I swung the halberd at Rupert as he desperately tried to get up. Unterhau, a technique that rises from below like a golf swing, slammed into his helmet without mercy.
Whump!
Rupert went limp.
I'd hit him with the flat of the axe head rather than the edge. I spared him because I wanted a prisoner. Noble captives are pure profit, so why would I kill one? His men finally gave up resisting.
"I'll take good care of your captain as my prisoner. Go to the Lord of Wischelbach and tell him the Lord of Rosenheim is waiting here. If he doesn't come, we'll hit another village."
"Grrr. You'll regret this, I swear it!"
I let Rupert's men go.
Swallowing their fury, they vanished into the dark.
What would the Lord of Wischelbach choose once he got their report? He would either come here to face me or report to the Count of Basel. Or perhaps he would simply do nothing at all.
"My lord, do you mean to lure the Lord of Wischelbach out here and crush him?"
