Union Court of Pskov-Novgorod

[Longinus]

Representatives of the Wendische Handels Union meets with the Princess-Regent.

“Milady, we are afraid that we cannot afford to accept the Article One of the said treaty for the income from the ports in Ingermanland are way too important for Pommern. Therefore we propose the following agreement.

Trade Treaty of Ingria​

Article I: Pskovian and Novogrodian merchants will have free access to the port facilities found in Ingermanland but they will pay 20% less then any other foreign merchants who are not associated with the Wendishe Handels Union and Hansa. Wendishe Handels Union merchants will in turn have free access to the merchant cites of Novgorod and Pskov and will pay 20 % less taxes then other foreign merchants.

Article II: No more than seventy-five (75) merchants of Pskov shall be conducting trade in Ingermanland at any one time, nor are any more than seventy-five (75) merchants of Pommern shall be conducting trade in Novgorod at any one time. The only exception to this are the months of August and September where this number is increased to two-hundred (200) in either case to accomadate the increased trade volume after the harvest and months of good weather.

Article III: Wendische Handels Union will be allowed to build their tdading houses and warehouses in the cities of Novograd and Pskov. In return Pskov will ba able to build similar facilities in the cities of Varna in Ingermanland, Danzig and Stettin.

Article IV: The term of this treaty is two years from signing. Pre-mature cancellation of this treaty will be seen as an act of hostility. Revision between the time of signature and expiration is allowed by both parties if they both wishes to change the agreementl, otherwise it is not possible.

We would also like to renew our offer of Pskov either joining or again becoming associate with the Wenische Handels Union, this would give Pskovian merchants unlimited access to the western markets."

*****​

The very same day Pommern envoy, Konstanty Makuszynski herbu Leliva, arrives at the court, he bows before Princess and speaks.

“Milady,

My Lord respect Pskovian will to remain unallied with Pommern and although he thinks that such close ties could only bring us together he understands and agrees to your decision.

However, as a formal emissary to Pskovian court I must state official stance of the House of the Greif concerning the recent rumors concerning problems on the Latvian-Pskovian border.

My Lord, wishes only peace and stability in the region and kindly asks to refrain from any hostile movements and decisions. However, should any problems arise we would humbly like to offer our services as mediators.”

 

[N Katsyev]

After reviewing the revised version of the treaty for a time alone in her chambers the Princess-Regent with two servitors at her side stepped lightly into the great hall which was currently being arranged for dinner and a celebration that night, great tables were being moved into place, and great tapestries hung from the walls depicting famous scenes from the Kieven period. She made her way up to the Pommeranian emissary Konstanty and greeted him.

"I will place your lord's proposal before the Pskova veche tomorrow, I approve of it personally for what that matters. Come, walk with me."

Princess-Regent Mina after taking her heavy bear cloak made her way along with Konstanty out onto a balcony extending from the Kremlin, looking over the snowswepped and icy Pskova river estuary. She stood for some moments, her face blushing slightly at the cold, and her breath visible against the dimming sunlight. She then turned, her hair hanging over one shoulder, and her icy grey eyes slightly moist from the cold to Konstanty.

"It is beautiful is it not?... This is Russia, this is not Germany. Just as important to some, and more important to others, this is holy Russia, protector of the true faith, surely one bearing the name of the Great Constantine would understand this. It is not to be ruled by alien herectics, she deserves better, and her people will have better. If you will honor me, i'd be pleased if you would allow me to speak to you more of this over dinner. If you will excuse me now, the day is not quite finished and there are affairs of state for me to attend to yet..."

Mina walked away from Konstanty, leaving him on the balcony, her two servitors who had stood in the doorway followed her. A bitterly cold breeze blew over the balcony.

 

[N Katsyev]

Alexi Timkin walked out of the Pskov Veche hall and approached the Pommeranian emissary, Konstanty, and handed him a rolled bit of paper.

"Take this back to your lord, Pskov accepts the treaty from this date until expiration."

 

[unmerged(4640)]

A letter arrives from Riga.

"Onto His Grace, the Grand Prince of Pskov.

