03/06/2025 Snippet, [Elf French Revolution Story]

Still working on a title!

…

The next morning
It was an almost irresistible temptation to hang every peasant in Fresnay by their own hempen ropes, then burn down the town before retreating, but Joseph managed to control his impulses. It wouldn’t aid his forces, and it wouldn’t harm La Bête‘s. He couldn’t even hope that a provocation or two might make La Bête do something rash. If this damnable Vendee revolt had taught anybody anything, it was that the rebel leader fought and planned even better when he was angry. Better to keep the enemy’s famous temper restrained.

Joseph did have the river-bridge burned, though. That was understood to be a legitimate tactic in war. He also hoped it would appeal to Kraemer’s sense of pride, or at least his desire to see things burn.

The German did not appreciate the gesture, and made it clear at the earliest opportunity. “You will regret leaving the Devil behind to do his work in peace, Citizen Fouché!” he told Joseph, during a brief halt while the wheelwrights replaced a broken wagon wheel. “He will use your foolish mercy to do great evil!”

If I believed in the Devil, Joseph thought, I would be unsurprised to hear him say you were one of his most useful servants.

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