Ducal Court of Piemonte

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“Avalanche…” di Saluzzo echoed, pondering. “Avalanche…” He pursed his lips despisingly. “Young friend of mine, an avalanche is dangerous.” He fell silent, and shut his eyes.

He then took a deep breath. “What could I say now? Right now I see only an exhausted, nervous and slightly too bold young man who’s worried for his sister, who’s talking big, and who fully disregards the subtle details of the matter. You’ll have the ‘usurpers’ roasted… All right, do it. But give it a single thought and you’ll discover that the régicides are but puppets. I don’t know who’s pulling their strings, but I have a few guesses. And he… or she, or rather they will be utterly grateful to you for putting their by-now-useless puppets aside.” He refilled Henryk’s goblet, and poured some more of the cognac also for himself. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but I suspect it,” he continued. “Give it another thought, and you’ll discover: that way your sister and your niece -- supposing that they’ll be still alive -- will be in an even harder position, hated by their own realm. Again, this is just good for the puppeteers. Who are your puppeteers, you ask? Well, ask yourself the same old question: who could benefit from all this?”

“But anyway,” he continued, leaning back in his chair. “Let’s get the things clear: I’m not interested in the fate of Lotharingia. I’m not interested in the fate of King Louis. Primarily I’m interested in the fate of the Duke and his brothers, and I’m interested only secondarily in the fate of Her Majesty and her daughters. I’m interested in the fate of Princess… or Queen Marie only because she’s a pretty good instrument of exchange. This may sound a cruel thing to say,” di Saluzzo admitted, “but I, as Louis de Saluces, have sworn fealty only to Duke Joachim and to the Emperor… And I, as the Lord High Chancellor of Piedmonte, am loyal to the Duchy as a whole, and also to the Ducal House, but nothing else. I’d heartily sacrifice your sister, if it was necessary for the Duke’s or the Duchy’s survival.”

Di Saluzzo endured Henryk’s glare calmly. “Again, I said all this merely to get the things clear. Anyway… Well, the news: the snow made the Alpine cols impassable, so we haven’t recieved any news from Lotharingia in the past two months. From what we know, your sister and my Duke may be dead or may be in safety already. Yesterday, in Turin, the Meeting of Sates declared Duke Amédée of Savoy regent. About Amédée’s stance, we know barely anything: it was said he’s searching for your sister and the ducal children, but we don’t know for what purpose he was doing that. Amédée and me were friends in our youth, but…” the Marquis shrugged. “It’s just a matter of time until the Meeting musters its limited courage and declares Amédée Duke. They’re hesitating only because my men control the city.”

The Marquis took a deep, loud breath again. “The terrible thing is that the Meeting is, actually, doing the right thing,” he said, leaving the interpretation of his sentence to Henryk.

 

[Longinus]

Henryk smiled ironically after hearing di Salluzo calling him “a young man”. “How old is di Salluzzo anyway? No more than fifty, I would say. He wants to see me nervous and bold, suits me fine, hehe. I’ll play along these lines.”

“Indeed, avalanches are deadly dangerous, and I am well aware of this fact, otherwise I wouldn’t want to direct an avalanche against my enemies. What would be the use of an avalanche if it wasn’t dangerous?” He grinned at di Salluzzo.

“But anyway… it’s “good” to hear that Your Grace is ready to sacrifice my sister, it certainly gives much to think of. I am, however, curious, why isn’t Your Grace interested in the fate of Lotharingia? From my point of view it should definitely be within the scope of Your Grace’s interest. The fate of Burgundy is irreversibly interlinked with the fate of Piedmonte. This Duke Amadee is said to be a faithful vassal of Lotharingian crown, does not this very crown illegally hold Genoa? Does not this very crown expanded in all directions crushing all resistance? It could crush Piedmonte like a bug and Your Grace says “I am not interested in the fate of Lotharingia.” Henryk put away his goblet and clenched his teeth. “Ohh, yeah, see the angry Griffon Prince. I bet you have seen this thousands of times in my sister’s face.”

“I can definitely agree with Your Grace on one thing though. “Queen” Marie might be a great instrument.” He nods. “All in all however, we are most natural allies. I want the good of Piedmonte for the sake of my sister, and Houses of Savoy, Greif and Anjou, not to mention di Salluzzo of course.”

 

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Di Saluzzo weathered Henryk’s outbursts of rage with his eyes cast down.

“Your Highness could not even deny that Your Highness is Her Majesty’s brother,” the Marquis remarked coldly when the Pommeranian finished, and gave him a look that was hostile, scornful and tired at once. “And indeed, I also used to think we’re natural allies,” he added, then fell silent.

“I repeat it,” he began to speak again after a minute or two, taking a deep breath: “I am interested only in the fate of the Piedmont and its Duke. Everything else is secondary in importance. And yes, I am certainly ready to sacrifice Her Majesty for those two, and I believe Her Majesty would approve this stance of mine. If not, the task of being the Duke’s regent would not suit her. But this whole thing, including the discussion about Lotharingia, is academic.”

He felt his fury growing. After all, who was this stripling of a Prince to put him wise? Here came this brother of the Grifon-a, his mind set on the ‘higher aims’ and ‘bigger pictures’ di Saluzzo always abhorred, and he behave as if he had the solution for all the problems… What’s more, he was trying to… bribe him, or what -- this deeply hurt the Lord High Chancellor.

The Marquis had his growing fury subdued -- up until now. His pulse was quickening, he let his set face slowly turn crimson. His grip on his goblet was so hard that his fingers went white.

