black bird
“Two months. If we’re lucky.”
Julchen nodded numbly, but the Order’s Landmeister, sitting beside her on the let out a exaggerated sigh. “Great. Two months of food left, assuming God is merciful to us and doesn’t add rats to our list of woes. Of course, it’ll be one month before we’re overrun, and three before reinforcements get here. No worries then.”
“Hey, they might get here sooner,” Teutonic Knights interjected, even though she wasn’t supposed to speak. “And I know we can hold out. However long we have to. I know I can--”
“But you aren’t.” smacking his hand on the table in front of her, the Landmeister continued. “You’re town to five towns in the whole world, no Hochmeister and no Marshall. The Lithuanians and the Prussians are right outside, laying siege this very second, and if you have a miracle, now would be the time.”
Julchen rose, even though she was only as tall as most of the men’s waists. “Fine, I will. Better than sitting here listening to you argue that I should surrender to the heathens.”
As if on cue, there was a ruckess outside of people running around, and one of the officers ran in to report that the Prussians were attacking. Julchen’s heart pounded in her chest. Another raid. She only had a few acres left, there was no space to retreat or give. If they caught her, she’d be burned alive. If she died, the city would fall, and she wouldn’t come back from that.
