Wow. Would never expect such devilry from Otto. But it is more important that some other people don't exepct it 
The County that was forgotten, a county of Zutphen AAR
- Thread starter Veldmaarschalk
- Start date
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Otto certainly has taken things into hand now. But Gebhard is not much for the spymaster role if he couldn't even do a little thing like murder Count Ekbert. Now he's lost the chance for his son to inherit, it seems to me.
Now he's lost the chance for his son to inherit, it seems to me.
I wonder how much of this is really Otto and how much of this is Goz pulling Otto's strings. It would seem to me that Otto isn't as independant as he believes or as the readers are being led to believe, but that Goz is the real power and there's simply been a transfer from Mama to Marshal as manipulator.
lovely a new AAR from the man with the highest update ratio around, and this time it has even wifes on a shoppingfrenzy :rofl:
i will surely follow this 1 actively
i will surely follow this 1 actively
Chapter 7 ‘The end of the van Braunschweigs’
With the death of count Ekbert ‘the Younger’ the heir of the counties of Frisia and Ost-Friesland was now Giselbert van Zutphen. Count Ekbert ‘the Elder’ sent request after request to his daughter to join him with his grandson and heir. But Otto was able convince his brother and his wife Gertrude each time to stay. With murderers on the loose in Frisia the only safe place for them was Zutphen. And he also convinced them that they were to valuable to him as chancellor and spy-master.
In 1078 AD though chancellor Gertrude became pregnant again and if she would give birth to a son, the situation would get more complicated. But luckily for Otto, Gertrude died while giving birth.
Count Ekbert ‘the Elder’ having now lost both his children fell into a deep depression and some people even said that he had become crazy. He was talking to ghosts people, whom he believed to be his dead son and daughter.
Marshal Gozewijn convinced Otto to appoint his father, Theodoricus as the new chancellor. A man with considerable less abilities then Gertrude. Theodoricus was the brother of Otto’s stepfather Hendrikus.
In 1081 AD, count Ekbert ‘the Elder’ died, leaving all his titles and possessions to his only grandson, Giselbert, who at that time was a boy of 5 years old.
‘I need to go to my son, Otto’ said spy-master Gebhard ‘I have received letters from his regents in Frisia, he cries all day and night. He misses his friends and family. It is obvious that he needs his father.’
‘Well Gebhard, you have served me well as my spy-master, I will not force you to stay here.’
‘Thank you Otto, I am also planning on getting married again, Giselbert needs a mother and maybe even some brothers and sisters.’
‘Really ? Gertrude is forgotten Gebhard ? I thought you loved her more ?’
‘I will never forget her, Otto, but she died 3 years ago. I don’t think she would mind me getting remarried.’
‘Well if that is the case, then I wish you good luck, my little brother. But take care, I have heard that the road the Frisia is a dangerous one.’
‘Contrary to what you might think Otto, I am not a coward.’
‘I didn’t say you were, Gebhard, but I would feel much safer if you took a small escort with you. I will ask marshal Gozewijn to provide for one.’
‘That is very nice of you, my brother. Well I will be going off then, I still need to pack a few things.’
‘Good luck, Gebhard, hopefully we will see each other soon.’
‘Of course we will, Otto, it is not like I am going to the other side of the world.’
After Gebhard had left, marshal Gozewijn came from behind the curtain where he had been hiding himself.
‘Your brother is getting married again Otto ! That is not a good thing.’
‘No it isn’t. I am not happy about it, but it needs to be done.’
‘It is time for your brother ?’
‘Yes, his time has come. The fool has accepted my offer for an escort.’
‘I will make sure that the escort consists of reliable men.’
‘Good, I know I can count on you Goz, and remember my brother is not going to reach Frisia alive.’
And so it happened that on a quite lonely road somewhere between Zutphen and Frisia, one of the escorts of Gebhard drew his sword and planted it in Gebhard’s back. The men then returned to Zutphen with the news that they had been attacked by a band of criminals who had been able to kill Gebhard.
Since Otto was now the nearest male relative of Giselbert, the regency-council in Frisia asked him to act as the guardian of their young count. Otto who had been expecting this, accepted the honour of course. Duke Godfried wasn’t able to intervene because he was fighting the Wendish Pagans on the Baltic coast, together with emperor Heinrich. Otto had decided not to join them, but use the absence of these two, to his own advantage.
