Temple Sword

Chapter 96 The Storm and the Orphans

1311, Hallows' Month (October)
Visegrad, Hungary

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Six people bowed their heads and knelt in front of Mate Chuck's throne. They all wore robes with the same coat of arms, indicating their noble origins. Like wandering peasants, they turned to their lords for refuge and last chance.

The oldest Janos, his scars and bruises from Timisoara are still visible.Then he raised his voice and questioned the king impertinently.In response, Charles Robert kicked him out of the throne room in front of his brothers and mother, and had the guards drag him from the ground to sign the official agreement between the Abbas and the Anjoues .

This treaty, this so-called agreement, was forced to be signed by the sons of the Aba family, which is a great shame.The heirs of the Abba family first promised that they would not get the city of Kosice from Charlie or his successors in exchange for the loyalty of the Abbas, and that the forests around Kosice would be given to the people of Kosice for free use, Kosice The policy market must not be threatened or affected, and the passage of the market must not be subject to any charges or interference.

They were required to return to Charles the thirty customs and taxes of Cepes and Garnica together, and cancel all customs which had been illegally established by their father or them, and forbid the imposition of any new taxes.The agreement also stated that Ahmad Abba's sons were not to build any more castles unless they obtained special permission from the king.

As for the existing castles, Amad's widow and sons need to return to Charles Anjou all the rights and properties in Zempelen and Vival, as well as the castle of Lubro and Moncastle (now Pala Fort Knock) also needs to be returned to the King.They were also forced to accept that the king's officials and servants remained in their territory and could not hinder them from exercising their official duties. Any representatives of nobles and civilians needed to account to the king's officials.

Moreover, the nobles under their jurisdiction can serve whoever they want to serve, and they will not be punished for doing so.The restored kingship is not allowed to be invaded, and the people can no longer be harassed.Finally, they took an oath of eternal allegiance to Charles Anjou, and pledged to do to the best of their ability the duties entrusted to them by the King.

"This is not an agreement at all!" Mate Chuck said loudly, looking at the sons of the Aba family kneeling in front of him with satisfaction, "This is a ready-made surrender document!"

"We must sign," moaned Domokos, the youngest son, beaten to death. "We have no choice, my lord!"

"But we refuse to surrender!" Janos interjected. "Under these conditions, we will not surrender to anyone!"

The oligarch looked at his new subjects for a moment, then approached them as if preparing for a fatherly hug.

"Get up, my children!" He said with feigned sadness, "I am also saddened by the death of your father. He was a strong man with firm goals. His passing away is a loss for this kingdom..."

"Thank you, my lord!" The boys said one after another, some were genuinely moved, while others were doubting whether the condolences were sincere.

"You did not go to Buda with me when I raised my army in the summer," said Mattei. "If your father had been on my side, Buda might be mine now, and the king would be my captive, Also, Janos," he pointed at the boy's swollen face, "you won't come to see me now with a face full of scars..."

Janos Aba's face was burning with plaster. "My father thinks he is strong enough and doesn't need allies," he said in a hoarse voice, trying to suppress his anger.He hated Mate Chuck, but he was more ruthless than Charlie Anjou, and now only the former could solve the latter.

"Well, it seems that your father misjudged." Mattei retorted Janos' sad words lightly, "he is dead."

The oligarch enjoyed it very much. No matter what she said, the sons of the Aba family had to bow their heads and listen, and they dared not say a word of dissent.He disrespects them and thinks they are cowards and double-faced, but he still needs their property and services.

At the same time, he was also surprised by Charlie's toughness, and his initial contempt for the Anjou king gradually turned into a kind of respect.He still saw him as an enemy, but viewed it differently, especially after the siege of Buda.

"Let's get to the point!" He clapped his hands, "I don't have time to discuss the issue of honor."

"Neither do we," Janos said slavishly, trying to maintain the image of a powerful head of the family. "Let's talk about why we came to you, you must know..."

"Okay," Mattei interrupted Janos Aba deliberately, ignoring all the conditions he had listed, "my children, allow me to say frankly that Ahmad is dead. Yes, you still With considerable wealth, you still control some territories, but the facts are before us: you have lost your former rights, you can no longer raise taxes, your resources have been drained, you are no longer governors, So we cannot talk about a union of equals."

A young boy from Abba's family stepped forward to protest, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his elder brother waved him to shut up.

"So, can we just get another humiliating treaty here?" Janos asked, but Mate Chuck shook his head.

"No, you won't be humiliated." He sat down and drank some wine. "If you join me in the spring, your father and I can form an alliance of equals against Charlie. But you and I both know Well, that didn't happen. Now Ahmad is dead and the king has taken almost everything from you, forgive me for speaking harshly, boys, but you are nothing now.

If in the next few minutes I suddenly wanted to hang you all," he said quietly, "no one would hold me accountable.Your death will be like someone farting at early morning mass, it's annoying but no one cares, hope we can understand each other..."

Mate Chuck took a sip of the wine glass with relish, and happily tasted the Tokaj wine in his mouth, but did not offer it to the Abba sons.

"Then what is your proposal?" Second son Nicholas asked instead of Janos, his brother was too angry to speak.He himself wanted to keep quiet, but he knew they had to find a solution, they had to come to some sort of agreement with Mate Chuck.

"Well... my conditions are as follows," the oligarch took a sip of his wine, "from now on, you will be my subjects, you will be loyal to my family, and be my vassals. You must pay taxes, fight, and fight for me when necessary." Throwing my head and blood, but I will not let you down, in return..."

"In return?" Janos asked, "If we bow to you, what can we get?"

"An army to deal with Charlie." Matt Chuck raised his eyebrows, "A large army."

The Abba sons looked at each other, and Ma Tai knew exactly what they needed.

"If I'm not wrong, the King of Anjou will slowly take everything from you, and eventually turn you into poor wretches with nothing. You don't want to lose without a fight." The oligarch continued, "I guess you will soon be defeated." would raise an army against Charlie, of course, I'm not entirely sure... but if you really want to do it, I'll send you an army as support."

"How many men's army?" Janos asked, no longer counting on the generosity of Mate Chuck or anyone else. "Dozens of untrained roadside robbers, or fifty cheap spearmen?"

"No," Mattei leaned back in the chair, "much more than that."

"How much?"

"Seventeen hundred armored infantry," replied the oligarch, "and an army personally led by my loyal men, and, of course, heavy cavalry."

The sons of Abba's family were so shocked that they couldn't speak a word.Their faces tightened, they swallowed, they searched for the right words, but there was only a gasp of surprise, they had never expected such favorable conditions.

"My prime minister will prepare everything and get you to sign it," Mate Chuck stood up and ended the discussion, knowing that such an offer could not be refused, and he had already won. "I have more important things to do right now than take care of six orphans, but you better get ready for the storm as soon as possible."

"What storm... my lord?" asked little Ahmad Abba softly.

"Don't you know?" The oligarch turned to look at them. "Charles Anjou has raised an army, and they are coming here. The war is coming, my children."

(End of this chapter)