Now that even the Poles themselves protected Hedwig, the Cardinal felt okay retreating to Prague where Wenzel’s people would take care of him until he could return to Hungary. He promised he would marry Sigismund to Maria if they are successful. Now the Luxembourg party decided to leave Krakow and head back to Buda, just the 21 of them on horseback. And then the Garai boys joined them, deciding to rescue Maria for their own conscience. “23 of us and like 10 of them? Yeah we got this.”
“No they have thousands!” Pippo corrected but Sigismund just smiled.
So when they left, Frankopan was crossing the Austrian-Hungarian border, on the River Danube. But his retinue only included 5 of his personal knights. And the Horvat party sat still in Zagreb as chaos brewed in Pest. Now, if you remember, Carlo Durazzo never even met his court nor did he appoint anyone new, the same as Elizabeta. With the two of them suddenly disappearing for a few days, the Danubian nobles of Hungary were getting quite suspicious. And the current court members did not know what to do. Emeric Bebek, who became Judge Royal and then allowed Palizna to have Croatia, was technically leader. Janos Banffy, who had no current control over Slavonia, was with him hiding in fear. Miklos Telegdi, worried about the lack of communication with foreign nations, as if they weren’t receiving birds. Those three were hiding in the royal castle until Miklos Zambo, the ex Treasurer, returned and brought them into Pest with telekinesis. The nobles gathered in the town square, furious and armed.
Zambo landed on a rooftop as the other three stayed on the ground on all fours. “Where are the rulers?? Where have you last seen them?”
Banffy shouted, “in the castle! Days ago, the same as you with the Durazzo’s crowning. But we didn’t do anything with them. Everyone’s disappeared.”
Bebek raised his head and pointed at Zambo, “why are you even suspecting us of any villany? You’re the one who would have reason to commit revenge on the Queen!”
“Yes, well only if she brought in the Orleanese Prince. Durazzo’s a whole nother issue but it seems there are rumors!”
…
…
…
Telegdi looked at the other two and asked, “is he going to elaborate or just hold us in suspense?”
Zambo then raised a finger, “fellow nobles. What would you say if Durazzo was truly murdered??”
There was much grumbling for a few minutes but then they agreed to say “good riddance!”
Then Zambo said, “well then I see a path for Sigismund to become our king, which I truly agree to. He would marry Maria but only if we can find her. You must tell us where they are, Bebek.”
“What am I supposed to do that you can’t? You can hire a seer the same as me, or perhaps some houndsmen to sniff them out. I myself need to see either Durazzo or Elizabeta to decide several legal cases. We are not opponents here.”
“Where is even the Cardinal?” asked a noble.
“Contemplating with God last he said. But that was last year.”
“And the ladies aren’t in any of their chambers?” asked another. Bebek shook his head.
“Don’t get distracted folks,” Zambo said. He came down to the street. “We must find help from Luxembourg. I have a theory. Last year I saw a glimpse of a battle between Losonci and Palizna.” The people gasped. “A nearly lethal duel if the Voivode was not merciful. I think it’s obvious that some Croatians have been planning a kind of coup, not using raw legitimacy to put Durazzo on the throne.”
“Do you mean to divide the people, Zambo?” asked Bebek. “Between Croat and Magyar?”
“Perhaps not every Croat. But When Sigismund comes, he will find that they are the most disloyal province and must be purged. He may do this regardless of our support of him but I say we should support him! He will be a good king to us.”
Then another noble said, “well he was always a mischievous little kid but if he is king and not Maria then all is well.”
A fourth said, “I was always for Sigismund but the clamor at last year’s Diet did frighten me. This is a man who King Lajos trusted and I have no qualms against King Lajos.”
The first random noble revealed, “I have even heard a rumor that he doesn’t like Brandenburg that much so maybe he will be a Hungarian king first and foremost.”
Then Zambo said, “but the heart of the matter is that even last year, the Treasury was not big and Sigismund is not rich at all. So, with my mathematic skill I have come to a great reasoning. We make Sigismund king and he sells titles to us! Who would like this? Who would like some land??”
At first the people dropped their jaws at this proposition and just stared in denial. But Zambo kept his greedy smile flashy enough for them to accept this.