In the autumn of 1083 AD, Otto had a meeting with Gozewijn, Theodoricus and Lambert van Arkel his new spy-master. Lambert was a former monk, but had left the church to follow a more worldly career. He wasn’t a very popular figure in the county of Zutphen and many people were even afraid of him. But Otto liked him, because Lambert was reliable and 100% loyal to him and he didn’t have any scruples. Lambert was also a person who didn’t speak much, and some people even thought that he couldn’t speak at all.
‘....so the war against the Wends is won ?’
‘Yes, the last thing I heard was, that our emperor was readying himself to invade the island of Rügen, the last Wendish stronghold’ said Gozewijn.
‘That means that duke Godfried will soon return home Otto. I have a feeling he won’t be pleased with the latest developments in his duchy’ chancellor Theodoricus added ‘and he will certainly take some measures against us.’
‘On what grounds ? The fact that Giselbert is now count is perfectly legal and that I am asked to be his guardian is also logical and legal. The Hunchback can’t do much against me, without upsetting his whole realm.’
‘Duke Godfried is the liege of Giselbert and it is his right to appoint a guardian or regent, not the council of Frisia. I think we have to give in when Godfried asks you to give your position.’
‘No way, Theo, I am not going to give in.’
‘That will certainly upset our relationship with Godfried which is already strained at this time, since we refused to help him in the war.’
‘Theo, you are my chancellor, so it is your task to see that the relationship between the Hunchback and me isn’t strained. So when the Hunchback is back in Andernach, you will go and speak to him and tell him that everything in Zutphen and Frisia is fine and that I am and will be his most loyal vassal.’
‘Uhh ! You want me to speak personally with duke Godfried ? Wouldn’t it be better Otto if you went yourself.’
‘No, I have no intention of speaking with the Hunchback at all, I am not such a sweet-talker as you.’
‘Otto, it is not that I don’t want to but duke Godfried has a certain habit of dealing with people who tell him something he doesn’t like.’
‘Are you afraid Theo ? Is my chancellor a coward ? If so then I might need a new one, maybe Lambert here.’
A small grin came on the face of spy-master Lambert.
‘My father is not a coward, Otto. I am sure that he will be honoured to go on this mission. Aren’t you dad ?’
‘Yes, yes, of course. I will do my best to convince duke Godfried, but the law is very clear on this. The liege of a minor decides who is the regent and guardian not the family of the child.’
‘Then you will just have to find a way to convince the Hunchback to confirm my appointment.;
‘That will be hard, but I will try Otto.’
Chancellor Theodoricus now left the room.
‘Well if the Hunchback doesn’t agree there is always another solution to this problem. A life of a child is so fragile.’
Lambert grin became wider as he heard what Otto said.
‘Otto, I have always supported you’ said Gozewijn ‘and I have had no problems in murdering Ekbert ‘the Younger’ and your brother, they were adults. But killing a child is not very chivalric.’
‘Are you growing weak Goz ?’
‘Of course not, but a child ? Otto think about it. We have still plenty of time and Giselbert might die of natural causes or maybe my father succeeds with his mission to duke Godfried.’
‘No, Goz your father is right in one thing, the Hunchback won’t be pleased at all he will revoke my guardianship and install one of his puppets as the regent and he may even revoke the title of Giselbert. The time has come for the final act, can I still count on you Goz ?’
‘You can count on me Otto, but I will not kill a child. You can ask me anything, just not that.’
Otto now turned towards Lambert.
‘So Lambert what is your opinion about this ?’
Lambert responded by pulling a dagger out of his belt and started to move it over his forearm, shaving of the hairs.
‘Sharp, my dagger is sharp’
‘Thank you, Lambert. You see Goz, that was the response I expected from you.’
‘Do what you have to do, Otto. I will have no part in this’ and Gozewijn stood up from his chair and also left the room.
‘Well Lambert, it is just you and me then. You will go to Frisia and make sure that happens what I want to happen.’
‘Dagger.......sharp.’
Lambert succeeded and in October 1083 AD, Otto gained the counties of Frisia and Ost-Friesland.