“Your Highness, I don’t like what you are saying, and I don’t like the way you’re speaking,” he said, his hoarse bass trembling with rage. In reality his anger was only half-hearted, but it felt so good to let it out at once. “I am your sister’s duly appointed representative, and I am working on preserving the Duchy for your nephew… and you’re pestering me with angry invectives against Lotharingia, as if we had no other troubles. Prince, go and put your head in the snow then let’s start speaking normally, about valid problems,” he continued, almost shouting, “but if you’re unable to help me, then don’t waste my time!”

 

[Longinus]

Henryk's hear started to beat fater. “Good God, how they are all easy to be manipulated into something. Now let him take the steer.” He didn't let himslef to escape a single sign of joy, instead he wore a mask of coldness.

“Calm down Your Grace, it's not that your son is somewhere there.” He sipped some Cognac and before di Salluzzo could reply he continiued.

“Our interests are clearly the same, at least to some extent, rest assured however that I too wish to preserve this lands for my sister's son. All in all we are wasting precious time on pointless bickering.

And Your Grace, for the future reference, don't discourage your future allies by speaking to them that they are indeed wasting your time, even if they do. By doing so, you might as well loose them.” He smiles at di Salluzo, a bit coldly.

"Again, this, fortunately, isn't the case with me." After saying that he takes few sips from his goblet. "Indeed a good beverage."

 

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“Let’s forget this interlude, and let’s try it again, then,” the Lord High Chancellor said, generously disregarding Henryk’s bold ‘advice’. “What can we do for each other? How could we be at each other’s assistance? How could we save your sister, and how could we prevent Amédée seizing control in the Duchy?”

 

[Longinus]

“Aren't we making circles here?.” Henryk sighed and smiled sarcastically.

“What can we do to save her and the duke, Your Grace meant, I assume?” His grins sardonically now.

“Well, I guess we should focus on locating them in the first place, as Your Grace deadly on remarked earlier, they might as well be dead.” he sighs again.

"Locate them and find if they are actually alive should be our top priority than. Spies? Emissaries? Contacts? We should have plenty of means.

I know for sure that Stettin will work on its own, the avalanche I mentioned earlier, demanding Anna and her family to be released or something. I will be informed of its moves anyway.

Establish a contact with Paris, perhaps even London? Too broad perspective, too big a picture sire?

As for Amadee, well, I don't really know the situation. Some would say that well pointed dagger works miracles." Henryk laughted.

"Just an empty remark, too straightforward, difficoult and... stiupid anyway.

Really, I have little idea for now, but if I can be of any assitance..."

 

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The Marquis took a deep, loud breath, one more like a snort. We’re making circles here, he thought, and he had an idea why: they did not trust each other. Ludovico di Saluzzo, for one, did not trust Henryk of the Greif, not after this discussion. It wasn’t Henryk’s lack of respect, it wasn’t his broad approach, not even his frighteningly bold remarks that made the Marquis mistrust him. The Pommeranian’s gestures, his look, they way he moved, the way he spoke, the way the light glistened in his eyes -- they all told the Marquis that Henryk was dangerous. Di Saluzzo wholeheartedly wished Henryk to be somewhere else, all the cells of his body commanded di Saluzzo to send Henryk away, making him deal with some petty problems, putting him aside…

But his instincts told him to ally with the Henryk. Not to trust him, but to ally with him. And suddenly, as he looked at the Pommeranian, as he glimpsed him looking down at the floor in a very specific way, as he vaguely sensed Henryk’s hidden energies and ambitions, those terribly powerful energies and ambitions -- suddenly Ludovico’s talent recongnized Henryk’s genius. The officer recognized his lord, the Prince recognized his Emperor. As much as the boy they called the Duke of Piemont was not a worthy lord for him, Henryk was.

It was almost a religious experience to di Saluzzo, though he did not comprehend it fully, did not even undergo it fully. If only Henryk was a little older, if only his social stand was higher, the Marquis would have fallen on his knees, swearing fealty to Henryk on the place, in the way is ancestor Aleramo had sworn fealty to Otto the Great. This way, with Henryk being merely an adopted son of a deceased Emperor, a mere Count, some fifteen years younger than di Saluzzo, the Marquis only stared at him, his eyes wide open, the refined insult he had wanted to say stuck in his throat. The magical moment lasted only for a moment, but the change in their relationship could not be undone.

“Bele bin,” the Marquis muttered, slightly confused, “Let’s take a different approach, then.” He shook his head to get rid of the last scraps of his embarassement. “I’ll try to brief you about the situation, doing it as openly as I can… even though straightforwardness is not amongst my virtues.” He paused. “Please help yourself with the cognac. This may take some time.”

Locating Her Majesty and the ducal children? Indeed, that should be the first priority. Bear in mind, though, that not even their presence would solve a number of issues, while it would indeed pacify some of the factions. But anyway: how could we locate them? The cols are impassable, we are cut from Lotharingia. But even if we weren’t… how could we find them? They are probably trying to hide. If they’re in exile, they are probably avoiding major cities and highways. Supposing that they are yet to be found, they are hiding pretty well, so how could our men find them? Besides, Lotharingia is huge. And they can be almost anywhere. My Lord, searching for them would be like searching for that proverbal needle in the haystock.

As I have said, the emissary I sent to Charles de Nevers did not achieve anything, apart from indirectly confirming the rumours saying that King Louis is dead, and that Her Majesty is not in the rebels’ custody. I have, however, some friends in Lotharingia, they might be able to provide us some general information about the situation as soon as the snow melts.

