Chapter 314: The Pope’s Sword and the Arrogant King

High in the sky, the sun beamed down on the small village of Olecko. Church had just ended, and the people of the town all walked out with satisfied smiles, ready for the next week. "Have you heard? There are bandits around." Like normal, the villagers gossiped about the news they heard weekly.

Usually, it revolved around whose child had gotten ill or a random drunken fight that had happened. It was why so many people were talking about it like it was an infectious disease. News from outside their home was always interesting, and something like bandits, although it scared them, it also made them strangely excited as well.

"They really do this whilst the Empire is around. Suicidal." A younger man said with a shake of his head.

"I bet you it is the Empire. You can’t trust the Ammary’s," An older man said with confidence, getting a few strange looks from the people around, especially the younger villagers. They had all heard the tales of the Empire, but after the invasion, most of the stories they had been told didn’t feel right.

The image that the nobility created at first was terrifying. A dystopian land where a person wasn’t even allowed to think without risking being killed. But after they destroyed the Pirate Lords who wreaked havoc on the Island, sentimanents had changed. Once the invasion began, the people were already demoralised by the raging civil war.

They had expected the Empire to pillage their village for food and supplies, but when nothing like that came about, it increased any goodwill. The older men and woman of the village still spouted how it was one big trick and the church told them not to trust heathens, but most couldn’t help but question why they hated them so much. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Old man, get your head out your ass. My kid ain’t been taken by the Empire yet. You still believe those stories." A younger man said as a fight threatened to break out.

"You don’t understand. The Ammary’s are dangerous." The old man said, but backed down, not wishing to start a fight. The light muttering continued until everyone had returned to their homes to finish their days. It was meant to be a normal day like any other, but a few hours later, the village bells began tolling.

Some ignored it and remained inside, but most left their houses to see what was going on. As they rode into the village, ten men with a carriage pulled their weapons and looked around with arrogant eyes. One came forward and unfolded a scroll to address the crowd.

"In light of the Empire’s arrival, the Free Army of the Livonian State are demanding that the village of Olecko continue their obligations to their lord and hand over a portion of their harvest. Failure to comply will be seen as treason to the noble cause and punished accordingly." The man folded the scroll and looked around.

"Is there anyone who can speak for the village? Come forward." Everyone was silent for a few seconds before a young priest came forward.

"I can speak for the people." The priest knew he wasn’t in charge, but he also knew that they wouldn’t dare harm a clergy member. To do so was to commit suicide.

"Have 20% of the harvest readied and delivered to us. We shall also be collecting tax early." The man said smugly, making everyone mutter lightly to one another. The priest looked around and tried to calm the villagers down but failed.

"This is unjust. We are currently citizens of the Empire. They won’t allow such a thing." The man from before stepped forward and shouted at the ten men. From the way he spoke, it was obvious to everyone that he had already abandoned his identity as someone from the Commonwealth. But no one reprimanded him. Using the Empire’s name was a good threat.

The man froze but smiled and looked around. "We do this because of the Empire. With their arrival, food has become scarce, and we can’t afford to pay Livonian soldiers anymore. Blame them, not us."

The man frowned as the priest took a deep breath. "We will have the harvest, but we don’t have the tax ready."

"Tax and harvest." The man insisted on making everyone angry. It was a robbery and they all remembered the rumours about the bandits. The neighbouring villages that failed to comply had seen a few people killed. No one wanted that and quickly left to gather what little they had. The priest didn’t know what to do but didn’t stop them. He didn’t want bloodshed in his home.

An hour passed as the carriage slowly was filled. The air was heavy, and everyone gave what they could to appease the men, but all of them were deeply angry. From the distance, they heard more armoured footsteps, and their hearts sank. It was already a terrible situation.

"What is happening here?" A few men wearing the Ammary uniform walked in with cold eyes and looked around. Seeing the carrige full of food and good, they caught on quickly, seeing the general’s plan working.

The ten men frowned but didn’t back down. "We are collecting tax under our lord’s orders. This does not concern you." One of the men approached the soldiers who had arrived and said softly.

"Have you received permission from the General or a representative of the Crown?" The soldier akse damking the men freeze.

"We are under the order of the Li...."

"You have not received an order then." The Ammary man reached for his sword and pulled it as those who followed him did the same. "Banditry is punishable by death or imprisonment. Leave." The cold tone he spoke with was enough to scare the soldiers.

They were conscripted levies, and compared to the Ammary, soldiers were sheep ready for slaughter. Even if they had doubled their men, they knew it would be a losing battle. The ten looked at one another and frowned but nodded and raised their hands.

"Our Lords are not nobles of the Empire. But we will get that permission you want." They didn’t want to die, and whilst they may get punished for their failure, it was better than death.