With the death of count Ekbert ‘the Younger’ the heir of the counties of Frisia and Ost-Friesland was now Giselbert van Zutphen. Count Ekbert ‘the Elder’ sent request after request to his daughter to join him with his grandson and heir. But Otto was able convince his brother and his wife Gertrude each time to stay. With murderers on the loose in Frisia the only safe place for them was Zutphen. And he also convinced them that they were to valuable to him as chancellor and spy-master.
In 1078 AD though chancellor Gertrude became pregnant again and if she would give birth to a son, the situation would get more complicated. But luckily for Otto, Gertrude died while giving birth.
Count Ekbert ‘the Elder’ having now lost both his children fell into a deep depression and some people even said that he had become crazy. He was talking to ghosts people, whom he believed to be his dead son and daughter.
Marshal Gozewijn convinced Otto to appoint his father, Theodoricus as the new chancellor. A man with considerable less abilities then Gertrude. Theodoricus was the brother of Otto’s stepfather Hendrikus.
In 1081 AD, count Ekbert ‘the Elder’ died, leaving all his titles and possessions to his only grandson, Giselbert, who at that time was a boy of 5 years old.
‘I need to go to my son, Otto’ said spy-master Gebhard ‘I have received letters from his regents in Frisia, he cries all day and night. He misses his friends and family. It is obvious that he needs his father.’
‘Well Gebhard, you have served me well as my spy-master, I will not force you to stay here.’
‘Thank you Otto, I am also planning on getting married again, Giselbert needs a mother and maybe even some brothers and sisters.’
‘Really ? Gertrude is forgotten Gebhard ? I thought you loved her more ?’
‘I will never forget her, Otto, but she died 3 years ago. I don’t think she would mind me getting remarried.’
‘Well if that is the case, then I wish you good luck, my little brother. But take care, I have heard that the road the Frisia is a dangerous one.’
‘Contrary to what you might think Otto, I am not a coward.’
‘I didn’t say you were, Gebhard, but I would feel much safer if you took a small escort with you. I will ask marshal Gozewijn to provide for one.’
‘That is very nice of you, my brother. Well I will be going off then, I still need to pack a few things.’
‘Good luck, Gebhard, hopefully we will see each other soon.’
‘Of course we will, Otto, it is not like I am going to the other side of the world.’
After Gebhard had left, marshal Gozewijn came from behind the curtain where he had been hiding himself.
‘Your brother is getting married again Otto ! That is not a good thing.’
‘No it isn’t. I am not happy about it, but it needs to be done.’
‘It is time for your brother ?’
‘Yes, his time has come. The fool has accepted my offer for an escort.’
‘I will make sure that the escort consists of reliable men.’
‘Good, I know I can count on you Goz, and remember my brother is not going to reach Frisia alive.’
And so it happened that on a quite lonely road somewhere between Zutphen and Frisia, one of the escorts of Gebhard drew his sword and planted it in Gebhard’s back. The men then returned to Zutphen with the news that they had been attacked by a band of criminals who had been able to kill Gebhard.
Since Otto was now the nearest male relative of Giselbert, the regency-council in Frisia asked him to act as the guardian of their young count. Otto who had been expecting this, accepted the honour of course. Duke Godfried wasn’t able to intervene because he was fighting the Wendish Pagans on the Baltic coast, together with emperor Heinrich. Otto had decided not to join them, but use the absence of these two, to his own advantage.
In the autumn of 1083 AD, Otto had a meeting with Gozewijn, Theodoricus and Lambert van Arkel his new spy-master. Lambert was a former monk, but had left the church to follow a more worldly career. He wasn’t a very popular figure in the county of Zutphen and many people were even afraid of him. But Otto liked him, because Lambert was reliable and 100% loyal to him and he didn’t have any scruples. Lambert was also a person who didn’t speak much, and some people even thought that he couldn’t speak at all.
‘....so the war against the Wends is won ?’
‘Yes, the last thing I heard was, that our emperor was readying himself to invade the island of Rügen, the last Wendish stronghold’ said Gozewijn.
‘That means that duke Godfried will soon return home Otto. I have a feeling he won’t be pleased with the latest developments in his duchy’ chancellor Theodoricus added ‘and he will certainly take some measures against us.’
