Hanne - Chapter 397 Diplomacy by Other Means

Previously...

Plains, West of Ostaria

Half a day's journey west of Ostaria, Mihal Bey and his army had set up camp in and around an abandoned village. A small stretch of woodland offered some cover from enemy scouts, while their own scouts had moved closer to Ostaria.

After their disastrous military operation in the south, the men's morale had suffered badly. They had lost more than 5,000 men. But now that they had returned to Central Edessa, the familiar surroundings and the knowledge that they were closer to home had helped restore their spirits.

Moreover, food was now plentiful. Nona's refusal to provide them with provisions had angered Mihal Bey, but his command staff had successfully arranged for grain and other supplies to be brought in from neighboring cities.

Such arrangements were usually plagued by mistakes, delays, and missing provisions. Yet this time, everything had gone remarkably smoothly.

With the troops well fed, Mihal Bey found his confidence in his staff returning.

He couldn't help but suspect that putting some distance between himself and the Black Lord had something to do with it. Perhaps the dark magic, or whatever curse had been placed upon him, had finally lost its hold on him.

Perhaps I'll have another victory soon enough.

His first victory at Derenza was proof of his military ability. And Mihal intended to prove himself again by retaking Ostaria.

Another victory would go a long way toward making up for his losses in the south, turning what had been a disastrous campaign into a mere setback.

But for now, he needed to be patient. His army, ten thousand strong, was resting after the long march. The men were eating hot meals and drinking clean water drawn from the creek, a welcome change after their recent hardships.

They would need to regain their strength before springing their trap on the retreating Shogunate column.

Inside one of the village houses, Mihal Bey relaxed in a comfortable padded chair, enjoying crisp biscuits spread with olive paste, candied figs coated in fine white sukkar, and dates stuffed with a coarse mixture of walnuts, pine nuts, and ground long pepper before being simmered in honey. All accompanied by a cup of pale ale.

The governors of the nearby cities certainly knew how to please their future Lord.

His servants had even taken it upon themselves to replace the dried flowers in the earthenware vases with fresh ones picked from a nearby garden, filling the chamber with a pleasant fragrance.

Whoever had owned this house certainly knew how to live comfortably. Mihal flexed his fingers. For the first time in days, he had slept so soundly that he hadn't even noticed his arm going numb beneath him.

He was glad he no longer had to spend his days inside a stinking, dilapidated tent for fear of an airship attack. Moreover, three days earlier, he had received encouraging news from his scouts. They had spotted the black airship going down, apparently struck by Navalnian weapons.

The details remained unclear, as the vast river made it difficult to exchange information. But there was no doubt that the black airship had suffered major damage. His men had seen it limping westward.

Whatever weapon the Navalnians had used, Mihal hoped they would produce plenty more and that the Margravate could acquire some of them.

After their recent defeat against the Black Lord, the Margravate would soon need such weapons.

"Report!" a scout called from downstairs, his voice carrying into Mihal's chamber above.

Buran, who was downstairs with several officers, answered, "What news do you bring?"

"An airship has been spotted!"

Hearing this, Mihal sprang from his chair. His squire hurriedly gathered his weapons and armor as they rushed downstairs, their faces already tense.

Downstairs, the officers were grabbing their belongings and preparing to rush outside. Seeing their reaction, the scout realized the confusion he had caused and quickly raised his voice.

"In Ostaria! The silver airship was spotted landing in Ostaria!"

The officers stopped.

Mihal Bey had already reached the ground floor. "In Ostaria? Not here?"

"Yes, My Bey. In Ostaria," the scout confirmed stiffly, bracing himself for a reprimand.

Almost everyone let out a sigh of relief.

"The silver one, not the black one?" Mihal asked.

"Yes, My Bey," the scout confirmed.

Buran exchanged a glance with Mihal before saying, "I'll go outside and check for myself. They have several airships. If we've spotted one, there might be others."

Another officer quickly added, "It never hurts to be cautious."

Mihal took a seat and turned to the scout. "If the airship flew to Ostaria, it might have passed over us. Do you think they spotted our camp?"

