Hervig thrusted his wooden training sword towards his wife, causing her to sidestep and jump back. Both were panting and sweating but Hervig did more of it. Time was nearly running out for him. He had to beat his wife in just less than thirty seconds. Knowing that time was against him he lunged again towards Emma, as if the world was dying behind him. He didn’t know what his wife was going to ask of him if he lost. He slashed towards his left and neatly feinted. He struck to the right and grazed Emma’s left shoulder, but she refused to back down. “That would’ve killed you in a real duel! Give up because you lost!”
Emma grinned and slyly replied, “We’ve been married since we were eighteen. That makes it six years of marriage and you still haven’t realised that I’m right-handed.” She kicked the dirt underneath her which conveniently covered her in a smoke of dust. She could only use this tactic once, so she swiftly charged towards her husband and aimed for his stomach.
Hervig easily parried her attack and slid his sword towards Emma’s neck. Unexpectedly, she ducked down and tripped Hervig up. The moment he opened his eyes he could see his wife’s sword tip pointed at his throat. He gulped in fear knowing what she was like. Thousands of horrible scenarios of what her wife can make him do resurfaced at his head and was tempted to faint right there and then.
“The… The duel is over! The winner goes to Emma Hanoschaft!” Erick nearly spluttered when he announced her victory. Months of training Hervig with the ways of the sword was clearly a waste. Doubt and guilt welled up inside of him and gave his pupil a sympathetic glance. He didn’t know what went wrong. He was usually good with training people and making them into unstoppable killing machines. He did it with the Drakwald militia and especially him. The smith turned sword instructor shook his head in disbelief.
“Oy! What in daemon’s chaotic hell didn’t you announce my victory?! I’ve struck her first!”
“Sorry Hervig. Emma’s right. She could carry on fightin’ with a slight wound to her left shoulders. After all, ye only scratched it!”
Emma rolled her eyes at his husband’s poor showmanship and gently kicked him in his sides. “I’ve won. There’s nothing you can do about it! I’ve won without running down the time! So, you can’t accuse me of cowardice!” She roared triumphantly and puffed up her chest.
“How are you this good anyways? You were carrying Reinhard for months! When I was training with Erick over here.”
“Muscle memory and the two months of training that you stupidly gave me!” She held her hand and lifted Hervig back to his feet. “And I’m disappointed! Remember when I hired a sword master from Estalia? I hired him when a bunch of brettonian brutes attacked our caravan. I was so scared at being defenceless and at the whims of those nobles and their inbred peasants. They could’ve done anything to me! Therefore, I’ve trained from dusk till dawn in the way of fencing so I can at least defend myself.”
Hervig blushed in humiliation. Not only was he beaten by his wife but forgot something crucial. He forgot how she ran to him and cried endlessly on his shoulder as he killed the knight forcing himself upon her. Wanting to rectify his mistake, he reluctantly accepted his defeat. “Fine… You won. Now say you what you want and if it’s within my power then I’ll do it…”
His wife stopped and contemplated and thought of something.
She noticed how Hervig would always squirm and flinch whenever she mentioned anything about the lizardmen. They were such a fascinating enigma, and she was driven to know anything about them. From buying books written in foreign languages and talking to the savages from the Settler’s coast. Naturally, she asked her husband about her curiosities about them because he was part of Lord Stanhelm’s council. Surely, he would know something. But he just rebuffed her and redirected the conversation entirely. She was suspicious and she wanted whatever her husband knew about the lizards, but he didn’t know what she was thinking. So, she decided to tease him further.
Emma teasingly trailed Hervig’s chest with her finger and stopped as she got to his chin. She grabbed it and pulled his head down. There she saw her husband’s eyes and she relished it. It was a shame that she would sacrifice her lust to satiate her curiosity.
“I want what you know about the lizardmen. Tell me. No more misdirection and partial truths. The full truth and nothing but the truth.”
He gulped and eyed Erick.
“Lad, if ye want me to feck off then just say so. Won’t mind. Got to do some huntin’ anyway.”