‘On what grounds ? The fact that Giselbert is now count is perfectly legal and that I am asked to be his guardian is also logical and legal. The Hunchback can’t do much against me, without upsetting his whole realm.’
‘Duke Godfried is the liege of Giselbert and it is his right to appoint a guardian or regent, not the council of Frisia. I think we have to give in when Godfried asks you to give your position.’
‘No way, Theo, I am not going to give in.’
‘That will certainly upset our relationship with Godfried which is already strained at this time, since we refused to help him in the war.’
‘Theo, you are my chancellor, so it is your task to see that the relationship between the Hunchback and me isn’t strained. So when the Hunchback is back in Andernach, you will go and speak to him and tell him that everything in Zutphen and Frisia is fine and that I am and will be his most loyal vassal.’
‘Uhh ! You want me to speak personally with duke Godfried ? Wouldn’t it be better Otto if you went yourself.’
‘No, I have no intention of speaking with the Hunchback at all, I am not such a sweet-talker as you.’
‘Otto, it is not that I don’t want to but duke Godfried has a certain habit of dealing with people who tell him something he doesn’t like.’
‘Are you afraid Theo ? Is my chancellor a coward ? If so then I might need a new one, maybe Lambert here.’
A small grin came on the face of spy-master Lambert.
‘My father is not a coward, Otto. I am sure that he will be honoured to go on this mission. Aren’t you dad ?’
‘Yes, yes, of course. I will do my best to convince duke Godfried, but the law is very clear on this. The liege of a minor decides who is the regent and guardian not the family of the child.’
‘Then you will just have to find a way to convince the Hunchback to confirm my appointment.;
‘That will be hard, but I will try Otto.’
Chancellor Theodoricus now left the room.
‘Well if the Hunchback doesn’t agree there is always another solution to this problem. A life of a child is so fragile.’
Lambert grin became wider as he heard what Otto said.
‘Otto, I have always supported you’ said Gozewijn ‘and I have had no problems in murdering Ekbert ‘the Younger’ and your brother, they were adults. But killing a child is not very chivalric.’
‘Are you growing weak Goz ?’
‘Of course not, but a child ? Otto think about it. We have still plenty of time and Giselbert might die of natural causes or maybe my father succeeds with his mission to duke Godfried.’
‘No, Goz your father is right in one thing, the Hunchback won’t be pleased at all he will revoke my guardianship and install one of his puppets as the regent and he may even revoke the title of Giselbert. The time has come for the final act, can I still count on you Goz ?’
‘You can count on me Otto, but I will not kill a child. You can ask me anything, just not that.’
Otto now turned towards Lambert.
‘So Lambert what is your opinion about this ?’
Lambert responded by pulling a dagger out of his belt and started to move it over his forearm, shaving of the hairs.
‘Sharp, my dagger is sharp’
‘Thank you, Lambert. You see Goz, that was the response I expected from you.’
‘Do what you have to do, Otto. I will have no part in this’ and Gozewijn stood up from his chair and also left the room.
‘Well Lambert, it is just you and me then. You will go to Frisia and make sure that happens what I want to happen.’
‘Dagger.......sharp.’
Lambert succeeded and in October 1083 AD, Otto gained the counties of Frisia and Ost-Friesland.
Last edited:
CSK
A very good guess
stnylan
Glad you like this little twist
Chief Ragusa
If I declare war on Godfried I will be at war with the entire empire. Not a good idea (yet)
Shuma
Everybody loves surprises don't they
Coz1
Gebhard was a fool untill the end
East_emnet
Says who ?
Jestor
I was thinking about doing that, but then decided that Otto will be an evil genius himself
Dhimmi
Glad to have you on board
A very good guess
stnylan
Glad you like this little twist
Chief Ragusa
If I declare war on Godfried I will be at war with the entire empire. Not a good idea (yet)
Shuma
Everybody loves surprises don't they
Coz1
Gebhard was a fool untill the end
East_emnet
Says who ?
Jestor
I was thinking about doing that, but then decided that Otto will be an evil genius himself
Dhimmi
Glad to have you on board
I see that Otto is getting more blood-thirsty as he gets older. Lucky for him he seems to have capable people around him these days.
