"We can't continue the war like this! They sieged Genzburg for months.", said Narissa Schwabhausen, a hlaf-elf woman with braided rust brown hair. She is taller than the other commanders gathered around the big war table. "They would never have taken the city. They had neither siege artillery nor the numbers to defeat the garrison supported by the dukes army. At no time were we at risk of loosing to the venecians.", retorted a knight seemingly annoyed as if he had to repeat that phrase for the hundredth time this day. Griping his swords pommel with his right hand, von Seid addressed his superior, "Sir von Favoriten, we were isolated from our allies and they might have pulled in reinforcements to take Grenzburg. Even if they no reinforcements were coming to the merchant councils aid, had Vulcan Styr not attacked the venecian forts and force them to retreat, we would have run out of food eventually."
"Lady Schwabhausen, dear Sir, dear Marius, the venecians pigs retreated three weeks ago, whether the siege was going to be successful or not is not of any importance now. The duke raised new forces after all. And my mice are not reporting any further movement from them. Retaliation for those north men scum will come soon.", interjected Martok von Favoriten, Marius' younger brother. He is not as muscular as his fellow warriors, his beard is unkempt and could trimming. The color of his beard and hair even darker in color than his older brothers. "As charming as ever.", was Lady Schawabhausens reply to the vulgar language of the 22-year old spymaster.
After a moment of silence a broad-shouldered man appeared in the entrance to the tent, where the commanders were arguing. His short blonde hair and his well groomed beard could be mistaken for a helmet made of gold. Clad in pitch black armor, adorned with streaks of gold, the noble soldier strides over to the other who bow before him. "Sir von Seid, Lady Schwabhausen, Sirs von Favoriten, today a messenger from Aschstadt arrived with a missive from the emperor himself." The four commanders looked at each other questioningly. "His majesty invites to peace talks in the capital.", he continues, "It seems that emperor Karl is ready to make concessions in order to make peace.".
"My Lord, why would he want peace now? He barely participated in any battles. His contribution was merely financial so far. Would he sent his full army south, he could easily defeat us in our weakened state.", questioned Lady Schwabhausen. "For the same reason he had not yet sent any of his own soldiers to aid the venecians. He fears the Kingdom of Nordland far more than us. From this invitation we can gather that he struggles more and more to keep the invaders from marching further south. He is desperate and needs all the men he can get to fight them. Retaking Nordland was always his grand ambition.", replied duke Schwabhausen. "But why did he declare us rebels and entered the war on side of the merchant council?. He could just have let it play out without dragging the whole empire into it.", retorted Lady Schwabhausen. "Well, our genius of an emperor also thought that imprisoning our lord Jokel Schwabhausen would prevent an uprising. He underestimated us, and now the fool pays for it. Play stupid games, win stupid prices.", said Martok von Favoriten jokingly.
"Enough!", said the duke with a stern voice. "We can use the emperors desperation to our benefit. We might be able to end the venecians smuggling operations and restore trade on the Spice Road as well as negotiate the release of my brother. We will accept the emperors invitation and attend the peace talks.". "My lord, you know I will follow your every order, but please reconsider the opportunity we have here. We could march right up to their capital. The venecian forts guarding the Spice Road were destroyed by Styr which means they need more time to meet our forces. We are in the position to win this war.", pleaded Marius von Favoriten. "What use is a city that we can't hold. We are stretched to thin. If we march our army west, Grenzburg is defenseless. The peace talks are our best way to stop the venecians.", barked the half-elf lady in an attempt to make her husbands point clear. An opinion she shares.
"I said enough"!, this time he slammed his armored fist on the table. "My lord, at least sent an emissary to Aschstadt in your stead. The emperor makes a habit of imprisoning those who disagree with him.", suggested von Seid, being a more calm and cool headed man than the others. "No, emperor Karl will see this as an insult. I will travel there myself. But you make a good point. You, my most skilled and trusted commanders, will stay behind. Should he imprison me, you will continue the war. As much as I value your council Sir von Seid, Sir von Favoriten saw more battles. He will command our alliances forces, should this scenario occur.", replied the duke with a decisive tone. "But my lord, will you travel with just simple guards protecting you?", asked his wife. "If you will allow it,", interjected the older of the von Favoriten brothers "I could send out messengers to spread the word that we are hiring bodyguards to escort you to the peace talks. To test their skills we could arrange a small tournament to determine who is fit for the job as not to waste money on weaklings. And it would surely take the horrors of war from the mind of your soldiers for a few days and boost morale.". "That is an excellent idea.", confirmed duke Schwabhausen. "I will not leave your side. Let me go with you, my lord.", requested lady Schwabhausen. "No. If the emperor imprisons me, you are the only free member of House Schwabhausen. You need to stay in Grenzburg.". His wife opened her mouth again but was shut down by duke Schwabhausen by raising his hand in a gesture. "Make the necessary preparations!", ordered the duke before leaving the tent again.