Hervig gratefully nodded towards him and then focused on his wife. “I-I… First of all, how did you notice?”
“Simple. I watched every bit of your facial muscles. How you would react and the way you quickly lead the conversation away. It was as if you were desperate. Desperate to hide a secret. You were damn good at it too. Took me a month to notice.”
He did a cursory glance towards his surroundings and it was full of trees, bushes and vines with no people in sight. He exaggeratedly sighed, “What do you want to know? Anything specific?”
“Don’t do that to me Hervig! I know what your trying to do.” She frowned at him and rolled her eyes. “I will repeat what I said. I want, what you know about the lizardmen.”
“Fine! Lizardmen reside in Lustria where they’re rumoured to have powerful magics. They don’t usually congregate within one area and this might explain why their temple cities look abandoned – “
“Cut the bullshit, please. I guess that was partially my fault. I wasn’t precise enough. I want to hear to what you’ve been hiding from me.”
Hervig planted his boots on the ground and started to nervously moved it side to side. “Listen! This is classified! You’re not allowed to tell anyone what I’m about to tell – “
“Just get on with it. Of course, I’ll swear to Mannan, Sigmar and Shallya and other gods and goddesses.” She said impatiently.
He stepped forward and leaned down until his mouth was right beside her ears. “When we lifted the siege back at Nahrstadt, we’ve managed to capture living lizardmen. Two of them. They weren’t nothing like those skinny skinks that attacked the forging district. You should’ve heard by now considering there was, maybe, two-hundred corpses lying about after the siege ended. But they were more powerful. They had more muscles and sharper teeth with predatory eyes. We’ve been keeping them in secret. I’m not going to tell you where they are because that’s not part of your request. Since then, we’ve been trying to communicate with them.”
Emma squealed and failed to hide her excitement. She ran to Hervig and hugged him. “What did they say? Did you manage to talk to them? Do they try to eat you?”
“Whoah! Slow down Emma! Please one question at a time!” Hervig pleaded.
“Can you talk to them?”
“No. It seems we have different vocal cords. When they try to say things, it just ends up as grunts and hisses to us. They can’t say the same words as us and vice versa. We’ve scoured the New World colonists to see if they know the language of these lizards but couldn’t find anything. We did it covertly to obviously not incite a panic.”
“Interesting… So, diplomacy is out of the window?”
“Right now… As much as it’s disturbing; yes, diplomacy is simply not possible. We don’t know anything about them. We don’t know their language and we still haven’t deciphered their runes. But I would hope that we’re wrong. They’re the ones that build that temple.” He pointed towards the ruined temple. “A civilization that built that should have some experience with talking to other races and they don’t seem to be tainted with Chaos.”
“Did they try to eat you? I’ve heard some disturbing reports that they bit and tore a whole score of militiamen from Nahrstadt.” Emma said with goosebumps forming. Morbid curiosity growing inside her.
Hervig loudly gulped and slightly paled, “Y-yes. Yes. The outriders who captured them commented how they looked ready to pounce on them despite how restrained they are. They saw their eyes narrowing down as they sniffed and growled. Their caretakers speak of the same thing and I must agree with them. When I first saw them, I couldn’t help but take a step back. They were even taller than Erick!”
“I heard that they carried primitive weapons. Stone spears and wooden tubes.”
“Where are you getting this from?!” He said with mild concern. Has she planted a spy in my office? Are they the clerks, pages or tax collectors? I was too busy focusing on Raymund, who’s in Bregonne, that I completely missed her. Hervig squinted at her wife for not sticking to her business. If Klaus finds out, then I’m in trouble.
“That’s irrelevant! I’m asking the questions here! Stick to your bargain!”
“Yes, they did… It was pathetic really. Their only real strength is… Is their strength! Their war materiel are very primitive. They don’t seem to have any magic whatsoever.” He said with cautious optimism.
