But the Cardinal heard about the Ambush of Gorjani by Miklos Jr and Janos Garai. They also told him that the two girls were kidnapped. At this point, he decided to escape to Poland with Hedwig as no one was left to possibly protect them in Hungary. Hedwig was not informed by the event.
“There, now I’m finished so you can ask all your-” and they all spoke loudly for quite a minute.
In the middle of that, Pippo complained that, “that was the most long winded way of saying Princess Maria was kidnapped.”
“Yeah, that took all dinner,” said Jan, finishing his food.
“You needed to know the details,” said the Cardinal.
“So there is no government in Buda,” mentioned Szecsi.
“And perhaps we’ll get back to Buda before Ladislao,” pointed out Wenzel.
“We did lose our armies though,” the Voivode commented.
“And all my archers died,” said James sadly.
Sigismund perked up, “hey! Was I still paying them?”
“You never told Venice to stop,” Prokop told him.
“Pippo! How to handle a refund?”
“From an army? Raise another army.”
“It is just 8 warriors, we will fight them ourselves!” shouted Kurjakovic.
“I mean no, they have thousands of their own between them,” muttered the Count.
“WHAT!?”
And the Count shrunk back against the angry man, “Uh”
Wilhelm stood up and said, “well I don’t need to know anything else. What you guys do in Hungary is your problem. But Cardinal Demetrius, a question, are those two boys with her the Garai kids?”
“Yes but I have to wonder why you use ‘boys’ when they are your age?”
“Yeah shut up Wilhelm,” said Sigismund.
“You shut up, ginger.”
As he started to make his way to the door, the Cardinal warned him, “the Garai kids will protect her with their lives if you intend anything. They feel that responsibility necessary.”
“That’s whatever.”
“Huh, I may go beat up Habsburg myself,” said Sigismund, “For Hedwig’s sake. He doesn’t even care.”
“Will you really?” asked Stibor. Then the warrior pointed to the Cardinal, “where are you going now? You completed your mission for King Hedwig.”
The Cardinal said, “well even if they bring in Ladislao, they can’t pronounce anything official for the state. The other nobles in Hungary, Nitra, and Transylvannia along with our Balkan vassals will not listen to anything without the Royal Seal. So I may stay here or in Bohemia for the summertime. But I will still not leave until I see Jogalia come for Hedwig. Only then will I feel she is safe.”
“Then what about you? Go rescue your girlfriend?” Stibor asked Sigismund.
“Obviously! But its true that I don’t want the Poles to pull a Durazzo on us when we go back to Hungary. Let’s wait for Jogalia and then go fucking obliterate the Horvats!”
“YES SIR,” shouted Kurjakovic which caused the Count to jump.
“Margrave,” started Szecsi, “it is no lie that all of us who joined your army at first were simply investing in our own careers. If you easily became King of Hungary after this campaign, then you would give us or allow us to keep high positions in the Kingdom. Besenyo here is a simple mercenary you could make a knight with the king’s power.”
“Simple?”
“The payment was nice and necessary but our employment was based on Great Expectations of you. This still holds true at this fulcrum.”
“Fulcrum?”
“A balancing beam for a trebuchet. One on end, you could just go back to Brandenburg. Who knows if there’s still a living Maria to rescue. On the other is your potential kingship but we all have a high chance of dying.”
“I see. You want some insurance we’ll win. Obviously, you are all guaranteed nepotistic evolutions in your careers. You already followed me to Poland and almost died. I didn’t care if it was selfish anyways, I appreciate anything I gain. And to mirror the selfishness, the Luxembourgs will do this for our own greatness. Our little castle was nothing during the Salian Period and now we’re Big 3, Post Golden Bull. We must keep climbing up, even without your help. So help me anyways to guarantee my kindness as king. And in fact, Szecsi, since you’re the oldest man I know, you get to be my Palatine.”
“Enough said. I am satisfied with being your Palatine,” he said. The highest place in government.
“Obviously I remain!” said Kurjakovic.
“AYE!” agreed Besenyo, James, the Szecsenyi brothers, and Perenyi.
“I don’t see why I would’ve left anyway,” said Pippo.
“Even in Brandenburg, consider me your permanent Doorkeeper,” said Tamasi.
“You’ll live another day keeping me around,” said Alsani.
“What does that mean?” Sigismund asked.
Then Stibor rose, “I will be your personal knight, if you were asking for one.”
“What about us?” Count Losonci asked his brother-
“Sigismund! Even if your luck wasn’t impressive I find myself at ease around you. It is due to your ignorance but you don’t worry about anything!” Sigismund raised his hands in confusion. “So I’ll join your venture to Zagreb if you keep me as Voivode!”
“Sure.”
“Eh, I don’t know about you,” said Baron Csak.
“Csak, if you join me, I will make sure Hungary goes to war from time to time.”
“Now you’re speaking my language.”
“You’ve made quite the group of friends,” Jobst commented.
“100% retention in allies? You’re crazy good,” congratulated Prokop.
“Since you’re so determined, our resources will continue to flow for now, brother,” said Wenzel.
“Really? Yeah I guess we’ll help,” said Jan.
Then the Cardinal said, “and this was what I found when I contemplated with God.”
“Oh cool, some sort of mystical legendary destiny for me?” asked Sigismund.
“No, you will not be remembered, boy. You will not be some powerful champion, you were surely not born a Conqueror, you will never be rich, and you will constantly lose.”
“What the…fuck?” he asked, almost crying.
“But you will forever find yourself surrounded by friends and these alliances will carry you. You will never carry yourself. Remember this. Everyone has a certain strength. Some races are born with unique magic, some families have a lifelong familiar, but rely on your allies and you can overcome your opponents.”
“That’s not cool at ALL!”
Wenzel hit his head and his allies shouted at him, “We are cool!”
tdwriter 