I was quite impressed with the mercenaries, it was not a regular army, but they kept discipline and order in the camp, the atmosphere was relaxed but not lazy, their morale also seemed high.
"A little change of plan, when you hand them over the gold, I'll come with you and introduce me, and when the coins start counting... you shoot the lieutenant and I the captain."
"Lord, I..." (Wroński)
"Do not be deceived by my kind tone and my sweet as honey voice... it wasn't a request." (MC)
Despite the dirty work that Wroński was doing, I couldn't think of a situation in which he would have to kill... unless before I met him... but in this world, there are no saints, just different levels of sinners.
Everything went according to the plan, we drove into the camp, the guards immediately recognized Wroński and let us pass... their first mistake. Me and Wroński sat down from the horses, and a few moments later I saw two officers approaching us... as we had planned, I was introduced to them by the name of the Red Baron.
"The Emperor is pleased with your actions, the ransom-demand plan has been successful ... and this is your additional payment. Where are the bodies of the mother and sons?" (Wroński)
"We buried them..." (Captain Barbiano)
These Italians were probably crazy... they might as well let them out in exchange for gold or sell them to someone, and tell us that they killed them... I put my hand on the gold.
"Then you dig them up, I need proof they're dead..." (MC)
I wasn't going to speak up and leave everything in Wroński's hands, but I wasn't sure if he was thinking fast enough.
"We give you our word of honor that they are dead..." (Captain Barbiano)
"Your word means nothing to me or Emperor. I want to see the bodies... or their heads." (MC)
The situation could quickly turn to a disadvantage for us, but the Italians behaved professionally, the client is always right... the captain gave orders to some of his people. Less than half an hour later the men returned with six heads, they put them on the ground, and I went to the horse and took a water bag to clean them of dirt.
There was no doubt it was the head of my mother-in-law and her sons Rupert, Maurice, Edward, Philip and nine-year-old Gustavus... I held my mother-in-law's head in my hand... Elisabeth had similar facial features and eyes, not color but shape... weird feeling.
"You have done well and have honestly earned your gold. The Emperor will have an additional task for you, but more on that later, now count your money." (MC)
There was no need to tell them twice, the captain and lieutenant immediately opened the pouches... their hands and heads were busy counting.
I looked at Wroński, his hands were shaking slightly... and I smiled, took my gun out quickly and shot him in the head of the captain, who was standing no more than 1 meter away from me. The roar spread over the clearing ... two or three seconds later more shots were fired. I heard a few frightened screams and horses neigh, my men, after firing a volley, took out their sabers and headed towards the surprised Italians.
Wroński was standing with a drawn pistol, from the barrel of which a small cloud of dark smoke was rising. His hand was still shaking... but he would do what he had to do, the lieutenant was lying with a hole in his eye, and blood poured out of his nose and mouth, filled with air bubbles.
"You did well for the first time, but there are more of them here... They killed my family. What kind of person would I be if I hadn't avenged them." (MC)
For a long time I have not participated in combat and I have not felt such excitement for a long time... not much thought, I took my saber and headed towards where there were still Italian mercenaries... The battle, if you can call it that, lasted maybe an hour, we lost a few people, but it was normal, the most important thing was that none of the Italians were among the living anymore. I have instructed my men to search their tents, get all their valuables, money, and bring my sisters-in-law.
"Lord, you have to see this..." (Wroński)
Wroński took me to one of the larger tents where my sisters-in-law were... Louise, Henriette and Sophia. It wasn't necessary to be a genius to know what had happened to them, bruises on her face, blood stains, torn clothes, dull eyes... only Sophie looked normal, maybe she was too young for them, she was only eleven... except for a swollen face and a few bruises she looked healthy.
"There is no need to cry over spilled milk... Actually, it's even good, in this state it will be harder for them to find husbands... too ambitious husbands could be a problem. Let people boil water, prepare something warm to eat and find some clean clothes, they should be in the boxes they were carrying with them." (MC)
"What are we doing with the Italians?" (Wroński)
"I take the heads of the Captain and Lieutenant for Elisabeth... as well as the heads of her mother and brothers. Leave the rest as it is, or the animals will have a feast or someone will find them. We are not gravediggers." (MC)
The best thing that can happen to my wife's sisters now is to become nuns or something like that, they can also help with the orphanage I will open for Elisabeth... it will be a form of therapy, away from the politics and temptations of this world.