His wife thought hard at that. She looked at the untamed lands and ruins surrounding New Altdorf. She noticed how they were the only ones who exploited the lands. Wheat farms sprang around the growing wall with an odd green cob sticking out. Buildings were raised at an extraordinary rate. She wondered why the lizardmen didn’t do this. She wondered why they abandoned their temple cities. Leaving vast treasures within them. What happened to them? The more she learnt about them, the more questions appeared out of thin air. She was about to launch a whole tirade of questions at her husband but chose not to because, it may cause unnecessary stress and dampen his spirits.
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“Isn’t that a good thing, Hervig? If we could repel them this easily now, maybe we could do it again! Surely, stone can’t carve up steel.”
“I was worried that you were going to say something dreadfully pessimistic again.” He lightly pushed her and chuckled.
“I didn’t want to stress you. You already have far too much on your plate.”
“Gods! Tell me about it! Johanne and Klaus just keep pestering me about building this and building that. Cost, cost and cost! The only ones who wasn’t a headache to me was Admiral Hofstein. I think I made him happy by expanding the port and the docks.” He calmed down and thought about his son. “How’s Reinhard by the way? He should be approaching two months.”
“You said that as if you haven’t seen him in a year! Don’t even try to hide it. You would wake up early in the morning and carry him around. I even saw you tossing him high up in the air.” She narrowed her eyes and pointed at him. “You shouldn’t be doing that to babies!”
Hervig blushed and tried to defend himself. “He enjoyed it! He’s not crying when I carry him anymore. In fact, he’s laughing!” He pouted and grabbed the wooden sparring swords. “Anyways, help me with these and don’t bother using the annoyingly repetitive ‘I’m still recovering from my pregnancy’.” He imitated her wife and dodged a slap. “I know you’ve recovered, and I learnt it the hard way. You should’ve seen the look of disappointment from Erick!”
She harrumphed and helped him carry the remaining equipment and walked home. “But seriously. No more throwing Reinhard.” She paused and waited for Hervig’s nod. “Excellent. You can still carry him but please be careful. He’s developing well! He’s a voracious eater and would occasionally bite my nipple! That’s the main reason why I hired a wet nurse.”
“I thought you hired Melinda because you got bored breastfeeding him and needed to do something. I still don’t know what you’re-”
“Yes, that too.” She said. Emma tried to hush as soon as possible which alerted her husband. “Sig’ has been visiting me lately. He wanted to check up on the baby. He said that he’s detecting some type of ‘wind’.”
Wait… She’s misdirecting. Well… Let’s play along. “So, our son is going to be some wizard in the future? What type of wizard? I heard from those arrogant High Elves that only humans can only be attuned to one type of magic. That arsehole then said he pitied us that we’re not all magically capable.” He sneered. Is she making this up? She’s hiding something.
“Sig’ said that his wind will not be determined because he’s still so young. He’s going to visit him once in a while to monitor his development.”
Hervig bit his lip and couldn’t stop an angry outburst at that. “Are you serious?”
Emma flinched and was puzzled at her husband’s fast change in mood. “Yes… Hervig what’s wrong?”
“I thought you were jesting! Is my son actually sensitive to magic?!”
She took a step back and nearly dropped the wooden swords and the straw training dummy. “Yes! Don’t need to raise your voice. What made you think I was jesting? This is all true.”
“You were redirecting the conversation which made me think that you’re definitely hiding something. I thought you just made this up on the spot, but my son will actually be a wizard!” He didn’t know whether to feel pride or to shudder in anxiety. It was a crime to hide magically capable people in the Empire. The punishments can be severe and can have Reinhard be designated as a witch, someone that’s illegally practising magic, and be promptly burnt at a stake. Likely, by those witch hunters. He’s struggling to make sense of the danger they’re in. It’s not likely me and Emma would hand over our son! But… but he may be bur- He stopped the wicked though immediately and turned over to her wife, “How can you be so nonchalant about this! That, Sigismund guy, may have reported our son to the Colleges of Magic! Our son can be legally kidnapped by those wizards!”
Emma patiently listened to Hervig’s rant and smiled at him. It was reassuring to know that her husband loved his son just as much as her. “I’ve already sorted it out. Sig’ promised that he won’t report it to the College as long as we allow him to observe our son.”