The scout hesitated. "I can't say for certain, My Bey."

Mihal flexed the fingers of his right hand again. The movement felt good and helped him gather his thoughts.

"Tell the army to pack. Have the men ready to march if necessary," Mihal ordered.

His officers immediately straightened. "Yes, My Bey.”

Even though no one had asked, Mihal felt the need to explain his reasoning. "This silver airship. If I remember correctly, it doesn't carry weapons. They might be retreating."

His officers exchanged glances. The opportunity they had been waiting for might finally be at hand.

One officer ventured, "With the Navalnians still attacking, they wouldn't dare withdraw in broad daylight. So, after dark?"

"Most likely,” Mihal said. “But if they're smart, I believe they'll start evacuating their wounded around midday, followed by the rest of the army before sundown. The rear guard will be the last to leave, under cover of darkness, along with the cavalry."

A knight of Derenza stepped forward and said eagerly, "Then we should prepare accordingly. We must not let them escape."

"Retaking Ostaria is our priority," Mihal Bey said firmly. "As for the retreating army, once they're outside the city walls, they'll be at our mercy. You can butcher them as you please."

"Just like before." The knight flashed a confident grin. "These Shogunate soldiers aren't nearly as formidable as people claim. They die just like peasants."

Mihal knew that wasn't true. Even during the ambush of the two thousand Shogunate reinforcements near Derenza, the attackers had suffered heavy losses. Still, he wasn't about to discourage his newly made knights. He would need all their strength and enthusiasm to retake Ostaria.

***

Ostaria

The upper section of one of the four siege towers had burned away, leaving behind charred beams and the blackened remains of its fighting platform. Another tower stood badly damaged, its wooden structure broken and splintered by the stones dropped from the airship.

Amid the destruction, a flag of truce was raised atop Ostaria's gatehouse.

Soon, a wary Navalnian envoy rode toward the city walls. After several exchanges shouted across the walls, a request for a parley was delivered to Artabanus Bey.

Both sides gave their word that the meeting would be conducted honorably. They were to meet three hundred paces from the city gates, accompanied only by their officers, squires, and a small escort from each side. The rest of their troops would remain behind.

Within the hour, Ostaria's city gates were unbarred and opened for the first time in more than a week.

Although they had faced no battering ram, the gates still bore signs of damage. The defenders had kept men working on repairs throughout the siege, just in case.

Captain Farkas, Lord Avery, and the nomad war chief Belgutei rode out through the gates, accompanied by their chosen guards and squires, among them a half-kin.

From the opposite side, Artabanus Bey approached on horseback, accompanied by his officers and guards.

They met beneath an overcast sky, with the clouds offering some relief from the heat.

Several folding canvas chairs had been arranged for the meeting, but there was no table. The ground around them, however, had been cleared of bodies and the wreckage left by the fighting.

As was customary, heralds from both sides made the formal introductions, followed by an exchange of greetings.

Once the introductions were over, Artabanus Bey spoke. "We had hoped to meet much earlier, before so many unnecessary deaths."

Belgutei and Farkas exchanged a glance before turning to Lord Avery, making it clear that they would leave the talking to him.

Taking their cue, Lord Avery answered, "I'm afraid that without those deaths, your terms would have been unacceptable."

Artabanus Bey finally saw for himself the man in charge of Ostaria. Despite the warm weather, the nobleman wore a stylish fur coat, unusually thick and shaggy, with a distinctive pattern of different shades.

A cool breeze stirred around him, a sign of either an experienced mage or a Dwarven artifact.

"Lord of Dawn," Artabanus Bey addressed him, committing the title to memory. "You may name your terms, but think them through carefully. Do not mistake these setbacks for something that would weaken the Empire. Even if you could launch such aerial attacks every day, we would return the next. And Ostaria would still pay the price."

Lord Avery smirked before answering. "Now, now, there's no need to be hasty. We of the Shogunate have already agreed to hand over the city—"

Everyone fell silent, waiting for him to continue.

