Chapter XI
The Klein home was airy and smelled faintly of pines. As the servant led us through the paneled corridors, I realized that the place was built like a square. After a while, we passed through a pair of wide, thick doors back into the blinding sun. The square was hollow, for an open courtyard spread out before us. Around its perimeter, I could see several other doors leading into the house. A single, wavy birch tree rested in the center of the courtyard, and small cobblestone paths wound through a grassy lawn. As my eyes adjusted to the sunlight, I noticed three figures resting under the tree, lounging in comfortable chairs. Seeing us, Mercedes rose. She dropped her book listlessly and began walking towards us. The others moved as well. By the resemblance, they were her parents.
The servant stamped his foot. "The Viscount Logan Harling and his companions." Bowing, he took his leave of us. For her part, Mercedes rushed forward and hugged Logan, whose face broke into a wide grin at her touch. As he tried to form words for an appropriate acknowledgment, the woman offered Jacob and me the same familiar embrace.
She paused then. "Friends, you've no idea how worried I was. I had hoped you would come soon."
"My lady," said Jacob, "how could we not? Your quick departure left us all curious. Then, with what happened after the ball . . ."
Mercedes looked up, her forehead creasing in worry. Before she could say anything though, her parents reached us. The man was dressed in a grey, finely pressed uniform. Gold braid hung over the shoulder and several medals adorned his breast. He certainly looked the part of the minister of war. Mercedes offered our names and obliged us with introductions in return. "And these are my parents, Joseph and Adele Klein."
The three of us bowed formally. Rising, I shook her father's hand. "Sir, your daughter was gracious enough to invite us to your fine home. We've already enjoyed your Riktenburg heartily, and we know that will only continue."
He smiled in return and shook hands with the others. "I received a telegram from my brother in Rome. He mentioned you've been through quite an adventure these few weeks but didn't elaborate, and our Mercedes refused to comment without your presence. We've been eager to meet you. Marcellus spoke quite highly of you, and I trust my brother's judgment." He paused for a moment. "Ah! Here they are."
As the man spoke, a group of servants was setting up more chairs under the tree, as well as a small table of refreshments. Logan glanced over to me. We grinned. Everywhere we went to, fine foods seemed to show up. Then Joseph led the group towards the birch tree and waved each person to a chair. I noted with some amusement that he placed Adele and himself between our group and Mercedes.
Noticing our sidelong glances towards the food, Adele tisked. "You boys have been traveling for hours and probably haven't had a decent meal today. Don't be shy." Needing no more encouragement, we selected several treats and tall glasses of wine before again settling into our chairs.
Mercedes laughed playfully at us. "And you were so timid in Rome. Bring them home and rascals will do anything!"
However, Joseph wasn't much for small-talk, it seemed. He leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees expectantly. "Now lads. What's your trouble? If we can offer any help, just say the word. Like I said, Marcellus was taken with you. He's a good judge of character, and I won't be the one to argue. Let's hear it," the man said.
Logan took the lead and briefly explained everything that had occurred since our departure from England. The duel elicited cries of shock from the women and an appreciative nod from Joseph. When he told about the Faith's pursuit, though, Joseph's face grew longer and longer. Finally, my friend related the particulars of our ambush after the ball and Di Luca's murder. Mercedes, who hadn't heard this news, turned completely white, and I was half afraid that she would faint before its conclusion. "And so, sir, we've come here seeking answers at your daughter's behest. Who's chasing us? What is this Faith exactly?" Logan finished in a rush, and it was quiet for several moments.
Finally Joseph sighed. "That's quite a tale. Certainly found your adventure, didn't you?" We chuckled politely as he continued. "I suppose it's probably best to just start at the beginning. If you'd like to know about the Faith, I can tell you. It's a long story, and very dark in many places . . . but I can tell you."
"Please, sir. If it's all the same to you, we'd like to have some advantage over these scoundrels, and knowledge is about all we can get at the moment," said Jacob.
