I looked at the wood door nervously, within this chamber sat only my liege, the mediator and I along with two empty chairs. With each moment that I waited for him to arrive I grew steadily more nervous, the bare stone walls lacked any reflection of flames leaving the room cold as a chill went up my spine when the door finally opened.
It had been many years since that fateful day when I last saw Wilhelm and when he stepped into the room I felt all the guilt of years past rush over me. He was only one step behind his lord as they entered the chamber.
The gray-bearded mediator looked behind him at the two men.
“Count Reinhardt, Wilhelm it is good to see you arrive in good shape. Please have a seat so that we may begin negotiating the end of this war.”
Wilhelm looked up at me as they were sitting down and gave me a stern look along with a smirk making me immediately look away in shame.
The mediator spoke when we were all seated.
“Duke August of Beimerburg as you are the man to have called for this peace negotiation you may begin speaking.”
I looked at my liege as he stood up, with a well groomed beard, fancy clothes and bald head he demanded respect without saying a word. He landed his gaze on Reinhardt and began speaking.
“Throughout these past few months, ever since you began your attack on my realm, suffering has become the norm for my people as well as yours. Yet I fear that we are all going to face times far worse than today if this war is allowed to continue.”
I saw an anxious expression begin to take root on Reinhardts face as August continued.
“It hasn’t required blood being shed on the field of battle for circumstances to grow this terrible but when the day of battle comes things are only going to get worse. This is why I choose to offer unto you sir Reinhardt the gains you have made so far in this war. If we can agree to end this war now before things get too out of hand you may keep fortress Waldberg along with the surrounding lands and we may begin to work together as good christians have ought to do and together bring the heathens of the east under the domain of christ.”
Count Reinhardt shows his youth in both appearance and action, bearing a clean shaven face and fashionable ear length hair. He is well renowned as an up and coming lord who has come far in spite of his young age due in large part to his collaboration with the mercenary leader Wilhelm. He leaned back in his chair as he answered August.
“Why is it that you make proposals you know won’t be accepted? Your dynasty has dominated for long enough August, the future lies in the eastern lands and I am not willing to let you take any part in it. We can end this war today and you can go back to tending to your people but I am both going to be keeping my gains along with you giving your word that you won’t interfere in my christianisation of the east and that you will recognize me as rightful sovereign of it when I am done.”
I could see that this response was upsetting to August though it was certainly not surprising. The matter of who should christianise and one day rule the east has been a source of conflict between noblemen for many years and with my liege August and Count Reinhardt being the only two with the capability to do it there have been tensions between them for a while. I choose this moment to stand up and try to convince Reinhardt.
“Sir Reinhardt the east is vast and trying to take it on yourself may turn out regrettably if anything should go wrong, together we stand a better chance of successfully spreading the domain of christ. And there is certainly more than enough room in the east for both realms to have their share of it.”
It is at this point that Wilhelm who had been sitting with his long spindly limbs crossed until this point spoke up pushing his long blond hair out of the way and leaning a bit forward before he began speaking.
“I do find it rather insolent of you to tell such a bold-faced lie to my lord Frederick. I believe my warband, which may I remind you only consists of converted heathens, shows just how much willingness there is in the east to leave behind pagan doctrine and embrace Christ. Resistance should be minimal as you well know.”
Whilst speaking he stared into my soul with a grin on his face enjoying every second I spent skirting eye contact. For most of my life at this point my soul had been drowning in the guilt I felt due to what I’d done to him and I felt in these moments like I was going to puke and shrivel.
“But of course you aren’t a stranger to deception and trying to slyly grab riches for your own is precisely what should be expected.”
Wilhelm leaned back in his chair and I cautiously sat back down and with my heart rushing, the room didn’t feel so cold anymore.
“Please gentlemen do remain courteous and avoid hurling insults at one another.” Said the mediator causing Reinhardt to turn towards August.
“Now August perhaps we can compromise? You can have your southern lands back along with the fortress Waldberg but the east is mine alone, so long as you respect that we can end this frankly unnecessary conflict. It’s only natural that the new should supplant the old and your dynasty is practically ancient. I understand that it’s concerning for you to think your family might lose its hegemonic status in this region but you can rest assured that when I’m in charge we shall all prosper, even you who oppose me are going to find a good life in the future under my rule.”
I looked to my right in order to gauge his reaction but August retained a stoic expression for a couple of seconds before responding.
“You are right in that I rue the day when a conniving schemer like you comes unto a position of hegemony, and I can see that your ambition has carried you far from your humble beginnings. But I needn’t lose sleep over worrying about the possibility, because the tales of men like you always end the same way and I know that the ambition which has fueled you this far will soon enough be your undoing.”
August then stood up and gave me a light pat on the back prompting me to stand up as well.
“It should be clear to everyone at this point that no peace can be reached today and that this godforsaken war will continue. You two may take your troops and leave this castle immediately, Frederick here will see you off in just a minute down by the gate.”
Reinhardt nodded his head and stood up along with Wilhelm.
“So it seems, though I must still thank you for your hospitality, I can only hope it isn’t too long before I can stay in this here castle again.”
And so did they walk back out through the wooden door which they came in through with Wilhelm smiling towards me as they left.
