Issir forces under Lord Anker Est Ravn
Near & around Balworth River (Red Bridge)
Late spring 195 NC
Also other important figures
Archduke Anker Est Ravn (Kaltha’s High Regent. Anker carried Allqwacar ‘Alqua-Car’, an Imperial Zilan sword. The words mean ‘Swan’s Head’ for the creature sculpted on its pommel. Most historians agree Lord Anker fought the Khan’s forces longer than anyone else and those that differ had him right after Robert Van Durren. Nonetheless Lord Anker did keep the Issirs from collapsing without a doubt and rode out the devastating defeats with an iron fist, despite huge family losses and tragedies. He was blamed -probably erroneously- by his many enemies for High King Antoon’s early catastrophic blunders and Uher’s Church violent actions.
Lord Anker abhorred the idea of Elsanne Eikenaar taking the throne, as he considered the former princess ‘a shortsighted woman without any red lines who cavorts wit pirates in her spare time’, ‘has elastic morals, is probably seeped in Eplas’ hedonism’ and ‘is known to be very emotional’. While the younger Elsanne the Archduke remembered was probably closer to this description, the Rebel Queen –despite some notable heavy blunders- proved to be a savvy –some say lucky- opponent for him and most other male rulers of the time.)
Sir Thor Est Ravn (commander of Midlanor’s Heavy Cavalry. A great knight overshadowed by his more famous and more pious –also dead- brothers. Rumored to have several offspring both in Eplas and at least one in Jelin –one Justen Est Ravn.)
Brother Sebastian ‘Oats’ (Thor’s squire at the start of the Red Bridge offensive, also a disciple in the Order of Golden Spears. Unknown origins, most likely one of the Issir Capital’s bastards. Seb was a very astute learner, despite starting illiterate and very good with ancient languages. Grew close to both the Midlanor’s nobility –as Sir Thor’s squire after 194 NC- and the Church’s byzantine hierarchy through Priest Brukel and Sande De Hove. Former squire for late Sir Luppe.)
Todd Smit (Sir Thor’s squire and valet)
Sir Pier-Jan Frances (A knight from Greywood Castle)
Nelis Cobb. (Pier-Jan’s squire)
Sir David Isak (A knight from Edge Castle. 2nd Cousin to Lord Emanuel Isak.)
Mert ‘Greywood’. (A bastard squire)
Lady Clara Est Ravn (Lord Anker’s daughter. The ‘Black Lily of the Forests’)
Lady Juliet Grote (Sir Mark’s widow.)
Wilhelm Est Ravn (Mark’s son.)
Justen ‘Hardwood’ Est Ravn (Thor’s son with Dora of Hardwood. A legitimized bastard. A red-haired dark-skinned Issir.)
Joris ‘Wolf-hunter’ Sloot (Fordlor Village. Arrived the first month of 195 NC with Midlanor’s volunteers. A famed Issir hunter by trade, also serving as scout/ranger.)
Dora Sloot, or Dora of Hardwood (Fordlor Village. Known hunter Joris Sloot had a legitimized daughter with an unknown wilderness-birthed and wandering Nord female, who lived west of Unalen River inside the Hardwood Forest, well beyond the icy East Arid Peaks. Dora worked as a guide for nobles looking for difficult hunts in the far north and is described as dark-skinned, with fierce red hair and green eyes ‘the color of fresh pines.’)
Baron Sherman Grote (Lord of Greywood Castle, Regent’s Shield. His daughter Juliet Grote was late Sir Mark Est Ravn’s widow. Their son Wilhelm Est Ravn stood third in line for the Duchy’s throne.)
Sir Hedrick Grote (Juliet’s brother.)
Baron Dan AredRavn, (Farvor. His son Sir Luke had been killed by the Khan’s army in the first battle at 3Roads alongside Sir Mark.)
Sir Reinir Tellman (Pastelor. The aged Iron Griffin was kin to the AredRavn’s. Most scholars considered the seventy-five year old Sir Reinir –he was born around 120 NC-, the best knight of his generation.)
Sir Rupert Tellman (Pastelor. Reinir’s older son. Rupert was in his fifties and had followed his father south to prevent his own son Rupert the second, from joining the war effort. The younger Rupert stayed at Pastelor.)
