Homelands
Chapter Twenty One: Dawn of War
Part 5
Prelude:
Báltikjá (βάλτιϟԓά) is the Prussian word that refers to the Baltic as a region, a landmass despite its watery disposition. The original title granted to Aethelweard was "King of the Baltic", a title rarely used after the ascent of Gunvald. But even so the Baltic was a Prussian play thing, often referred to as if they were in physical possession of it. In 1212 the Prussian fleet managed to secure Fyn from the Caliph once again forcing the Baltic closed to non-Prussian allies. Overland routes were the only alternative to the expensive tariff costs that the Prussians levied. However, these routes were dominated by Sweden and Germany, who would often levy tariffs similar to Prussia's. The invasion of Fyn was the first time Prussian and Muslim troops clashed directly for the same territories. Prussia's willingness to defend itself proved to the Caliph that it was not a force to be messed with and led to Jutland being given a semi-autonomous state within the Caliph (though still under Muslim domination). With a middle ground met, the two forces seemed to ebb away from one another. The Caliph would spend its efforts centralizing its authority in France. Prussia would turn its attention inward once again, building itself up and continuing the economic growth begun under Sviendorog.
September 12th, 1212
The island of Fyn had been quickly seized by Prussian troops with help from blockades and native resistance. Within a few days the Caliph had dispatched one of its greatest diplomats to the region, hoping to convince Meinekinus to not pursue more conquest at their loss. But the Prussian king proved unwilling to budge, Fyn was his now and the Baltic Sea was strictly forbidden for Muslim expansion.
The Baltic Sea with Prussia highlighted.
"You grandfather had extended a promise of peace to us, you surely do not believe that a treaty like this ends with a mere mortal?"
"I do, and when my grandfather agreed to such a peace he was not expecting you to start appearing in our own vicinities. We leave you alone, you leave us alone. Breaking our monopoly on trade here is not the best means of endearing yourselves to us," Meinekinus said.
"It is the old scenario of two empires rubbing against each other. Macedonia and Persia, Rome and Carthage, the Goths and Rome."
"Yes, but given all your examples the latter was ruined by the former. Now I wonder who is who in your mind." Meinekinus saw through the veiled threat and treated it as an honest mistake. "There are cracks in your façade, ambassador. The Caliph cannot keep expanding like this and hope to survive. Do you truly plan to fight a war in Italy, Germany, France, England, Ireland and now here in the Baltic? The Caliph does not fight wars as a country, it fights them as a collective. Emirs and Sheiks seeking glory fight their enemies with or without the support of the Caliph himself. It lacks design, it lacks organization. It will fall. In time."
The ambassador seemed offended, taking a step back to wisely consider his words. After a brief pause he said, "Prussian King, you have squared off with only a handful of defenders... mere militia men. What do you plan to do against the tide of the Magnificent Armies themselves?"
"I'll probably not use militia men myself. Not that your men will ever see our shores to begin with." It was a harsh truth for the ambassador, there was no navy to speak of for the Caliph. Their use of the Carthaginians was meant to turn their spending elsewhere so they didn't have to build a permanent fleet. But now the Carthaginians had dropped their contracts and headed back to Tunis to conduct raids of their own again.
A few tense moments passed before the ambassador dared to speak again, "I guess then there is nothing we can do. Fyn is yours and you plan to see remove us from Jutland as well."
"I do not plan to conquer it out from under you, but know that every time a crack appears I shall place a wedge in it and allow the citizens to hammer away."
"War is war regardless, Meinekinus the Pious. If it helps you sleep at night that your own men don't do the fighting, fine... but we all see through your veil."
"And Prussia has had enough of yours, trying to get peace with us so you can expand without stop... hope that we wouldn't notice you moving in next to us, envious of what we have. Tell the Caliph the time for expansion might be over."
"I doubt I shall remember to tell him that."
"Your loss."
The ambassador left without any more words, leaving Meinekinus in his throne, alone aside from a few guards. He grew silent and foreboding. It was hard to be Pious when you were a king and constantly had to deal with threats solved only through more threats. The world was descending down a never-ending swirl of hatred and war. The Revisionists were making sure of that. News of burnings and stakings and even crucifixions were coming from France, Germany and Galicia. His only hope was that Unionism would take hold somewhere, but it was all for naught. Where radical Christianity died, radical Islam rose to take its place. The Caliph was alone in the Muslim world, Eastern Islam, Western Islam and Shia Islam all began to show their own differences.
"My lord?" a voice called. Meinekinus looked up to see his guards with a small boy, about six. "Your son sends good tidings, and asks that his son be educated here in Memelgrád."
A smile slowly grew on Meinekinus's face as he beckoned the boy to him, "Ah, you must be Karnak!" The small boy nodded. "Guard, please call Ermessentz for me, she shall want to meet our grandson."
"Yes sir." The guard left and Meinekinus picked the boy up and propped him on his knee.
"So your father sent you here for an education. Well, we'll start soon, make sure you turn out to be a knight in shining armour."
"Do I get a sword?" the small boy asked.
"Yes, you shall get a sword." The boy smiled.
"Good, because daddy says I'll need it to defend the Kingdom!"
"Yes, you will also need it to protect the weak and innocent from those who would exploit them."
"It is a long road to become a knight, do you think you can handle it?"
"Yes. I am a brave knight!"
End Chapter Twenty One