“That sounds creepy as hell!” He shrugged in disgust and calmed down. “But I guess, that’s fair. It’s far better than giving Reinhard away.” His mind thought back to his previous encounter with the wizard. “That would explain it! That’s why he was so interested on you! When I asked him why and he refused to answer, I knew something was wrong. I thought you were somehow a secret witch. Unless… You are one. That would explain it.”
She slightly leaned on her toes and slapped him in the head. “Knock it off! At least be a good sport and accept defeat. I won that duel because I’m good and better than you with the sword. Not because of magic.”
“Want to have a rematch? You wouldn’t be able to rinse my eyes with dust now that I’m aware of it.” He said smugly.
“Well, well, well. It’s too bad that we’re this close to the gatehouse. Also, I’m too sweaty and would need to change out of these men’s clothes. It seems it’s unsightly for women to wear men’s clothing. I wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation, because it may ruin yours too and I know you can’t afford that. So, let’s postpone this duel at a later date.”
He clicked his tongue. “Those are some very good excuses.”
“I’m full of good excuses lately. I hope the God of luck continues to bless me. What’s his name again? Ranald?”
“He’s also the God of trickery. It doesn’t surprise me that you would pray to him.” He squinted his eyes. What are you hiding?
“Umm… Umm. L-lady Emma? Why are you wearing that?” A young man with light brown hair, barely in his teens, said in a confused high pitch voice.
“Oh! It’s a pleasure meeting you out here Ernst! It’s good to see you moving on after your… Painful loss. How are you coping?” She said with motherly concern that confused Hervig. Who the hell is this kid? He continued to look at him oddly but was elbowed by his wife to halt whatever he was doing.
“I think I’m coping well! I found a new purpose in my life.” He beamed enthusiastically towards her. “I’m overseeing the construction of this gatehouse.” He pointed towards the partially completed gate. It had a spiky steel portcullis with numerous murder holes. The drawbridge was completed and was opened but he noticed that the machinery to close it wasn’t done yet. Overall, he was impressed because he was informed that the three gatehouses were scheduled to be build weeks ago. He did this in just a few weeks! He looked over towards the east and west gatehouses and noticed that they lagged behind by a few days. He looks like he’s talented. He doesn’t speak like a normal peasant too. Just who is he?
He politely held out his arm, “My name is Hervig. Hervig Hanoschaft. What’s your name, young man?”
He fidgeted as he looked at Hervig’s outstretched arm. He didn’t know what to do which prompted the lord Treasurer to shake his hands instead. Brilliant people are often awkward.
“M-my lord… My name is Ernst. Ernst vo- Ernst Draven.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Herr Draven. May I ask how you and my wife were acquainted?” He asked with genuine curiosity.
“She used to give me and Fred those sweet yellow cobs and some exotic food! I liked them and would pester her to give me more!” Ernst smiled and beamed at Emma. “She was also one of the first people to comfort me when Fred died…This good lady here gave me some money when I went to the court of pleas.”
Hold up! Wait a minute. She was in the court of pleas! How come I didn’t notice her!
Hervig glared at his wife who was now slowly moving towards Ernst. He thought feverishly until he came into a likely conclusion. So, that’s why she keeps hearing classified information! She’s been hiding in plain sight and was spying on me!
“I was trying to shore up support for you my dear husband. The people should know that one of Lord Stanhelm’s councillors care for them.” She sweetly said and caused Ernst to vigorously nod along with her.
The Treasurer painfully smiled at both of them. “I do care about them. I’m truly sorry for your loss Ernst – “
“No, its fine my lord. I’ve moved on my for my sake and their sakes too.”
Hervig patted his shoulders. “Good lad! And you’re doing a damn good job on this gatehouse by the way! So, keep at it and tell your men that they may receive a wage bonus when they get this done first.”
Ernst graciously bowed, “I will do so my lord.” He rudely dismissed himself and ran towards his workmates.
