To Escort a Lady part I

by Borstennskoldmund

The folk at Tannen have been very hospitable. Whilst I have been laid up with my many wounds after my spectacular folly at Hauptmann Berger's army camp, I have been treated very well. Many of the people have come to me to hear tales of how my friends and I sent Berger and his men back to Sieger, and some have also asked about how we slayed the Verschlingen. But in the eyes of the older folk there lies a great weariness and sadness, they have known nothing but war their whole lives.

My friends return from their mission to harry Sieger's army back to their homeland. Some of Fraulein Schwierig's mercenary women are now following Franz (although one has an eye for Giancarlo, and a couple more seem to be very close to Eduarde). I'm sure there is a story there to tell.

A great feast is organised to celebrate their return, I'm feeling much better now, and decide to make a real night of it, quickly downing several steins of good Eisen ale. My companions and I are the centre of attention, and there are many pretty girls flirting with us. Eduarde is in his element, and disappears and returns a number of times during the evening. Even the normally shy Giancarlo, who for some reason the girls find very attractive, has dallied with one or two of the lasses. Perhaps the schnapps that is on offer that has had its effect.

However, I notice that several of the mercenary women are not so amused, and I see that they leave the party early. I discovered the next day that they departed Tannen early in the morning. Women.

The last thing I recollect before blissfully falling into an alcoholic daze is watching Franz playing dice with some mercenaries. I could not tell if he was winning or losing. Strangely, I don't think he could tell either.

It was well into the next morning by the time I awoke, cursing my sore head. A thumping down the corridor has awoken me, and I wander down to find Franz puzzling over some sort of official document that he has found outside his bedroom door. Apparently the thumping was someone knocking, but they were nowhere to be sighted when we arrived.

The document appears to be a deed for some house in Freiburg, it is in the name of Lord Drachenheim. Dandelion recalls that the name was of a house of Eisen nobles that died out before the War of the Cross. But he doesn't remember any more specifics. Franz figures he must have won the deed playing dice, and we think no more of it. We plan to go to Freiburg anyway, so perhaps we'll chase it up then.

Walking down the street later in the day we see a beautiful Castillian woman accompanied by a familiar looking Castillian man. Both dressed immaculately. I hear a groan from Don Carlos, "It is my brother, I hate my brother".

"Good", I said to Don Carlos, "let us go and kill him. Then when next we encounter my evil slave-trading half-brother, you can return the favour, and help me kill him." But strangely, Don Carlos does not wish to take me up on this offer, I do not understand Castillians.

We are summoned to see the Wacht Hauptmann, and head to his office. There we find waiting for us Don Carlos' brother Ferdinand, and the beautiful woman, la donna Claudia Orduno. I put my hand on my axe ready to attack, as obviously we have been led into a trap. But to my surprise the two brothers embrace! I see the obvious rivalry in both their eyes, but yet they are exchanging pleasantries, albeit that any compliments are backhanded. Still, I do not understand. If you have a grievance with someone do you embrace him? No, you kill him, or be killed, this Castillian method of hatred is just confusing.

It is then explained to us why we are here. The Castillian noblewoman is on a diplomatic mission. It is thought that Castille and Eisen may have some common interests (Montaigne), and perhaps some deal can be made over formerly Eisen land now under Castillian control. However, it appears that Eisenfürst Sieger is not interested in such dealings, even though it is his former lands that are most affected. Talks with Eisenfürst Fischler have been more successful, and Claudia is now headed for Freiburg for talks with Nicklaus Trägue.

On her way here, her entourage was attacked by some of Sieger's Moerderbunde, and only she and Ferdinand escaped. Ferdinand boasts of his prowess in the battle, Don Carlos' eyes turn very dark. I suspect Ferdinand must have rigged the whole thing, if Herr Fischler's men had not turned up at the right time, he probably would have made off with the woman and held her for ransom, but I do not air my opinion. Such tact I have learnt!

