Count Rouvroy!

Claude went with the five members of the Council of Magic to his father's keep via the gate spell, walking out into his own room in order to avoid startling the people of the keep. Olivier smiled his normal goofy smile and said, "Well then, let's go win a war!"

First mage Diggory nodded as did Madeline and Guy. Alicia walked over and took Claude's hand saying, "Let's go and help father, Claude."

Claude swallowed hard and nodded. They all walked quickly out into the main room which as before was being used as a hospital as they walked past one of the wounded he choked out, "Claude, my son!"

Claude stopped dead in his tracks and looked down to see his father lying among the wounded, "Father? Father, are you wounded?"

Count Rouvroy nodded and in a hoarse voice said, "We were hit during the spring planting, I was out with a patrol checking the damage from the last battle when their archers hit us. Son, I'm not going to make it, he coughed up blood and then put his ring in Claude's hand, closing it before letting out his last breath by saying, "You're the Count..."

Claude cried out, "Mage Diggory! Can you save him with your potions?"

First Mage Diggory squatted down and checked his breath and shook his head, "I'm sorry lad, your father has already passed."

Everyone came over and gave Claude a hug as he stood like a block of ice looking down at his father. One of the men defending the keep came over and said, "Count Rouvroy the enemy... Count Rouvroy?"

They all looked at the bedraggled soldier and shook their head, Claude slipped his father's ring on his finger and asked, "Will the Council of Magic please lend me your help in destroying my enemies?"

First Mage Diggory placed a hand on Claude's shoulder and said, "Count Rouvroy, don't worry. El Pais De Lotharios just made the worst decision they have ever made. They have attacked the family of one of our own."

Each of Claude's friends did the same, Alicia gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek and said, "Come, let me show you what I can do. It's what father would have wanted."

The five members of the Council of Magic walked up and stood atop of the rampart near the gate, in front of them was a sea of Lotharios' soldiers coming with ladders, siege towers and a battle ram for the gate. In unison, the five mages called out, "Firestorm!"

Claude couldn't believe his eyes as the sea of soldiers was lit up like a sea of candles. The screams of men and horses sounded ghoulish to everyone at the keep. Any pocket of soldiers left standing were hit with lightning and pillars of fire as the five mages unleashed anger and grief on the unlucky soldiers. Claude turned to his men and called out, "Men of Rouvroy, you followed my father with bravery and loyalty. I know I am young, but I swear to you, I will live up to my father's standard and go beyond." He raised his fist with the ring on his finger and called out, "Rouvroy!"

The entire keep came alive and echoed his chant, "Rouvroy!"

*****

Norris carrying a cane walked calmly through the corridors of the Taillefer mansion in his crisp clean butler's uniform, just behind him the young miss followed carrying an unopened parasol as if she were walking the halls of her own house. Norris knocked on a door and heard the passion of a young lord with his lady inside the room. He turned to his young miss and spoke, "Young miss, it seems they are busy right now."

She sighed and then motioned her hand flippantly for Norris to deal with the door. He bowed and said, "As you wish, young miss." He gave the door a heavy kick and they entered together. The young miss walked quickly up to the bed and pulled a blade out from her closed parasol and sliced at the woman's throat, her head rolled off the bed. Norris did the same with his cane, pulling a blade and slicing the throat of the man who was reaching for his own sword. The young miss sighed and then said, "Norris, I'll need a clean dress and the green tea."

"Of course, young miss. And crumpets?" Norris asked as they calmly walked out of the mansion.

She thought a moment and nodded with a soft smile on her face, "Mm, that sounds lovely." She stopped in her tracks and said, "Norris, make sure you leave the item."

"Of course, young miss." Norris reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a scrap of a Lotharios soldier's uniform and left it on the ground conspicuously.

The bright pink carriage with a team of white horses pulled up in front of the pair. Norris opened the door for his young miss and then helped her inside. The carriage nonchalantly left the estate behind. The Duke and Duchess Taillefer didn't find out about the massacre at their estate for another week. The soldiers who reported it advised the Duke that it was the Lotharios who had been at fault. The Duke had been busy on his front lines near the border dealing with attacks from them for a month. When he found out they killed his son and the princess, he became unhinged. A week later the world would find out that the Council of Magic had taken action against the El Pais De Lotharios capital in retaliation for attacking the family of one of its members.

*****

In capitals all over the Cruentum Stultus continent messages began to spread. The Council of Magic located in Pays Des Abrutis is not to be provoked. A while later shops that sold the line of merchandise from House Montfort began to spread the word that the best and brightest from all over the continent were invited to try out for the Academy of Sword and Magic next fall. Families who had heard of the awesome power wielded by the Council of Magic began to openly drool at the thought of having their heirs learn the skills and bring them home to use for their own power struggle.

Young swordsmen all over the continent began to think about trying out for this Academy as they saw no such opportunity in their own homeland. Most of all, they were intrigued about meeting the best of the best from all over the world. When word reached the ear of the new young Emperor of Wütendes Menschenreich, Wolter von Plettenberg. He crushed the mug in his hand and growled low, "I will attend this, Academy in the Fall. Those pieces of trash from Pays Des Abrutis will pay for what they have done. One way or another."