Chapter 217: The Parade

Konrad slipped his good arm, and then his bandaged shoulder, into the sleeves.

He fastened the small, intricate knots across his broad chest, turning to look at himself in the mirror standing in the corner of the room.

He blinked in genuine surprise. "Hmm... not bad at all."

It was incredibly light, hiding the bulky linen bandage on his shoulder perfectly, yet the rich crimson color and the gold Swabian eagles made him look wealthy.

"I look like an arrogant bastard," Konrad chuckled, adjusting the stiff high collar. "I love it."

"Now, sit down and rest your legs while I go make sure Richter has the artillery boys lined up properly in the square," Katarina smiled.

As the Queen swept out of the room to manage the parade logistics, Konrad sat down in his chair.

He reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a small stack of reports that had arrived by raven the previous evening. He had not had the time to read them before the coronation festivities began.

He unrolled the top parchment. It was the latest weekly report from General Voss, the Supreme Commander of the Vanguard forces, currently occupying the alpine fortress of Innsbruck.

Konrad leaned back in his chair. The letters were scratched into the paper with such force that the ink had nearly bled right through to the other side.

*’King Konrad,*

*No merchant or army is getting past this mountain port without my say-so. The Jaegers are healthy, the food is good, and the weather is slightly less miserable than Augsburg.*

*But curse it all, Konrad, I am losing my mind up here...’*

*’I am a soldier, not a fat diplomat. But you told me to hold the door and tax the merchants, so that is what I am doing. And somehow, it is working too well.*

*I now have Austrian royal families eating out of the palm of my hand. The Duke of Tyrol and the Count of Trent are currently sitting in my fortress, drinking my best stout, and acting like we are old childhood friends. They keep talking to me about poetry and fancy horses.’*

Konrad continued reading down the length of the parchment.

*’When can I come back? Even just for a week? Let Richter sit with these annoying royals for a while. I want to see your new son.*

*Also... I have been thinking a lot lately while staring at the alpine snow... why have you not asked our extended family to come from the Hessian borders yet?’*

Afterward, the light-hearted smile vanished from Konrad’s face. He slowly lowered the parchment onto the desk, staring at the dancing orange flames in his fireplace.

Konrad sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Not yet. When the borders are safe."

The parade was starting.

Konrad quickly rolled up Voss’s report and shoved it back into the desk drawer. He stood up, smoothing down the front of his doublet.

He checked the bandages on his shoulder one last time, making sure no fresh blood was leaking through the fabric.

He walked out of his bedroom and marched down the long stone corridors, heading straight for the main balcony overlooking the square.

When Konrad stepped out into the air, the sight before him was breathtaking...

The entire city square was cleared of civilians. In their place stood two thousand Swabian Jaegers, forming perfect squares in the white snow.

Behind the infantry were the artillery units. Dozens of huge brass cannons and siege mortars were hooked up to strong workhorses, ready to be pulled through the streets.

Margrave George, Elector Philip, and Duke Ulrich were already standing on the balcony. They were entirely speechless as they looked down at the overwhelming might of the Swabian army.

The crowd of citizens lining the streets erupted into roaring cheers the moment they saw their King stepping forward in his new clothing.

Konrad slashed his raised hand downward.

The huge military drums instantly erupted into a deafening cadence. The two thousand Jaegers stomped their boots, turning their square formations toward the southern river docks.

Konrad rushed down the spiral stone stairs, the foreign vassal princes chasing right behind him in a flurry of cloaks. When they reached the courtyard, Konrad’s black warhorse was already saddled and waiting.

He lifted Eleanor up onto a beautiful white mare, then climbed into his own leather saddle, forcing himself to ignore the sharp pain radiating from his bandaged left shoulder.

The royal procession rode out of the palace gates and joined the grand military march.

The citizens of Augsburg, unaware of the tense hostage situation unfolding at the river docks, were cheering wildly.

Children threw winter flowers and pine branches into the streets as the soldiers marched past.

"Do you see how they look at us?" Konrad muttered over the noise.

Katarina guided her white mare closer to his black warhorse, dodging a shower of winter petals thrown by a cheering child. "This parade is exactly what the city needed to see. The Jaegers look magnificent."

Lines of citizens walked excitedly alongside the marching columns, waving flags and pointing in awe at the gleaming bayonets and the immaculate charcoal coats.

The thunderous rolling of the heavy brass cannons drowned out the murmurs of the sprawling crowd, but it could not silence the grim thoughts weighing on Konrad’s mind.

"I received a raven from Voss this morning," Konrad said, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Katarina glanced at him. "Is he well? Innsbruck can easily rot a good spirit if one stays in those mountains too long."

"He is drinking fine stout and entertaining Austrian dukes. But he asked about Hesse. He asked when I will bring our extended family here to the capital." Konrad gripped the reins tighter with his good hand. "He thinks I am delaying out of mere stubbornness."

"And are you?" she asked softly, nodding gracefully to a group of passing blacksmiths who bowed quite low as the King and Queen rode past.

"I am delaying because of this," Konrad replied.

He gestured to the Jaegers, the rolling artillery, and the citizens surrounding them on all sides.

"I cannot risk their blood spilling upon my own two hands."