The man sat back, taking a very long pull from his glass of wine. Then, reaching a decision, he spoke quickly. Throughout the long conversation that followed, his wife and daughter spoke not a word. "The French Revolution wasn't that long ago, but it changed everything in Europe when it happened. Politics, warfare, social classes for sure — the Revolution changed all of them. But for now, I want to focus on two things: religion and the monarchy. You see, the Revolution threw out the Church. The French priests and bishops were corrupt, didn't really care for the poor, and they had to go." He chuckled. "Of course, we Germans figured this out three hundred years ago, but that's neither here nor there. No, the Catholics were deposed, and France became agnostic. This troubled people. Many nobles, and not too few peasants, didn't like the change. They didn't approve of the Catholic Church's oppression, but they also didn't enjoy the new French government demanding that they give up their religion. What happened next was worse. How can a revolution, by definition a huge shift in a country's government, occur while the king still lives? You all know that it couldn't. Louis was called a traitor to his people, and they killed the king. Naturally, some groups were upset by this as well. The two groups coincided; those who clung to their faith didn't like seeing the king guillotined by an angry mob. The result was the Faith."
The man paused for a drink. Then he continued, warming to his tale. "I've heard several stories about their beginnings. Most agree that it was a collection of young nobles. They were sick of the changes, tired of the Revolution, and scared for their own necks. If the mob had killed the king, who might be next? Of course, these lads were right, and the Terror followed quickly after. So they formed a group. They were devout Catholics and ardent Royalists. As a combination, that makes for fierce loyalty towards tradition.
"These men wanted the reinstatement of the Bourbons and the Church without compromise. They wanted a return towards the divine right of kings. God had selected the Bourbon house to rule, and who were the French peasants to say otherwise? Even if the monarchy could be harsh, it didn't matter — the kings were God's elect and to say otherwise was blasphemy.
"With these goals in mind, they came up with their name, the Faith. Using masks and not at all opposed to violence, these noblemen saw themselves as God's vigilantes, God's righteous judgment on a heathen country. They began stirring up all sorts of trouble throughout the country. They were responsible for prison breaks, allowing dozens of political prisoners and un-collaborating clerics to escape. They robbed government coaches, stealing countless letters and untold quantities of gold. They attended balls and assassinated outspoken revolutionaries. The Faith came to be feared. On a wider scale, these men encouraged the revolts among the Vendeans and the Chouans. Everywhere, these rogues were popping up and sowing violence and discontent.
"Of course, the government did not sit idle. As the Terror grew, so did hunts for the Faith. Gendarmes smashed down doors, and troops raided chateaus to no end, but the ringleaders couldn't be located. Some members were captured of course. Those poor bastards were tortured within an inch of life over and over again, but they refused to give up their brothers. Nonetheless, they received the guillotine for their bravery. When Napoleon arrived on the scene, he too tried to stamp out these malcontents. The robberies of government coaches decreased but, even so, it was difficult finding members of the Faith. They were well-informed, and the suspected parties were never around when arrests were attempted. Napoleon's plans did little to quiet the devils. In fact, the Faith expanded with his conquests.
"In Spain, N
aples, the Duchy of Warsaw, Germany, and elsewhere, these men recruited. What began as a tiny group of young nobles soon became an entire network. They weren't selective either. If a person believed in the divine right of kings, he could become a Courtier, or what members of the Faith called themselves. People of all social orders and classes flocked to the Faith. Although it was never a massive organization, it far outgrew the band's original logistics. As I said, it was now a network, not a brotherhood. And with networks come leaks.
"Napoleon used these, and the Faith lost many men, even as France was being pushed back, losing the Napoleonic Wars. Of course, the Faith kept harrying the government until the day Louis XVIII took control. They had finally gotten what they wanted. But when Napoleon came back from Elba, the Faith started their antics again. They snatched government missives off the highway, and supply-lines were obstructed by these religious saboteurs. They'd brought back God's anointed once; they could certainly do it again.
