Revelations in Hradec

A blonde woman and a little boy rode a warhorse, the boy sitting in her arms. She wore thick winter clothes and held the reins.

Behind the warhorse, a few draft horses pulled carts loaded with firewood, grain, and pots and pans.

“Whinny~” The warhorse tossed its mane and snorted, two long plumes of mist shooting from its nostrils.

Anna’s face showed regret. “Svein, Noren, and Frey, our time together has been short. I think I must return to Hradec.”

She looked at her niece. “Noren, I will settle these refugees properly and let them spend the winter safely. Next spring, they will return to Ostrava.”

The blonde girl nodded. “Alright, Aunt. Travel safely, and… give my regards to Uncle Sithis.”

Anna: “Mm.”

The woman called to the little blonde boy in her arms. “Knut, it’s time to say goodbye.”

Knut climbed up his mother’s arm and poked his head out, his voice childish. “Cousin Noren, Cousin Frey, see you next year.”

He waved his small hand.

Noren and Frey waved back. “Mm, see you next year.”

Anna looked down at the silent, bearded man. “Svein, don’t you have anything to say before we leave?”

“Let’s go.” Svein’s face was covered by a thick, bushy black beard, and his voice rumbled like an old ox.

Anna frowned, displeased, and turned away, pouting her full lips.

She viciously whipped the reins.

“Crack!” The air snapped as the whip struck. The warhorse neighed spiritedly, pawed the ground, and shot forward!

“Rumble rumble.”

“Chirp, chirp, chirp…”

The two-wheeled carts and the haggard villagers began to follow. They would spend the winter in Hradec, then return next year to rebuild their village.

“Stop staring, let’s go!” Frey said callously.

Svein silently walked away.

Noren stood frozen in the snow by the roadside, watching the carts and villagers gradually grow smaller and smaller until they disappeared at the end of the road…

She turned back.

The village was a scene of devastation, charred black.

Noren clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly, her nails digging into her palms. After a long moment, two words slowly escaped her lips.

“Opava… revenge…”

****

Hradec, cloaked in silver snow.

In the office of the mayor’s mansion, Sithis was discussing matters with a few officials.

“Absolutely no Jews are allowed to settle here, and no synagogues!”

“We’re different from other nobles. They need Jews as a bridge for trade with Muslims. We just need to sell our goods to the city-states of Northern Italy and maintain good relations with the local guilds and gangs.”

“Noren’s ‘beer’ is selling better than expected in the southern city-states. I thought those self-proclaimed ‘noble and free’ city dwellers wouldn’t drink even a pint of ale!”

“But ‘beer’ is still for the lower and middle classes. The nobles look down on it, and we can’t raise the price, even though its preservation properties are extraordinary…”

“Miss Noren’s ‘beer’ can stay fresh for a year, far surpassing other ales. Why don’t we sell it to the Italian dioceses?”

“Dioceses? Don’t be ridiculous! I’m just a merchant. The Roman Curia is full of internal conflicts, and the reformist winds are rising. Anything involving the Curia or clergy must be handled with extreme caution.”

“What about the war with Meissen next year? Do we need to participate?”

“Has the Duke issued a summons to us?”

“No, after all, this is a border fortress.”

“Since there’s no summons, why should we join? What’s in it for us?”

“Should we at least supply some military provisions?”

“Isn’t the tax Hradec pays to the Duke enough?” Sithis retorted.

“Knock knock.”

“Ahem, enter.”

The door creaked open, and a guard stood at attention. “Reporting to the mayor, the lady has returned.”

Sithis was surprised. “Anna’s back?!”

He shot up from his chair.

The guard hesitated. “But… it seems the lady brought back some refugees…”

Sithis frowned.

He dismissed the people in the office. Soon, a blonde beauty appeared at the door, holding a little boy.

“I heard you brought back some refugees.”

Anna waved her hand dismissively, handed her cloak to a maid, and ordered a bowl of hot soup.

She added some charcoal to the brazier. “Refugees from Ostrava.”

Sithis patted Knut’s head, about to ask why he was back and not receiving instruction from Svein, but Anna’s next words shocked him.

“Ostrava was attacked by deserters from Jaromir’s army. The village was burnt to the ground.”

“Huh?” Sithis squinted in confusion. “Attacking Norse territory? Isn’t it always the other way around?”

Anna shot her husband a sharp look. “We’re not Vikings.”

“I’m afraid they were after us.” Anna warmed her hands over the charcoal fire. “My brother is about to be knighted as a baron. I don’t know what Jaromir was thinking, but that title alone is enough to provoke envy and covetousness from other nobles.”

Suddenly, Anna paused. After a moment, she looked up, her eyes blazing at her husband. “I heard you sent a shipment of cold-weather supplies to Jaromir’s army?”

Sithis denied it outright. “The attack on Ostrava has nothing to do with me!”

“Then why did you send supplies to Jaromir’s army for free?”

“Uh… I…” Sithis took a breath and stopped.

He scratched his hair in annoyance and confessed. “Alright, fine. I sent supplies to Jaromir because I wanted to test the power of crossbowmen. I dispatched a force of over a hundred men, first lured Jaromir’s troops into chasing us, then ambushed them.”

Now it was Anna’s turn to be surprised.

She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Why else? He got all those furs for free—that’s real silver you know! My coins didn’t come from the wind; I earned them through hard work. Why should I give them to Jaromir? Is he my liege? Besides, even the Holy Roman Emperor—dare you say he collects a thousand pounds of loyalty tax every year? More likely, he has to pay out a thousand or even ten thousand pounds of silver to keep his vassals loyal!”

“So… those people were after me and Knut.” Anna glared at her husband. “Because you killed many of Jaromir’s soldiers, they sent dozens of men disguised as bandits to attack Ostrava!”

Anna jumped up and grabbed her husband’s ear. “Sithis, Sithis! When did you become such a fool! Aren’t you afraid Knut might get hurt in a bandit attack?”

“Let go, let go, let go…” Sithis winced. The shrew had an incredible grip.

Anna put her hands on her hips in anger, two jets of air shooting from her nostrils.

Sithis rubbed his reddened ear. “What do you want?”

“Send troops. Annihilate them all!”

Truly a shrew—speaking without thinking.

“Not easy.” Sithis sat down, holding his son. “Jaromir is still the Duke’s own brother. If word gets out that we attacked his army…”

“Do you hear yourself?” Anna sneered. “You just said you sent troops to ambush them.”

“But my soldiers annihilated all the pursuers. How would Jaromir know it was me?”

“Exactly!” Anna slapped her palm in sudden realization. “How would Jaromir know you attacked his army?”

As the words left her mouth, Sithis was about to nod.

Then Anna continued: “Do you hear the nonsense coming out of your mouth? If he didn’t know it was you, why would deserters attack Ostrava?”

“This was clearly premeditated!”

“Sithis, you’ve been exposed!”