Indeed, I should hope that one day our two realms may exist peacefully together. I wish not for war with my neighbors, but only peace.

However, I am quite...irked, by Pskovian claims upon my lands? Perhaps this is merely a misunderstanding? Or perhaps I've been misinformed. Perhaps you would be so kind as to enlighten me as to your claims on Kexholm. Perhaps...perhaps we may live in peace.

~Signed

Amory I von Stadion, King of Latvia."

 

[N Katsyev]

In the Pskov Kremlin, early April

Mina Polotovskaya burst from her study and proceeded to thunder down the corridor toward the Great Hall. The two bewildered Kremlin guards followed her quickly. Mikhail Glinksi was seated at a table in the hall reading over reports of the state of Pskov's armory. Prince Andrei who had given the letter from Latvia personally to the Princess-Regent was also present, waiting to hear what news was brought from the west. The look on his face when he saw the Princess-Regent Polotovskaya emerge from the corridor leading to her study was shocked at best.

Mina walked toward the Prince and violently pushed the letter to his breast. Andrei grasped the paper and watched horrified as the Princess made her way to the chair and sat, visibly trying to calm herself. The few on-lookers in the hall could only stare at the Princess-Regent in uncertainty. Finally, Mina spoke, in a calm, quiet voice.. but one that very much gave off the feeling of anger and frustration.

"I would like to know where the Germanic scum that bore this letter here... is." Her now very much alive grey eyes surveyed the room slowly. Prince Andrei finally gathred himself up enough to respond.

"He left some hours ago, I don't imagine anyone knows where he is..."

Mina closed her eyes and rested her forehead on her fingers slightly before opening her eyes once again in the direction of Andrei.

"Lucky for him... not so lucky for you i'm afraid." She dropped her head back against chair and called out. "I want this hall emptied, Mikhail, Andrei... you will stay!"

There was general movement as courtiers and other attendants made their way out of the room and the porters shut the doors. Mikhail stood and walked up before the Princess' chair. Andrei simply stood still clutching the letter to his chest, and wondering what would happen next, and as to the meaning of him being "not so lucky".

The Princess-Regent lifted herself easily from the chair and walked slowly between the two men and paced slowly up and down the long red carpet stretching from her chair to the main entryway. Finally she spoke, obviously have gotten over her initial anger and in a very calculating manner.

"Read the letter aloud Andrei."

Andrei slightly relieved at the change in the Princess' manner, followed her command. Mikhail made his way back over to the wooden table upon which were his reports and sat upon it, looking toward Andrei and the Princess, while listening. When Andrei finished, the Princess stopped her pacing for a moment and turned toward the two males.

"So the German-dog, enslaver of the baltic peoples wishes peace? Yet he obvioulsy insults me by addressing my brother and not I? This King is either very desirious of my wrath, or incredibly stupid. Then he proceeds to speak of being annoyed at our claim on lands that have been ours for hundreds of years, that share our customs, our language, and our religion. Maybe I should write a letter to him telling him of my displeasure over the Greek's claim to Macedonia currently under control of the heathen hordes, eh Mikhail?"

Mikhail looking down at the ground between his feet smiled and raised his head slightly toward the Princess. "I wonder if a man of his intelligence would even be able to make the connection."

A smile barely broke upon the Princess' face and she returned to pacing, back and forth, her small, delicate, young hands clasped behind her. "Maybe so, maybe so... Still, his... communication, could be considered taking a liberty. And I can't have a liberty taken, now can I boys?"

Andrei and Mikhail responded simulatenously. "No Princess, you can't."

Princess-Regent Polotovskaya nodded, "This puts the poor, simple King of Latvia in my debt. I shall wish to repay that debt and also give him my ideas on how to conclude our Kexholm problem peacefully. Andrei, go and fetch me a courier... Mikhail I wish you personally to visit the various army gathering points in the realm, make sure everything is running in smooth order. It would not be pleasant in a time of need to be running short in any ways... Oh, and Andrei, one more thing bring Alexi Timkin to me, I have a mission for him."

 

[Longinus]

During the supper with the Princess, Konstanty Makuszynski seeing the appearent good mood of her, dared to speak on temporal matters.