"And they did. Napoleon was again exiled, this time to that tiny rock, St. Helena. And the Faith was over in France. But the Courtiers were not finished everywhere. Not all of Europe was back to the way things were before the Revolution. No, the Faith couldn't rest yet. People began to grumble again, and other countries had changed their governments. This simply wouldn't do. The Faith set about righting these problems. From country to country, the Courtiers worked. Slowly, they removed leftist radicalism and restored the monarchy to its proper place. And they spread once more. Now, in Spain, the Italian states, and the German states, you can find the Faith. When they acted during the Revolution, the Courtiers wore masks, hiding their identities. It wouldn't do for townspeople to see their faces and report their neighbors' crimes. Masks allowed for secrecy. Nowadays, that's changed a bit. The Faith have taken on a new way to identify their membership. Did you see any of them wearing bowler hats?"
Jacob nodded. "Out in public, they all had them. And each had a silver diamond on it as well."
"Yes, that silver medallion, invariably presented as a diamond shape, is their crest. If you get the chance to look closer, you'll find it's more than just a diamond. A cross is etched into the diamond, stretching the entire length and breadth of the shape. The expansive cross represents God's right to choose. The symbol stretches out and down, like God's omnipotent power. The diamond represents man's role in leadership. The top point is the monarchy, closest to the head of the cross, and consequentially, the head of God. Next, the two middle points of the diamond are the monarchy's support: the Church and the Nobility. Finally, the lowest point is the peasantry. As a whole, the symbol is a reflection of the social order according to the Faith. With the absolute monarch at the head of things, everything is in order, so to speak." We nodded. In an objective sense, this was all very intriguing. I just hoped I wouldn't have the chance to see the symbol again.
Logan said "Obviously, they've survived until our time. But why are they chasing us?"
"Oh yes, they're still around. As to their pursuit, that's part of the Courtiers' philosophy. It was the same during the Revolution. Those who exposed the Faith didn't last long. Their mutilated bodies were often found within days. It didn't matter if the deed was accidental, legal, or anything else. The rules were simple: if the Faith was harmed, harm would be returned. In your case, a legal, honorable duel happened. Logan, you killed Otto Fuchs. We'll come to that later, but you gentlemen most certainly harmed the Faith that day. I mean no offense, but I'm actually quite surprised you're still alive."
Before we could ask more about Otto Fuchs' dealings with the Faith, the man continued. "So, they are still active, and their mission is still the same. At least, in part. Except now they've adopted an even more stringent view on absolutism. Placing the various monarchs back on their thrones used to be the main objective of each Courtier. Now, the Faith wants to ensure that each king represents their station correctly."
"Correctly? What do you mean by that?" I leaned forward.
"An absolute monarch must rule absolutely. Kings must not give one jot what others think or do. The power rests completely and indisputably in their hands. Just think of Louis XIV. Modern trends have shifted towards a restricted, or at least subdued, monarchy. For example, the king is no longer able to destroy people's lands simply because he wants a new palace there.
"The Faith doesn't like this shift. It doesn't conform to their divine right philosophy. If a king doesn't have the power to do as he pleases, as God wills through his actions, what good is that king? In recent years, the Faith have begun putting heavy pressure on the monarchies to take up their absolute rights once more. They've come in conflict with progressive governments, and the Courtiers have resorted to their practiced violence on many occasions. And this of course explains their work in Riktenburg."
Logan held up a hand. "Please forgive our ignorance, but how did they affect Riktian politics?"
"Well, you know that Riktenburg is a monarchy. It has been for centuries now, and like many old kingdoms, absolutism was once a practiced art among the Riktian kings. Like many of his peers, our current monarch, King Martin III, practices restraint. He won't be absolutist. In fact, he finds the entire concept laughable. He sees himself as the people's leader and not their oppressor. He's even enacted many new policies towards progressive politics. We're a meritocracy now, more or less. Scores of his ministers and high officials are the sons of millers, tavern-keepers, and farmers. If a man can succeed by his own drive and talent, his bloodline doesn't matter to King Martin. I mentioned that the Faith hasn't taken kindly to Martin's shift in governing style. That might be putting it lightly. In the last decade, more than a handful of ministers have wound up murdered, government coaches have been robbed, and a bomb destroyed part of the royal palace."