Now, on the Piedmontese situation… One might call it a rebellion, I guess. A subtle rebellion that emanates itself in much fruitless talk, young men fighitng on the streets at night, and possibly the dethronement of His Grace the Duke. And, again, the worst aspect of this rebellion is that it’s perfectly legal.

The Meeting of States, for example, was convoked perfectly legally, and its decisions are also well in accordance with the laws and customs. After all, the Duchy is indeed without a Duke, the Duke is indeed without a Regent. Do you understand what I mean? In the case the Duke is indeed dead, the Meeting of the States is, actually, doing the right thing. If the ducal children are all dead, Amédée is the only legal heir. Amédée is our only chance to avoid the anarchy. Everybody knows this, and that’s why my hands are tied. The rumours about the Duke’s death were possibly spread mostly by the malcontents, but this is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the Meeting has already passed a resolution making Amédée de Savoie Regent, and be assured, they’ll declare him Duke soon. Amédée himself? Well, he doesn’t even know about all this. And I doubt he would approve it. As I have said, we used to be pretty good friends once, and as far as I know, he truly loves his family. I doubt he would ever accept the coronet if there’s the slightest chance Duke Joachim lives. After all, this very Amédée spent years with searching for Philippe de Berry.

But he would, probably, assume the Regency without much hesitation. He never quite liked Her Majesty anyway. And yes, he is indeed very loyal to the Crown of Lothar, thus his Regency would mean that the Duchy would become fatally liable from Dijon. After all, this is their aim, the Burgundians’ aim. Count Claude Paillard, Count Philippe de Montbel, Viscount Antoine de La Chambre: they are the moving force behind the Meeting, and they want Savoy to re-unite, under the protection of Lotharingia. A faction of theirs was in contact with the Lotharingian rebels before the cols have become blocked.

The Burgundians are opposed by me. I’m almost alone, but I still own some one-sixth of the Duchy, making me the largest landholder over here, I’m still Lord High Chancellor and Captain-General, and I’m of the House Aleramici. Your Highness, let me note for further reference: my loyalty is not for sale. I’m largely contented with what I’ve got, and I’m not craving for more. But anyway… I have the cautious support of the bishops… of the bishops of Turin and Ivrée, to be precise. They are cautious, very cautious, and I believe they’re waiting for the instructions of Rome.

The South, however, Nice and the merchants, they are already fairly determined to start a révolution, a real one. Your Highness surely remembers Antoine de Merchanno of Genoa. The merchant-princes like Count René Grimaldi de Boglie do remember him. As their supporters are chiefly burghers and merchants. they are of the minority in the Meeting, thus they could not imitate the Milanese example, they could not proclaim a Republic alluding to that the ruling House has died out. They maintain very strong ties with Genoa… not with the officers appointed by the King of Lotharingia, but rather with the malcontents. You surely understand what this means.

Another factor to deal with is François de Savoie, illegitimate grandson of Louis de Savoie-Achaïe. He thinks himself to be in contact with the Lotharingian rebels -- but in fact he’s in contact only with me, through a Burgundian friend of mine. He keeps requesting aid and promises, we’re trying to get him disheartened by feeding him with soft lies. But as soon as the Lotharingian rebels are proving to be successful, he will lay claim on the ducal coronet. He’s a very dumb and vain young man, easy to control, and these are very good qualities in the eyes of many. He has a strong powerbase in Vercelli. Further, his surname would give at least a varnish of legitimacy to his rebellion. Besides… let’s not forget that Duke Joachim’s grandfather conquered the Piedmont with having roughly the same assets.

And there is also my cousin and brother-in-law, the Marquis of Montferrat. I am sure he will try to make use of the confusion, probably he’ll try to grab some lands...

“…but enough of this,” a tired di Saluzzo said, massaging his forehead. “You see, Prince Henri, it’s a total mess. Any unwise step will result in full-scae anarchy that would result in the Lotharingian domination of the Piedmont. It all depends, I guess, on the Lotharingian revolution, on what turn it would take. Don’t forget that the Lotharingian rebels are divided. And don’t forget that all of the rebels are merely puppets. Maybe it’s indeed your avalanche is what we need. If it does not sweep us away in the process.”

 

[Longinus]

Henryk was watching di Salluzzo carefully as he was describing the situation in Piedmonte. Something had changed in his behavior, and Henryk wasn’t sure what exactly that was. Instead of pursuing this feeling he focused on his words. Henryk’s liking toward the man was now growing with each sentence. Anna was lucky to have such a man in her retinue, House von Savoy-Greif was lucky, damn it, Henryk was lucky that he was to be allied with such competent man. This was one of Henryk’s virtues, to value the worth of people he was passing by, Ludvico di Salluzzo was certainly worth a lot.

The man before him could have became much more than he actually was now, an Hernyk was well aware why. Ludvico di Salluzzo was a type of man who preferred to use his ambition in order to serve some higher aims and people, to maintain the honour and good name of his House. Ludvico di Salluzzo was a man worth thousands of ducats in gold or large stripes of lands to each and every king in Europe who was smart enough to realize it.

Henryk shook his head slightly while listening to him more and more. ”Bloody hell, I am one lucky bastard.”

Nice, warm feeling was making Henryk feel comfortable and relaxed for the first time in few weeks. For some odd reason he was more and more sure that some of his plans might actually be pulled through.

*****​

After di Salluzzo finished Henryk nodded and clasped with both of his hands.

“Your Grace, I must congratulate your intelligence regarding the matters of Piedmonte, my sister and hopefully the future duke are lucky to have such a man standing by them. Considerably short and to the point, I know much more about where I stand now.

