Castellan Read Online Free

result of my blockade I have no doubt that the Prince of Novgorod covets this place.’
    ‘Reval’s defences are strong, majesty,’ Rolf assured him.
    That was certainly true. The governor had spent many months constructing towers along the perimeter wall that surrounded the town, as well as strengthening the fort that stood atop Toompea Hill just outside the settlement. It was true that the walls, towers and fort were all of wooden construction, but it would take an army of many thousands to besiege Reval, let alone storm it.
    ‘What of Wenden and the Sword Brothers, uncle?’ asked Albert.
    Valdemar shrugged. ‘What of them?’
    ‘After we have conquered Oesel will we be marching against Wenden to arrest this Conrad Wolff?’
    Rolf shook his head. The arrogant certainty of the king’s nephew was breath-taking. How little he knew of the Sword Brothers.
    Valdemar rose and walked towards the doors of the chamber, the counts and bishop bowing their heads as he passed.
    ‘Do not concern yourself with the Sword Brothers, nephew. I have heard that the pox ravages Livonia. In a few more weeks the Bishop of Riga will have surrendered Conrad Wolff to me in person when the citizens of Riga, those that have survived the pestilence, are starving and the Lithuanians and Russians are banging at their gates.’
    *****
    ‘My lads haven’t been paid in six months, master, and to say they are far from amused is putting it mildly.’
    Leatherface stood beside the oak desk where Wenden’s brother knights were seated and stared at Master Rudolf with unblinking eyes. The aged mercenary had always been free with his tongue, erring towards sedition, but his promotion to command all of Wenden’s mercenaries had increased his rebellious nature.
    Leatherface looked down at his battered, dirty gambeson. ‘I mean look at me. Someone might mistake me for a beggar such is the state of my apparel.’
    Rudolf Kassel, Master of Wenden Castle and deputy commander of the Order of Sword Brothers, sighed and raised his brown eyes to the ceiling. The weekly meeting of the brother knights in the master’s hall at Wenden was usually a straightforward affair, with brother knights airing grievances, offering recommendations and giving an account of their responsibilities. But of late they had become fractious affairs, largely due to the Danish blockade on Livonia that had resulted in a cessation of the transportation of goods, mostly food, timber and hides, to Riga down the Gauja. This in turn had led to the castle’s income drying up, which meant no money to pay for the one hundred and twenty mercenaries that the master employed as part of the garrison.
    Rudolf spread his hands. ‘What do you want me to do, magic money out of nothing? Until the Danish blockade ends the order has no money to pay its mercenaries. It is the same for all the order’s garrisons.’
    Leatherface shook his head. ‘I’m not an unreasonable man, Master Rudolf.’
    ‘That’s debateable,’ muttered Henke.
    Leatherface shot the powerful brother knight a disparaging glance.
    ‘But,’ the mercenary continued, ‘if I and my boys aren’t paid then we will have to consider our options.’
    ‘What options?’ queried Henke derisively. ‘You can’t go to Riga because the city is under quarantine due to the pox. And even if you could there are no ships to take you to Germany on account of the Danish blockade.’
    Leatherface smiled. ‘Who said anything about Germany, Brother Henke? There are others who would pay handsomely for our services, such as the Russians. And there’s always the Lithuanians south of the Dvina.’
    Brother Walter, Rudolf’s deputy, was appalled. ‘You would offer your services to apostates and heathens?’
    ‘That’s the point of being a mercenary, Brother Walter,’ replied Leatherface, ‘we work for whoever is willing to pay us.’
    Rudolf pointed at the mercenary. ‘I think you and your men should think carefully on your future actions. At