‘Dame’ Siske Tellman (Pastelor. Reinir’s youngest and favorite daughter. The twenty-six year old Siske had been recently widowed after her husband Sir Evert Pek had fallen at Even Fork earlier that year serving under Robert Van Durren. An equestrian and a rare trained Issir swordswoman –like all of Iron Griffin’s children- Siske fought alongside her father.)
Lieutenant Oliver Shane (Caspo O’ Bor. Duke Rinus Van De Aest adjutant and well-educated naval strategist. The Duke’s son Sir Ton had been killed the previous year during the first battle beyond the Red Bridge and Rinus a tad controversially kept Michael, his younger son and heir, along the latter’s Marines with the fleet in Caspo O’ Bor.)
Arhmagister Kelholt (Sessi Fort. The famed Issir Shrine. Uher’s Church religious head. The High Inquisitor. A very powerful political figure also, the Kelholt of Sessi influenced the north-western parts of Kaltha politics since the days of Reinut. Sessi was considered the stronger of the two great Shrines, the other being Ikete –more tied with the equally prominent Issir cities of Riverdor and Scaldingport- and its priests long considered Uher the natural leader of the Five Gods. They continued to advocate for a purge of the Old Pantheon, in contrast with the Ikete Shrine’s monks who had a more measured approach on the matter. Irde stood the most inclusive, perhaps because it was Luthos-loving. These parochial religious differences had been imported from the Kaletha Triarchy, where they had some political and economic –even practical- undertones, but were completely irrelevant on Jelin.
Each great city had settled and then learned to live with its neighbor Lorians in relative peace, but for the ultra-conservative Midlanor, who perceived all other races with suspicion, or even heathens. With the loss of the capital and Krakenhall –a duchy they influenced heavily-, the rise of Duchess Zofia and the prolonged war with the Khan, Midlanor sought to reach an understanding with the Northmen and attempted to talk with King Lucius –a thought conservative Lorian leader, despite his two wives and violent history. Lord Anker, despite outer appearances, was probably looking to curtail the Church’s influence on his duchy and the Issir throne, grasping at the opportunity the Church’s weakened state provided him–especially after the loss of Issir’s Eagle, but reverses in the field forced Lord Anker to include Kelholt and religious warriors in war matters.)
Maas Vellens (Inquisitor leader and church torturer. He’d a barely functioning left arm.)
Grand Archivist Wim Luikens (Assayer. Scientist, Inventor and Alchemist. Master Alchemist’s Rosier Rosman’s pupil. Built the thermolampe, a gas-powered lamp, re-introduced ‘Uher’s Light’ a type of explosive shell -or grenade- into the war and also perfected the vaunted ‘Deliverer’ artillery system, first used in the siege of Pascor. An all-metal machine based on the ballista that hurled explosive shells. Credited with ‘rising to the skies with the help of a balloon’. Very controversial figure responsible for thousands of casualties during the war. Luikens’ machines famously killed as many civilians as soldiers. A rarely seen, very influential member of Uher’s Church despite rumored to be an atheist himself, Luikens started as a lowly member of the Golden Spears initially, first as a humble scribe, but then got noticed and started working for Archmagister Kelholt and his Inquisitors, the Church of Uher’s intelligence unit. Also referred to as ‘Bespectacled Death’.)
High Magister Sande De Hove (Cepri Fort. Inquisitor leader and influential Church magister. Former man-at-arms of a noble family. The De Hove lived on Cepri Island historically, right across Caspo O’ Bor’s Gulf and Weeping Port.)
Priest Brukel, the ‘Brave Reverent’ (Midlanor. A courageous priest ordained in the Order of Golden Spears. Very close to the Est Ravn and De Hove’s ally. Very influential with the lower-class priests and monks. Late Sir Mark Est Ravn considered Brukel a very close friend and championed for the priest to receive a knighthood, but the faithful Brukel decided to stay with the church.)
Sir Albert Kosters. (Lord Commander of the Golden Spears. Ordained knight monk. The presumed dead Sir Shane Est Ravn’s childhood friend.)
Sir Iwan Dinter (A Golden Spears ordained Knight Monk. Albert’s 2nd in command)
Brother Tanner (Golden Spears man-at-arms, monk.)
Brother Dumont (Golden Spears man-at-arms, monk.)
