13 Nancy The Tavern Wench

"Lord, what are you going to do with those ransacked carts?" (Ensign Olszewski)

"We will hide the powder and muskets in the forest, and we will send the pikes and food to Wolmar, we will also warn them about the movements and actions of the Swedes, I will also send a messenger to Mitawa." (MC)

"And what do we do after that? We're going to Riga, or maybe Lord have other plans?" (Ensign Olszewski)

"For now... We will pick mushrooms ..." (MC)

"I don't understand, what are we going to do?" (Ensign Olszewski)

"Send people to the forest and have them pick up all the poisonous mushrooms and wolfberries." (MC)

I saw that Olszewski still had questions, but I did not want to explain it to him now ... A few hours later, the wagon and the messenger were sent, and my soldiers returned from mushroom picking.

"We rest until morning, and tomorrow thirty of you will change into Swedish uniforms, wrap your mouths with rags or smear them with blood so that we will not be recognized, especially those who do not know German or Swedish." (MC)

The night passed quietly, and in the morning the preparations for the masquerade began ... I, together with thirty soldiers, changed into Swedish uniforms, disguised ourselves, got on the cart and headed towards Pärnu.

"Remember not to talk much, moan a lot in pain and pretend to be suffering." (MC)

A few hours later we got to the city, driving through the gate was not a problem, only when we passed the gate we were surrounded by a dozen or so Swedish soldiers.

"My name is Adam Ludwig Lewenhaupt, yesterday we were attacked by soldiers of a Polish nobleman named Jazłowiecki, out of 80 people, thirty-one survived, but only because we escaped into the forest and the cavalry could not pursue us... water..." (MC)

One of the guards gave me a water bag, I drank from it greedily, the water ran down my chin.

"Thank you ... we waited the night out in the forest, and then returned to the place where we were attacked. There was one cart left, and the bodies of our companions were hanged on the trees." (MC)

I have chosen to take the name of one of the Great Northern War commanders who will be born in about 30 years. The Swedish army in Livonia numbered 19,000 soldiers, the chances that my identity would be discovered were not large, additionally, many foreigners served the in Swedish army, so my lack of knowledge of language did not arouse suspicions.

The guards listened to my words and wanted to send us to a doctor, but I explained that our wounds were already treated and all we needed were new uniforms and two days of rest... They told us to go to the garrison and report to the officer who managed everything ... when we left a bit, I whispered to my people.

"Everyone listen to me carefully. We need to quickly find a tavern or an inn and hide the cart in the stable because it is too conspicuous ..." (MC)

"And then what? Will we attack the garrison from the inside or set fire to their warehouses?" (Ensign Olszewski)

"We will organize a great feast in honor of Gustaw Adolf and the Swedes ... we will force two or three innkeepers to announce that beer, wine, meads and food for all Swedish soldiers are free today ... we have two barrels of poisonous mushrooms and wolfberries. .. somebody has to eat them." (MC)

"How are we going to force these innkeepers?" (Ensign Olszewski)

"Usually, a blade applied to the throat of a child or a wife works wonders ... we divide into three groups and go to work." (MC)

It was not an honorable solution, but if I am to choose between honor and efficiency, I will choose the latter. As General Patton once said ...

"There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."... And it was in this spirit that I intended to fight.

A few minutes later we found two taverns near the port, first we checked if there was any stables nearby, but there was only a warehouse, for lack of a better solution, we decided to hide the cart in it. As the two taverns were close to each other, I gave up on looking for a third and we split into only two groups.

I and my group went to the first tavern, there were only eight people in the center, although it could accommodate up to forty. Every free space was filled with rows of benches and tables ... there was too much of everything., even lots of candles and a fireplace didn't help, this place was claustrophobic.

"Quickly catch all the guests and all the other people who are here." (MC)

There were fifteen of us in Swedish uniform, and only eight clients. They were quickly arrested, then the same happened to the owner of this inn.

"Kill the customers and change into their clothes, hide the bodies in the basement ... and bring me the owner and service." (MC)

A moment later there was a man in front of me, about 50 years old, with gray hair and beard, he was not fat but he was slightly overweight.

"Do you speak Polish, German or Turkish?" (MC)

"Only in Polish and German ... why are you attacking my inn ?! I am a faithful subject of our King Gustaw Adolf. I will notify the people in the garrison, they will arrest you ..." (Innkeeper)

"Shut up and only answer to the questions, because we'll burn you down that barn you call the inn ... who are the women next to you?" (MC)

"This is my wife, daughter and servant." (Innkeeper)

"It's good, very good ... now you will listen to me and do what I tell you." (MC)