The knights who accompanied Maximilian didn't respect him, but they had their orders directly from the Duke to support him till he found his footing .
Each of them had committed an offense that warranted their assignment so they decided to do everything possible to get back home even if it meant obeying the words of a bastard noble with no combat magic.
So when Maximilian ordered them to sack the castle, they instinctively carried out the order.
He watched as two knights conjured up balls of fire which they hurled at the wooden doors which exploded sending wood splinters around.
The skirmish barley lasted for fifteen minutes and then it was over. Many of the city guards were not foolish enough to resist and they surrendered their weapons immediately the Caligula knights entered the great hall .
Fifteen out of fifty guards were spared death that day because they had the sense to know their place.
The knights made quick work of those that resisted and soon Lady Windbread was on her knees in front of him .
Max looked down on the woman with disdain, he wondered how the woman could convince several men to die for her.
' the charms of a woman right. '
He knew that he could kill her there but for the sake of the future he needed her death to be symbolic and brutal enough that even men of enormous power would feel cold when they learn about it.
Max got off his horse and stepped past the woman, paying no attention to her.
" Throw her in a cell, I'll deal with her once I am well rested. "
He then made his way into the manor and fell asleep on the first bed he lay his eyes on.
Three hours later he was awake, there were no signs of battle anywhere in the building except for the lack of a front door.
He called the nearest servant and handed him a piece of paper.
" Go into town and give this to a carpenter, tell him that I would need it by tomorrow. "
The boy took the paper and then ran off into town.
Few minutes later he was looking at the towns inventory.
107 sq miles with twenty square miles occupied by a population of five thousand whose main income came from hunting and farming.
Th entire land belonged to the Lord so the Lord kept eighty percent of the lands proceeds and leaves twenty percent for the farmers who then have to pay a seventy percent tax on the proceeds.
The land had a river flowing through its south west border, providing fish and water for the citizens while also acting as a natural border against intrusion.
In the North East were lush forests that provided game for hunting and wood for fuel.
In the town coffers were 500 gold coins, 20,000 silver and three hundred thousand bronze coins.
There were also several tons of grain in storage. Maximilian could only wonder why the former Lord was hoarding supplies while his citizens starved.
The next morning residents of Valum had gathered in the town square, not because they wanted to but because refusal might cost them their lives.
They were suddenly awoken by the sounds of hooves and then they saw Maximilian accompanied by five knights each riding majestically, their blue cloaks fluttering in the wind.
Maximilian was dressed simple, he wore a simple white shirt, black trousers and black boots.
Lady Windbread was being dragged along and when they reached in front of the crowd they stopped and the lady was pushed down and then Max began his speech.
" Greetings, people of Valum, I am Maximilian Scorpia and I have been given the opportunity to take charge of this territory by my father, Duke Alexander Caligula.
He has sent me here to relieve you of suffering and as a bastard who has no choice but to obey the commands of my Lord Father I set out, arriving late at night.
When we arrived, I ordered my men to set up tents outside the town so as to not disturb the peace. By morning we sent word to the Lady, a letter carrying the seal of the Duke was given to her.
It then came as a surprise that the gates of the manor which should have been opened to await our arrival was chained shut.
When I asked for an explanation Lady Windbread manipulated the town guards to take up arms against me.
After she had been defeated, I had considered crucifying her on a cross but I thought that maybe she acted out of grief and so I have decided to spare her an agonizing death and grant her the mercy of a swift death." He then got off his horse and took a sword from one of the knights.
" I , Maximilian Scorpia, first of my name and Lord of Valum sentence you to die for the crime of treason."
And with that Max brought down his arm with full force decapitating lady Windbreads head from her body.
Blood sprayed everywhere and caused a large patch of red on his shirt.
He then handed the sword back to its owner.
" As for the surviving town guards who chose not to rebel and surrendered their weapons they would be rewarded with their lives and can choose to continue serving as protectors of this territory if they wish to.
This announcement prompted a gasp of relief amongst the populace after all the guards had families who didn't wish to see them gone and as for Max he wanted them to truly view him as benevolent.
After he was done and was riding back to the manor one of the guards, Kent asked him a question.
" Pardon me Lord Max but why did you execute the lady by yourself, you could have asked any one of us to do it. "
" Your name is Kyle , yes? "
The knights nodded
" Sir Kyle, the reason is very simple, I could have chosen to put her in prison for the rest of her life, but an example needed to be set and as the person condemning her to her date, it is natural that I see it through.
Remember this the man who passes judgement must swing the sword. "