“Milady,

I have been thinking about what you have said in the balcony that cold morning when you showed me your beautiful lands. I dared not to replay then for I wished to keep the magic of that moment and your beauty on the background of your lands in snow.

Still I have a duty as diplomat and envoy of my Lord to speak concerning the lands of Kexholm and Ingermanland.

These lands are not Russian milady and never where I am afraid, it is true that they were kept by Novograd in some frame of time but although the city still exist it doesn’t exist as a realm, Pskov, Teutons and “Imperial” Russia to the east made it possible.

Both said provinces are inhabited by Ingers and Karelians, who have much more in common with Finns and Germans then Slavs. Their religion is also not defined, some follow the words of Catholic priests others Orthodox ones. In fact majority of the people of Kexholm are Catholic. Basing ones claims on nationality and religion doesn’t seem to be right in my most humble opinion.

Milady, please forgive me my baldness but I merely express the thoughts that invaded my head.”

 

[unmerged(4640)]

A letter arrives from Riga.

"To the Russian Whore in Pskov,

You are one to speak! You write to me as if I am the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order! Well, since you seem so misinformed over in your pathetic realm, I shall inform you that I am not the Grand Master. That would be Hermann von Erlichshausen.

As for whom I sent the letter to, I sent it to whom sent the letter to me. A Grand-Prince Yuri II. It mentioned nothing of you.

Regardless, Kexholm is my land, and I will defend it with all my might from any who try to take it.

~Signed

Amory I, King of Latvia"

 

[N Katsyev]

Muddy Field West of Novgorod

Two of Mikhail Golytsin's aides grumbled and counter-grumbled under a tent. The new recruits, stood outside in the bitterly cold wind of early April. They stood in half-melted snow and half-frozen mud and waited for their assignments and gear. Boris Ivanivitch Muritsev was in the process of trying to remember just when it was the last time he felt quite so miserable. This army thing was hardly glorious as yet. Pondering on this thought got him away from from his being miserable and onto why Grand Princes got hostile at all during the cold months of the year... probably cause they were cold and irritable.

The two aides, after finally seeming to have come to an agreement, ducked their way out of the tent and walked out before the recruits. The took turns yelling out names, then another name. However the second name was always one of three, Iarsoslav, Pinski, or Popov. After each call a man presumably of the first name would be led to the group comprising of men all accompanied by the second name. Muritsev was accompanied by "Popov" and so the Boris' fate was decided, he was under the command of Commander Popov.

The three Commanders were busy inspecting the newest additions to their forces. Boris felt rather uncomfortable at first in the presence of Commander Nikita Popov. Popov was more than a little overweight, especially around the waste and had a thick beard. His spetum was kept meticulously clean however by its appearance, especially in contrast to the rest of his apparel which seemed more or less thrown together. The more unnerving thing about Popov however was that he did not yell like the other two Commanders were doing, yet he grumbled under his breath.. and of course there was his left eye, scarred and greyed over from some old wound in the past.

Finally the three commanders retreated from their groups to the side and were talking amongst each other. The two aides directed the formation of the three groups, into three great lines, that would pass by three stacks of equipment, there the Commanders were making there way to. Slowly but surely the whole thing began coming together. The lines would slowly make their way past their Commanders who would give them their initial gear, all that was to be brought back with them to their homes during the harvest, and brought back with them to camp during the campaigning seasons and during military inspections. Every man was handed a spear, heavy durable leather boots, a helmet, and ruddish-green garments as well as other small supplies gathred in a sack, including but not limited to a small knife, flint, whet stone, and crucifix.

This year however, these men would not be returning home for the spring sowing. They were headed to Pskov... Boris' mind however not on that matter, it was on the matter of having to lug all this extra "stuff".

 

[N Katsyev]

The Princess-Regent in especially good humour this evening listened carefully to Konstanty Makuszynski. She had a slight smile on her face and as he finished speaking she turned that smile to him and rested her head on her hand leaning on the arm of her chair.

"You impress me with your knowledge of the lands of Ingria and their history. Your lord was wise in sending one so informed here as a representitive. There is definitely truth in your words, much unarguable, however there are some points I believe were missed upon. And others I don't entirely agree with.

