Treachery and Truth by Katy Huth Jones

Author:Katy Huth Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pauline Books and Media
Published: 2016-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

ŽITO AND I stood outside until after darkness fell. Soldiers came and went all around us, most staring, some attempting to speak with us, but always there were at least two who had their weapons trained on us. Campfires blazed in the night. Soon the scent of roasting venison wafted on the air, making my mouth water. I dared not even glance at Žito, much less speak to him. My arms ached from holding Václav’s banner for so long.

Just as it seemed the banner would fall from my numb hands, the door flap of the king’s pavilion opened. My master and the Fowler stepped out; both were smiling. Václav said something in German, and Henry roared with laughter.

What charm did my master have that even an enemy Saxon king could be at ease with him in such a short time?

I could tell Žito desperately wanted to ask our duke what had happened, but he stood as still as stone and waited for Václav and King Henry to finish their conversation. I glanced around at the Germanic soldiers. They seemed as puzzled as Žito and I were. After all, wasn’t this an army on its way to destroy Bohemia?

Finally my master bowed to the king, and the Fowler returned to his tent.

“We are to be given our own tent for the night,” Václav said, as if that were not a miracle. “In the morning, King Henry and an honor guard of fifty warriors will ride back to Praha with us.”

“Why, my lord?” Žito asked.

“I made a treaty with the Fowler, and he wants to come and personally see Praha before I pay him tribute.”

“Tribute?” Žito grumbled. “A ransom to foreigners, isn’t that what you mean?”

Václav smiled at the murmuring soldiers nearby. “Peace, Žito, and come with me to our tent where I will explain further. Do not raise your voice again.”

We followed our escort to a hastily erected tent not far from the Fowler’s pavilion. Once inside, we made ourselves comfortable and waited for the duke’s explanation.

“I realize my decision will not be welcomed by every Čech,” Václav said in a hushed voice. “I believe it necessary, however, and someday you will realize it was the only decision I could have made for Bohemia.”

“But, my lord, to pay tribute to Saxony!” Žito said. “Does that mean King Henry is now our overlord?”

“Technically, I suppose it may,” Václav said. “Bohemia, however, will remain independent of Saxony’s laws. We are a sovereign country, Žito, and will remain so.”

“It goes against all my Čech pride, my lord, to submit to the Saxons.” Žito frowned.

“I understand.” Václav gripped his shoulder. “But we must not allow our love for Bohemia to govern our good sense. The Fowler’s army is far mightier than ours and could easily crush all opposition. By paying a yearly tribute, we will save Bohemia, and also gain the king of Saxony as our ally. United, we can stand against the Magyars. Perhaps we will finally be able to beat those invaders back from our borders.

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