Stories thread - King of the Romans PBM

[TinCow]

(Written by OverKnight)

Florence - 1374 AD

No one knew who started the fire. The Florentines blamed the Greeks, the Greeks blamed the Germans and most of the city's population had been killed, so the matter was in doubt. Yet the Cathedral of Sin had burned, all that was left was scorched stone and a few stray embers. The main building had collapsed in on itself, and the tower was half gone, a jagged black tooth thrust against the night sky. The locals said it was haunted and dared not approach.

A lone figure made his way toward the ruin. Stopping at the entrance, he lit a torch and shone the light into the depths. Shaking his head, the cloaked and hooded figure strode into the building.

Eventually, after a few twists and turns, the man emerged into a room neither the flames nor the Greeks had touched. The triangular table and ebony chairs remained. Only the presence of dust indicated the passage of time, all else was as it had been. The room was lit, and his Brothers waited for him.

"Have a seat, you are late, and there is much to speak of," said a cloaked man to his right. He pulled back his hood, it was Lothar Steffen.

A cloaked man spoke to the left, "Aye Voice, we can begin. You have news of the trial?"

Lothar smiled coldly, "Yes, Grand Master, I have been found guilty of Regicide. Though none of us should find that shocking. I am now an outlaw and condemned to death."

The latecomer spoke, "So, the moment of crisis has come. You took an awful risk Lothar, if you had been captured. . .You've always been a bit too overconfident."

Lother turned to face the latecomer, "You speak to me of risk? I am the Voice, it is. . .was. . .my job to be noticed. You helped in that matter, or do you forget our 'arguments'? And I was not the one who defied the Council, brother."

Matthias Steffen threw back his hood, "I did not defy the Council, I chose to stay in Outremer when everyone else fled. It was a risk but it has worked out well for us. Still, I always enjoyed playing the 'battling Steffens', but I am glad the time for action has come."

Matthias turned to his left, "Grand Master, with the Trial over, what do we do now?"

The Grand Master pulled back his hood, a glint of obsidian mail could be seen below the cloak.

"It is time," Duke Arnold responded, "To initiate the Plan. Do I have the Brotherhood's agreement?"

In turn, each man in the room spoke his assent. Then, as one, the remaining Brothers stood and approached the table; forming a pyramid around the pyramid, with the Grand Master as the eye. All voices spoke in unison. “Re acre accipemus, cuncti pro bono terrae, finorumqu'et regni.”

A cloaked Brother hissed afterward, "Sic Semper Tyrannis."

"For the Republic," whispered Matthias to himself.

When it was done, Matthias turned and walked back into the darkness from which he came. Eventually, he knew, he would emerge once again into the warmth and light of the world above. Soon, though, Kaiser Peter would not.