We Russians, slavs, our very homeland is south of here. In the beginning there were no Russians even where Pskov now is. Nomadic peoples from east however constantly ravaged our peaceful homes. During the many invasions of these peoples, many of my people went north, centuries and centuries ago. Great movements of us, and we extended the borders of homeland far to the north.

Centuries before the Grand Prince Rurik took control over Novgorod, there was substantial Russian population throughout these lands. During those many, many centuries these lands became slavic lands, no matter of what origins their original inhabitants were and some still are. I do know however that when I walk about the land of Pskov I do not see Finns, I see Russians, although the original inhabitants of this very land was probably Finno-ugric.

Lands such as Ingria are on the periphials of this, I do admit. And when declaring the nationality or religious beliefs of the majority of people in these lands I would say its a matter of perspective at best. However my perspective is that they while not ethnically all slavs, are all Russians as all are who belonged once to Mother Kiev. The religion of these people I say are like us, you say Catholic, is the glass half-full, or half-empty who is to say? In the end, while maybe not ethnically slavs, they are Russians and should be ruled over by other Russians. And personally I have been among them, centruies of sharing the same culture have made them every bit as Russian as I am no matter what they were originally, and I also know the majority of them are ready for rule under a Russian prince.

The Lord of Pommerania has shown kindness to us in the past, and continues to still. We Russians do not forget kindness, and I especially am much more willing to work peacefully with those whom I respect. Men such as yourself. If the King of Latvia had any similiar qualities to your Lord, maybe we would not be in the present situation... I'm not sure if you know this or not, but my brother Grand Prince Yuri II attempted to open up cordial relations with the Latvians and now months later, still no reply. I do hope you can see, that while justification based on religion may be questionable, Pskov's claims to Kexholm are a hundred-fold more strong than those of Latvia.

I have very much enjoyed your presence, and I am thankful to your lord for sending you, you may extend my appreciation upon him personally when you deliver word that his treaty is agreed upon by me and the veche. Hopefully Pommern and Pskov will only become closer in these troubled times. I hope you find it in your best interest to bring back news of the success of the treaty soon, I will look forward to meeting you again. Now I must rest, there is much work for me in the coming days."

Princess-Regent Mina Polotovskaya rose and smoothed her dress with her hands. She lowered her eyes slightly to Konstanty and offered her hand for him to kiss. "Dasveedanya Konstantin."

 

[Prince Eugene]

A letter arrives bearing the seal of Denmark

"Your Grace Princess-Regent Mina Polotovskaya

You are cordially invited to the coronation of Count Frederik von Schallenberg as King of Denmark-Norway in one week's time in Copenhagen."

Signed,
Jesper Andresen, Count von Sjælland

[Friday/Saturday]

 

[Prince Eugene]

A letter arrives bearing the seal of Denmark

"Your Grace Princess-Regent Mina Polotovskaya

I thank you greatly for the offer of sending a representative to my court, as I have been informed by Count von Andresen. He will be granted quarters with full acceptance. My Royal Court is not yet open, so he will be granted temporary quarters at the Sjælland County Palace until the Royal Palace is refurbished and my court moves in.

By his own hand in Copenhagen,
Frederik von Schallenberg
Count of Jutland
Heir to the Danish Throne

 

[N Katsyev]

Camp of Popov's Regiment, some days later

The last few of the sun's rays were dissapearing behind the horizon and the moon was already coming into a very good view. Boris sat by the fire outside his tent, looking at the dagger given to him by Fydor Krupski, back home.

Ivan Turliev, a large stout young man and one of Boris' tentmates came walking up with two bowls of stew and handed one to Boris. He sat down on a log next to the fire opposite Boris and took a moutful of his stew. "You seen Nikolai around at all Boris?"

Boris looked up at Ivan and shook his head. "Nyet."

