"I... I would be honored," Vratislav stammered, realizing his scheme had been countered by a superior stat.

The flickering torchlight of the Great Hall in Prague cast long, dancing shadows against the stone walls. Duke Bořivoj sat at the head of the heavy oak table, staring at a small, wax-sealed parchment. To his left sat his Chancellor, a man who had served his father; to his right, his ambitious younger brother, Vratislav.

Bořivoj grunted. He looked at his icon in the corner of his mind—or rather, the bond he felt with his Chancellor. The old man shook his head. "The King of Hungary is 'Ambitious' and 'Deceitful,' my Liege. He doesn't want a partner; he wants a claim on your throne. Once your daughter is in his court, she is a hostage, not a bridge."

Vratislav’s face paled. He knew the mountain pass was infested with "Bandits"—the kind of bandits a Duke pays to ensure a tragic accident occurs.

Vratislav leaned in, his eyes gleaming with the sharp light of a man who saw opportunity in every shadow. "An alliance secures our southern border, brother. It makes us untouchable. With the Hungarians at our back, we could finally claim the Duchy of Nitra."