Now, to the point.

I have given much thought to Anna’s whereabouts. Should it really be that difficoult? To think logically, assuming she and her children are alive, she just can hang around the forests can she? Now we have to think of possible places she could go in this harsh winter, and I mean friendly places, doesn’t House di Savoia have some lands beyond the Alps? If this scenario fails we would have to seek those who were always open and staunch supporters of King Louis, she could have gone there. Through the means of elimination of certain places, we might find out that finding her is actually easier than we thing at first.

We definitely need more information what the hell is going up in Burgundy.

Now as for Piedmonte…”

Henryk frowned his forehead thinking intensively.

”First of all, I brought 200 fine men, all mounted, among them 38 knights in full plates. That should improve our military prowess a bit, especially taking into account the elemt of surprise.

We could also play d’Anjou and Grefi cards. I, being son-in-law of king Rene and sister to Anna, should be quite reliable and potentially fearsome figure on the board here. Most of the lesser Piedmontesse houses might think twice about supporting duke Amadee after finding out that I am here with the agenda of waiting for some confirmed news about duke Joachim.

I would also try to play on the animosities in between Piedmontese nobles and these revolting burgers. Lets not allow them to join and think of Burgundian supremacy here. Lets spread some rumours and create bad blood between the factions.

As for François de Savoie, lets use the bastard against Amadee, the fact that Your Grace have a limited control over him now gives us huge advantage here. Let him direct against some of the most dedicated supporters of Amadee’s sucession, let them bleed while we will be watching at them. While they will grow weaker fighting one another, we will strengthen ourselves.

Now, these are just my ideas, I wish Your Grace speak of some of yours, and then… Then we only need to put them into motion and pray to mother fortune.

Ahhh, and let’s try to ally with your cousin sire, we might as well promise him some lands, couldn’t we?

 

[Lord E]

A letter arrives from Paris

Anne, Princesse Impériale, Reine de Lotharingie, Duchesse de Bourgogne et du Piémont

Your Majesty, dear cousin,

Let Us first offer Our condolences to Your Majesty!

We are glad and relived to receive the news from Your Majesty’s own hand that Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s daughter are live and well. We hope Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s children have, under the circumstances, a good health. These rebels are dangerous people, and they show their true intentions by offering such a sum of money for Your Maejsty and Your Majesty’s family.

We have already written with the so called Grand Duke, that We will only address to as the Bastard of Nevers, and the so called Philippe du Berry, and we have yet to see any proof of this man’s claims about being Philippe du Berry. Your Majesty’s information about the man gives Us greater strength to Our suspicions about the man. Your Majesty says that the man is really from Alsace? Then the news We have heard about Herzog Karl supporting the rebellion might turn out to be true. Watch out for nobles of Lotharingia Your Majesty for many of them will do much to get Your Majesty in their power and hand Your Majesty over to the rebels.

We hear the call of Your Majesty to aid Your Majesty in the struggle against the rebels, and We are prepared to take up the fight side by side with Your Majesty. The first step of such an aid is the one We are now offering Your Majesty. As Your Majesty know Lotharingia is dangerous, and Your Majesty is hunted, therefore We would like to offer for Your Majesty’s children, the heir to the throne of Lotharingia, and any other of Your Majesty’s children that Your Majesty’s feels need the protection, the protection of France. We would take them under Our personal protection and We would guard them against the rebels until the dawn of time! Should Your Majesty want to leave Lotharingia as well France will always be open and honoured to receive Your Majesty! We feel that although Sainte-Claude might be safe at the current time, We have no idea how long it will continue being safe. Didn’t the rebels hunt Your Majesty down before? There is a great danger of the same happening again, and this time Your Majesty might not be so lucky!
Therefore We would be honoured to take the Queen, and the other children of Your Majesty under Our personal protection here in France!

We understand what Your Majesty say about the Duchy of Montpellier, but We are afraid that We have not received news from Our commander in the area for a long time, therefore We fear that the Duchy might have fallen to the rebel forces of Lotharingia and as such We will be forced to retake the Duchy using force! Also the Duchy was the personal dominion of the late King Louis, but We are sure We will be able to negotiate more closely over the fate of the Duchy in due time. For now the important thing is defeating the rebels!

Written in own hand in Louvre, Paris in the Kingdom of France on the 20th day of February in the year of our lord 1454

Louis XI, par la Grâce de Dieu Roi de France

 

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February, 1454 - Saluzzo, March of Saluzzo, Piedmonte.

Ludovico di Saluzzo’s private discussion with Henryk of the Greif.​

The Marquis’ eyes were closed, and he absent-mindedly kept stroking his bald head, pondering. The silence was prolonged, only the crackling of the fire was heard.

“Not bad,” he commented suddenly. “Not… bad…” He looked up at Henryk. “Not that I’m all too eager to plunge the Piedmont into anarchy,” he remarked, “but maybe… maybe it’s the the only way, yeah.”

Di Saluzzo drew a deep breath, and threw up his head. “Not bad at all,” he said again. “The antagonism between the burghers and the nobles is already brewing… After all, both Paillard’s and de La Chambre’s fiefs lie in the south. De La Chambre, as Viscount of Nice, is in an especially delicate position. “ He kept nodding to himself, pondering, staring at fireplace. “And the thing with François and Amédée’s followers… Doable… If only François could be provoked into… But then… Rather the other way around, by guiding Paillards’s attention on François… No matter how François reacts, it’s good for us… And with promising Jean Vercelli… Not that he’ll get it…” He shook his head. “I’ll work out the details,” he said, raising his head.

