Swiss Arms 188 (Patreon)

Swiss Arms

Chapter 188

-VB-

John von Toggenburg

1311

“Count John!” Hans greeted as he got off of his horse and greeted him with wide open arms. 

John grinned as he walked up to Hans and bear-hugged him. Hans returned it and even patted him on the back. He winced a little when he felt his back creaking. 

Despite the fact that he was supposed to be a healthy and strong young man, John was nothing compared to the raw vitality exuded by his former mentor and now peer. He was, after all, the man who crossed the Alps in record time to save his city and fought like the Devil himself at its gates to keep it safe, according to the rumors. 

What he would have given to have witnessed Hans at his best there…

After separating, he gave his mentor a good look up and down. Despite the fact that he was rich, the man never dressed like one. Always the minimum with this man. Even upjumped peasants who got a bit of money tended to splurge a bit. At least on the colors! But nope, not Hans.

“Count Hans,” he grinned. “Or should I say Duke Hans?” he asked. 

“I ain’t a duke yet,” the mountain lord scoffed. “I’m not gonna go around ass crawling with the new emperor or other dukes to let them dictate what I am and what I am not.”

John let out a chuckle. 

That was very much like Hans. He does as he wishes and woe be unto anyone who gets in his way with violence rather than diplomacy. 

Speaking of which…

“You did not have to do that, you know.”

“Hmm?”

“You gave me quite the tract of land for participating in a single battle.”

Had he been any other lord, John would not be … whining … about gaining land.

But he did because he felt like he was already very indebted to Hans. To be given a whole barony on top of that for having participated in one battle was … a bit much. 

It honestly felt like he was being handed charity. 

But as his mother said, ‘bow your head and accept it, and your children will thank you for it.’ And she still disliked Hans. 

“... I suppose it is significant,” he replied with a hum. “But that’s because your action was also significant. And if I ignore and fail to reward your significant action, then what do I look like?” 

“You make it sound like it was about appearances.”

Hans snorted and John snorted after. 

As if. 

Hans rarely cared about appearances and reputation that wasn’t that of his city. 

“Technically, it was? But it was not for other people but you and our people,” he replied. “They all see that I am not just talk when I say that service and duty will receive its fair share.”

John thought about it. Duty and reward were indeed things that he was taught even before he became Hans’s ward. But to apply that to commoners as well…? 

… Whatever Hans did generally worked out, so there must be some substance to it. Hell, most of his rangers were commoners. Some of them weren’t even Christians, either. 

“I’ll trust that you know what you’re doing. Far be it for me to reject a whole barony. My mother will spank me if I do.”

He chuckled. “Is the old lady still upset with me?”

“Still upset.”

“Fair enough. I almost burned her alive.”

“Me, too, if you forgot.”

“How could I forget?” There was a pause. “Speaking of which, I brought something. A gift, if you will.”

John let out an exasperated sigh. “You already gave me a whole barony, Hans. You don’t-, oh holy shit.”

He watched as Hans took a bag from one of the rangers (Hans always traveled with his rangers) and pulled out a whole brand new chain mail armor. 

It was sparkling. 

“D-Did you commission that for me?!” 

“Commission?” Hans looked confused. “No, I handmade it.”

John’s brain stuttered. 

“The last gift related to the war,” Hans said. “If you don’t want it, then you can give it to your brother.”

“Hell, no. This is mine.”

Hans laughed as John took the chain mail shirt. 

It crinkled and almost chimed in his hands. It was also a little bigger than his actual size. 

He looked up at Hans. 

“So?” he asked.

“It’s great.”

Hans grinned. “Good. Are you gonna invite me in any time soon, then?” he asked while gesturing to the castle gate that they were still standing under.

“Oh, right. Sorry. Welcome to my home.”

-VB-

Hans

1311

I stayed at John’s place, the rebuilt and reinforced Neu-Toggenburg Castle (the same castle that I almost burned down to the ground), for just a day before I moved on. 

I was … essentially on a tour of my new territories. To remind the people there who they served now, but more importantly, that I had different values compared to the Habsburgs. 

Bremgarten’s defiance made this a necessity. 

To that end, I had planned out the tour with Isabella and our entire family was on the trip. 

First, we would visit John (done and checked). 

Second, we would visit Zurich, the biggest and populated of the cities as well as the richest of my acquisition. 

Third, I would visit Bremgarten. Having made the sentence, it was only fair that saw that the work was completed. 

Fourth, Lucerne was next on the visiting stops. 

And then we would return home by taking the southern coast of Lake Zurich and visit the lands of Hofe, Abbey of Einsiedeln, March, Windegg, and Glarus. 

We would not visit Fribourg. Too far. 

At each stop and location, I would meet with my new vassals to make their place in the hierarchy clear as well as my expectations and laws of not just my lands but also that of the Compact. 

… I suspected that I would have more trouble with the cities than the noble vassals, especially Zurich and Lucerne.