Imperator: Resurrection of an Empire
Chapter 167: A New Dawn for Lunan

Chapter 167: A New Dawn for Lunan

The duel was over but neither side made a move.

Baldwin remained kneeling even after recovering enough to realize what had happened, the man remained on his knees knowing his life could be taken in an instant if Julius wished it so.

Behind him, he could feel the anxiety of his men knowing that what happened next depended more so on them than on what he himself did.

Meanwhile in front of him when his eyes were raised he could see the awaiting legionnaires were just as anxious but never lowering their guard knowing full well that if the Germanics abandoned their Honour they’d need to rush forward to protect their lord, as great at fighting though he might be against an army he could not survive for long even with his mana arts.

This tense stalemate seemed to last forever, till Julius’s blade was remove from Baldwin’s neck.

This was not because he wanted to, but because the time limit was simply up, so after feigning placing his blade back into it’s scabbard just before it disappeared Julius remained standing there, but with his now free hand extended it to the kneeling Baldwin.

Both sides were stunned, the lord Julius had just disarmed himself and right in front of an armed hostile force, but from the Germanic side it plucked at their conscience even more as this man before this was daring them to break their word, inviting them to break their oaths, and cast aside their honor.

Or for Baldwin to keep his word, and take up the mans hand and accept subordination to him.

For honors sake Baldwin had but one choice, so with gritted teeth the man tookup Julius’s hand.

But while thinking this would be like offering up your hand to a lord for subordination, Julius gripped the hand given and pulled the man up to his feet.

"It was a good fight, your people should hold their heads up with pride that fight could have gone either way" <Julius>

This of course was empty words but to a people who value honor, these words along allowed them the greatest way to save face in this encounter.

"Twas a good duel as you say, sad to say it still ended in my loss... We..." <Baldwin Fryee>

"The terms before the duel stand as agreed but as you can imagine I am not exactly in a position to take on new subordinates at this time, might we negotiate for an alternative spoil instead?" <Julius>

First by offering them to save face and now after having won offering to sweeten the deal by not making them become subordinates of a foreign power was just a forbidden fruit dangling before their eyes.

"Hmmm depending on what the changed terms are we could be amenable to that." <Baldwin Fryee>

"I propose this then, The Germanic forces within the city will leave, we will even let you take your dead with you, and not bring any harm to you on your way back to your own lands, in exchange we ask that you tell us why there are Germans in this city and an army at that, and lastly ShieldBearer Baldwin, I would like you to accept suborination personally for a term of five year upon completion you may do as you please." <Julius>

The terms laid out were more than generous, their fallen breathe could be entombed in the halls of their fathers allowing their spirits to join then in the afterlife, No further blood need be spilt even though they could easily be annihilated by the pincer attack of Julius’s own forces.

The last term was hard to swallow but it was only five year of a single man’s life in exchange for the entire life of thousands.

So though it was with a bitter expression on his face Baldwin agreed to the terms and shook Julius’s still clasped hand.

Both sides let out cheers of joy at this moment, and in the distant a similar set of cheers could be heard.

With this duel coming to a close, the battle for the city was all but over, Lunan had but a few hundred conscript remaining to defend the city and they’d long since withdrawn to defend the most defensible place which housed their Queen.

True to their words the Germanic forces stowed their weapons and left the city calmly out the city gates upon which they had first entered, taking with them were horse drawn carts piled high with bodies of their fallen brothers.

At first they tried just carrying them by hand but Julius offered the use of the carts and horses they’d found in the parts of the city they had already taken over.

And so they accepted since no price was asked and it would make the journey home much faster which considering their cargo was much appreciated.

Afterwards the Legion continued it’s advance and upon reaching the main square Julius’s men also sighted Zeff’s own entering the square from another road not moment after their own entrance.

The legion though battered looked lively and after the two forces metup Julius noticed that a contingent of Germanic men were following after Zeff like they were puppies.

Upon questioning him it seems a similar scenario occurred on Zeff’s side where he was challenged to single combat but choosing not to hold back his opponent fell in an instant, which brought about more challenges until finally the army before him surrendered directly to him, these men now following him were what remained of the commanders.

Julius after hearing the events with Baldwin at his side offered the same deal he’d given to Baldwin’s own group, to which the men were grateful and so they joined the other retreating forces and left but same to the first Julius select specific men for a 5 year stint as Retainers to act as they saw it as hostages against possible aggression from the confederation.

The legion remained alert continuing to comb the city streets until all sectors were confirmed safe save for the lord mansion, or palace in this case.

Using the cities own horses runners were sent throughout the city to announce the end of hostilities and that the city was now ruled by Grand Duke Julius the Hero of Lunan.

Having heard so the people finally left their homes albeit cautiously and saw the signs of battle in the streets where blood still was drying in some places.

Squad of foreign soldiers could be seen patrolling the city while others could be sighted manning the walls, and the navy which had brought them here once again returned to the port where the sailors finally disembarked.

The citizenry was alarmed at first as they had been occupied but their alarm turned to shock as these occupying forces we far better than the original soldiery.

The inns quickly filled up as the soldiers all bought rooms or offered Gold in exchange for places to staff from the regular people.

The sailors all dove headfirst into the taverns and drank the night away till the sun once more started rising into the sky.

As for the queen she was left to stew, the ground of her estate were watched diligently in case she attempted to escape while Julius’s men stood guard.

In a few more days Haddin would arrive and that would mark the end of the Lunan Kingdom, and the reunification of it’s lands but under a different dynasty.

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