Odd ‘Tanned’ Mayer (Eleurhall half-breed. An influential dark-skinned, red-haired Issir-Nord warband leader that had declared for Zofia saving the Burg from reprisals.)
Stein ‘Bearclaw’ Kaasen (Eleurhall Nord raider. His small warband had sworn fealty to Duchess Zofia.)
-
3200 soldiers + 150 crossbows (2 men per) + 50 mounted rangers with the 3rd Foot (Mainly from Midlanor, under Sherman Grote. At least a 1000 volunteer soldiers/archers etc. as a reserve.)
350 Heavy Cavalry (mainly from Midlanor, under Sir Thor Est Ravn)
120 Man-at-arms (from Pastelor, under Sir Reinir Tellman)
150 Man-at-arms (from Farvor, under Baron Dan AredRavn. At least 300 more volunteers following after the Baron.)
400 Golden Spears + at least 30 Heavy Horse (Mounted & foot armed units of monks/soldiers & knights, under Sir Albert Kosters)
300? Nord warriors (from Eleurhall, under Odd Mayer.)
50? Nord scouts/warriors (under Stein Kaasen)
100 Inquisitors (mounted fighters, under Maas Vellers)
50 veteran men-at-arms (Midlanor, with Lord Anker)
35+ Scorpio, at least 20 Deliverer-type machines (engineers & assistants, under Wim Luikens and Sande De Hove. About twenty crew per machine for a total of 400.)
-
4000 soldiers (spear, axe and sword)
700 men-at-arms, or medium/heavy horse units (armored riders + knights)
At least 700 squires
1300 volunteers (various skill, arms & armour)
150 crossbows (250)
100 scouts/rangers
55 artillery pieces (around 600 crew)
-
For a total 7650 fighting men and a few women.
2000+ civilian crews in the supply trains.
Sebastian ‘Seb’ Oats
Brother Sebastos
The Squire
Red Bridge | you have to attack Lord Regent
8th of Sextus 195NC
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Golden Spears camp at Balworth River’s north banks
Praised be the Five! The church choir sang melodiously at regular intervals weaving a rich chorus that complemented the steady drone of the monks. The Golden Spears recited their psalms near the campfires, neatly arranged around Wim Luikens’ large field tent.
Meanwhile, Sebastian hummed softly to himself, half following the psalms and half-absorbed in the Assayer’s enigmatic explanations of his peculiar sketches, which in turn had captivated the knights and Magisters gathered around Luikens.
Praised be Uher, who set all things alright.
May all thrive under the Gods Father Light!
“The glass spherical ordnance, or pyro-glycerin projectile,” the bespectacled Luikens explained under the sound of the many content Brothers’ hymns that reached them through the walls of the tent. The latter activity typical after a meal, the number of Uher-loving people present increasing the participants’ volume. “Is difficult to handle. So this ceramic-carton based tube vessel would offer greater stability when stored, which has been historically one the biggest factors that slow down transportation.”
“You’ll insert this dangerous liquid into a half-ceramic half-vellum tube?” Sande De Hove queried curious. It must be noted here that most of those listening to Luikens had no idea what the alchemist was talking about. “What if, Uher forbid, there’s a leakage?”
“Any leakage could potentially be fatal,” Luikens agreed and Sir Thor sucked at his teeth unsure. “Which is why I’ve added a thickening agent to turn the liquid into a paste. In its liquid form the pyro-glycerin is difficult to handle. He-he… obviously. Well, one of the reasons really.”
“Care to share with us what else worried you brother Luikens?” De Hove asked now worried, since Luikens hoisted a ceramic tube in his hand –missing the vellum lid- filled with that yellow-white cream-like stuff.
“When absorbed in cloth it becomes unstable, so I had to alter its state anyway,” Luikens explained, using an index finger to push the mid part of his thick glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I could offer demonstration.”
“You don’t have to,” an alarmed Sir Thor stopped him. “I heard enough. Leave the upgrade for later Luikens.”
“This is a great opportunity to further my research,” the Assayer insisted. “Magister De Hove?”
“Ahm,” Sande furrowed his white brows, his eyes on the humming Sebastian. “It is a time for prayer this, Grand Archivist and of silent contemplation, right after our meal. Let us reconvene this discussion on the morrow.”