"On the condition that you swear a solemn oath in the name of your Padishah Emperor that all hostilities between us shall cease. Furthermore, both you and Izzet Bey must guarantee safe passage and protection for my troops and everyone accompanying us, along with our weapons, belongings, horses, pack animals, and carts, as we withdraw south through the territory you have conquered, toward our Lord Shogun's position in Arrabona."

The terms immediately stirred murmurs and heated debate.

Without committing himself to anything, Artabanus Bey asked, "Why do you name Izzet Bey?"

"My Lord Shogun found him honorable," Lord Avery answered candidly.

Artabanus Bey drew a deep breath and beckoned his aide closer. He whispered instructions to send a fast rider to Izzet Bey, asking him to confirm what had happened.

Lord Avery continued, "I'm sure you'll find the situation in the south interesting."

"In fact, I already do, though I suspect there are still details I have yet to learn," Artabanus Bey replied. "However, I'm not sure I can agree to your terms. We want Ostaria, but I doubt letting you leave freely would satisfy my army. My men have shed too much blood for that."

Lord Avery did not reply. Instead, he looked up. The others followed his gaze and saw the silver airship flying swiftly overhead.

Artabanus Bey resisted the urge to comment or ask about the vessel, suspecting it was part of his opponent's strategy. Instead, he asked, "Tell me, Lord. Why would you suddenly trust your men's safety to a mere promise? Haven't you Imperium nobles always considered us Navalnians less honorable than yourselves?"

Lord Avery crossed his arms and kept his gaze on the sky, seemingly in awe of his own airship. Without looking away, he muttered, "She can outrun any horse, you know."

Unwilling to show any admiration for the dreaded airship, Artabanus Bey kept his eyes on Lord Avery, still waiting for an answer.

Lord Avery pretended not to notice and continued, "And she doesn't need to stop to rest or sleep. She can cross forests and mountains without hindrance."

"I'm sure she can do many things, but clearly she cannot evacuate an entire city. Isn't that why you've finally agreed to talk?"

"You're mistaken," Lord Avery replied, finally meeting Artabanus Bey's gaze.

"Please refrain from assuming that my request for a parley is a sign of desperation," he said calmly. "We've simply achieved what we set out to do, and there's no longer any need to continue fighting."

Murmurs of disbelief rose among the Navalnian officers.

"So your Lord's retreat in the south was the goal," Artabanus Bey replied, putting particular emphasis on the word. "I suppose I can understand that, but it doesn't change the situation between us."

"Certainly. That's why I've brought a guarantee," Lord Avery replied. "As I said, the airship is faster than any horse. We've prepared her for a long journey, and now she can travel for days without stopping. At this very moment, she's heading east, toward Navalnia. Not even your fastest riders could reach your homes in time to warn them of what's coming."

Several Navalnian officers rose from their chairs, shouting angrily and demanding to know what he meant.

Undeterred, Lord Avery raised his voice. "Gentlemen, my spies have gathered plenty of information about you. Your manors, your families, your sons, even your mistresses. Aboard the airship are well-trained men whose abilities you witnessed firsthand last year."

"Y-you!" one of the officers shouted.

The others grew increasingly rowdy, but Artabanus Bey's guards kept them in check.

Lord Avery wasn't finished. "Now, shall I take your families hostage? Burn your manors to the ground? Of course, we can only carry so many aboard. So tell me, which should I spare, your sons or your bastards?"

A fight nearly broke out, but the defenders were ready. Sir Farkas and War Chief Belgutei already had their hands on the hilts of their swords.

"This is outright extortion," Artabanus Bey said.

"I see little difference between this and what you've done to us," Lord Avery replied with a thin smile. Then he added calmly, "Accept my terms, and I'll call off the airship."

"Half your officers and men," Artabanus Bey demanded. "I shall accept no less."

Lord Avery turned toward the Navalnian officers. "Do all of you agree? The hatred between our men runs so deep that my crew might take it upon themselves to set every manor they come across ablaze. Your homes might burn tonight."

