolled down to the gates. Then it all happened very quickly. The city militias had expected an attack on the southern gate where Lothar’s main force was gathered, out of sight of Leopold’s sentinels. The other gates were thus taken almost without opposition. The city councilors and main bankers were rounded up. They were given a choice : either cough up their gold and live or refuse, have their gold taken and die. They chose the former.

As the first rays of the sun struck the roofs of the city, the city vaults had been all but emptied and wagons loaded with brimming coffers full of the city’s riches.

Lothar ordered a quick retreat to Genoa. He was sure the Prinz would come in pursuit but he had to reach Genoa first and free the city from the Venetians besieging it.

Prinz Leopold,

I respect your martial prowess and your honor. You were ever present for the Reich while your father was away, gallivanting while his Empire was torn to shreds and his people suffered.

In all of this, as I said, you've earned my respect.

Thus, it is with a lot of regret that I must decline your warning of not storming the walls of Milan. It is a prize that would ensure the future of my princedom and a means to negotiate a truce with your father, not on an equal footing but from a stronger position.

As the proverb goes, one bird in the hand is better than two in the bushes. So I'd rather make Milan mine today than wait on a hypothetical reconciliation once, or if, you access the Imperial throne.

What is Milan to you anyway ? Would you not be better off helping your vassals defend the Reich against Hungary or help your father secure the northern reaches from the Poles ?

Leave to me the defense of the Reich southern borders... I think I have proven more than capable of it, don't you think ?

So march north, Prinz, fight for the Empire and maybe one day, we'll be able to fight alongside...

May the future be kind to you,

Prinz Lothar of Provence and Liguria