“It is also time for the Duke’s council,” Sir Thor added with a grimace, in his attempt to stand from the uncomfortable field chair. He turned around, his scabbard banging on the chair and toppling it. “Bugger me. Eh. Sebastian get my horse ready. Take Nelis and Mert with you.”
The latter two were Sir Pier-Jan Frankes’ and Sir David Isak’s squires.
“Allow Brother Sebastos to finish his prayer Est Ravn,” Sande De Hove urged the noble knight and Sir Thor puffed out afore crossing both arms over his armoured chest.
“Go on my lad,” the knight told Sebastian, who immediately rushed through the verses.
“Cast aside the wickedness of the weak, be our guide and our shield,” Sebastian hummed with Magister De Hove accompanying him with a fatherly smile.
“Gaze at the aberrant Heathen hanged from a butcher’s meak.”
The late Sir Luppe’s rasping voice clearly heard by the young squire amidst the other singing brothers and Sebastian’s own voice.
“For their foulness, no witchery shall revive!”
“That’s it,” Sir Thor cut in and grabbed the vibrating Sebastian and De Hove by the shoulders to guide them out of the tent. “I feel sufficiently sanctified and properly cleansed!”
“What’s the big hurry Est Ravn?” De Hove asked, gathering his robes not to foul them on the muddy terrain. They were too close to the big river.
“Dora came to visit me with the kid,” Sir Thor explained with a sigh as they walked towards their horses. “The kid is fine but I have her locked inside my tent since last night and father’s next meeting might take a while to finish.”
“You believe the girl will perish of starvation?”
“No, I fear she won’t and I’ll have to face her anger,” Sir Thor clarified, pursing his mouth.
Dora of Hardwood was one of the knight’s rumored mistresses. His main one in a sense. Sebastian had attempted to convince Sir Thor to do right by the mother –Lord Anker had legitimized the bastard himself- but the knight had refused citing ‘reasons beyond a pious squire’s comprehension’. The squire been Sebastian.
“Brukel agreed to this? The girl is wild,” Sande De Hove, another pious person, bristled and glared at Sir Thor austerely. “Est Ravn, this has gone too far sir.”
“Priest, you’ll either be my friend, or my enemy in this,” Thor warned the Magister and De Hove grunted in disapproval, but opted to drop the matter.
Todd Smit, Sir Thor Est Ravn’s older squire, was a sturdy man of thirty-some years, but looked forty. Sebastian helped him saddle Cinnamon, one the knight’s many horses and after he finished secure Skipper’s, his own young stallion, the squire went to assist Nelis and Mert with theirs. Skipper and all the other animals belonged to Sir Thor, but for the horses belonging to the other two knights, a black destrier owned by Sir Pier-Jan Frances of Greywood and a dark grey warhorse owned by Sir David Isak, second cousin to the elderly Lord Emanuel Isak of Edge Castle.
“Any news?” Thor asked Pier-Jan, who always had an ear on the happenings around his father.
“The army’s forward units were ordered to cross the bridge.”
“Before the meeting?”
“A girl was apprehended near the river’s shores last night. She was trying to cross our lines,” Pier-Jan replied and climbed on his horse with a grunt.
“A spy?”
“A former Issir slave girl from Eplas,” Pier-Jan clarified. “They are still vetting her. We’ll find out.”
“Aha,” Thor murmured and accepted the reins from Sebastian. “What did she say?”
“Gave us some troop deployments,” Pier-Jan replied.
“Anything we didn’t know?” Thor asked.
“I don’t know,” Pier-Jan admitted and Thor nodded, a serious expression on his face.
“Are you ready Seb?” He asked Sebastian and the squire nodded. “You think I’ll arrive first at the High Regent’s camp?”
“Milord are you proposing a race?” Sebastian asked politely.
“You hear him Pier-Jan?” Thor teased with a smile and the knight gave a nod with his head.
“The boy is prideful. Not a good trait brother Sebastos. Neither for a knight, nor a monk.”
“Sir Knight, I’m not.” Sebastian argued feeling his cheeks blush fiercely. “I just have the lighter loaded horse.”
“Aha, there’s yer answer Frances!” Thor gasped and then shook his head. “Well, I better start first then,” he added with a smirk and pressed his knees to get Cinnamon started.
Sir Thor won the race, cutting off Sebastian’s horse near the camp’s gates to gain advantage first, but right after the knight magnanimously congratulated the young squire for his skill on the saddle.