We are to accompany la donna Claudia and Ferdinand to see them safely to Freiburg. I will keep a close eye on Ferdinand!

We ride north. At the end of the day Don Carlos thinks he has spotted a group of horsemen on our trail, some leagues back. Ferdinand laughs it off, my suspicions are aroused once more. The night passes uneventfully and we ride off the next day.

I notice Don Carlos falls off his horse - his saddle strap has broken. This is unusual, Don Carlos is a good horseman. Dandelion and I examined the saddle - it looks like the strap had been partly cut. Ferdinand takes the opportunity to belittle his mud-spattered younger brother, and rides off chuckling to himself. There is little doubt as to who cut the saddle strap.

Late in the day we notice the other party is much closer, likely to catch us by nightfall. A glint of steel is noticed. We decide to ride on rather than wait for them. Soon we spot a small village. We ride into the village, and purchase rooms at the inn. The village looks like it might once have been a thriving trade centre, now it is almost a ghost town, the people are very sombre.

Dandelion heads up to the top floor and looks out the window to the south. Using his spyglass he is able to spot the following party. Dandelion is convinced it is being led by Hauptmann Berger - he is swathed in bandages from our earlier meeting. He is accompanied by about a dozen mercenaries. But instead of following us into the village, they take a fork in the road.

We find out from the innkeeper that the fork leads via an alternate road through the hills to a ford across the river, the same place we must cross the river tomorrow. It's likely there will be a trap waiting for us. Don Carlos discovers the pins on his spurs have been loosened, it looks like another of Ferdinands practical jokes. I suggest to Don Carlos that perhaps we play a practical joke on him (although it would probably be safer just to kill him in my opinion). I suggest we cut off his beloved white stallion's head, surely that would be a good jest. But Don Carlos just looks at me as if I was strange.

We spend an uneasy night and set off early the next day. Ferdinand insists that he and Don Carlos ride ahead as scouts. I'm convinced that he is doing this so that he can alert the brigands to our presence, and lead us into ambush. Ferdinand then proceeds to make himself as conspicuous as possible, singing to Claudia and playing his guitar from the top of hills as he rides ahead. He is either about to betray us, or is just incredibly stupid.

We ride over a hill and before us the land stretches for a few hundred yards to a group of ruined stone buildings by the ford in the river. Ferdinand and Don Carlos ride ahead seemingly oblivious of any danger, even though they must expect it. Again I suspect that Ferdinand knows they won't attack him. But to my chagrin, the mercenaries open fire, on both of the Castillian brothers. Ferdinand was just plain stupid after all!

Franz, Jill, Eduarde and Giancarlo rush down to the battle on foot, Dandelion remains mounted. I've dismounted, but trip over a loose stone as I head down the hill. Dandelion stays with Claudia to protect her.

Meanwhile the brothers have engaged the crossbowmen, each counting each others kills, they seem to be competing more with each other than with the mercenaries! Franz has also arrived, but is confronted by Berger, who turns out to be a scum Vendel Rasmussen pistoleer. Franz bears the full brunt of Berger's attack and takes a fearful barrage of pistol fire. The crossbowmen have changed to polearms but are gradually being worn down. I finally get down to the battle and deliver a blow to a pikeman, when I notice Berger on his horse, about to ride up to Dandelion and Claudia.

With the pikemen falling quickly I decide to run after Berger. Fortunately Jill is also ahead of him, and engages him in combat, even though she is not mounted. Dandelion quickly rides down to block Berger's path, and Franz, Eduarde and I arrive soon after. Berger realises he is undone, and rides off at a gallop in the other direction, wearing a few more wounds. The brothers have managed to dispatch the rest of the pikemen between them, I think Don Carlos may have even won their personal battle, he is certainly looking very pleased.

Hopefully now the remainder of our journey to Freiburg will be uneventful. Unfortunately Franz is looking much the worse for wear, I must look at his wounds tonight, but at first glance they look too much for my meagre skills.

Borstennskoldmund.