Eric (СИ)

" A good desire, but then what shall we do? "You just do not go away. At least the rumor about you says so.

- Sometimes it seems to me that there are more fairy tales about living me than about dead heroes. Although you are right, to the point. I think you understand very well that you do not have a chance in this fight. Eric paused and looked inquiringly at Harald.

- Why such confidence? You have two and a half hundred knights, it's very solid, but we have a hundred. You will have tangible losses. Plus these, "he waved carelessly toward the militia," there are a lot of them, but then how lucky. It is not excluded that you will kill them without much loss. But the total loss you will have is very serious.

- Note that every my warrior has a crossbow. Your hundred will fall from the first volley. After that I'll take care of these buffoons, who can not even get into a heap tightly. Look, look, - the prince waved his hand towards the militia, - they stand as if they are asked to walk through them with a crowd of heavy cavalry.

- Crossbows I somehow did not notice them at once. The Baron's face grew very sad. - It really changes everything. I do not want to deprive my people of life so mediocre.

- Correct conclusion. Now we will discuss the terms of your retreat.

- Are you not enough that we will give you the battlefield without a battle? The Baron was surprised.

Of course. After all, your life is undivided only in my hands and it's up to me to decide whether you will live or die. I think one of the peasants will escape from the battlefield after all, as there are many of them and it will be possible not to follow everyone, but the knights will all fall. Or do you doubt it?

- No, I do not doubt this. - He completely wilted his face. - Well, what do you suggest?

" For the knights, I propose two forms of capitulation, each of them will be free to choose himself. "The first is that they pay me 5 Vienna denarii each and, having sworn by their immortal soul, never again come out against me, even in my thoughts, move away from my eyes. The second option is that they come to my service, taking the oath of loyalty, that is, they become my warriors. As for the militia, they must pay for their impudence. Pay and remember who they are and what their place is. I want to see the decimation of this herd of rams, that is, every tenth of their number will be executed by their own companions. The rest will be free to return home.

"But they went out to defend their house? "

" They came with a weapon against me. "You are warriors, it is your job and duty, it would be strange if people like you were hiding at home in difficult days. And they are peasants who think they know what. Such nonsense should be beaten out of bad heads, so that it was not enviable to repeat. These idiots came here to die ingloriously and throwing their families out of elemental stupidity and greed. Do you seriously believe that this is it, - he again showed in the direction of the militia, - is able to at least something to protect?

" You're right, I did not think about this state of affairs. "Indeed, it was silly to collect them at all. A bloody magistrate, he did not even give them weapons.

" You see, you understand everything yourself. "Try to remember the last successful use of the militia in battles. Eric smiled. - They have already Charlemagne tried not to collect, considering a bad army.

" They are freakish, greedy. "And what about the Thebes themselves? If we retreat, the city will be at your disposal. What are your plans for it?

"If my conditions are met exactly, and the city itself does not resist me, I will take the tribute and leave it, not taking the destruction and not killing the murders. "

" And what will be the tribute? "Do you count on a specific amount of silver?

- It will be rather modest. Specific sums, I do not call, because I do not know in what state the city is and whether it has the cash I need. Why put unrealistic conditions? In total, I want a third of all the cash and valuables, the third part of all the goods, all the iron, except that on your knights, all the books and all the ancient statues, if they can be taken away.

- Solid. Do I have time to consider and agree on your proposal?

Of course. How much time do you need?

"I think until tomorrow morning. "

Ok. So we will proceed. I expect you tomorrow at dawn. I'll be placed in that compound. I liked its massive walls and the fragrance of olives. But, you, I think, you know, I will not give you a second chance. If you try to cheat me, or give a battle, then I will not save anyone's life, either you or the townspeople. Athens is an example of this is a very colorful example, only this time I will not allow the most intelligent people to leave the city. Eric smiled cunningly. "The baron until morning. " Good night to you.

Eric settled on a very extensive farmstead, which served as a small workshop for the production of olive oil. Its two-meter stone walls allowed, if necessary, to conduct an effective defensive battle against a greatly superior enemy. A decent sized sheds - to hide horses for the night. Immediately after occupying the territory, positions were set up and the order of changing the guard was established so as not to miss the attack. But everything turned out. In the morning, with the first rays of the sun, a delegation approached the gates of the courtyard. Overnight Baron was able to contact the city magistrate and discuss the situation with them. Of course, they did not like it, but the offer offered by the prince quite satisfied them, since it was the lesser evil. Not only that, the baron brought a very pleasant news that almost all the knights are ready to swear allegiance to the ruler of the Bosporus. They, in general, were not very satisfied with the service as mercenaries of the Byzantine feudal lords, as they were very stingy to their people. Such employers, as practice shows, at all times did not like. Since the knights were all from poor or very poor houses, and even the younger ones in the family, the equipment was very poor for them. Haubeck was only with Harald, the others wore chainmail of different size and quality. The poorest were in absolutely terrible homemade crafts, which were pieces of old mail, sewn on a quilted aketon. In general, a very motley company value, which, incidentally, was very high, as people possessed very high psychological stability and good fighting qualities. Excellent material for replenishment. The delegation went into the courtyard, where for an hour they discussed the details and ate fresh fried meat for a snack with fresh juicy vegetables and greens, as well as dried fruits for dessert. After the negotiations on the coordination of actions were completed, Eric, accompanied by part of the delegation, left for the field, where everything was ready for the execution of the selected militia group. Near the edge of the forest, the graves were neatly opened by long, neat rows of four lines deep. Near each of them was a company of three people. One was kneeling with his hands tied behind his back, the other holding hands and the back of his head, the third was standing next to a knife in his hand. Eric went ahead and loudly said that before his death, each of those destined to die called his name, so as not to die nameless sheep in the eyes of the noble prince. After that, he moved from one end and, meeting his eyes with the first militiaman, asked: "What is your name as a soldier? " Hearing the answer, he nodded to the executioner next to him and watched him clumsily cut the poor man's throat, as his eyes widen with horror as blood gushes from his throat. And so on, until his life subsides. After that, he nods once more, the executed person is pushed into the grave and begins to dig in, and he goes to the next. Behind this action, all the other troops that Harald showed on this field were lined up along the place of execution. After the execution of the execution over the graves, the priests conducted a service, and the militia, giving up all the weapons that they had, began to disperse to their homes. Even wooden truncheons and those handed over. When it was finally over, accompanied by Harald's retinue and their companies, the prince went to Thebes, where the magistrate prepared the wing of the magistrate's building for his placement. The process of collecting trophies and taking them out took about a week. Almost certainly would have turned out more, but the city's leadership promoted all available ways to speed up the process, since Eric was afraid to the horror. At the end of the designated week, the parallel process of taking vassal oaths from the knights of Harald ended. Of course, the conditions of service, questions of discipline, recovery and extraction were stipulated with them. The knight poor were more than happy to act for the full maintenance of the prince and not to receive a share of the prey in the campaign. The feud was also replaced by maintenance and equipment at the expense of the suzerain. At the end of this procedure, Eric stepped in the direction of Corinth, having under his command about three and a half hundred mounted and armored warriors and four convenient and mobile ballistae on horsepower.