Sebastian didn’t mind, as the handsome knight was great to be around most of the time, even with all his quirks and oddities.
“Sword practice is cancelled for today squire,” Thor announced with a nervous glance at Todd Smit’s back that disappeared inside his tent after untying the flaps. “The council starts in minutes. I already spotted Lord Sherman Grote arrive. He had poor Wooter loaded with scrolls and maps alike a mule.”
“No problem sire,” Sebastian replied leading the horses to their water trough located by the tent.
“You need to get rid of that scimitar. I’ve given you a proper sword,” Thor added, an eye on his valet who had returned. Todd made a gesture that the tent was empty.
“It’s a good blade,” Sebastian argued. “Won in the field.”
“Uhm. Well? Where is she?” Thor asked, turning to his older squire and manservant.
“She cut the sides of the tent open milord,” Todd replied and scratched at his balding forehead with two fingers.
“Ah, she wanted to take a piss, you think?” Thor queried curious.
“Doubtful. She done that in yer chair milord,” Todd replied all serious.
Thor grimaced in mild shock, but then recovered quickly and nodded once, as if it was alright.
Lt. Oliver Shane arrived at that point and the knight had to drop any follow up questions on Dora’s whereabouts. Sebastian just hoped he wouldn’t have to go look for her inside the camp.
“It’s starting my lord,” Shane informed the knight. “Are you coming?”
“Of course,” Thor replied and Shane stepped aside for them to walk together. “Come Seb,” Thor added and Sebastian followed after them, whilst a murmuring Todd stayed behind to work on the horses.
“Where’s Michael?” Thor asked on their stroll towards Lord Anker’s large tent.
“He’s needed with the fleet,” Shane replied casually.
“We’re about to fight the Khan,” Thor argued and Shane nodded.
“Hermen Holsman sent word. It was shocking to most,” Shane said soberly. “Corneel Verner and the commander are still alive. The Khan broke the siege at Jaws Castle. They stepped outside, but they desperately need supplies, or an evacuation.”
“Is it a trap?” Thor asked nervously.
“Nobody knows. Most believe it’s a matter of logistics and shuffling forces about.”
“For what reason?”
Shane breathed out and then paused to salute the guards at the opened doors of the Regent’s tent. “Lt. Oliver Shane. Sir Thor Est Ravn.”
“They started sirs,” the guard informed them and Thor never got his answer from the Lieutenant. But an answer was given.
Sebastian found himself near priest Brukel, the dignified friar’s skin flushed either from too-much walking about between the camps, or having a couple of early morning drinks.
Libations, Brukel called them. To the gods, because they feel life through us, and can sense even the little things.
Sebastian just thought Brukel loved his wine.
“Has anyone seen Timor’s banner?” Lord Anker asked from the top of the conference table. It was packed with officers, Lords and knights.
“Usually he follows Muvelo around. We can’t easily locate Muvelo outside the camps, but we have seen him west of the Mid-Bridge in the Horse-Archers camp,” Sherman Grote replied and pointed a couple of things in the scrolls Lord Anker was reading. “Timor is missing for almost three months.”
“He moved to Colle,” Lord Anker rustled and stared at his son intently. Sir Thor grimaced, but said nothing. “Picked up Rumen-Kot’s machines from Jaws Castle on his way there.”
“They reinforced Lord Jorah Dhin-Awal,” Oliver Shane noted, with many others voicing their opinions. “It makes an attempt to relieve Holsman essential.”
“Nonsense,” Lord Anker rustled and the murmurs that had started at the table stopped. “Holsman’s fate is irrelevant and I like the man,” the High Regent added and dropped the open scrolls on the table. “Rinus should have sent us reinforcements.”
“We could—” Shane tried to say, but the Archduke stopped him with an irked gesture.
“The girl was right,” Lord Anker said gruffly. “The Khan’s army is bleeding out. Yet still I don’t trust her. The sword agrees.”
Sebastian frowned not fully grasping what the Duke meant.
“A witness could be mistaken, if he’s not military savvy. We don’t know how many horse-archers are still here, but we can make an estimate,” Baron Grote, the Regent’s Shield, added raspingly to break the awkward pause. “Surely not six thousand anymore. I’m adding Muvelo’s mounted scouts in there.”