Hervig stared at him and wondered about something. Doesn’t talk like a peasant. But clearly doesn’t have manners and etiquette suited to a noble. I’m curious about him.
“I see that you’ve taken interest in him. Your eye for talent is impeccable as always.”
“Don’t bother with the flattery.” He put the equipment to the side and grabbed Emma by her shoulders. “Why were you working when you weren’t supposed to? You could’ve overworked your body! Marlene said so!”
She swatted his dirty and sweaty arms away from her. She proceeded to look at her own and grimaced. “And why did you leave your wife and newly born son behind?”
Hervig crunched his eyebrows, “What? It’s because… You urged me to go!”
“But it was still wrong for you to do so. You left me and Reinhard behind because of duty. I worked in the court of pleas because of duty, like you… Not duty to the colony or the Empire. But duty to our family. To our dynasty. To Hanoschaft. I thought it would be good chance to soothe the people’s pain by me giving them the money. I was quite generous too. I pitied them.” ‘And they will pay it back tenfold through good will’ was left unsaid.
Hervig picked up the equipment again and continued towards their house. He stared at her again. “Exploiting people’s grief and turning it into some kind of political power… That’s very devious even for me.”
“It’s just your corrupted mind misinterpreting my good deeds. I genuinely felt sorry for them and I wanted to contribute. I felt quite guilty sitting and vomiting all day in the house. I wanted to do something meaningful. You were out there making this city into a better place. I saw how the streets were just packed dirt, then it was gravelled and now it’s paved with stone. There are now more merchants and traders coming into the city. Warehouses lining up the coasts and I’ve nearly got run over by a carriage! I wanted to do something. I can’t let you do all the work.” She said sincerely. “And to lose someone you hold dear is very heart wrenching. I wanted to do something to comfort them. Something that I wasn’t given when I lost them…”
He suddenly felt guilty. He shouldn’t have thought something ill about his wife. “I-I’m sorry Emma. I shouldn’t have assumed- “
“You were right to assume. And you assumed correct. But please don’t paint me as a villain next time. There are other good, meaningful reasons to inspire someone to act. It’s not all devious plotting at the levels of Marienburg’s Burgomeisters.” She stared at Hervig and laughed. “It seems that the shadow of Marienburg still looms over us despite how far away we are. Perhaps, we should move back?”
They both laughed and continued strolling down the street, as people pulled wheelbarrows around and traders advertising their goods.
Suddenly, two young boys jumped in front of them prompting them to grasp on their wooden sword and dropped anything else. Street urchins? Thieves? This early on! Damn it! I thought I was doing a good job.
Stay where you are! And arms where I can see them!” He pointed the sword towards them which caused them to violently flinch. Clearly, they’re not experienced. Me and Emma lucked out.
They didn’t comply and swiftly swooped down and grabbed the training dummy and the arrow training board and ran off towards the alleys. “They took our training equipment… Erick is going to be furious.”
“Should we go after them?”
“They’re probably on the other side of New Altdorf by now. They must be desperate to steal a dummy made out of straws.” Hervig was confused. They could’ve pickpocketed us and we may or may not notice but jumping in front of us… He struggled to comprehend what just happened. Are they planning to sell those? We could always make a new one.
Emma shrugged and said, “They’re young. Not even men. Fast too. Very fast. They look trained but why steal from us when they are traders going about in carriages carrying more valuable things?”
“They looked like they were panicking when we drew our swords towards them. So, they settled for something mediocre?”
“Don’t ask me. We’re lucky that we weren’t shanked and let this be a lesson to install some sort of professional patrol force around the city.”
“Will you help me on that? I’m a bit busy.”
Emma slyly smiled at her husband and grabbed his arm. “I’ll be glad to. Now let’s go to the bathhouse and wash off our stench!”
That bathhouse was a bit expensive but thankfully we could afford it. The sales of those relics were through the roof! Enough to build a bathhouse and an aqueduct. He looked at his wife again. Looks like she’s pleased. It was worth building this after all.
“Let’s say hi to Reinhard first.”