Chapter 22: The end of the war.
I'm in a luxury tent outside of Kursk, which is only a few hundred meters from the previous battle. With tea served by some maids and protected by my household knights lead by Charles and the samurais let by Mushashi, I'm comfortably enjoying the afternoon waiting for the negotiator from house Mathel.
After about 2 hours of waiting, a group of red cloaks riders show up, lead by a man wearing high noble clothes. They approach, the nobleman wants his guards to get inside the tent with him but I've ordered not to let anyone aside from him enter. I don't want to face any hidden assassins. The nobleman manages to get in after being taken all of his weapons. When he sees me, he doesn't bow, which upset me a little. He just says:
- Lord Ivan, I'm Generys Mathel, I'm an uncle and the advisor of the King. I'm here to deliver his gratitude. His majesty agrees to give you the duchy of Meath and 50000 gold coins if you agree for peace and swear loyalty to him. Moreover, you'll give Veronica back to house Aetherwolf and release every noble that you or your army have captured during this war.
Huh? He wants me to swear loyalty to Daveth Mathel? I laugh uncontrollably and stand up. My men straight their bodies and give Generys hostile gazes, which I'm sure are scaring him. I calmly get close to him, look him straight in the eyes, and say:
- Do you hope that I'll swear loyalty to the man who kills my father? And about the terms that you just mention, I disagree with most of them.
- These conditions are what his majesty offers for peace. If you don't accept them, let the war rage on, and sooner or later, you'll have to face the king's justice.
- King's justice? How can he do anything to me?
- We have 8000 loyal soldiers in the capital, Lord Aetherwolf has 5000 here and I have 3000. Continue the war and you'll certainly be defeated. House Crayton will back house Mathel too.
- Don't lie, Generys Mathel. You have only 2000 militiamen, and most of the army in the capital contains levies who haven't seen their homeland in three years, so I doubt they'll be there to defend you. And about Lord Aetherwolf, do you think he'll dare to bare steel to me while his whole family is in my hand and his heir has just sworn fealty to me? And house Crayton will fight me while their lord is in chains?
Generys's face grows ugly after hearing my words. He seems not to approve but I'm sure he can't find anything to argue with me. It has been nearly 1 year since the war starts and they haven't won a single battle. But now peace is better than continuing the war, I need time to stabilize my new territories and vassals. In addition, with the current man force, it'll be hard for me to take down the capital. However, I'm on the superior side in this war after Meath and Summervalley are under my control. Sit on my chair again, I talk to Generys again:
- I will give you a chance, Generys. Here are the conditions that if met, I'll agree to let my men back down.
A knight brings out a paper included terms that I've prepared earlier and hands it to Generys, he reads it carefully, and the more he reads, the more his face darkens. He grins his teeth and speaks:
- Lord Ivar, these terms are unacceptable. Don't be so arrogant after just a few battles.
- I think you misunderstand something, Generys Mathel. I'm not offering, I'm giving you your last chance. If you don't accept, you and your 2000 peasants army will die first, and then we'll march to Metus Gladius. You have three days to consider; after 3 days, if I don't receive any reply, you had better run for your life. Now get out of my camp.
Before he can make any response, my men drag him out of the tent. I hear the roars angrily outside of the tent. Seeing that the messenger of house Mathel is treated inappropriately, Charles gets by my side:
- Milord, isn't it wiser to treat him more probably? Continuing to fight is not good for us too.
- No need, Charles, we are the upper hand now. I'm sure their budget has drained after the two constant war. In 3 days, we'll receive his response. Now, just keep a close eye on their camp, if they run, pursue them immediately.
- Yes, Lord Ivar.
********
Three days later, the treaty of Kursk is signed between house Fortuna and house Mathel. There are total 9 terms that have been agreed upon between the two sides:
1. Both houses will stop any hostile actions toward each other.
2. All soldiers or civilians captured must be released.
3. The regions of Meath and Summervalley will be under house Fortuna's rule.
4. House Pyrell's remain family members and Lord Edmund Crayton will be ransomed for 30000 gold coins.
5. House Fortuna and House Rosewood will become independent and no longer be a part of the Alleinstein Kingdom.
6. Civilians have 6 months to move between House Mathel's and House Fortuna's territory. After 6 months, it depends on the law of the ruling faction's region.
7. House Mathel will pay 50000 gold coins and clear the criminal record of William IV Fortuna and return his corpse to Neverwinter.
8. House Aetherwolf will become house Fortuna's vassal and still hold the lordship of Veronica and Summervalley.
9. Both factions are forbidden from declaring war on each other for 5 years.
10. House Mathel have to make an official apologize for the death of house Fortuna former head, William IV Frotuna.
After the treaty is signed, there are some objections from small houses in both Meath and Summervalley, however, they're crushed immediately by loyalists to house Fortuna. After 2 months, every noble in Meath and Summervalley are summoned to Neverwinter to swear loyalty to their new liege. House Rosewood is the honorable guest invited by Lord Ivar himself as an alliance who has helped him in this war.
House Mathel has been weakening, and the territory of the Alleinstein has been reduced by half, which results in its' collapse not long after. But it is the story of another day, now we'll continue with the story of Ivar Fortuna, and how he manages his newborn kingdom.