The Navalnian officers erupted in anger. Several cursed and shouted at Lord Avery, demanding that he withdraw his threat. One stepped forward, only to be held back by a fellow officer. Their escorts grew tense, while the Shogunate men stood their ground.

Artabanus Bey saw the confrontation slipping out of control. He raised his voice. "Enough!"

Once his officers had quieted down, he turned back to Lord Avery. "I believe we need a guarantee of our own. Once we reach an agreement and your withdrawal is complete, you must destroy the airship."

"That's a prized artifact, and it doesn't belong to the Shogunate. You have no authority over it. Besides, there's hardly any need," Lord Avery replied. "Once we've given up Ostaria as our base, your families in Navalnia will be safe from us. That should be guarantee enough."

"And what is to stop you from establishing new bases closer to our territory?" Artabanus countered.

"That's not my concern. That's between you and your ally, the Margrave." Avery scoffed. "Can you really trust that man? He betrayed his own ally who came in his hour of need. What guarantee do you have that he won't betray you as well?"

Artabanus Bey refused to believe that the Margrave would turn against them. Meanwhile, his officers had resumed their angry accusations and insults.

Currently, the Shogunate men remained calm but tense, and there was no telling when one of them might draw his sword. Artabanus was particularly wary of the half-beast standing farther back. Neither had joined the shouting, but he suspected they could spring into action in an instant.

Knowing that further arguments would serve no one's interests, Artabanus called for a private deliberation.

…

Back in his tent, Artabanus Bey knew better than to let the negotiations drag on. He had allowed only an hour for deliberation. The longer they waited, the greater the chance that the hotheaded officers and knights on either side would ruin this opportunity to bring the siege to a quick end.

The truth was, his army had already suffered enough trying to take Ostaria. Meanwhile, he had conquered Sigisha and its surrounding towns, securing enough land and spoils to satisfy both the Emperor Padishah and his men.

And despite his earlier show of confidence, the damage to the siege towers had been substantial. Worse, he had almost no way to counter the new aerial attacks, short of building siege towers with much heavier protection. Such a design had never been attempted before, and the added weight would likely make the towers more prone to tipping over.

With all that in mind, when the two sides met again as the sun began to sink in the west, Artabanus Bey made only a few demands.

No more than one hundred carts and carriages.

No delays. Any groups unable to keep up with the main column would be seized and held for ransom.

And no more than two hundred horses and pack animals combined.

The last condition was intended to prevent the nomads from joining the withdrawal, removing the risk of unexpected nomadic raids into the conquered territory.

Lord Avery negotiated for more carts and pack animals, and after some further discussion, the two sides reached an agreement.

The documents were prepared, but the Navalnians insisted on seeing the airship recalled before they would seal the deal.

The defenders agreed. After nearly two hours of waiting, darkness had fallen when they finally spotted the airship returning, its gemstone light flashing in the night sky.

Both sides gathered again by the light of lanterns and torches to sign and seal the agreement. Their seals were pressed into warm wax, and goblets of wine were shared to mark the end of hostilities.

The following morning, Artabanus Bey ordered his army to march north, allowing the forces in Ostaria to evacuate south with their horses, carts, and carriages under a small escort.

Meanwhile, the nomads, led by Chief Belgutei, having completed their mission, rode west in strength, nearly a thousand riders in all. Only a few dozen accompanied the Black Bandits on their eastward withdrawal.

Chief Belgutei did not reveal his destination, but he would likely take the most unexpected route and raid the Margrave's territory in retaliation for his treachery.

Once the evacuation was complete, Artabanus Bey himself led his army into Ostaria and raised their banners over the city.

At last, the city fell into the Empire's hands.

***

Mihal Bey

The reports brought by the scouts threw the Margrave's army into confusion. They had been ready since the previous night to retake Ostaria, but no one had emerged from the city. Then, that morning, their scouts reported that the city was already in the Empire's hands.

"What do you mean the banners on the walls are now the Empire's?" Buran demanded, his expression a mixture of disbelief and outrage.

"I spoke to the Navalnians on the walls," the scout replied. "They said they'll open the gates once they've finished inspecting the city."