“Yes, Your Highness should parade around in the Piedmont with those two hundred,” di Saluzzo continued with a sigh. “What’s more, I’ll give you the Ducal Guard. Subtracting the members supporting other factions, that still gives… roughly one hundred noblemen, mounted and well-armed. You can trust their commander. He’s called Eugène d’Incisa, and he’s in love with your sister,” di Saluzzo grinned. “Strictly in the chivalrous way,” he added swiftly. “Your sister…” He trailed off, his grin faded away. “Well, you must know her better. I have no idea what she would think a friendly place. Friendly place…? There’s Savoy, of course. Amédée’s love of family is well-known, but so is his dislike of her… The King was fairly popular in the Lowlands, but that’s too far away from Dijon. Dijon… Well, near Dijon, there is your own fief, Prince Henryk, the County of Louhans. And there is Saint-Claude, Duke Joachim’s personal fief. The castellan there is my man. But anyway…” He broke off, shaking his head.

“Anyway… I'll take care of the Piedmont. Parade through the Duchy, go to Turin, then to Ivrée, make a detour to Bielle… Then go to the Valle d’Aoste, and if you’re riding leisurely enough, you can reach the Little St. Bernard right at the time the snow melts.”

 

[Lord E]

A letter arrives from Paris

Anne, Princesse Impériale, Reine de Lotharingie, Duchesse de Bourgogne et du Piémont

Though it hurts my heart to think of that Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s children have to suffer even more in Lotharingia We will respect Your Majesty’s wish. But remember should Your Majesty ever change your mind the offer still stand.
The men Your Majesty asks for will be despatched as soon as possible, We will send a group of France’s finest chevaliers to aid Your Majesty’s protection and Your Majesty’s cause!
Although the coffins of France are a little empty at the current moment because We are aiding Our Royal cousin the King of Castile in his war against the Heathens, We will be able to draft the necessary founding to aid Your Majesty in Your Majesty’s cause. We will see to that the military equipment are purchased and shipped to Your Majesty together with the gold Your Majesty requests, when Your Majesty are in need of it. *

In this matter it is important to not drag hastily conclusions, so We will not consider the matter about Duke Karl any more until We have better proof. As fir this impostor “Philippe” he will need to be removed as soon as possible!

We understand Your Majesty’s grief and We once again send Our deepest condolences on Your Majesty’s losses, but Your Majesty is correct. Now is the time to fight!


Written in own hand in Louvre, Paris in the Kingdom of France in the year of our lord 1454

Louis XI, par la Grâce de Dieu Roi de France

(OOC : * France can contribute to the event if it happens. Just tell me what to do, if you decide to go ahead with it)

 

[Longinus]

After numerous adventures, Pommeranian secret agent and envoy, Karl-Ludwig Schulmeister, reaches Sainte-Claude.

“Onto Anna von der Greif, Dowager Queen of Lotharingia, Dowager Duchess of Burgundy and Piedmonte, also on behalf of her well-beloved children: Her Majesty Maria II von Berri, Queen of Lotharingia, Duchess of Burgundy, Duchess of Montpellier, Countess of Montpensier, etc, etc; His Grace Joachim von Savoy, Duke of Piedmonte, Marquis in Italy, Prince and Perpetual Vicar of the Roman Empire, Marquis of Torino and Ivrea, Count of Aosta, of Nizza, etc. etc.

Dearest Daughter,

We have heard many rumours, more or less accurate, regarding the sad affairs in Burgundy and already took some steps which were to gather even more information and help you and your husband. Your message however, gave us the insight into what has exactly happened last year in Dijon. All I can say is that I am sorry about your children and Loudwig my dear. If only it could have prevented.

Henryk already went to help you and we maintain a contact with him. He is currently in Piedmonte where he, together with Chancellor di Salluzzo, is trying to keep peace in the Duchy and provide you with any support possible.

We, in Pommern, have already dispatched dozens of messages all over the Empire and pray that our influences will help you and your daughter in regaining the throne and peace. We can most likely count on Houses of Egmondt and Hohenzollern. Sadly, House of Kuster is currently unable to help us, due to horrible disease spreading in Bremen.

You have all possible support from me, your brothers, sisters and the whole of the House. Casmir has finally returned from Iberia and is outraged with the affairs in Burgundy. He sends you his best regards and hopes for a meeting.

I beg you to find a safer place, away from the rebellion if possible, perhaps France or Piedmonte, most importantly you are most welcome in your homeland. I also ask you to tell us what exactly do you need? We are ready to send our agents and knights to quell the rebellion with fire and sword, to bring the regicides to bitter justice.

The envoy we send you, Karl-Ludwig Schulmeister, is most capable man, you can speak with him as if you spoke with us, use him as you please.

We all pray for your wellbeing and health.

Please reply as soon as possible,

Love,

Christine von der Greif-Wittelsbach”​

 

[I Killed Kenny]

A sealed letter, is secreatelly given to Anna of the Gryphon in Sainte-Claude by an unknown man.​

-To Anna von der Greif, Dowager Queen of Lotharingia, Dowager Duchess of Burgundy and Piedmonte

"My Love, I will help you, I will help you. I can only hope that this letter is read by you and that your lovelly reply come soon.
Whatever you ask from me I shall do it. If you ask me to go to Lotharingia I shall go. If you ask me to attack Lotharingia I shall do it. Even if I have to pay the soldiers myself, but I shall do it. Because love is what unite us and nothing shall stop our love!
And right now what commands me is love an nothing else. So I ask you my Eagle. What is your request?
I bow before you I am at your command."