"Good heavens! And the Faith hasn't been ousted from your borders by now?" I cried.
"That's just it," Joseph said, sighing. "There's never any connection to the Faith. A few men have been captured in connection with these crimes, but nothing ties the Faith to these men; they're completely clean. The irony of it all is that King Martin refuses to exile or arrest Courtiers without legal proof. An absolutist wouldn't think twice before shooting the scoundrels. He may know that they're as guilty as sin, but without evidence, he refuses to act. All the while, the devils keep up their work. It came to a head about a year ago. And here, young Harling, is where you and your ill-fated duel come into play." He winked at my friend, who perked up at the mention of his name.
"Your Otto Fuchs is the brother of one Aloysius Fuchs." The man looked expectantly towards us all, perhaps hoping for some sign of recognition. There was none. "Aloysius Fuchs had been a longtime advisor to the monarchy and a sort of Riktian celebrity besides. The man first made a name for himself upon the stage. He is a renowned actor, and his impersonations are incredible. The man is a genius in that respect. Politically, he was also very astute. It came as no surprise that King Martin used his knowledge extensively when he first took the throne. Fuchs was more than willing to help, and he didn't shy away from the power he was given in turn. Eventually, the man was promoted to be the minister of finance. And that's where things started to go awry."
Jacob said "He's a part of the Faith, isn't he? He'd have to be, given his brother."
Joseph tapped one finger lightly against the side of his nose. "Just wait for the story; you'll learn soon enough. So, Fuchs was now a minister, and a powerful one at that. Yet, in Riktian law, the king is able to do what he desires. He is the king after all. His ministers are there to provide assistance and advice, and occasionally attempt to dissuade the king from acting. But a few years ago, Martin began introducing massive new policies. The changes all came from the king's tour of our rural districts. But before I continue, how much do you know about Riktian farming?"
We shrugged helplessly. I thought about mentioning that we saw farms as our train passed through the countryside, but I didn't think that would be helpful.
The man nodded. "I fig
ured as much. Let me explain. Like much of Germany, our soil can be fruitful and the forests are plentiful. People have worked hard for their wages for centuries on family farms. The countryside is full of history and life, but it can also be a land of great suffering and long toil. In recent years, the condition has improved. Riktenburg has experienced the same boom in industry and technology as England and our neighbors. Advances in agricultural production, as well as technologies have led to better crop intakes and a safer work environment. Given the multitude of new machinery, producers have had to be competitive in selling their tools. Thus prices are low, at least in theory.
"On his tour about the countryside, the king noticed that the recent increase in farming technology hadn't helped everyone. In fact many farmers, especially the peasant laborers, were continuing to use the same old equipment, even though newer, better farming implements were available for reasonable costs. The king wanted to know why these peasants were still struggling and working much harder than necessary. Why was the new machinery being ignored? So, after returning to Teimsfeld, he looked further into the laws surrounding the countryside. At the end of it all, he found the financial laws to be rather . . . interesting."
"Perhaps a certain minister was fixing prices?" I asked.
"You would be correct. We didn't know at the time how involved Fuchs was with the Faith. That only came to light later. But for the moment, the king found that newer farming technology, as well as seeds, building materials, and land were all incredibly taxed. A levy was placed on all of these items. The end result was the poverty and suffering Martin had witnessed on his rural tour. Aloysius Fuchs is many things, but stupid is not one of them. He cited all manner of legal clauses and longstanding practices to make the taxes appear right. He talked endlessly about social control, propriety, and bizarre economic theories, but the king wouldn't have it. In fact, Martin wandered around the palace for weeks in consternation. If such crippling taxes could be levied without his knowledge, what else might be going wrong in the kingdom?
"Taken aback by Fuchs' taxes, King Martin began examining other parts of the kingdom. It turned out that Fuchs and several other ministers had implemented laws to belabor the lower classes everywhere. With taxes, mobility restrictions, and business limitations, the Faith had gotten their hands deeply into installing their social order. For a time, King Martin turned into a raging absolutist; the Faith should have been proud. He shifted new laws, ended corruption, threw out old clauses and regulations, and generally made life better for all. Of course, that included the peasantry as well.
