Lord Wolfram remained silent for a moment, observing Hans with a mixture of bewilderment and caution. The swordsmen, who until that moment had been as tense as violin strings, could not hide their unease. The mention of the Skaven had achieved something few things ever did: it had broken the earl's facade of security. Hans could see how the situation was beginning to transform, how the invisible threat he had described was materializing in Wolfram's mind.
Lord Wolfram put his glass down on the table with a thud and stared at her.
"It's... hard to believe," he said in a deep voice, though his eyes shone with a mixture of skepticism and fear, as if he were trying to convince himself it couldn't be true. "How do you know so much about them? What else are you hiding, mercenary?"
Hans didn't answer immediately. He knew it was a dangerous question, but he also knew he couldn't reveal too much.
"I've lived long enough to learn... and I've seen what they can do." His voice was low, almost a whisper, as his eyes flicked from the swordsmen to the earl. "It doesn't matter whether you want to believe it or not. The facts speak for themselves. And if you don't act soon, those facts will be at your doorstep before you know it."
The count nodded slowly, his mind processing Hans's words, though a part of him still refused to accept the magnitude of the threat. But the coldness with which Hans had spoken, his defiant yet calculated posture, had planted a seed of doubt in Wolfram's heart.
"Very well," he finally said, his voice firmer but still carrying a hint of distrust. "If what you say is true, then the situation is more serious than I thought. What do you suggest, mercenary? What do you want in return for... fixing this?"
Hans leaned back in his chair, letting silence fill the room for a moment. He knew he had the count's attention, but he wasn't going to rush things. This was what he wanted: for Wolfram to feel pressured and without options.
"What I want, Lord Wolfram, is freedom of action and the resources to act on my judgment. I need no more than that. I can guarantee that I will do whatever is necessary to eradicate the threat, but I need the flexibility to do it my way, not yours."
Hans's response was clear, but not without a hint of defiance. He was willing to do whatever was necessary to accomplish his mission, but he also knew the count would pay the price for his ignorance and lack of preparation. Hans wasn't going to let an opportunity like this pass him by.
The count stared at him, his eyes narrowed, as if evaluating every word he had said. His swordsmen, still tense, waited silently, aware of the gravity of the conversation.
"You have my word, mercenary," he said finally, with a sigh that seemed to come from a place of resignation rather than complete trust. "But I warn you, if anything goes wrong, it won't be just your head that rolls. I will track down every living relative of yours in this world to wipe out every last one of them."
Hans leaned forward slightly, his gaze calculating.
—Understood. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that's not an option. But you must understand that the Skaven don't stop. Sometimes, the only way to stop them is to play them at their own game. And for that, you'll need more than just soldiers.
Lord Wolfram nodded, a slow but understanding gesture. He knew time was no longer on his side, and that he had gambled too much by accepting the words of a man like Hans. But at the same time, he couldn't afford to turn down an opportunity that could mean the difference between life and death for his people.
With the weight of the decision on his shoulders, the earl raised his wine glass and held it in the air, as a formal gesture to seal the deal.
—To victory, then, mercenary. Do what you must.
Hans, without showing any emotion, raised his glass in response.
—To victory, Lord Wolfram. May it not be too late.
With that exchange, the county's fate was sealed, and the shadows lurking beneath the ruins of the earth would begin to move their pieces.
___________________________________________________________
After Hans left the room, the swordsmen approached the count, whose eyes were still fixed on the spot where the mercenary had left. The tension in the air was palpable, and the heavy silence that had settled in the room lasted for several long minutes. The swordsmen exchanged glances with each other, as if waiting for one of them to break the silence first.
One of the swordsmen, the tallest and with a scar across his cheek, was the first to speak. His voice was low, but his tone was serious.
—My lord, are you sure of your decision? That man... I don't trust him. We can't forget that, in many of the places where he's been, he's left more problems than solutions.
The count looked up at him, unfazed. He didn't like being questioned, especially when he'd already made up his mind, but at that moment, he felt the swordsmen were right. Something about Hans's presence had made him uneasy. It was as if he had more to him than just his problem-solving skills. Something about his gaze, his calmness, suggested he'd been in far darker and more complicated situations than his reputation suggested.
"I know, Gerhart, I know," the earl said with a sigh, setting his glass aside. "But circumstances don't leave us much choice. This place, this county... is in danger. And though I hate to admit it, that man may be the only answer we have."
–What do you think about this, Ludwig? –The count said towards a wall from which the judge emerged.
Something commonly used in the homes of nobles was a secret room that allowed listening without being present in the room.
"We must take the risk of trusting him. After all, we aren't safe even in our own homes. A Warden murdered with no trace of culprits lends weight to his descriptions. If these supposed Skaven are even a part of what he described, I'm afraid we won't be able to handle this alone." Ludwig paused, looking at the earl firmly. "I think we have no other choice. If Hans has the information we need, then we must seize it, even if we don't completely trust him."
The earl nodded slowly, the gravity of the situation weighing on him. Every time he thought of the Skaven, he felt a growing sense of vulnerability. If they were truly among them, the safety of his home, of his earldom, was an illusion. They could no longer ignore the danger.
"Very well." The earl stood, his decision made. "Prepare the men. Tomorrow, we will meet with the mercenary to discuss the next steps. We need him to take care of this threat, no matter the cost. We cannot afford to hesitate any longer."
Gerhart, though still hesitant, nodded respectfully.
—Understood, my lord.
Ludwig, reassured by his decision, stepped forward to give instructions to the servants and swordsmen. Meanwhile, the count returned to his seat, staring at the fire burning in the fireplace. The threat was greater than he had ever imagined, but he also knew that the fate of his county could depend on the decisions he made at that moment. Uncertainty gripped him, but action was the only thing that could offer him hope.