The two men sat eating their stew in silence and occasionally glancing up at the ever more star-lit sky, both thinking about their homes, and what the immediate future had in store for them. Ivan had been in the army a year now, and Boris a new recruit, Nikolai was the more experienced of the three tent-mates and had been in for four years now. Like all the men of the regular army of more than a year and opting not to go home for harvest when allowed, Ivan and Nikolai had the full compliment of infantry equipment, ringmail cuirass, buckler, sword, and army grade winter and campaign clothing as well as the provisions given to Boris upon his recruitment.

Boris set away his dagger and stood up and grasped his spear. He lifted it and felt it, tested its weight and balance... all rather awkwardly. He let out a "hmmph".

Ivan who had been watching Boris the last couple moments looked up to him, "Hmmph what?"

Boris looked at Ivan's face with a rather thoughtful expression on his face, "Hmmph as in how exactly do I use this thing?"

Ivan noticed Nikolai approaching from the corner of his eye and pointed to him, "Nikolai knows how to use the spear well, he will teach you. Nikolai! Teach Boris how to use his spear!"

A couple groups from other tents looked over to see what the noise was about and Boris looked over to Nikolai. Nikolai grinned and walked over and took the spear from Boris. He planted its blunt end to the ground and lead the point near his face and pointed at it with his finger. "You see this Boris? This is the sharp end. In order to use a spear, you simply stick this sharp end in the other man."

There was a general outburst of laughter. Nikolai laughing did his best to avoid Boris' rush. Boris grabbed the spear out of Nikolai's hands who feigned innocence. "Hah, hah Nikolai." Boris said through an emerging grin. What Nikolai and Boris didn't notice however was the rather abrupt stop of the laughter around them until they themselves saw the cause. Commander Nikita Popov stood there with his arms crossed against his large chest, looking hardly amused, but not visibly displeased either. He finally after some tense moments spoke with a deep Russian bass voice, "You will know plenty of how to use your spear after drills tomorrow dear boy. I suggest you and your comrades get some rest."

Commander Popov walked away from the three tentmates settling down for the night with a slight smile hidden under his beard. "Sharp end goes in the other man... not bad, heh."

 

[N Katsyev]

Outside the Pskov Kremlin

Mina, Andrei and Alexi were walking along the walls of the city. It was a dreadfully cold and damp morning, and it looked as if there would be no sight of the sun this day. Mina was going over to Alexi the main topics she wanted him to discuss with the King of Denmark upon his arrival there.

"And make sure you let him know that Grand Prince Pavyel is on his way back to Pskov, and from there wishes to travel to Denmark and there observe a monarch consolidating his power." Just then, the princess was interrupted by a courier running up to the wall and hastily climbing the steps to where the three had stopped.

"Princess-Regent, forgive me, i've come with a letter from the King of Denmark!"

The Princess with a look of disbelief took the parchment from the courier and on it saw the seal of the Danish King. "I can't believe it, I sent another courier just a few hours ago to Denmark with a communication of our own... This is indeed a good sign. Thank you Pytor, you may go." The princess offered her hand for the courier to kiss, a great honor. The young courier almost stumbling in excitement after this made his way off undoubtedly to brag to his chamber-mates. "Come, let us go inside, its not a day fit for us and I wish to read this in more comfort."

The group made their way into the Kremlin and into the Princess' study in silence. Mina's study was a small comfortable room, the majority of the floor was lain with beautiful Byzantine rugs and the walls hung with tapestries. A large fireplace dominated the small room on one side, making it most probably the warmest room in the Kremlin. On the other wall were two facing couches seperated by a short wooden table, on which sat a number of books. The other wall held a beautiful oak desk. Kremlin guards shut the door behind them and Mina dropped into one of the couches, laying back and beginning to open the letter. She motioned with her eyes for Andrei and Alexi to sit on the other couch. The Princess read for a moment, then let the letter down on the table between her and two men and tapped it with her finger indicating for them to read. She closed her eyes and exhaled her lips creasing into a smile.

Alexi beamed at the Princess, "This is wonderful, surely you will go to the coronation?"

Mina now definitely in one of her better moods turned her head slightly to look at Andrei and Alexi. "Alexi, dear friend of my poor brother... I have not done this of much late, but this time i'm asking of your opinion on this matter."