Signed, Manuel de la Braga, Yours in the past, in the present and in the Future.

 

[Longinus]

Henryk looked at the Apaine peeks. Always white. Always threatening.

Henryk never liked the mountains, he considered them too unpredictable and he didn’t like unpredictable things. Oddly enough, he loved his sister, the only “thing” he truly loved in his entire life, the thing as unpredictable as the Alpine mountains.

He hated the Alps though, they prevented him from getting to her. They prevented him from getting to his little Anusia.

*****​

At first Henryk wanted to order the job of traveling across Piedmonte to one of his lieutenants. However, he realized that sitting lazily in Saluces would bring him little joy. Henryk Gryphon was definitely made for action, even if this action would be connected with coldness, snow and ice.

As it was agreed with di Saluzzo, he embarked on a journey though the lands of Piedmonte. He parade through the entire Duchy, he went to Turin, then to Ivrée, made a detour to Bielle, than went to the Valle d’Aoste. After riding quite leisurely he reached the Little St. Bernard.

It took him some time, still, the winter was far from happy ending. Henryk returned to Saluces and drowned in infinite discussions with Ludvico do Salluzzo, he was slowly growing fond of this bald man with each passing day. Both of them were trying to find out as much as they could from the news coming though the indirect routes, mainly from few spies who were sending them from Languedoc and Provance. Still it wasn’t enough to satisfy Henryk’s hunger.

*****​

Fortunately enough, “Piedmontese affairs”, as Henryk used to call them, calmed down a bit, apparently the plans weaved by both of them worked well enough. Still, the boredom was killing him. Slowly.

Finally, one cloudy day in late March, he took a small detachment of his knights and went on reconnaissance.

*****​

Henryk did not bothered about the marks he was leaving on his way though the rooms. In fact the mud on his boots was the thing which made him happy. He stormed into Ludvicos quarters.

”The snows are melting!”

 

[unmerged(18481)]

Henryk of the Greif had helped a lot, the Marquis of Saluzzo thought while running through his agents’ latest reports. The Pommeranian Prince’s presence and his rude parade of power, along with the Lord High Chancellor’s subtle machinations was yielding the expected results: the unity of the factions was undermined, the opposition, broken up into myriads of rancorous groups, had sunken into infighting, the rule of the boy-Duke and her mother could be easily upheld until the spring.

It had come, of course, at a cost. The peace of the realm was no more, all signs of stability and prosper had vanished. The Marquis could not help feel bitter about it: he was, after all, busy destroying his own work, he was busy destroying the fragile stability he himself had built up carefully after the Battle of Alessandria and the Burgundian occupation. Now there was anarchy in the Piedmont: aside the ceaseless streetfighting in the cities, reports of skirmishes were coming more and more frequently. Just skirmishes, not battles, but -- di Saluzzo thought, and his brow darkened -- this was only the beginning.

It’ll take decades to restore the order, di Saluzzo thought, feeling pity for the poor sod who would get this Herculean task. Only then, he realized with dismay that the poor sod would be most probably he himself. The Lord High Chancellor glanced up at the ceiling, murmuring something that could be a prayer or a curse, then returned to his reading with a resigned desperation, trying to concentrate only to the next step instead of to the whole long road ahead, he tried to set his mind fully on the report of the last session of the Meeting.

But all of a sudden, the door was torn open, and a mudstained Henryk of the Greif stormed into study.

“The snows are melting!” Henryk yelled at him, grinning.

The Marquis looked up at him. Sometimes he couldn’t help but be irritated by Henryk’s all-overthrowing vigour.

“And what can I do about it?” he asked in his deep bass, on which Henryk froze.

But then, di Saluzzo pondered, waving toward a chair, this very energy raises him above all of us.

“Please do take a seat,” calm, the Marquis insisted. “There’s no need to rush. It’s only…” He looked up at the small window. “… it’s only noon, we have a plenty of time to start the things. There’s no need to rush,” he repeated in a hushing voice. “We have everything planned and worked out. Your men will need the rest of the day to prepare to the departure, you may set forth in the dawn, tomorrow. There’s no need to rush.”

He pedantly put the reports aside before leaning back in his chair. “Which col is it? Mount Cenis? Good. As we’ve said, you’ll go with those three hundred, in the meanwhile I’ll get the Meeting support her and her daughter. Depending on the results and the circumstances, I’ll send you the reinforcements. We’ll communicate using d’Aymaville and de Veyssi, no-one else.”

The Marquis fell silent: there was no need to recite all the things they had decided.

“Well then…” pondering, he said, studying his own fingernails. “Well then, we’d better get our men to start preparing to depart now.”

 

[Lord E]

A letter arrives from Paris

Anne, Princesse Impériale, Reine de Lotharingie, Duchesse de Bourgogne et du Piémont


Your Majesty,

We have received Your Majesty’s letter, and We are trilled with the great victory of the forces of Your Majesty and the Duke of Alsace against the rebel forces. We hope that Our men with the Duke also made their presence made on the battlefield, just as Your Majesty informs Us that Our knights did. Also if possible Your Majesty We have a personal favour to ask, We would like to know if Your Majesty know of Our men’s health and wellbeing? For We pray they are not injured.

Your Majesty need not be afraid that Your Majesty shall exhaust Us, for We are not old, at least not yet! We will fulfil Our promise of support for Your Majesty, and such We will honour Your Majesty’s wish and send Our forces to invade through the Auvergne/Champagne region and then join up with the forces of Your Majesty in Dijon.

