16th July 1574With how we departed from Zamosc in the early afternoon, even if we strained ourselves and risked cras.h.i.+ng the s.h.i.+p against the rocks at the bottom of the small river that we were using to travel, we couldn"t reach Sandomir earlier than in the early stage of the night. With that being the case and my personal doubts about whether Jan would still welcome me as his friend rather than as his enemy, I decided it would be for the best to at least take a good rest before reaching the city.
In the end, if everything were to go awry from this point on, this could very well be the last night that I could spend together with Elia!
Yet as the morning came, we couldn"t let ourselves just cuddle our day through. As much as reaching Sandomir filled me with worry, it was something that I had to do. Without the safe pa.s.sage through this part of the Vistula, and alerting him about the potential war in the east, even if I were to reach Mining Town in one piece, I wouldn"t be capable of bringing my own troops, and especially the heavy equipment that I was going to procure, with me.
"Okay guys, I know this might sound bad, but I need you all to be ready for everything. I wouldn"t overexaggerate if I were to say that the current times are what G.o.d"s apostles most likely meant by the apocalypse!"
No matter how much I would abhor myself later of for bringing a religion, something that the people of this age were very susceptible for, into my motivational speech before we would rush towards Sandomir, it was something that had to be done. Unless I could make them perceive themselves as potential martyrs, they would most likely hesitate to potentially go against the immense force of the Governor.
Yet as I thought about it, I simply didn"t have any other choice. If my current investments were to all go down the drain with Jan siding against me, all three cities of mine in the south lost and the mining town remaining the only part of my wealth that would have the means to defend itself, then no matter how much strength I would bring to the table, I would be ultimately considered a traitor anyway.
Not because I ever dared to go against the country. Not because I stirred some troubles in any place. All because one of the magnates decided to aim for my lands and managed to poach someone that I considered an ally into his own faction!
"Yet as hard as it will be on us, we must press on. Our brothers and sister in the east are being murdered, raped and skinned alive, while Ostros dare to use this dear country of ours as their private folwark!*" (A/N it"s basically n.o.ble"s living mansion with the attached territory, personal s.p.a.ce)
Looking at the faces of my men as we were slowly closing in to the border of the city, I made sure to look into the eyes of each and every single one of them.
"Now I ask you. Are you going to let them do as they wish, while our country is in peril, or are you going to stand up, as a proper man would, and do your absolute best to protects what"s rightfully yours?!"
To be frank, while this speech of mine didn"t hold any legislative power, as long as even a single subordinate were to survive the incoming ordeal, some of the ideas pa.s.sed in such speech would reach the ears of the wider audience. While it was way too late for the revolutionary movements to start, even if I were to die and not achieve anything in this strange transmigrated life of mine, I could at least set the spark of the growth that could result in the polish nation forming way faster than other European cultures turned into national communities!
Yes as I was about to continue my speech, I saw that the eyes of my men moved from my face towards the distance where the Sandomier was. Guessing what that meant, I turned my head around only to see a huge cloud of dust rising beside the city gates.
"Men! For the last time, I really hope that our friend and protector, governor Jan, didn"t decide to side with the traitors, yet it"s not something that I can guarantee. And since that"s the reason, we have no other choice than to be prepared to fight for our lives if that"s what G.o.d has in store for us!"
Finis.h.i.+ng off my short speech on that note, I picked up my personal rifle and checked out whether all the bullets were properly locked in their sockets on the magazine. Attaching yet another cylindrical mag to my belt, I turned my head to Elia.
"May this day be just one of the moments we will remember with pride while spending our leisure elder years."
Smiling at my wife, I couldn"t help but notice how she looked at me with a defiant stare before picking one of the rifles herself. Seeing the resolve behind her pupils, I could only sigh and turn back towards the city before moving towards the front of the s.h.i.+p. Now all that was left, was for me to await the arrival of the visitors.
"Stand down and stop your s.h.i.+p!"
As soon as the cavalry arrived, one of its officers pushed his horse forward, shouting his order.
"Who are you and why are you stopping us?!"
Resting my front leg on the railing of the boat, I made sure that my rifle resting on my locked arms would be perfectly visible to the soldier.
"Mike of Tarnow, you are accused of treason against the country and the senate of the commonwealth! Drop your weapons and follow us to the city, so that we could bring you to your trial!"
Just as I was worried, it seemed that rather than taking the blame for their actions, Ostros somehow manage to push their own version of the events. Yet even knowing that this was the case, I wouldn"t just step down and rest my fate in the hands of my enemies. After all, it didn"t take a genius to realise that the moment I obediently turned myself in, all the chances at ever saving my subjects and lands would be gone.
"And who is the one accusing me of the treason?! Step forth if you dare!"
As I shouted those words back at the soldier, I moved from a relaxed position to one that allowed me to quickly take aim and get rid of anyone who would dare to start the attack.
"I do."
Yet rather than the attack commencing, a silhouette moved past the soldiers, freezing my blood the moment I recognised its face.
"So you still decided to side with the traitors…"
Despite the fair distance of nearly sixty meters, I still believed that my hateful gaze managed to reach Jan"s eyes. If he was the one pus.h.i.+ng for my end, then all that was left in store for me in this life, was to fight for what was right!
"Mike, please, don"t tread on this path any further! I really don"t want to make an enemy out of you!"