Chapter XII
"Eva, slow down. What's going on?" The minister looked worried but also nonplussed.
The woman's halting breath continued to heave as she explained. "Sir, there's no time! The king may be dead already. Fly! Fly to the palace and tell him."
Joseph grabbed her by the shoulders. "Tell him what exactly? We haven't seen you in months, and now you show up with this threat. What's happening Eva?"
"I've been with them for months now. Kurt and I are — were — lovers. It's over though now. They're killing King Martin, and I won't be a part of it."
I held up a hand. "Pardon my forwardness, but who is 'they'? Where have you been? Who's Kurt? Who are you?"
Her eyes flashed towards me, annoyance written on her face. She ticked the answers off on her fingertips. "In order, I'm talking about the Faith. I was with the Courtiers of course. I've been in France and Switzerland for months now. Kurt Weber is a Courtier, one of their best. And to you, I'm a friend that saved your life." She nodded towards Logan. "His too." We looked at her dumbly. "Remember the rock that flew through your window?" she urged.
"Wait, that was you?" Logan sputtered.
"Yes. But we don't have time for this." She turned again to Joseph. "You have to warn the king. I don't know the details, but Fuchs is going to assassinate him today."
The lines on Joseph's face hardened. "Eva, what did they say, exactly? What are we dealing with here?"
She pursed her lips, her eyes rolling up in recollection. "They've been acting in secret for weeks. I was with Kurt and the Fuchs brothers. We traveled around to Paris, Luzerne, Bern, other places I don't remember. After he killed Otto," she shot a finger towards Logan, "some of them went on the hunt for these two, but Aloysius, Kurt, some others, and I returned to Riktenburg. The night of Otto's death, they were furious. That some young blood could kill Otto was a complete effrontery to them, and they were all calling for your deaths. I didn't like it at all. It was Fuchs' own fault; no one needed to punish you two. Kurt wouldn't hear my protests though, so I went on a walk through the streets. They had your address, and I overheard it. Your rooms weren't difficult to find. I saw you two walking about upstairs. I warned you, and you lived because of it. But that's beside the point right now.
"Like I said, a group of us returned to Riktenburg. We've been in the countryside for a month, at an estate. I wasn't allowed to go everywhere. Certain wings were off limits to me. I wandered into one by accident once, and Kurt was livid. I thought he would kill me. They never told me why.
"I did start noticing that an extra plate of food was always reserved and carried away from the table at meal times. It was all very odd. Also, I kept hearing snippets of conversation from the staff. They were always talking about 'the guest.' Of course they would whisper, and I could never catch much.
"Then one night, Kurt and I were walking along the grounds. The west wing was forbidden to me, and I never saw anyone enter it. It seemed like it was abandoned. But as we walked about, I saw a light! A lone candle lit up a single window along the second floor in the west wing. All the others were dark. Inside, I could see vague shadows moving about. I asked Kurt about it, but he dodged the conversation and quickly led me back inside. Of course I grew even more curious. What was in the west wing? Why couldn't I go there? Why did everyone grow testy when I mentioned it? And who was this 'guest' the staff mentioned?"
"All very interesting questions," broke in Joseph. "I assume it was a prisoner, yes? Who was it?"
She nodded. "I couldn't ask anyone, but that was my guess too. I finally walked in on a conversation between Kurt and Aloysius. Two nights ago, I heard them talking. Like most evenings, they'd been drinking. That night, they were completely drunk. I walked by the trophy room and heard them shouting and laughing at each other. I was going to walk on, but I heard my name.
"Kurt said, 'And poor Eva will never find out.' right as I passed the room. There were double doors leading inside, and they were almost completely shut. Only a crack let the sound carry out. Of course I stopped. I checked about, saw no one, and set my ear against the crack. Fuchs spoke next. 'He's been here for weeks, and she hasn't guessed. Besides, I don't even know if we can trust her anymore,' he said. 'Remember Paris? No, it's just as well she never learns. Suppose she tries to talk to him. Or worse, tell the king. The last thing we need is another botched plan. The bomb was supposed to work without a hitch.'
"Kurt laughed then, darkly. It was the cruelest sound I've ever heard of out the man." Eva hesitated, her lip trembling slightly. I wondered how long these two had been lovers and how recent the separation had been. She forged ahead in any case. "He laughed and then spoke again. 'When you're king, it'll be easy. Shouldn't be difficult. You've played harder roles.' I heard another laugh then. It must've been Aloysius because he shouted. "I have, haven't I? I've been an old woman, an English gentleman, beggars, thieves. Playing a king won't be difficult. Especially not with such a willing tutor!' They both guffawed, and Fuchs continued. 'Who better to teach than the king's brother?' Kurt roared and spoke. 'You've enough practice now, I think. Your walk is becoming just like the king's. And the makeup is impeccable now; no one will ever know. Think of it! Learn from the twin, kill the king, and finish off the tutor! Foolproof. Two days from now, you'll be Riktenburg embodied, and the new king might just have a change of heart about a lot of things." They both exploded in laughter. There, in the darkness of the corridor, I shivered. I'd heard enough, and I dashed away.