Otto is committed to his county, even if not his brother. I look forward to the hunchback's reception of Otto's Chancellor. I think the new Spymaster is much more to Otto's taste.
If Godfreid declares on you, do you still have to fight the entire Empire?
If Godfreid declares on you, do you still have to fight the entire Empire?
Chief Ragusa said:
I am afraid so the game mechanics work that way, as long as the duke is a vassal of the king of Germany, the king will come to his vassals aid.
But I can already say that, that won't happen in the game.
There's something quite Macbethian/Learish about this whole thing. I wonder when the horror of what Otto has done will sink in to him.
That was quite unexpected. I'm with Goz on this one. Killing the kid was low, even for Otto.
He may be a bad guy, but at least he has logical and realistic goals.
He may be a bad guy, but at least he has logical and realistic goals.
Shuma said:
No. I either need Sticht to create the duchy of Gelre. and Sticht is a bishopric so I can't inherit it or I need Oldenburg to create the duchy of Friesland. Oldenburg is a county so I maybe I can try to inherit it.
Chapter 8 ‘Another plot takes shape’
Otto’s was very pleased with himself, his plan in gaining the counties of Frisia and Ost-Friesland had succeeded and no one had found out who was behind all those killings. Of course there were rumours going around that Otto was somehow involved in it, but nothing could be proven with certainty and even duke Godfried had to accept the fact that Otto was now his most powerful vassal who ruled more lands and was richer then him.
The only person who questioned the legality of Otto’s actions was his mother, and steward Adalheid. The death of her son Gebhard and grandson Giselbert had hit her hard. From the time that Otto had started to go his own way, Gebhard had become her favorite and she just couldn’t accept the fact that he was dead now and more importantly no one seemed to care or was willing to find out who had murdered him.
She therefor decided to start her own investigation, questioning the servants and maids of her son. Spy-master Lambert, informed Otto about his mothers actions.
‘Mother, what are you doing ?’
‘What do you mean Otto ?’
‘You know damn well what I mean, you are asking all kinds of strange questions about me and my dead brother, people begin to talk and whisper. Why do you do that ?’
‘Why ? Because someone has murdered my son and your brother Otto ! And nobody seems to give a damn.’
‘The death of my brother was a tragedy, mother, not just for you. He was killed by a gang of villains, I have done my best to find these men, but to no avail. Probably they are already dead or are hanged for some other crime.’
‘Do you really want me to believe that ? Gebhard had a large escort with him when he was attacked and he was the only one who died, none of the attackers and none of the guardsman, now don’t you find that strange ? I have been searching for one of the guardsman who was present when Gebhard died, but they all seemed to have left your service.’
‘Of course they have, guards who let my brother die don’t deserve to serve me. Marshal Gozewijn has sent them of.’
‘Which was a very stupid thing to do, since now we can’t question them about what happened that day. But luckily I have been able to track one of those guards down, he is now working for our liege, duke Godfried. I have sent duke Godfried a letter, asking him to arrest this man.’
‘WHAT ! You have sent a letter behind my back to the Hunchback ! This is unacceptable.’
‘Don’t talk to me like that Otto, I am still your mother. In a few weeks we will know who was behind the murder of Gebhard and Giselbert.’
‘We already know who did that mother, don’t you know what you have done with your letter. The Hunchback will now start to stick his nose in the affairs of my county and that is the last thing I want.’
‘So you don’t want the murderers of your brother and nephew to be found.’
‘Like I said many times, mother, those murderers are already known to us.’
‘Well I don’t believe that story, so lets just wait what this guard has to say.’
Marshal Gozewijn and spy-master Lambert
Not long after this talk with his mother, Otto invited marshal Gozewijn and spy-master Lambert to his quarters and there told them what his mother was up to.
‘Do you know who the man is that she is talking about Goz, what does he know of our plan ?’
‘I don’t know who exactly he is, Otto. But none of those men knew much of the plan.’
‘But he can tell duke Godfried that they killed my brother and not those thieves.’
‘You should have killed all those guards, that would have prevented this problem’ spy-master Lambert said.
‘That is to late now, Lambert and killing all those guards would have made it even more suspicious.’
‘Goz is right Lambert, the question is, what do we do now ?’