“Merenda faced at least two thousand horse archers with Dhin-Awal’s son,” Lord Anker said thoughtfully. “If Timor took another two thousand with him, then Muvelo might find himself with a third of his initial force. What did the Lorian say?”
“Prefect Damascus is the one that gave us the numbers my Lord Regent,” Grote replied sternly.
“You think he lies?” Lord Anker asked. “He seemed nervous.”
“He risked his life to reach us.”
“Didn’t seem that well to me also, but for a different reason,” Sande De Hove intervened and the Duke eyed him over the table.
“Some injury? The lad did appear a bit gaunt.”
“He carried an injury true, but what Damascus seeks is spiritual comfort, so he can heal his soul,” De Hove replied and the Archmagister applauded his words stabbing his staff down.
Lord Anker pursed his mouth and stared at the faces of those sitting at the table. A great many lords, famous names. Knights. Dame Siske Tellman was present as well, sitting next to her silent father and brother. Sebastian found himself drawn to the warrior-woman’s profile, until he caught himself and stared at his boots embarrassed.
“The flesh can be weak,” Priest Brukel whispered in his ear and Sebastian glanced at him unsure.
“It is naught but respect,” he protested in a soft whisper.
“Aye, a good answer to give,” Brukel agreed strangely, afore adding. “Now you have to believe it also.”
“Muda-Zeket stands weakened, with way less than five thousand Jang-Lu available. Sepa has thinned his horses to move back and forth across Mid-Bridge,” Lord Anker paused to gather his thoughts, sober eyes focusing on his nervous son. “Kontar is dead. Timor is away and Prince Radin’s reinforcements got wasted somewhere in the King’s Hunting grounds and the wilderness. The rest, Crows are feasting on. Old Ruud did one useful thing afore he left us,” he added and gestured curtly for the murmurs of approval to cease. “Elsanne will try again for Colle for sure. But are we just slaves of the moment? Fooled into a rush action? Our preparations are not complete and we still stand barely on equal footing, if our numbers are correct.”
Lord Anker was thinking of Duke Rinus’ and Caspo O’ Bor’s missing troops and the folly of those seeking to face Horselords on open fields.
A son he’d already lost to this ancient dictum and only had his severed head to bury.
“This is the time Lord Regent,” Kelholt said standing up with difficulty. Sebastian glanced at the sober face of Inquisitor Vellers and the determined look on Sir Albert Coster’s who was sitting right next to him. “Uher calls for action. Burn the Heathens!”
“We can be at their camps and Mid-Bridge in a day,” Grote said, sensing the Archduke’s hesitation. “The scouts agree with what the girl told us. This is the true state of things my Lord.”
“Sir Tellman?” Lord Anker asked and Siske’s father raised his wrinkled face to stare at the tensed Duke of Midlanor. Sebastian had never thought he'd witness a single man carry the fate of a whole people on his shoulders. But he knew the Archduke did at this point. The squire felt it in his bones.
“I could warn yer lordship about war chariots, Cataphracts whom you appear to cast aside, or them big beasts they call war-elephants,” Reinir Tellman rustled a reply and breathed out ruggedly, lined mouth half-hidden inside a thick long white beard. “So happens that I’ve once encountered a real rhino in Raoz, a memory that now stretches back thirty years. Though it appeared sluggish at first glance, that creature could move with surprising speed on its stubby legs. It would certainly spark an interesting discussion, but alas, this is a war council. The enemy lies just a day’s march away, and my lord, there will never be an ideal moment for such musings. Whether for better or for worse, the choice made here -right or wrong- holds significant weight and can linger in the mind of the one who makes the decision. And yet, it ultimately holds little sway, as we are not the masters of that elusive, brighter future. We can't see it. We can only grasp the present and the faint glimmer of what the morrow might bring. Stand firm afore death’s looming charge, with a good blade in hand,” the Iron Griffin reflected and then he added matter-of-factly. “You have to attack Lord Regent.”
Lord Anker inclined his head just a tiny bit, briefly shutting his eyes as if to catch Uher’s soft murmur in the depths of his mind. When he opened them again, the Duke of Midlanor rose to his full height, robust armour shining brilliantly beneath his neat yet unpretentious dark robes. And the embroidered heads of the Ashen Hydra on his attire, seemed to writhe with a life of their own.
“Thus, it shall be,” the Archduke proclaimed with quiet resolve.