Alexi thought a moment and handed the letter to Andrei to read. "Princess, I think it can only bring good for you to go. Surely there will be other powerful princes there, and of course it will put you in better favor with the King of Denmark. Also, I think the stresses of rule are lying heavily on your shoulders lately... This rather unpleasant of late exchange with the Latvians especially... I think it would be a good break for you, if only for a short time. I do not think there is anything really critical now that would prevent you going. Day to day routine, Andrei and I can handle while you are away, it will be good experience for Andrei..."

Andrei hadn't really bothered to do much reading presently... of the note anyway, the curves of Mina's body were another issue entirely as she lie with her eyes closed. Finally he spoke up though, "We'll miss you dearly of course..."

Mina who caught herself falling into a doze made a visible effort to re-position herself and turn her head to Andrei and Alexi. "Of course, of course... you're right... I leave tomorrow for Denmark... arrange it. What of the dear princess Katerina Polotovskaya?"

Andrei answered, "She left with Mikhail Glynski yesterday to inspect the army camping outside the city... Mina?"

A barely audible "Mmmh" was all they got out of the Princess-Regent Polotovskaya who had obviously lost the battle to stay conscious. Alexi stood and was preparing to leave the Princess in peace and beckoned for Andrei to do the same, and walked out the door. Andrei looked to the now empty door and crept over to where the Princess lie and lay a kiss on her peaceful forehead, then walked out himself and shut the door lightly behind him...

 

[N Katsyev]

Pskov Kremlin, Great Hall

It was dinner-time and the great hall was arranged with the normal long tables, foot-servants shuffling about the middle of the room, filling cups and taking plates. Hardly to the notice of anyone a man stepped into the room and strode quickly and meaningfully up to the head table and there leaned over aside Prince Andrei's ear, some words where whispered. Andrei stood and motioned for Princess Katerina, Mikhail Golytsin and Alexi Timkin to come with him. They assembled in a corridor just outside the hall.

"Word just in from Moscovy friends, there is a new monarch. Anastasia, she is a Moscovite boyar... which is bad, yet she has not claimed herself to be Czarina as I understand it... which is good. Either way, I feel things are going to get a bit more complicated around here, Alexi dear friend, I wish for you to compose a letter to Mina that she may recieve on her arrival there. I suppose its just as well she left earlier before this news reached us, I doubt she would have gone otherwise..."

There were few words in response to this, it was a lot to take in. The night continued on the same as the night before, and the night before that. Yet there was a feeling among those "in the know" that things were no longer the same.

 

[unmerged(6324)]

A letter arrives for the Prince's eyes to see at Pskov from Moskva.

 

[von Streusser]

A strong looking young man in fairly simple clothes enters the court. He is dressed warmly for his trip to the North, as he is not used to the climate. He bows deeply and says:

"Most noble Grand Prince, friend of Moldavia, I am Dimitru Getrescu, sent here by my lords the Voivodes Ilias I and Stefan II to represent their country here in your realm, should you accept my credentials."

 

[N Katsyev]

Prince Andrei beams at the Moldavian visitor and walks over to him, he puts his hand on Dimitru's shoulder and begins showing him around the Kremlin.

"It is so good to have you here Dimitru. My uncle sent us quite a few letters during his stay in your homeland and he had nothing but good things to say about the Moldavians and their land. You'll have to excuse us not being able to introduce you to the Princess-Regent, she is away to Denmark for the coronation there. Grand Prince Pavyel... well, you've probably already met him. Either way, he is absent as well.

You will of course be given quarters in the Kremlin, a place in the hall for dining, and anything else you may require. Pskov is yours to explore. I definitely suggest you visit Novgorod, a city teeming with life that one is. Pskov is more quiet, but much more scenic as well if I may say so personally."

Prince Andrei and Dimitru arrive at Dimitru's chamber, Andrei opens the door for him with a smile.

"Anyway, here we are, I hope you find everything to your satisfaction, I look forward to speaking with you more over dinner."

Prince Andrei bid Dimitru goodbye and walked away down the corridor...