‘That’s simple, my lord, and Lambert drew his dagger.’
‘OTTO ! No, don’t listen to him, killing your own mother ! that really is to much.’
‘Ease up, Goz, nobody said anything about killing my mother.’
Lambert mumbled ‘a shame’
‘My mother is not the greatest danger, the Hunchback is far more dangerous.’
Lambert smiled again.
‘I never done a duke.’
‘Otto, an assassination-attempt on your liege is a dangerous thing, what if it goes wrong ? Then it is all over for us.’
‘Goz, are you getting scared ?’
‘I am just saying that we need to be cautious. Why don’t we just kill that guard, then .....’
‘No, my mother’s letter has given the Hunchback enough reasons to investigate these matters himself, killing that guard won’t stop him. On the contrary it will give more reasons to start looking in this matter himself. Lambert put your dagger away again, I have something else in mind. Now listen up ......’
Otto told Gozewijn and Lambert his plan.
‘A hideous plan Otto, but still a dangerous one.’
‘Of course it is dangerous, Goz. But everything in life is dangerous.’
‘But how do we know that he will keep his word ?’
‘He will have to or else he will never get what he wants.’
‘But still, why would duke Godfried do this, he is after all a hunchback himself.’
‘Who knows what goes in the mind of that ugly bastard, Goz. The Hunchback doesn’t have to do it, all we need to do is to convince our friend that he wants to do it. Now I have written a letter that will have to delivered to him. Lambert it is your duty to see that this letter reaches the right person, you will have to protect it with your own life.’
‘I will.’
‘You will leave for Andernach early tomorrow. You will travel with chancellor Theodoricus, he will lead the delegation.’
‘Will you tell my father about this ?’ asked Gozewijn
‘No, it is better if he doesn’t know anything about this. He believes that it is his duty to hear from the Hunchback what the guard has said.’
‘Your mother will want to go to Andernach to, Otto.’
‘I tell her she can’t, administrating 3 counties is a lot of work, she is needed here as my steward. I make up some story for her, about duty and all that. You can get along pretty well with my stepfather, Goz. Try to convince him that it is better for my mother to stay here.’
‘Uncle Hendrikus is not a bad person Otto, I don’t understand why you hate him so much.’
‘Because he still treats me like a child, Goz ! And he acts like he is my father, which he isn’t.’
‘He just wants to do well, Otto.’
‘Well then let him do a good thing now and let him convince mother, that it is better to stay here.’
‘I will try, Otto.’
Otto’s was very pleased with himself, his plan in gaining the counties of Frisia and Ost-Friesland had succeeded and no one had found out who was behind all those killings. Of course there were rumours going around that Otto was somehow involved in it, but nothing could be proven with certainty and even duke Godfried had to accept the fact that Otto was now his most powerful vassal who ruled more lands and was richer then him.
The only person who questioned the legality of Otto’s actions was his mother, and steward Adalheid. The death of her son Gebhard and grandson Giselbert had hit her hard. From the time that Otto had started to go his own way, Gebhard had become her favorite and she just couldn’t accept the fact that he was dead now and more importantly no one seemed to care or was willing to find out who had murdered him.
She therefor decided to start her own investigation, questioning the servants and maids of her son. Spy-master Lambert, informed Otto about his mothers actions.
‘Mother, what are you doing ?’
‘What do you mean Otto ?’
‘You know damn well what I mean, you are asking all kinds of strange questions about me and my dead brother, people begin to talk and whisper. Why do you do that ?’
‘Why ? Because someone has murdered my son and your brother Otto ! And nobody seems to give a damn.’
‘The death of my brother was a tragedy, mother, not just for you. He was killed by a gang of villains, I have done my best to find these men, but to no avail. Probably they are already dead or are hanged for some other crime.’
‘Do you really want me to believe that ? Gebhard had a large escort with him when he was attacked and he was the only one who died, none of the attackers and none of the guardsman, now don’t you find that strange ? I have been searching for one of the guardsman who was present when Gebhard died, but they all seemed to have left your service.’
‘Of course they have, guards who let my brother die don’t deserve to serve me. Marshal Gozewijn has sent them of.’