Watching the men leave, the Ammary soldiers turned to the village, still keeping their cold gazes. "The Empire has heard about these acts of villanry and have come to assist, but the majority of our troops are in the west. We may have been able to stop this now, but they will return when we are gone."

The people all frowned in annoyance, but before anyone could say anything, the soldier raised his hand and carried on. "We understand this is not ideal, and the General has spoken with His Majesty the Emperor. Safe passage to the Commonwealth lands has been negotiated, and you may head there until safety has been brought back to these lands. Passage to the Empire can also be provided, but we understand many of you may not wish to do so. Decide."

The soldier watched and thought about his orders. It was only phase one of the plan. He couldn’t help but pity them. Right now, it would only be theft hidden as tax, but the Livonian soldiers would soon begin raids and plunder the villages. He felt conflicted about the order to let it happen, but it was his job to follow orders.

The General said it was a plan to help win the war; all he could do was trust him. He knew William would never do anything without thinking it through, and he couldn’t risk messing things up.

Small incidents like this took place all around the Commonwealth. The Ammary soldiers stopped some, but most had been allowed to happen. They needed them angry. Angry at their current lords. He didn’t know the grand plan, but he could understand this was what William wanted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Micheal stopped his march as he saw a representative of Snowid lead a small force to intercept him. "Greeting, Templars." The noble spoke full of respect as he bowed towards Micheal. "The King wishes to speak to you about the war situation."

Micheal looked around and nodded. His goal had been to head south and help with the Southern front, but he didn’t have much knowledge about the war so far. Agreeing, he followed and quickly arrived at Snowid’s camp with a few of his men.

Around him, he heard the Commonwealth soldiers whispering as they looked down at him. So spoke with hope at the arrival of reinforcement they thought would never come whilst others were filled with dread. Michael’s arrival told them how bad things had gotten for them.

He pushed the noise out and followed, walking into a large tent where Snowid sat alone looking at a map. Seeing Micheal, he didn’t give the usual courtesy he had experienced his whole life once reaching the position of Grand Templar. But he didn’t care and took his seat.

"You wish to talk?" Micheal said bluntly, pouring himself a glass of water on a side table. Snowid looked at him, smirked, and shook his head.

"You finally came. How long had I been telling you this was going to happen?"

"The church can only inter...."

"Yeah, I know. Once a hostile nation actually moves. I heard all the excuses." SNowid clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Have you called me to berate me? The Church is here to support you now. Don’t let pride get in the way of relief." Micheal spoke with disdain as he mentioned pride.

"The Rightous Sword," Snowid said with slight disdain but shook his head. "You’re right. Judging by how you marched, you’re heading South." Micheal nodded and took a sip of water. "Good. The South has been lost. We have kept them contained on the Island by destroying the bridges, but it is only a matter of time before they cross. From what we know, there forces are in the tens of thousands."

Snowid watched Micheal but saw he was eerily calm. He knew there were only a few thousand tempalrs, and whilst they were skilled, it wasn’t enough. "The Empire can’t be allowed to cross. By any means." Snowid said with hate, and Micheal finally put down his cup.

"Whilst the Holy seat has called for a crusade against the excomminated Blessed One, my war is with him, not the people of the Empire. I will not draw my sword if they can be brought to a stop with words."

Snowid looked at him blankly. His mouth slowly formed into a grin before a booming laugh as he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. "You can’t be serious," Snowid spoke between laughs. "The executioner of the Pope wants to talk to them. Be my guest; the Blood Child isn’t far. Maybe you can talk to his insane wife whilst you’re at it."

Micheal frowned at Snowid’s laughter and stood up. He looked at the King with pity and shook his head. "Everyone believed that man’s first sin was falling for Khors’ temptation, but it wasn’t. Khors was Sol’s beautiful son. Anyone would be tempted by him. Man’s first sin was waging war for him."

"I am a sinner and shall never see Sol’s Kingdom. I took an oath knowing that. I may be the Sword of the Church, but I am not a merciless killer. I will commit any sin for man’s salvation, but if they can be stopped without blood, then I will try." Micheal walked over to Snowid and looked down at him. Despite being much older and smaller than him, the strength behind him was like a towering mountain. yet his eyes were perfectly calm, like a gentle river.

"You are a sinner. And if it wasn’t for His Holiness’s orders, I would put you down like the prideful, arrogant human you are. Do not lecture me on how I conduct your war. You may wish for their extermination, but I want salvation for them. If you will excuse me, I will now save your pathetic throne."

Micheal turned his back on Snwoid, ignoring him, and left the camp. The Tempalr with him all were stunned by how he looked. Despite the calmness on his face, they could see he was angry. Saying a prayer under his breath, Micheal walked out of the camp, ignoring everyone once again.