"Well, Von Smallhausen, why have we halted this time? Yes, I know you don't know, but go and find out! How in the name of all that's holy can the army take two days to cover seven leagues!"
"Directly, Your Highness."
"Directly, Your Highness."
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Herr General, His Highness' compliments, and he wishes to be informed of the reason for this delay?"
"Apart from forming the advance guard into an assault line, I have requested General Muller to screen our movements and also to scout the North and South approaches to the village. As we close, he is also to reconnoitre the western approaches to the village. Now, are you quite sure you have that?"
"Yes, Herr General. Thank you."
"Well, Von Smallhausen, you may tell His Highness, that we have temporarily halted, to take up assault formation, in light of the news, brought in by a patrol, that the village in which His Highness has seen fit to take up his quarters, now appears to be occupied by a force of unknown size and composition. We are taking precautionary measures so that in the event of the force being inimical, we shall not be taken by surprise! Er... with my respects, of course!"
"Of course, Herr General. May I ask what steps, other than the assumption of a battle-ready posture, you intend. His Highness is sure to ask."
"Apart from forming the advance guard into an assault line, I have requested General Muller to screen our movements and also to scout the North and South approaches to the village. As we close, he is also to reconnoitre the western approaches to the village. Now, are you quite sure you have that?"
"Yes, Herr General. Thank you."
- - - - - - - - - - -
"So... a potentially tricky situation, Von Smallhausen. Those demmed Hannunteran Dragoons trying to remain invisible behind us, and now a possible enemy to our front."
"Not an enviable situation for Your Highness."
"Von Smallhausen... May I take the liberty of reminding you that you too are in the same situation?"
"Indeed, Your Highness. But, I am a mere Hauptmann, Your Highness is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Cief od this armament. I also happen, thanks to Your Highness' generosity, to be most excellently mounted, and not being overly constrained by Your Highness' position, shall have no compunction in making the best use of my steed's paces, should that eventuality become necessary."
"Indeed, Your Highness, the temptation was overwhelming, but I do, most seriously, make a point. We cannot afford to have you killed, or even worse taken prisoner. Such an outcome would render our political position untenable. We should have no choice but to withdraw to Ober Nord Westfalen and wait for the storm to break around our ears - because, Your Highness, in an unhappy event befalling you, then Ober Nord Westfalen itself would be lost. Your Highness' lady is most highly thought of by the populace, but I seriously doubt that the army would fight for her in the same manner as they are willing to fight for you."
"What! Do you say that the troops would be disloyal? No! I don't believe it!"
"No, Your Highness... the troops would fight, if the order is given. But, would the order be given?"
"Of course it would! Her Highness is totally committed to Ober Nord Westfalen!"
"Yes, Your Highness, of course, but... she is foreign, she was of the Romish persuasion... I have to ask... Would she have the full confidence of the army commanders?"
"Yes! She must have! They are oath-bound!"
"They are oath-bound to you, Your Highness. If Your Highness is lost, or taken, what then?"
"Von Smallhausen. I ask you straightly: Have you any solid grounds for these wild suppositions of yours?"
"Your Highness, we are ready to move again."
"At last, General Von Willich! So... do we attack our own headquarters?"
"Er... no, Your Highness."
"I am relieved, such an attack would have appeared ridiculous in the eyes of the world! But, good General, we are to assume, therefore, that the troops in the village are some of our allies?"
"Aah... umm, well, not allies, Your Highness, not as such..."
"Go on, Herr General, go on."
"Well, they are actually our own troops, Your Highness."
"Our own troops? How so?"
"Details are not yet fully disclosed, Your Highness, but it appears that General Himmelstoss took it upon himself to accompany one of his supply trains forward, and while on his route took the opportunity to sweep up the stragglers and laggards from our march. Together with the recruits he conducted hither, he has amassed a force of nearly five hundred men!"