When they had crossed the border, Szecsi sent a final bird to Zambo so he could rally an army early for Sigismund. This was what Zambo did with that request. The nobles all agreed to a treaty, in favor of the crown losing much territory; they would find Sigismund the rightful king. When he reached Pest, the surprised margrave signed such a treaty and now he had much more money to work with along with a temporary crown. Well the real crown is as missing as Durazzo was.
At the same time, Frankopan returned to Pest and decided to side with Sigismund, reporting to him how she was kidnapped and he found that bit most disrespectful. “You are the only respectful candidate for king after what Horvat has done.” Next, Maroti the Goldsmith returned from Ireland. He mentioned he also collected other rare ingredients from Britain, Francia, and Germania. But the Sword of Luck was indeed crafted for Sigismund. It was made of pure gold and encrypted with Celtic runes to ask for protection from general spirits. The clovers were softly melted into the gold along with garlic (warding off bad luck) thus granting it’s user increased good luck. As usual with enchantments, iron was also smelted in in order to increase its durability and last forever. With Sigismund’s blood poured on it, it would be bound to his soul so he could call on it from anywhere across the planet. Sigismund thanked Maroti greatly who was just happy to help. He also confirmed a permanent employment for Sigismund.
And then the Losonci brothers returned to Transylvania first to recollect their armies bringing back 12,000 troops. From the Danubian Magyars came another 8,000 including Frankopan’s army. And so King Sigismund led 20,000 troops to Zagreb to rescue the Princess.
“Pippo they made me king but how much territory did I really have to sell?”
“I mean being my previous boss, Master Zambo was correct. Revenue has been low lately. Actually, before the campaign, Zambo raised taxes and seized territories from a bunch of ghettos in the central area. Queen Elizabeta was mad when she found out but I don’t know if he paid back those jews.”
“Aw man, but I don’t wanna be some poor king!”
“Nah, you’re very rich right now sire.”
And so they continued on horseback to Croatia. Upon hearing this, the Horvat party pulled all of their troops back to Zagreb–and so messenger pigeons were safe to leave the country again–and prepared themselves to defend. To them, they would be fighting against 75% of the country. Would Croatia be reminded of it’s place in this empire? “No we will not,” shouted Horvat and his people cheered.
As for Maria and Elizabeta, they would be brought to the region surrounding Zadar where there was a castle on a certain hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Novigrad Castle also known as ‘Forticia’. The area had been conquered by Romans and Ostrogoths until the Croats found it. And then, ironically, a Kurjakovic ancestor built the castle, two stories tall on a stoney hill in the shape of a rhombus on top of another rectangle. The girls were brought into a dungeon down below and then jailed together. They had been stripped of their jewelry and beaten to give up anything in their ex-pocket. The guards made the necessary jokes about their situation and then left chuckling.
The worst human beings of them all. Only people like themselves could like each other, Maria decided. She let go of the bars and–with the bad lighting–could barely see the heavy rust on her hands. She spit in her hands and rubbed them together to clean them. She looked again and they were a bit better. Then she tugged on her dress realizing, it’s not like I’ll ever be clean in here anyways. There was not a thing in the cell. Not a hole for poop nor any bed for sleeping. Maria thought it was at least a little bit insane. She leaned against a wall and slid down to sit on the floor. Her mother was in the dark corner and only now did Maria notice her crying. Maria greatly saddened and wanted to reach out but there would be nothing she could say to possibly cheer her up. If I could free us, then she’d be happy and stop crying. She watched light fizzle from her hands. Any good prison has a ranged hex stopping anyone from using magic. Even a potion or enchantment was useless.
Everyday the guards brought them only two meals. Some barely and water in the morning and then a cold fishy peka at night for dinner. Peka has meat with potatoes and vegetables and would’ve been very good if they didn’t receive the leftovers. Some nights, it was a very small serving as if the guards remembered at the last moment to feed these women. For the first few days, Elizabeta did not speak to Maria except for during meals. Otherwise she cried/prayed in the corner which only caused Maria’s worry over her to grow.
Finally, on day 5, Maria wanted to break the silence, “mom you shouldn’t cry anymore. It’s going to take too much energy out of you and then someone will save us soon anyway.”
The woman shook her head, “no one will know we are being held here and they will kill me soon. I have nothing to not cry about.”