"That must be a ruse!" one officer exclaimed, prompting a heated reaction from the others.

Meanwhile, Mihal Bey's shoulders sagged. His back seemed to lose all strength as he slumped in his chair.

They had been so close. All they needed was to strike from behind as the Shogunate withdrew from the city. But once again, victory had been snatched from their grasp.

Their preparations had been flawless. They had made ready for an assault with ladders, expecting to storm the city once the Shogunate had withdrawn.

Their army numbered ten thousand, including many newly made knights, armigers, and squires. They had earned the name Butchers of Derenza for their victory over two thousand Shogunate reinforcements at the start of the war.

Here, where support for the Margravate was strongest, they had no shortage of eager men looking to prove themselves.

But it had all been for nothing.

Mihal clutched his head in both hands, furious at his failure.

Buran watched him, but even he could find nothing to say. The whole affair had been a fiasco. Now, the Margrave would certainly punish them severely.

Ostaria was supposed to be theirs. The agreement between Mihal's father and the Emperor had made that clear. Now, the Empire had taken the city fair and square, leaving the Margravate in even greater peril.

As his officers continued bickering among themselves, Mihal Bey groaned in frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had been struck by the Black Lord's dark magic for a second time.

Against even his worst predictions, the Margravate now stood at a crossroads.

With the Empire taking Ostaria, their plans for coexistence had been ruined. It was as good as handing over part of Central Edessa to the Empire's mercy.

Seeing how distraught he was, an old knight stepped forward. "My Bey, you must prepare yourself."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Go to Ostaria. Meet their leader, whoever he may be, and congratulate him on his victory. Send them our wine and ale, and take part in their celebrations. We need to make it seem as though we played a part in this, or else we'll become a laughingstock."

Mihal glanced toward Buran, who replied, "I've had worse ideas."

"Offer him our help," the old knight continued. "Joint guard duty, or whatever else they'll accept. Anything that allows us to move some of our troops into the city. Then we can claim we played a part in taking it."

"Yes," Buran blurted out. "And we can say we're hunting down the retreating Shogunate column."

"But we haven't seen any sign of them," Mihal pointed out.

"They must be somewhere. Unless they escaped by boat, but even then, we can still go after them."

Mihal nodded and rose to his feet, his mind made up. "Prepare our horses. We're going to Ostaria."

***

South Edessa

The midday sun was hot, though patches of thin, fish-scale clouds spread across the sky. The season was changing, and even at noon, the summer heat no longer felt quite as harsh.

Despite bordering Lowlandia and sharing some similarities with it, this far south in Edessa, the scenery was noticeably different. The land was greener and more fertile, and the climate more forgiving.

Grass grew in abundance, with broad meadows that provided good grazing and plenty of hay for the winter. Such land was valuable, especially to those who depended on horses and livestock.

Within just a few days' travel, the landscape had changed from open, dry steppe to lush grasslands and fertile valleys, where fields and woodlands stretched between the settlements.

Unlike the Great Steppes of Lowlandia, where only a few places such as Korelia and Korimor could truly thrive, many cities in this part of Edessa prospered. Reasonably fertile soil, abundant vegetation, fresh water flowing down from the mountains, and a milder climate all contributed to the region's lush, green landscape.

Lansius could feel the difference himself. There was more moisture in the air than in Lowlandia, even under the midday sun.

This likely explained why woodlands were still common throughout the region, though they were nowhere near as dense as those in Midlandia.

Even the nights were colder.

Far to the east, the jagged mountains separating Edessa from Navalnia rose in the distance, standing like sentinels along the horizon.

Today, Lansius and his army finally caught sight of the walls of Arrabona. The city was not as large as Tergeste, but its walls were reasonably high and well maintained, with plenty of tall towers along their length.

Much to the delight of the Bone Breakers, the city gates stood open to welcome them.

Sir Harold's tercio was waiting outside the walls, along with a large crowd of Arrabona's townspeople. To Lansius' surprise, they seemed genuinely unafraid of him or his army.