‘Which was a very stupid thing to do, since now we can’t question them about what happened that day. But luckily I have been able to track one of those guards down, he is now working for our liege, duke Godfried. I have sent duke Godfried a letter, asking him to arrest this man.’
‘WHAT ! You have sent a letter behind my back to the Hunchback ! This is unacceptable.’
‘Don’t talk to me like that Otto, I am still your mother. In a few weeks we will know who was behind the murder of Gebhard and Giselbert.’
‘We already know who did that mother, don’t you know what you have done with your letter. The Hunchback will now start to stick his nose in the affairs of my county and that is the last thing I want.’
‘So you don’t want the murderers of your brother and nephew to be found.’
‘Like I said many times, mother, those murderers are already known to us.’
‘Well I don’t believe that story, so lets just wait what this guard has to say.’
Marshal Gozewijn and spy-master Lambert
Not long after this talk with his mother, Otto invited marshal Gozewijn and spy-master Lambert to his quarters and there told them what his mother was up to.
‘Do you know who the man is that she is talking about Goz, what does he know of our plan ?’
‘I don’t know who exactly he is, Otto. But none of those men knew much of the plan.’
‘But he can tell duke Godfried that they killed my brother and not those thieves.’
‘You should have killed all those guards, that would have prevented this problem’ spy-master Lambert said.
‘That is to late now, Lambert and killing all those guards would have made it even more suspicious.’
‘Goz is right Lambert, the question is, what do we do now ?’
‘That’s simple, my lord, and Lambert drew his dagger.’
‘OTTO ! No, don’t listen to him, killing your own mother ! that really is to much.’
‘Ease up, Goz, nobody said anything about killing my mother.’
Lambert mumbled ‘a shame’
‘My mother is not the greatest danger, the Hunchback is far more dangerous.’
Lambert smiled again.
‘I never done a duke.’
‘Otto, an assassination-attempt on your liege is a dangerous thing, what if it goes wrong ? Then it is all over for us.’
‘Goz, are you getting scared ?’
‘I am just saying that we need to be cautious. Why don’t we just kill that guard, then .....’
‘No, my mother’s letter has given the Hunchback enough reasons to investigate these matters himself, killing that guard won’t stop him. On the contrary it will give more reasons to start looking in this matter himself. Lambert put your dagger away again, I have something else in mind. Now listen up ......’
Otto told Gozewijn and Lambert his plan.
‘A hideous plan Otto, but still a dangerous one.’
‘Of course it is dangerous, Goz. But everything in life is dangerous.’
‘But how do we know that he will keep his word ?’
‘He will have to or else he will never get what he wants.’
‘But still, why would duke Godfried do this, he is after all a hunchback himself.’
‘Who knows what goes in the mind of that ugly bastard, Goz. The Hunchback doesn’t have to do it, all we need to do is to convince our friend that he wants to do it. Now I have written a letter that will have to delivered to him. Lambert it is your duty to see that this letter reaches the right person, you will have to protect it with your own life.’
‘I will.’
‘You will leave for Andernach early tomorrow. You will travel with chancellor Theodoricus, he will lead the delegation.’
‘Will you tell my father about this ?’ asked Gozewijn
‘No, it is better if he doesn’t know anything about this. He believes that it is his duty to hear from the Hunchback what the guard has said.’
‘Your mother will want to go to Andernach to, Otto.’
‘I tell her she can’t, administrating 3 counties is a lot of work, she is needed here as my steward. I make up some story for her, about duty and all that. You can get along pretty well with my stepfather, Goz. Try to convince him that it is better for my mother to stay here.’
‘Uncle Hendrikus is not a bad person Otto, I don’t understand why you hate him so much.’
‘Because he still treats me like a child, Goz ! And he acts like he is my father, which he isn’t.’
‘He just wants to do well, Otto.’
‘Well then let him do a good thing now and let him convince mother, that it is better to stay here.’
‘I will try, Otto.’
Ahh, well it seems he overlooked a few potential details. If this new plan works - well, all well and good. But it seems to be that Otto is getting decidedly trigger happy. That could turn out to be to his detriment before he makes his final journey.
He really is trigger happy. But maybe this new plan doesn't involve murder? And I wonder has it occured to his mother that he is behind the killings, and if it has what she aims to do about it .