Clash of Kings

Chapter 10: Can We Trust Him Anymore?

"Deutsche, I don't think this is a good idea," Derogan said.

"Derogan, he was my friend when we were kids so I know that he can help, but you're going to have to trust me," Deutsche reassured him.

Deutsche, Mandara, and Derogan were meeting with an old friend of the German's who was supposed to help them defeat Prussia.  Ottoman Greece allowed Deutsche's friend to come into the country so the four could discuss their plans against Prussia, but the brothers were nervous because the friend is the son of Austria Empire, an old enemy of their father.

"Deutsche, try to see it from our perspective, his father was an enemy to our father, we just have trouble believing that he would want to help us," Mandara said with concern.

"My father is Prussia and I helped you, didn't I," Deutsche said, that made the brothers shut up.

About half an hour later, a fancy horse carriage pulled up in front of Greece's palace where the princes were waiting.  The human driver got down from his set and opened the door, partially bowing in the process, then after a moment, a country stepped out.  This country looked to be about Deutsche's age and was dressed in a pearl white outfit that resembled a fancy uniform rather than royal attire.  His flag had four stripes, the top one was red, the second was white, and the bottom one was split into two red and green stripes.  The brothers were quite put off by this country's eyes as they were silver in color, similar to Prussia's, but as the country walked towards them and was tapping a cane he had, they realized he was blind.

"A-H, my dear friend, long time no see," Deutsche greeted as his friend approached.

"Indeed Deutsche, I honestly thought your father abandoned you again and you finally got lost," A-H joked.

Deutsche chuckled and the two hugged, "it's good to see you too, mein Freund."

When they were done embracing, Deutsche clasped a hand on A-H's shoulder and turned to the brothers, "Mandara, Derogan, I would like you to meet my childhood friend, Austria-Hungary.  A-H, these are the Mandorian brothers Mandara and Derogan."

"So I have heard," A-H smiled and held out his hand for a handshake, "it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintances, your Majesties."

The brothers each shook his hand, even though they didn't feel too strongly about him, they still acted respectfully towards him since he was their friend's friend.

"It is a pleasure for us as well, Sir Austria-Hungary" Derogan said, "and we have heard a bit about you too, Deutsche says you can help us with our Prussia Problem."

"That is the plan, but perhaps we could save that for later, I just got here after all," A-H responded.

"Of course, where are our manners," Mandara said, then elbowed his brother for getting to the point too fast, "right this way, Sir Austria-Hungary."

"Just A-H is fine, being called sir sounds way too sophisticated for a leisurely visit," A-H said as he followed the three princes.  Mandara and Derogan gave each other confused looks, this wasn't supposed to be a "leisurely visit", they were supposed to be meeting to plan how to take down Prussia, why did A-H think otherwise?  The brothers decided it would be rude to ask so they left the conversation at that.

The first day of A-H's visit was mostly about him and Deutsche catching up and the both of them telling the brothers some childhood stories.  The Mandorian's eventually started to relax around the newcomer and ended up telling a few stories of their own, with A-H's favorite being Derogan's squirrel story, much to Derogan's dismay.  The brother's learned a lot about A-H, he was an excellent hunter and superb horseback rider despite being blind, he was the general of AE's army, and he claims to have outraced Commonwealth on horseback, the siblings didn't believe that last one though since Commonwealth was the fastest winged country in the world and much faster than any horse.