"In a word, Fuchs was livid. He protested at every advisory meeting. He whined through backchannels and even pled with the king in private audiences. But it did nothing to change Martin's mind. The king was furious at having his affairs changed discreetly by Fuchs and others. Finally, it became so heated that the two took to shouting at each other. Truth be told, it was embarrassing. The king respected Fuchs for his assistance when he first took the throne, so Martin was reticent to punish him, regardless of his secretive dealings. Eventually it just became too much. Fuchs was removed from his office and disgraced. He left quietly, but we feared what the man would do next.
"You guessed it earlier. Fuchs was a Courtier. He was a relatively high member while a minister, but his political downfall shot him to power within the Faith. Courtiers lauded him for his resolve and applauded his commitment to keeping the social order. Soon, he was the leader of the Faith. In the king's government, we were shocked. Martin was amused. He saw Fuchs' increasing involvement in the Faith as a hobby for the disillusioned, disenfranchised politician. What none of us saw was the danger.
"Within several months of Fuchs' downfall, a rash of crimes began all over Riktenburg. Peasants were struck down in the streets and government officials were robbed. Then, a bomb went off in the royal palace.
"It was incredible and terrible all at once. I was at the palace that day. My office shook with the blast, and we raced into the hall, swords drawn to defend the king. As it happened, we weren't needed. He was emerging from his own chambers, having fallen asleep for a nap and was completely unharmed. The map room, however, was not. The king normally spent much of his afternoons there. Where the room had been, a gaping, smoking hole had awaited our arrival. We stared in shock at the mess and the view out into the royal gardens that the collapsed wall had exposed. Instantly, shock turned to rage at the thought of the assassination attempt. A hunt for information went out through the kingdom. Those responsible were to be caught and made an example of. But nothing conclusive came up. As I mentioned, the Faith was completely blameless in all of this — not one shred of legal evidence could pin anything to them. King Martin grew pensive. Then he grew resolved. While he hasn't been able to convict the Faith, he has been able to vex them.
"After the bombing, the king began even more radical shifts in policy. Before, he was mobilized by economic good-sense. The peasant farmers were using poor machinery to produce poor outputs of crops, and the kingdom was harmed as a result. Social equality wasn't in his agenda. After the attack, things changed. Meritocracy was swept in. Now, ministers, administers, bureaucrats, military officers, and the like gain their position through skill, hard work, and raw talent. Fuchs and the Faith want the absolutist ideals of social hierarchy by bloodline. King Martin wants a kingdom run by the best people. It has taken time, political machinations, and even violence to bring this about, but changes, fundamental changes, are being enacted."
I looked at Logan. What we'd seen at Versailles had been the epitome of opulence and oppressive social castes. Riktenburg was actually working towards new, radical goals. People could be equal in this little kingdom. The idea was wonderful. I began to smile. That grin faded though as Jacob held up a hand. "Wait, wait. I'm sorry, but this simply doesn't line up. If I have it right, the Faith is for absolute monarchy, yes?"
Joseph nodded patiently as my friend continued. "Yet, the Faith also approves of acting without the king's knowledge, as in the case of Fuchs' taxes. It's also in the habit of resisting the king's will. Finally, the bomb. Would they go so far as to murder the king?"
"Good heavens, that's their intention. If they could kill Martin and take control, they'd do it in a heartbeat."
"Doesn't that violate their notion of God's anointed king?" Jacob pressed.
"Perhaps I didn't explain it well enough. Are you familiar with the Old Testament?"
We nodded. Religion had been a strong part of our upbringing. The fire and destruction of the Old Testament had been drilled into us by many instructors, as well as our parents.
"What happened when the Kings of Israel turned to evil? God replaced them with new kings or allowed Israel to be conquered by someone else. The Faith apply that same principle to their ideology. They are the change God demands when a king violates principles like the established social order."
I jumped in. "What about Louis XVI? Wasn't his death a sign that he wasn't ruling justly?"
