The assassin rolled to the side and Vasilii's foot came down on the floor. He grabbed a candlestick from the mantle and hurled himself at his attacker. He felt a sharp pain in his side.
Vasilii groaned, the candlestick fell at his side, and blood spattered the floor. The assassin pushed him backwards onto the bed and he lay there, clutching at the wound in his side in vain. The assassin finished the job.
The King is Dead.
Long Live the King.
**********************************************************************
The identity of that king was something of a mystery, with the Princes backing rival candidates. In the running were the bastards Koz'ma, Alexandr and Stanislav, the legitimate Rurikovich heir Pavel, and a variety of other dukes and counts.
After several days of political maneuvering it seemed that Ladies Arsinde and Ida had managed to secure Pavel Rurikovich as the heir. Everyone was under the impression that it was practically a certainty, but as we all know certainties rarely go to plan. Koz'ma, bastard child and eldest son of Mstislav Rurikovich, slipped into the court unnoticed, and aided by his courtiers he spread news of the favors he would bestow on his supporters. In under an hour he had most of the Russian court in his sway, and when the time came to vote he won in a landslide.
The differences between the new King and the old were as night and day: where Vasilii was merciful, Koz'ma was vengeful and unforgiving. Where Vasilii was generous and open-handed Koz'ma sought only personal gain. And where Vasilii was devoted to the Church, Koz'ma had more than his share of doubts about God and Faith.
Despite, or perhaps because of, the bribe-heavy way he kept control Koz'ma had no powerful friends to speak of. Because of his rather abrasive personality however he had a fair few enemies. He also had no children to call his own, his only daughter having died some years back and the child in his court being a fosterling sent by a sibling.
The one thing he did bring to Russia was a skilled court: his wife Anastasia proved to be very clever with money, rivaling the skill of the deceased Dhiyad ibn Marwan. Another of his courtiers, a nobleman by the name of Mladen Nemanji, proved himself as a great tactician. The two of them were immediately promoted to Steward and Marshal, making up somewhat for the loss of the brilliant Vasilii.
Despite competent leadership the Russian nobles simply did not feel comfortable serving under their new liege. Many among them argued that he was an illegitimate liege, even those who had voted for him. They seemed to have reconsidered their decision and wanted to see a legitimate descendant of Prince Mstislav on the throne, whether by peaceful means or otherwise.
The first to attempt the latter was Jadviga Rurikovich, Countess of Kama. She declared Koz'ma a stain on the house of Rurikovich and declared independence.
Showing true cunning the Church took this chance to test the loyalty of their new liege. A delegation of priests and monks arrived in the court requesting that Koz'ma honor a donation promised by Vasilii. Koz'ma turned them aside and told them that if they wanted donation money they should do a day's work for a change.
Danib Vasilievich, Bishop of Murom, was the next to rebel.
Matters got worse when Yaropolk, Count of Velikiye Luki, joined the rebellion. If Koz'ma didn't do something soon it would grow into a full-fledged civil war.
Later that month the Prince of Vitebsk declared independence, bringing several vassals with him. In response Koz'ma declared that any rebel who refused to rejoin Russia would be stripped of all titles and land.
The first rebel state to fall was Kama, the county which had started it all. Countess Jadviga not only lost her land, but also her noble status among Russians. The court had tried to stop the latter, but Koz'ma would not be swayed.
The time came for a formal education to be chosen for Rostislav, but Koz'ma was busy with his wars. He agreed that Rostislav would remain at the monastery for religious study, but it was mostly just a way of keeping his dead brother's children out from under his feet.
Yaropolk of Velikiye Luki was the next to fall, and he suffered the same fate.
Having lost her father and finding herself in the care of a bitter warmonger Veleslava became increasingly cynical and suspicious of everyone around her.
The court managed to convince Koz'ma to take a different stance with the Prince of Vitebsk: rather than regaining the territories through conquest, Koz'ma agreed to renounce any and all claims against Vitebsk in exchange for the Prince rejoining the Kingdom of Russia. The deal was agreed to and that part of Russia returned to normal.
With all rebel lands reintegrated Russia was united once more. But the nobles were discontent and it was no secret they didn't like Koz'ma. Only time would tell if he could keep a lid on the powder keg of Russian politics.
(red is Russian border, blue is Koz'ma's personal demesne)
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