The following is a short story depicting a crucial event in the life of Einhardt:LANCE’S DEAL
Einhardt mutters to himself. “I hate religion.”
He shakes his head while staring at the ground in regret.
“I really, really do.”
The Year is 1667, and barely a year has passed since the conclusion of the War of the Cross. The thirty year war was costly, leaving a bloody and broken Eisen in its wake. The war ended without a clear victor, with nearly a third of the population having died in vain.
Einhardt sits down on one of the old battlefields where he can still hear the screams and shouts of the dead. His mind continuously tormented by the senseless slaughter, screaming souls, and the torture of yesteryear.
“At least what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger., ” He sighs.
What doesn’t kill a person makes him stronger indeed. If this horrible war can be considered a learning experience at all, it has taught the Eisens much about tolerance. The thirty years of bloodshed have turned many Theans from proselytizing, and even faithful Vaticines have adopted a more tolerant stance toward Objectionists.
“But the war is far from over.- Very far from over.”
The war that the rogue speaks of is of a new sort. As he lies his head back on a flat rock face, some of the most radical members of both religious groups have already began preparations for a new battlefront from behind the scenes. It is a much smaller war, but the rogue intends on keeping it that way. It is also a great way to pay the bills.
Einhardt reflects on the night before, as he closes his eyes to remember what Lance had revealed to him.
“100 Guilders a month.”
100 Guilders per month to interfere in the plans of religious fanatics? The words sent a chill of ecstacy down the rogue’s back.
Einhardt reflects further back, a week ago, when a friendly guildsman tipped him off to where this Objectionist noble lives. According to this source, a radical group of Objectionists were planning on something real big. Einhardt, naturally, lives for this sort of excitement. The one thing that has kept him alive during the war, the only thought that keeps him going everyday, is the thrill of putting down yet another religious freak. After all the lives that were lost during the War of the Cross, the least he can do is ruin the plans of anybody that may be looking to do it again.
As Einhardt steps out the door, with feather cap on, pouch, and rapier at a second’s notice, the only thoughts in his mind are to study this new threat, apply violence if necessary, and maybe, just maybe, grab a few souvenirs for good measure…
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The rogue stands before a metallic fence that towers before him. The estate is so enormous that the distance to the front door makes the mansion look like a dollhouse.
Einhardt pauses to study his surroundings as he looks for any security. Suddenly, he raises an eyebrow as a couple of dark figures suddenly appear from the darkness
“Aha! This is the nightshift Now let me tippy-toe all quiet like and jump right when they turn their back” Einhardt whispers.
With their backs turned, the rogue leaps up and over the other side of the enormous fence. He lands on his feet as quietly as a mouse.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Using the shadows cast by the various shrubs, gargoyles, and fountains, Einhardt effortlessly and swiftly slides his way into the heart of the estate before making a quick stop.
“Boy, was that ever close,” Einhardt stops himself as he stands over a trap. With rope in hand, Einhardt spots the overhead balcony and aims for the railing. The rope neatly knots itself around its destination as the rogue swings to the ceiling in one fell motion.
At that moment, one of the guards, having heard a noise, spins his head around and heads back towards Einhardt’s direction. As the footsteps near, Einhardt climbs around and hangs on to the ceiling waiting to put the drop on this guy.
“I thought I heard something.” Mutters the guard as he tosses his head to the left and then to the right. Satisfied he begins to make his way back when a great weight falls on top of him as he plummets face-first to the ground.
He didn’t even get to scream.
“That should put him to sleep temporarily. Now where was I? Oh yeah, the balcony.”
Lance was snoring in his bedroom when he awoke to a large crash.
“Wa? What? What was that? Lance blabbers.
The noble hastily puts on his robe and grabs his musket.
Einhardt stuffs his pouch filled with objects worth many Guilders but he still hasn’t found what he was really looking for – Information on any Objectionist plans and how to stop them. Just then, he hears footsteps draw near the living room, where he is located. The rogue pulls out his rapier, adopts his favorite stance, and waits by the door. As the person walks in, Einhardt drive the rapier in that direction..CLASH!!