Maria thought for a moment and then said, “but someone has to know. We were fine in the Gomnec Castle and now they moved us much further away. I saw the sea when we got here, we’re at the very edge of the Kingdom. They want to hide us because someone is looking.”
“Very astute and yet who exactly is left to look for us?”
Maria almost instinctively said Sigismund but she bit her lips. She always turns off when I say his name nowadays. The opposite of cheering her up. “The Voivode.”
“But he can be replaced if he rebels. They have that power now. Now be quiet, I must…” and she tended back to her tears.
In the next few days, Maria tried to repeat that they’d be saved but Elizabeta had no heart to hear her out. Finally Elizabeta argued, “there is no one even coming to look for you! I am a lost cost but for a while now no one has even come to save you! Give up. We’re just some slavs, the kingdom will not care.”
Maria was entirely fed up. “Sigismund will save me!” She stood up and clenched her fists. “He said he would and he has not died yet! I know it…and then he will save you too, he doesn’t hate you the way you hate him.”
“He’s some useless man…”
“But you should’ve been satisfied that your daughter could be liked by someone. I’m not full of charm like Hedwig and Uncle Tvrkto’s family thinks I’m too boyish. But Sigismund likes me enough to come back.”
“Shut up…”
“…you shut up! Mother, I’m sorry,” she started to finally tear up, “you’ve been so strong all this time so I thought you were invincible. But maybe a child should see their parents cry, to not be fooled by a hidden weakness.” Elizabeta kept staring at her little girl who finally broke down for the first time in her life.
“You were never so emotional.”
“I had no reason to be, coddled under my invincible father who even died himself. I guess you have no man to save you now so you can feel despair. I have no skill to console you and I never thought I would need to. Actually, I’m so sorry mom.” and she fell back on her knees entering a deeper cry. Elizabeta crawled over and cuddled her on the floor. After a few minutes, Maria asked, “tell me more about dad. Maybe his spirit can save us.”
“Oh yeah? Well you know, he and Emperor Karel didn’t always like each other…”
In Zagreb, there was a wide field in the north that the thousands of Hungarian troops were fighting across. Croat, Bosnian, Magyar, Saxon, and Szkeleys but all Hungarian stabbing each other with pikes, slaying each other with spears. Common tactics and defenses were used as well with everyone knowing the grounds. No edge was found from either side, they were equally matched. But after days of fighting, scouts realized the Horvat commanders seemed to have left the battle. At the same time, Tamasi had used his teleportation to capture one of the minor captains from the Horvat army. Jobst interrogated the man on the actual location of Maria and Elizabeta. “I have an inkling it wouldn’t be here but anywhere else in Croatia.” And the man swore it on his life (and a small land grant) that they were being kept hostage in Fortica.
Sigismund came back to Jobst later, “Tamasi told me I have to give this random dude some land!?”
“Correct. Did you hear the rest of the message?”
“Who gave you permission to give up my land?” He started crying hysterically.
“Did you want to lose the little money you have now? Now the rest of the message, you are to take an elite team with you to Novigrad, the ‘New Castle’. Rescue the royalty and then we can leave for now. We’ll hold a Diet condemning these Croats as rebels to be obliterated and then you will have the entire country to kill them with. Seizing land from the Horvat estates will also cover some of your recent title sales and Maria could maybe inherit Kotromanic territory from her uncle.”
“I want to obliterate Horvat right now!”
“But you are not some tyrant. Surely Lajos taught you not to be one. Be careful whatever you do. My brother, the Voivode, and I can stay back to hold these armies here. Use Tamasi to sneak past.”
“Obviously! Thank you cousin.”
So Sigismund collected his elite team although the Palatine and Szecsi decided that they would stay to make it look like Sigismund stayed. “You will be fine though and I can’t be in an extended fight. I would say good luck-”
“But it will turn out fine anyway,” Sigismund said, smiling brightly.
Jan and Wenzel decided to join him as well as dear brothers. Miklos Garai suddenly came to be recruited by Sigismund as he felt like he should’ve done more for her when she was captured. He was accepted. So he went with Baron Kurjakovic, Tamasi the Hermit, Maroti the Goldsmith, Perenyi the Knight Commander, James the Archer, Stibor the Ostoja Knight, the Szecsenyi Brothers, and Besenyo the Mercenary. “Let’s go HUNTING!”
tdwriter 