Count Harold of Eisenburg looks out over Eisenburg, towards the northern sea. From his castle, he watches the waves, crashing at sea; the boats rocking in the harbor due to the wind and rain. He closes his shutters, as rainwater begins to pool at his feet, splattering from the windowsill onto his leather shoes. His brass buckle shines brightly, spattered with water. He returns to his table, where his map sits, and looks down at it. It is a map of his realm, with markers representing each vintenary and soldier at his fingertips.
His page, Markvart, walks in, after knocking. Markvart, like Harold, is an average looking Imperial, with curly brown hair and brown eyes. Unlike Harold, he wears the clothes of a Yeoman of sorts; though he owns no land.
"What is it, Markvart. News from Sir Ute?" Harold says. Days prior, when Count Marko of Pilzstein, a neighboring Count declared a claim to his city of Eisenburg, he sent Sir Ute of Grundorf to handle a diplomatic mission, with orders to settle this without bloodshed. "Anubus willing, this will be done and over with, as long as He is watching me."
"No, Sire. A message has came from Count Marko. It is a ransom note for Sir Ute!" The page says, in a low voice that gives away the fact he is quite scared of how the Count will react.
"What?! How dare he! What is the amount, my boy?" Harold says, thrusting his hand to the right and into the air, knocking over a goblet of fine Brandy while he does so. "I swear, Anubus willing, I shall have his head for this!"
"80£, Sire. The note also established further claims to Eisenburg." The page says. Harold listens in silence, shocked completely. "He says that years ago, his great-grandfather Count Ysvelt II the Sea-Lord had laid claim to it, and had it under his control when the Robber Baron was at his greatest power. He says that, even if you pay the 80£, you must surrender Eisenburg or face war."
Harold is silent, contemplating. He is silent for a long time; only the pitter-patter of rain against the ornate wooden shutters is heard for a long time. Finally, he speaks.
"If it is war the Bastard wants, it is war he shall have. Call all my vassals; send word to Wiesenburg and Ackerthal. Have Orsted and Oskar of Wiesenburg here as fast as possible, and tell the Burgrave of Ackerthal to ready the garrison. Start sending letters to the forts and towns; summon the Auxilia and the Levies." The Count says, in a quick and irrational voice. Though, no Lowborn or Highborn would act any different, with such absurd claims being made.
The page excuses himself, already calling for the messengers to ready their Palfreys and for the scribes to begin drafting letters. The Count himself opens the window back up, this time to look over his lands, and towards the East, over the Blauwald. He sees nothing but darker clouds and more rain.