Joseph smiled sadly. "The Courtiers are full of contradictions, aren't they? Regardless, to the Faith, the Riktian situation is becoming unbearable. Most people don't recognize the danger brewing around us, but my troops are preparing. There's bound to be another attack on the king." He sighed. "Sometimes, I almost wish King Martin would act without evidence and arrest the whole lot of Courtiers. Unlike the old days, it's far easier to spot them now. They strut about with their silver diamonds like they own the country. Our troops are watching them, but they've five decades of experience in sabotage and secrecy. We can guard King Martin well enough, but the rest of the government is at risk too. The Archduke's been away on a hunting expedition for several months now. I doubt he even realizes how dangerous things have gotten recently."
I interrupted. "The Archduke? The king has a brother then?" At this point, Mercedes chuckled softly. I hadn't heard a word from either of the women, so it struck me as odd. When I turned back to her father, even he was smiling. "What is it?" I pressed. <
br />
"Of course the king has a brother. He has a twin. Phillip and Martin are the most famous pair in Germany." He indicated his family. "We're just surprised you haven't heard of them."
I chuckled. "Well, to be honest, we haven't had much experience with or knowledge of your kingdom at all, but we're certainly coming to enjoy it."
"So Archduke Phillip has been away hunting?" Jacob asked.
"Oh yes. Riktenburg is, under normal conditions, a peaceable country, so the Archduke has had lots of freedom to pursue his hobbies. He's not expected to handle a great load of state business, and he's not greedy for power. His ambition is limited to reaching the height of expertise in the skills he's chosen to focus upon. He's an avid sportsman, and you'll not meet a better fencer. The man often travels during the summer months. King Martin loves his brother greatly, and the two are perfectly content in their respective positions. Of course, the Archduke is sometimes called upon to run things while his brother is away or hosting international delegations. There's still pomp and circumstance for the younger brother. Phillip likes that too. He's a jolly man and quick to throw a lavish party, but he's not caught up in the social nets of the court. As I said, he's often absent from Teimsfeld. But his trip this season may have been unwise.
"Things are heating up in Riktenburg. Even after the attack on the palace, Phillip refused to change his plans. He'd been looking forward to hunting bucks in Switzerland for years, and he'd finally chosen this year for that occasion. I even spoke with him personally, but the man was firm — he was going to hunt. So be it. Who am I to stop him? He's taken a bodyguard of course. The royal family doesn't travel without one, but how twenty dragoons can protect the man against all the unforeseeable disasters out there, I don't know. We can only pray that he sates his thirst for the hunt soon and returns to Teimsfeld quickly. The kingdom needs him now more than ever." As the man paused to take a sip from his wine, I heard a rustling of grass.
A servant ran past me. His brass buttons bouncing, he raced up towards Joseph and bent towards his ear, whispering something I didn't catch. The minister's face brightened but then his brow furrowed and his grin dropped. He nodded towards the servant and then smiled over at his daughter. For her part, Mercedes was staring at the servant as the man trotted away through the courtyard. Turning in my chair, I could see a woman standing at the edge of the courtyard, just inside the house. As the servant reached her and nodded, she practically ran towards our group. I heard a gasp; Mercedes was smiling wildly now.
"Eva!" Mercedes called. She rose quickly but paused at something, worry creasing her face. Turning, I looked at the arriving woman.
For a terrible, beautiful moment, my being was transfixed, and breath would not come to me. If Mercedes was stunning, this Eva was divine, angelic. Short, but lithe, she moved gracefully across the lawn, her black tresses flowing in the small breeze. Her face was flushed and nervous, but her eyes radiated kindness. I smiled at her. She noticed me, and our gaze met. Then she froze, a flash of horror and recognition dancing on her face. I had no time for contemplation on that though. Mercedes bounded up and hugged her.
"Oh, Eva, it's been ever so long. I can't wait to hear—"
"There's no time," Eva gushed, her breath ragged. Breaking out of the embrace, she faced Joseph. "They're going to murder the king. Today."