 

[N Katsyev]

Busy Street in Novgorod

Princess Yakaterina Polotovskaya strode confidently down the street on a walk meant to give her mind a rest from the morning she had spent in the Novgorod veche hall, listening to their proceedings. The two guards on either side of her brought much more attention to her than would have been if they were not present. Dressed in every day attire she hardly looked much different than the wife of a wealthy merchant would look, and aside from the occasional sidelong glance and double-takes from males walking by her, would draw no attention to herself whatsoever.

Suddenly there was comotion to her left, lots of yelling, spashing of mud and curses. Her guards tensed up slightly and she looked over herself, her beautiful grey eyes surveying the situation. It was nothing more than a merchant not paying attention and almost running over a pedestrian. However Mina continued to look ever more fixedly in that direction. She was though no longer looking at the near-accident but what was directly behind it. The skeleton of a building was taking shape, the guildhouse of the Pommeranian merchants.

Katya stood for some minutes, looking at the building and its rather alien archeticture. Her mind wandered while looking at the building to her aunt, what her aunt must be seeing in Denmark... Princess Katerina very often compared herself to her aunt and put relevance between them. The two girls were nearly the same age, Mina only slightly the elder by a year. They looked very much the same, so much that anyone not knowing better could easily mistake them as sisters, possibly even twins. Katya's hair and complexion were slightly lighter, they possed however the same grey eyes, the slim graceful physique, many of the same facial features, however it appeared that Katya had not inherited her aunt's very unpredictable, unreliable, and violent temper.

Opposed to what one might expect, as girls they spent little time together. Mina spent a great deal of her time at home in Pskov, studying, and attending court with her brother, Yuri II. She would take part in the discussions, inquire as to the affairs of state, and try to always have her hands in what was going on at all times. Only in the latter years of Yuri II's reign did she become more distant.. and dark. She spent more and more time away from Pskov, in Novgorod, ordering from abroad books, dresses, and various odds and ends. Sometimes Katya would join her in this period, it was during these rare instances that the girls got along best... All this changed however when Mina became Princess-Regent, the dark side of her began to diminish, she had come back, vibrant and powerful...

Katya on the other hand grew up very much with her brother Andrei and her uncle Pavyel on his great hunting trips deep into the forests north of Novgorod. Katya had always been kept at arm's distance from her father, and so looked to her uncle as the more dominant male in her life most of the time, however he even was rarely around. The only times Katya would be with her father was during inspection of the army, this was the time they were closest. Walking side by side in front of the seemingly endless columns of men bearing arms. Katya had always taken a great interest in matters military, and was befriended rather early by Mikhail Golytsin, brother of her deceased mother, and also commander of the Pskov garrison and supreme commander of the army. Unlike Mina, Katya had always spent the majority of her time in Novgorod, as she became older she did more and more as she did today, attending the Novgorod veche hall meetings. The men there were all very nice to their "little princess" who would sit quietly and observe. Katerina secretly had little doubt that one day, somehow she would become ruler of Pskov, and her aunt's acquisition of power only brought a new sense of reality to this belief of Katya's.

A biting wind cut through her clothing and brought her back mentally to the scene on that street in Novgorod. She wiped tears from her eyes, she wasn't sure from the cold or from something else. She turned her wet eyes to the guards, her face deeply flushed from the icy wind. The "little princess" and her two guards continued now down the street...

 

[von Streusser]

"Many thanks for the suggestions, mi'lord, I shall be sure to see as much as the north has to offer during my stay here" said Dimitru. "Once the Princess-Regent and the Grand Prince have returned, I should very much like to introduce myself to them, but until that time, I will very much enjoy the hospitality of your magnificent realm.

I shall, of course, be available at any point to speak with you, and will see you at dinner!"

 

[unmerged(9167)]

A man arrived at the court wearing Aragonese fashion of Barcelonia. He bowed and spoke,

I am Miquel Manana, ambassador to this court from Aragon if his highness accepts me. I am here to establish the trade between Aragon and Pskov if you are interesting in trading. Aragon also hopes to establish the friendship between our two nations. Aragon offers to sell you teh fine Aragonese wines in exchange for vodka and furs. Do you have any ideas of what we could trade?

hH fell silent as he await the response. While he is waiting, Aragonese merchants are seen operating in Pskov land.