"Auf widersehen my friend, I wish you a safe journey."

Prince Klaus smiled as the general made his way to the door, but as soon as it was closed his lips curled in repulsion.

"I am sick of dealing with these dummkopfs. How are we supposed to supply the British with troops if all we can offer are brainless people with endless stupidity?"

Princess Innogen placed a hand on her brother's, smiling gently at him.

"You must have patience mein bruder. Nobody has even asked us for support yet."

"That's because everybody thinks we're weak just because we're only a small principality! I can imagine Frederick laughing at us right now." He groaned, placing his head in his hands. "There are many things I can put up with Innogen but being laughed at is not one of them."

"They won't. Besides, didn't you manage to secure an interview with that Hessian Mercenary? The One nobody else has been able to get before?" Innogen said softly, her smile becoming a crafty smirk.

Klaus soon returned the smile, remembering his message to the elusive warrior.

"Yesss... we have that in our favour."

"When is he due to arrive?"

"I'm not sure, he never sent a reply but reports claim he's..."

BANG

The two royals looked up, Klaus immediately standing up as he stared at the doorway.

Stood there was a tall, pale-skinned man in a black mercenary suit and cape. His black hair was brushed back wildly, framing his fearsome looking face... and what a face. The teeth had been filed into sharp points and his eyes were a demonically pale blue. The man was truly a demon, the kind of creature you would scare a child with.

This was the Hessian Mercenary.

As Klaus beheld this creature, he grinned. Now he understood why this man had such a dark reputation, seeing a face like that could make you welcome death. If he had this man on his side not only would it improve his standing as a prince but would almost certainly secure a great deal of success during the fights.

Little did he know that Innogen was hatching her own plans for the unusual being being. The man was not exactly handsome but he had an impressive figure and this overwhelming presence of authority, such a man would make a formidable prince... her desire to overthrow her brother was her best kept secret and she didn't want him to discover that she had already planned how to kill him, but that didn't mean she couldn't secure a strong husband while he was still here.

"Was wollen sie? Why have you summoned me here?" The hessian asked in a hissing voice, his pale eyes fixing on the two royals.

Klaus looked at his sister.

"Things are looking up, meine schwester."