We understand why Your Majesty asks Us to take these special condition, and We are willing to meet them. Just as Your Majesty We wouldn’t like to see Our forces kill innocent people of Gaul and therefore We will order Our men to ride fast and make no fighting unless they are attack. Should they be attack We will of course order them to defend them self against the attacking rebels. We will send letters to Our commander at once issuing the orders, and we will inform them that they are to fly the flag of Your Majesty as well as the colours of France.

We also hope that Your Majesty will accept that We send Your Majesty some more of Our finest chevaliers to act as Your Majesty’s personal guards for We are still concerned about the safety of Your Majesty, Her Majesty and the rest of Your Majesty’s children. We have written to Our men with the Duke asking them to address the matter to the Duke and Your Majesty, but since We write to Your Majesty today, We though it was best to address Your Majesty about it as well.

We pray Your Majesty is with good health and that Your Majesty will lead the forces against the rebels to victory.


Written in own hand in Louvre, Paris in the year of our lord 1454

Louis XI, par la Grâce de Dieu Roi de France

 

[unmerged(18481)]

3rd March, 1454 - St-Claude, the Franche-Comté, Lotharingia

Because of his desire not appear associated with the northerners and their faction, Slavomir had come directly from Rheinpfalz and through the Imperial Free Cities west of the Rine to reach St. Claude. He had not bothered to meet von Trauttsmandorff in Dijon; the Graf was an ass and irritated him to no end. His counterpart was full of grandiose ideas and sweeping plans that he loudly described as natural and reasonable, while Slavomir found him both brazenly rude and coarse beyond all reckoning. The German had too many ideas in his head about land and power without any respect for the finer, nobler things in life, such as tradition, law, or harmony.

He was quietly happy that Ladislav had sent him rather than von Trauttsmandorff, who had been told to stay in Dijon and observe. The German not only possessed an objectionable personality, he also had much emnity for the Piedmontese, not to mention that he insisted on referring to Ladislav as Ladislaus, the German form of the name. Slavomir remembered the losses his family had suffered, and for a brief moment he felt compassion for his family. Still, the moment was his to shape.

Opposing armies had already shaped events, he could see. The debris of war and the fires of camps showed him that the land had been a battlefield not far from his present course. Urged on by the need to reach his destination before any victorious partisans of Arras swarmed St. Claude, he ordered his horsement to press on even faster. Soon, they were before the gates of the town, and he conveyed a message to the captain of the watch.

"Please tell Her Majesty that Count Slavomir Brtnický-" speaking slowly so the man could wrap his tongue around a foreign name- "desires an audience as quickly as possible."

My heart is merely a piece of ice: in it there is no blazing hatred, neither blazing love anymore.

- Anna of the Greif, in 1454, in a letter she did not send to Manuel de la Braga.​

Brtnický was made wait quite a bit: more than two hours had passed before the Queen Anne finally appeared to greet him, wearing a bearskin overcoat and high-legged boots.

“Count Slavomir, my Lord, we hope you will forgive us the delay,” she greeted the Bohemian, speaking in her native Pommeranian dialect of the German. “We were out of the city, inspecting our troops, and…” She trailed off as she courtseyed; tired, she almost faltered when she bent her trembling knees. Her flight had taken a toll on her body, she got exhausted very easily, and she was dreadfully susceptible to cold.

“I’m not feeling very well,” she admitted informally, snivelling. “thus I’d be most honoured if we could spare ourselves from the formalities. Instead, your Honour might join me for a wine in my study… This way.”

The conscientous servants had already lit a fire, had already prepared the wine in the small chamber of a spartan furniture that was her study. Anna pulled off her overcoat and furry bodice. Enjoying the warmth and the comfort, she also felt an urge to take her boots and stockings off and to let her hair down… but she realized Brtnický’s presence well in time. And only then, she began thinking about the Czech envoy.

Anna gained some time to ponder while pouring wine to Brtnický and also to herself. Who had sent him anyway? Ladislav? It seemed unlikely, but not impossible. King Ladislav… Ah yes, he would certainly try to make us of the situation, she mused as she kept measuring the envoy with her eyes over the rim of her goblet. King Ladislaus von Wittelsbach… The murderer of her first husband.

“Well then…” she began, and smiled. “Where are you from, what are your arms, and how can I be at your service, noble Count?”

 

[Petrarca]

Slavomir accepted her apologies with the thought that they weren't warranted. When she attempted to curtsey and shook doing so, he almost shot out his arm to steady her, but propriety and respect caught his reaction in time. "Of course," he murmured sympathetically, at the same time happy not to be in her position.

"As Your Majesty wishes," he said quietly when she declined formalities. While she played the part of pleasant, if preoccuppied, hostess, Slavomir did his best to be a humble guest, accepting the wine and sitting comfortably, but not carefully did not appear comfortable enough to give the impression of satiation.

"Your Highness, my only arm is my tongue," he said, and instantly regretted it. There wasn't any need to play games with a besieged Queen, and his face cringed. Momentarily quiet, he spoke again. "Your Majesty, the Electors are maneuvering to declare Maria as the legitimate sovereign of Lotharingia- at least the imperial territory, which they have some theoretical power over. Simultaneously, many of the German princes are making that power real, answering the call to arms made to them."

He paused, unsure of how to approach the rest of her question or even how to deal with her smile. His monarch had supported the Hungarians in their quarrel with Piemonte, which had escalated to war and finally slaughter on the plains of Alessandria. von Trauttsmandorff's sons were killed counterattacking the French heavy horse, and the end of the day saw both Ugo and Piemonte's Anton, husband to one Anna von der Greif, dead.