The rapier contacts metal instead as the estate’s butler - carrying a tray filled with silverware- falls over, dropping the utensils everywhere.
“Guards!”
“Ooops..Time to get out of here.” As he knocks the butler out.
Lance approaches the front exit as the loud clashes of metal get louder and louder. And then, the sounds begin to fade gradually.
*Thump*
*Thump*
*Clash*
*Thump*
The sounds of battle disappear completely.
Standing before Lance is a lone man with a feather-tapped cap in standard Eisen peasant attire standing over a pile of fallen guards.
“Does somebody need to take out the trash?” Quips Einhardt.
Lance gives out a confident grin as he pulls out the musket from behind him.
“So who are you?” Inquires Lance.
“It depends. Who are you?”
“Who gives you the right, peasant to be asking ME questions? But very well. I am Lance, a nobleman, and I believe you are trespassing in my estate peasant and..”
Einhardt interrupts. “Are you an Objectionist?”
Lance looks surprised at the question and hesitates.. “Well, yes.”
“Then I am your worst nightmare.”Einhardt lowers his head, squints his eye, purses his lips, and rests his hand impatiently on his blade.
After having witnessed how quickly this peasant had dispatched some of his best guards, with a pull of a trigger he could easily end this dangerous threat right here and now, but Lance thought better of it. After all, the influential noble could use someone of his obvious abilities.
“Enough of this!” Einhardt demands boldly. “Wasn’t the war enough? Just what are you Objectionists up to now?”
“My my. Aren’t you just a bit paranoid. You are in no position to make demands.” As he readies his musket into position.
Lance sighs. “Look, my friend, I am not sure how you find out about me or why exactly you are here..”
“You know why I am here..” Einhardt snips coldly. “I came here to end whatever conspiracy you Objectionists are up to.” Lance looks on intrigued. “I am not going to let you nor the Vaticines destroy Eisen. No! I’d rather die first..”
“I am sure we can arrange that,” The nobleman smiles.. “However, that is not my intention, believe me.”
The rogue pauses waiting for Lance to continue..
”You see, my friend,” as Lance stares at the disheveled attire worn by the rogue, “Let me assure you that there is no underground Objectionist plot. “
Einhardt looks on in disbelief.
“No realty. The war has left both us and the Vaticines lacking the infrastructure necessary to coordinate something as big as another between us.” Einhardt affirms.
“What goes on nowadays is petty squabbling and bickering of large egos. The days of massive bloodshed are gone.”
Einhardt still looks on in disbelief.
“However, let me tell you one thing.” As the nobleman stares as the rogue’s dirty clothes. “I need to make sure that it STAYS that way. “ Lance pauses, “Let me tell you what. You scratch my back and I scratch yours.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will hire you to infiltrate the living areas of my political rivals, and even , some of my Vaticine ones. “ As Lance forces a grin. “My sources explain to me that a, Sir Rowland, a Vaticine rival of mine, may be trying to build up for the future. I need you to check what that means. The pay will be good of course.”
Einhardt knows of Rowland, the outspoken critic of Objectionism. He doesn’t exactly believe Lance, but while he is friendly and willing to pay him then he might just go along with it for now. Besides, this would be another opportunity to see just what the Vaticines are planning, if anything. After all, it’s an excuse to put the hurt on either the Vaticines, Objectivists or both. And if it presents itself another opportunity to cripple or humiliate them in some way or fashion, and pays the bills in the process, then all the better. That is what this rogue lives for, otherwise, it is back to sabotaging Mass services again.
‘How much are you paying me Lance?”
“100 Guilders now, then 10 Guilders a month.”
“Sounds good. Very well, I accept.”
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Einhardt leaves the estate safely, willing to play Lance’s game.. for now. Ideally, what he really wants is to stop some bad guys.. He won’t complain however. At least it pays the bills and he can always double-cross him later with Rowland or whoever else that may turn up a better deal.
Sounds a bit like the attitude of the close buddy that betrayed him?
As for now, Lance is Einhardt’s buddy and patron. Let’s see how long that lasts.
