Tyranny of Steel

Hilmar sat within the confines of the tavern as the city ’s garrisons were rushing into defensive mode. The armies of Austria were gathering outside the city, and with it, the atmosphere had become tense. To calm his growing nerved, the Count sat with an ale in one hand while maintaining a lookout for his contact.

As part of their cat and mouse tactics, Hilmar had frequently visited this tavern over the past few months to relay information to the Austrian Spy about anything important, which he discovered by being an advisor to the Duke. The symbol to initiate contact was a simple act of placing a flowerpot on the tavern ’s windowsill, which he had done the moment he entered the establishment.

He did not have long, if he was absent from the Palace for an extended period of time, then Hartman would grow suspicious, and considering he was conspiring with the enemy to bring his master ’s rule to an end, the last thing he needed was the Bastard of Luxembourg looking into his hidden actions.

One drink turned to two, and to turned to three. Before Hilmar knew it, he had consumed five beers. Just when he was about to get up and exit the tavern, the mature beauty who was his contact sat down in front of him with an exhausted expression on her lips. She grabbed ahold of the man ’s drink and chug its contents before letting out a heavy sigh.

”Sorry I ’m late, doll. I ’ve been dreadfully busy coordinating efforts with the rebels inside the city ’s gates. I trust this is urgent, and you are not simply wasting my time for the sake of getting to know little ol ’ me… ”

When Hilmar heard this response, his eyes widened in shock. He did not know that Berengar had dispatched rebels into the city of Luxembourg. After all, he wasn ’t exactly the most knowledgeable informant of Austrian Royal Intelligence. Despite this shocking revelation, the man kept himself focused and instead relayed the information he knew.