He gave up trying to be elliptical. He didn't want to offend, but he couldn't fail either. "Your Majesty, I am a Czech, born in Tabor in Bohemia. I have spent years in along the Rhine as an ambassador to those states, but to be frank what is important is what else is coming across the Rhine. In a month four thousand soldiers from Moravia will arrive in Heidelburg; a fortnight later they intend to be at the Marne, reinforced by mercenaries hired in Luxemburg and Trier."

"My liege sends these armies because he supports the claim held by your daughter. They are meant to complement your forces and cut off the League of Arras from Champagne and points north. Their movements from Chalons and Joinville are Your Majesty's decision, and our captains have been charged to accept someone of Your Majesty's choice as their commander for the duration. The armies will not enter Burgundy if Your Majesty so chooses, but we will continue our efforts in the Diet for official recognition of Maria's succession."

Slavomir Brtnický waited, without any idea as to what her reaction would be. She could just as easily curse Ladislav's name and throw him out as she could welcome the gesture and approve of the action. He steeled himself for the worst, though, and felt bad for knowing the tragic reasons why he should.

 

[unmerged(18481)]

“Four thousand soldiers…” Anna echoed longingly, and stared out of the window, in the deceptively bright, late-winter sunshine. The unmixed Burgundian wine pleasantly warmed her stomach, she felt the heat of the fire driving the frost out of her bones, and she was beginning to feel much better and comfortable -- save for the boots: the late Pierre d’Amboise’s wife, original owner of the boots, had feet smaller than hers, not much smaller, but certainly smaller enough to make her life hell when her toes swelled in the cold.

“What is their armament like?” she asked abruptly. “And what is their composition? I’m just asking because---” She fidgeted, tossing her armchair closer to the fireplace. “I’m asking because I’ll meet with my commanders in an hour or so, and it would be nice to know at least approximate details. Maybe you yourself could attend the meeting, my Lord? Of course you would be asked to leave before the end as…” She trailed off. “Regardless, I’m curious about the situation in the Empire. I’ve had more pressing matters to look after in the past months, and since the rumours are contradicting to the greatest, I’m utterly confused now. But anyway, I reckon I have to be grateful for King Ladislav’s largely unexpected aid,” she said with only the slightest malice, and nodded toward the Bohemian.

King Ladislav… The name did not stir up much emotion in her. Anna could feel but the memory of the hatred, along with some mild, half-hearted disgust -- and somehow she was sorry for it. She smiled faintly as she remembered her twenty-five years old self, who -- it was only trifling seven years ago! -- had signed her letters as ‘Anna Gryphon, whose husband was murdered by Friedrich von Wittelsbach and Ladislaus von Wittlesbach-Luxemburg’; who had promised to slit Ladislav’s throat open, to kill Ladislav by her very own hand, and had been so ridiculously serious in these promises. Anna Gryphon remembered this younger self of hers with a medley of pity and nausea: that Anna had been so very self-assured in her hatred! ‘My hatred is blazing not with the fire of a candle, not with the flame of campfire: it is a bonfire indeed. This is a hatred which never will vanish,’ she had written to him then, while now…

Anna took a deep breath. “And what is the cost of all this?” she asked. “An army of four thousand is not cheap, even without the mercenaries Your Lordship mentioned, and let’s not even think about the politics. What is the cost of all this? My forgiveness, I guess. And my blessing to His Majesty’s marriage with my cousin, right? Or maybe even some wedding-gifts?” she continued, making a vague gesture toward the north. And even though she was speaking mockingly, she knew all too well that the previous self of hers, the one she now scorned, would have simply thrown out the poor Count Slavomir, cursing Ladislav’s name. The change, every kind of change, always made her frightened. But the most frightening was: would not she think back of her current self with the very same scornful pity seven years later?

“Let me speak openly, noble Count,” Anna said. “My pardon cannot be bought for four thousand soldiers. Neither for four million soldiers, for that matter. Further, although I am but a woman, I also have honour. How could I look into my children’s eyes? The blood of the father cannot be washed out, they say. Neither that of a husband, I could add.” She paused. She herself didn’t really know what she was aiming at. “Yes, I am indeed in a pretty very desperare position. But I don’t have much to lose… if you understand what I mean. However…” She trailed off, and looked away from him.

The Queen bit her lip. She felt an urge to cry as she thought back of all the things she had lost; and the most painful losses of all were the loss of the hatred, the loss of the love.

 

[I Killed Kenny]

The stedy in St. Claude

After months of an un-stopable riding from Lisboa to Elvas where he meet with his escort, passing by Madrid, Saragosa and Lion passing right in the middle of the waring French Comté. Manuel de la Braga High Chancellor of the Portuguese Kingdom was finally in St Claude.

Twenty and six knight wearing long black coats enter the encampement where Anna's troops were gathering. They were not tall soldiers but they were big, veterans of many battles their skin was burned by the hot iberian sun. And small part of their hair that commed out from their coat's hoods. Only one who was the leader had a more blood hair.
When they entered the Field without any banner, in their horses or on themselfs people looked to them trying to see who they were.​

When they were finally stoped by a guard trying to know who they are, the blood one Get's out of his horse. He puts his hood to the back and speaks. "My name is Manuel de la Braga I am the High Chancellor of his Highness João, King of Portugal and I am a guest of her majesty Queen Anna of the Greif. I would like you to tell me where her majesty is." He waits a reply while the other horseman continue in their horses waiting for a reply.