Chapter 28: Courting Death

It had been almost 2 months since Harold Cruyff made his surprise visit to Hannover and things were going swimmingly for the new Duke. 

His fleet had deterred many pirates from attacking the merchant ships. They had even managed to defeat a few pirates who dared to challenge them crushingly. With the trade routes secure, commerce began to flourish once more in the Luxenberg territory. 

The many villages in the territory were now being improved. Victor sought to give these villages improved roads, local garrisons, and new wells.

The Dukedom was able to slowly begin its return to a prosperous region. People began to sing praises for their new Duke. Victor was able to stop them from declining into poverty. He was able to ensure that families had enough food to feed themselves. 

Everything was going well for Victor. His days were full of tasks to complete. Meetings had to be attended, and approving initiatives or new projects had to be done. After completing all those tasks he had to still check on General Rapp and assess his military. When the sun set he was finally able to enjoy some peace and drift comfortably to sleep.

During the dead of night, 12 individuals had infiltrated the palace grounds. They managed to slit the throats of the palace's gate guards and begin making their way through the palace. The guards were easily dealt with, 2 of them were Victor's elite French Imperial Guard, while the other 8 had been local Luxenberg soldiers who had been loyal to Victor during the coup.

Harold Cruyff's assassins were nearing Victor's bedroom when they came face to face with 2 more of Victor's French Imperial Guard in the main hallway. Stunned to see a group of assailants in the palace the 2 soldiers shot their muskets taking out 2 of the dozen intruders. 

Alerted by the sound of musket fire, Victor and many of the nearby guards rushed to the location of the sound. In the middle of the hallway stood 10 figures with 4 corpses on the ground. 

2 of the corpses were recognised to be some of Victor's elite guards. The intruders were surrounded. 1 side of the hallway had Victor and 4 of his elite guards. The other end had Sergeant Junot, the newly appointed commander of Victor's elite guard and 6 other elites.

Accepting the fact they were surrounded the intruders charged towards both groups. In close quarters a ferocious melee ensued. Everyone used sabres as the song of steel began to play throughout the palace. It was an even contest, neither side was able to gain any ground. 

After minutes of constant exchanges of blows, the first casualty was dealt to the intruders. Sergeant Junot managed to land a successful parry slitting the assailant's throat. With the first death, the momentum shifted. Victor and his group managed to gain ground on the 5 intruders who were beginning to be overwhelmed by the synchronised attacks of him and his elites.

Soon enough the intruders dropped 1 by 1. Only 3 remained and they were fighting shoulder to shoulder as the flurry of attacks from Victor and his men were proving to be too much. Aware of their impending doom, the men put down their sabres when the attacks halted.

They dropped to their knees and let the soldiers subdue them. Victor went to converse with Sergeant Junot to assess the damage and give instructions on what to do with their prisoners. While going to restrain the prisoners one of them slipped a throwing dagger down from his sleeve. With a clear line of sight at Victor, he did not hesitate and in a last-ditch effort, threw the dagger at him while his back was turned.

The guards dealing with the prisoners watched in horror as the dagger flew through the air towards their Duke. In a flash, Sergeant Junot grabbed Victor and flung him to the ground seeing that he was out of the dagger's flight path.

Partially unaware of why he was suddenly thrown to the ground, he saw the assassin with his head lopped off and his soldiers looking horrified. Sergeant Junot had his back to Victor with his hand placed against the wall.

"Sergeant Junot your quick reflexes saved my life. I am eternally grateful my friend," Victor said in an appreciative tone. To Victor's surprise Sergeant Junot did not reply, nor did he turn to face Victor. In confusion, he turned to his soldiers who still looked mortified. 

Turning back to look at his trusted officer, Victor spoke again worriedly, "Sergeant Junot?" This time his lifesaver turned around with a bloody smile on his face. Victor's blood ran cold, the dagger that was seconds away from taking his life was lodged in Sergant Junot's throat.

Losing his strength the sergeant dropped to his knees. Instinctively Victor rushed to his side and laid his head on his lap. Grabbing his hand Victor could only soothe the passing of his friend. Within a few minutes, the light from the sergeant's eyes faded. His pulse was nonexistent and slowly the grip on Victor's hand loosened. 

Tears began to stream out of Victor's eyes. All he could think about was how much he cherished and appreciated the sergeant. From establishing his military outpost to fighting alongside together and eventually taking over the territory together, Sergeant Junot was a forever loyal soldier and friend. To lose him was not only leaving a gap in the chain of command but leaving a gap in Victor's heart.

Grief and anger began to take over and in a fit of rage, Victor grabbed his sabre and sliced the throats of the remaining 2 assassins. The soldiers exchanged worried and grim looks. They had never seen Victor show such animosity, it made them feel a tad uncomfortable to see him so out of character.

The night had ended with the death toll at 21. 8 Luxenberg soldiers were dead at the gate and entrance of the palace. Another 8 Luxenberg soldiers and 4 French Imperial Guard soldiers were killed inside the palace. Finally, there was the tragic death of Sergeant Junot. 

As soon as the sun rose preparations for a funeral for all the fallen were put into motion. Victor also sent word for his grandfather to come to his territory and talk about important business. 

3 and a bit weeks quickly passed. After the funeral Victor became reclusive, he began to do his work in a similar way that Vipon did. Many people like General Rapp, Captain Nowak, Florence and Sebastian tried to comfort him but to no avail.

However, some people who could cheer up Victor had arrived in Hannover