Riding calmly with his men on either side, Lansius couldn't help but furrow his brow at the sight of people waving along the way. He returned their greetings now and then, especially to the groups of children who grew excited whenever he waved at them.

Noticing his puzzled expression, Ocelot commented lightly, "They seem to like you, My Lord."

Lansius stifled a smile. Being welcomed like this was more a cause for concern than pleasure. He was in hostile territory, after all, and couldn't recall doing anything for these people that might warrant such a reception.

If there was any reassurance, it was that the Orang Skalds had reported much the same. According to them, the Shogunate's intervention in the war the previous year had made him popular among the locals. Even so, Lansius remained skeptical.

Turning to Ocelot, he said, "It's not like they had any other choice."

Ocelot did not argue. She knew better than to assume she could understand the entire situation through her nose and eyes alone. Humans lived in communities numbering tens of thousands, unlike the half-kin. Their ways were not always easy for her to understand.

Yet even Lansius couldn’t doubt what he saw with his own eyes.

The townspeople were indeed cheering for him. Many had even brought their sons and daughters to watch his arrival.

Normally, people would hardly bring their infants out to welcome an enemy. And if the welcome had been staged, it would have been easy to tell.

Amid the cheering crowds lining both sides of the road, Lansius spotted another group of children and waved to them. Their carefree excitement amused him.

Sir Sterling, who had insisted on riding despite his thigh injury still healing, drew closer and said, "My Lord, Arrabona's walls look sturdy, and the city stands on open ground with a river nearby."

"Indeed," Lansius replied. "It would be lovely to spend some time here. I've already seen a few things I'd like to learn more about."

The region's abundant grasslands supported large flocks of sheep, while its rivers provided plenty of water for washing, dyeing, and fulling woolen cloth. Lansius was particularly interested in learning whether the local craftsmen had developed better dyeing techniques.

Even Midlandian merchants bought woolen cloth and linen from this region, as the quality was higher and the prices competitive.

He had also seen water-powered fulling mills, which helped explain the lower production costs. The locals were already making good use of water power.

Moreover, the region was rich in orchards that produced exceptionally sweet fruits. Cider, dried fruits, and other preserved products benefited from their quality. He could already imagine spending a harvest season here with his family, letting Gilly and the newborn enjoy the freshest fruits the orchards had to offer.

"Alas," Lansius continued, "I'm pressed for time."

"Time?" Sir Sterling asked.

Not wishing to reveal his plans while riding in the open, Lansius simply said, "I'm expected elsewhere. Our campaign doesn't end here."

"You're going somewhere else?" Sterling asked, almost in a whisper. "But the troops are tired, and we're not entirely clear of the Empire's pursuit."

Lansius let out a chuckle. "The Empire is surely vast enough to send three armies against Edessa."

"Yes, it was staggering. They must be a rich and populous Empire."

"They must be. But you're forgetting something," Lansius said.

Without hesitation, Sir Sterling asked, "Please tell me, My Lord."

Lansius waved to a toddler sitting on his father's shoulders before turning back to Sterling. "The Navalnian Empire. They're not the only empire in these lands."

***

PS: I hope the chapter is to your satisfaction, sir!

The Ostaria arc is finally complete. Do you like how Avery conduct his art of diplomacy?

The Margrave is going to be furious about losing the south and Ostaria too.

So, Lansius doesn't have his eyes on Arrabona. I wonder where he'll go next, and what he really meant by those last words.

Historical Bonus!

The stuffed dates enjoyed by Mihal Bey are known as dulcia domestica (household sweets). It's a Roman-era recipe recorded in De re coquinaria, a cookbook traditionally attributed to Apicius.

The finished dish might not look particularly appetizing to everyone, but here are the ingredients.

Source and more info: https://www.tastesfromtheroad.com/post/dulcia-domestica-a-sweet-treat-from-the-roman-empire

or

https://eatshistory.com/roman-stuffed-dates-the-sweet-snack-of-gladiatorial-games/

As always, gratitude for supporting Horizon of War!