"Good God! Herr General, this is priceless! Seven battalions and eight squadrons thrown into battle order by a motley collection of their own raw recruits and scrimshankers! Herr General, this is a most excellent joke on ourselves! But, it is also a most serious matter. A matter that requires discussion, therefore a General Officers' meeting at seven of the clock this evening. I advise the Generals that they would be well advised to dine early - this meeting promises to be a long one!"
"Not an enviable situation for Your Highness."
"Von Smallhausen... May I take the liberty of reminding you that you too are in the same situation?"
"Indeed, Your Highness. But, I am a mere Hauptmann, Your Highness is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Cief od this armament. I also happen, thanks to Your Highness' generosity, to be most excellently mounted, and not being overly constrained by Your Highness' position, shall have no compunction in making the best use of my steed's paces, should that eventuality become necessary."
"Von Smallhausen! How dare you? You would desert your post at the first setback? I shall, I shall... Von Smallhausen, if you continue to make sport of me in this most unbecoming manner, then I shall... I shall think of some dire fate for you!"
"Indeed, Your Highness, the temptation was overwhelming, but I do, most seriously, make a point. We cannot afford to have you killed, or even worse taken prisoner. Such an outcome would render our political position untenable. We should have no choice but to withdraw to Ober Nord Westfalen and wait for the storm to break around our ears - because, Your Highness, in an unhappy event befalling you, then Ober Nord Westfalen itself would be lost. Your Highness' lady is most highly thought of by the populace, but I seriously doubt that the army would fight for her in the same manner as they are willing to fight for you."
"What! Do you say that the troops would be disloyal? No! I don't believe it!"
"No, Your Highness... the troops would fight, if the order is given. But, would the order be given?"
"Of course it would! Her Highness is totally committed to Ober Nord Westfalen!"
"Yes, Your Highness, of course, but... she is foreign, she was of the Romish persuasion... I have to ask... Would she have the full confidence of the army commanders?"
"Yes! She must have! They are oath-bound!"
"They are oath-bound to you, Your Highness. If Your Highness is lost, or taken, what then?"
"Von Smallhausen. I ask you straightly: Have you any solid grounds for these wild suppositions of yours?"
"Your Highness, I give you my word, I have nothing that would stand the proving of a trial. But, I have worked with Herr Flick for long enough to garner some of his sense of when things are not altogether as they should be."
"H'mmm, very well, Von Smallhausen. You have given me much ground for thought. I will consider your advice very carefully before I take any action. Thank you, Von Smallhausen."
"H'mmm, very well, Von Smallhausen. You have given me much ground for thought. I will consider your advice very carefully before I take any action. Thank you, Von Smallhausen."
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Your Highness, we are ready to move again."
"At last, General Von Willich! So... do we attack our own headquarters?"
"Er... no, Your Highness."
"I am relieved, such an attack would have appeared ridiculous in the eyes of the world! But, good General, we are to assume, therefore, that the troops in the village are some of our allies?"
"Aah... umm, well, not allies, Your Highness, not as such..."
"Go on, Herr General, go on."
"Well, they are actually our own troops, Your Highness."
"Our own troops? How so?"
"Details are not yet fully disclosed, Your Highness, but it appears that General Himmelstoss took it upon himself to accompany one of his supply trains forward, and while on his route took the opportunity to sweep up the stragglers and laggards from our march. Together with the recruits he conducted hither, he has amassed a force of nearly five hundred men!"
"Good God! Herr General, this is priceless! Seven battalions and eight squadrons thrown into battle order by a motley collection of their own raw recruits and scrimshankers! Herr General, this is a most excellent joke on ourselves! But, it is also a most serious matter. A matter that requires discussion, therefore a General Officers' meeting at seven of the clock this evening. I advise the Generals that they would be well advised to dine early - this meeting promises to be a long one!"
"Jawohl, Your Highness!"
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An unexpected development . . . but not an unpleasant one.
-- Jeff
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