"As soon as I could, I made some pretense to go to the village nearby. Kurt insisted on accompanying me, but I lost him in the town square. It was market day. I caught the first train to Teimsfeld, and here I am. Now, you've heard my story. They've kidnapped Archduke Phillip, and Fuchs will kill the king today. I beg you, please warn the palace." Eva stared hard at the minister.
Joseph's entire frame paused as he mulled over her words. Finally, he released the air and sat up. "Right," he said. "We'll discuss your taste in men and how you came to be with the Faith in the first place later. For right now, thank God for your damned foolishness." The man turned towards us. "Gentlemen, are you armed? Will you accompany me to the palace?"
Jacob spoke first. "Sir, we have pistols but no swords." He looked at Logan and me. We nodded and he said, "But we are at your service."
Joseph stood. "Good. That will do. We're going." He clutched Eva's hands in his own. "My girl, Riktenburg thanks you. You may have saved the kingdom."
"They won't thank me if you're too late."
"Very well. Gentleman, we'll take my carriage." As we strode across the courtyard, the women huddled together in conversation. Just as we entered the house, I saw Eva collapse into a chair, drained. For my part, I was enchanted by the mysterious woman. She appeared without warning to offer grave tidings, and yet, she possessed a certain flair and dignity that I found altogether irresistible. But there were more pressing issues for the moment. Courting would have to be postponed.
The minister alerted his servants and urged them to make speed. We loaded and checked our weapons as the carriage pulled up. Without a moment's hesitation, Joseph leapt into the vehicle, and we followed. The carriage pulled away and began winding its way through the streets of the capital. After the rush of activity, we sat in silence, resting for long moments. Finally, I gathered my courage and spoke. "Joseph, this Eva. Who is she?"
He smiled sadly. "Our Eva Myasnikov is the daughter of the Tsar's ambassador to Riktenburg. Her family's been in the good graces of the Russian government for decades now, so Eva has grown up in Teimsfeld almost her entire life. She and Mercedes met long ago at a royal ball, and the two have been inseparable ever since. However, in recent years, the girl has taken to certain dalliances, and we see less and less of her. A beautiful woman, undoubtedly. Sometimes though, she allows her affections to get the best of her common sense. Thankfully, that's a blessing today."
I nodded, glancing out the window absentmindedly. The mysteries continued. Eva was not even Germa
n. I let my mind wander as the streets raced by, a blur of motion. The passersby stared in open astonishment as our carriage careened past. The streets were rising slightly, and by the look of the houses, we were entering the oldest part of the city. Mason work and ornate wood-crafting bedecked every building. Had we not been so distracted and our travel so rushed, it would have been a pleasant trip.
Logan cleared his throat, bringing me back to the present. "Do we have a plan, minister? Eva heard the men, yes. And they were to do the deed today. But what are we doing? Double the guards? Will the king be spirited away?"
"We can only warn him," the older man responded. "Knowing how thickheaded Martin can be, he won't run. Of course we'll post more guards. Our immediate job is to make sure he's safe. Next, we'll try capturing the scoundrels in the act. After that, we'll need to talk with Eva more. If she's right, this is absolute evidence of the Faith's guilt, and the king will have no qualms in acting. Eva will tell us where they've lodged and who the members are. God willing, this whole fiasco might settle down after this. There it is." He pointed ahead out the window.
In comparison to the unassuming buildings around it, the royal palace was massive. The space around the citadel had been cleared, and the emptiness accentuated the building's magnitude. Painted in a pale yellow, the foundational stones of the palace rose up, looming above the grounds. Gardens and small groves dotted the space, and everything was circled by a tall metal fence. Around this perimeter, I saw guards on watch. Some paced back and forth, fine sentries. Others manned small guardhouses, muskets leaning against their shoulders. To me, it looked impenetrable.
Our carriage raced up to a gate along the street, the only opening through the massive perimeter fence. As we neared it, I shuddered as I saw the top of the fence. Spikes hung forward at a sharp angle. Anyone attempting to climb the structure would need to twist their body almost parallel to the ground to climb around and over the jutting spikes; King Martin was well protected it seemed. Laughing to myself I realized the absurdity of that thought.
At the checkpoint, a royal guard approached the carriage's window, and Joseph leaned out, speaking first. "Soldier, alert the guards! There's to be an assassination attempt on the king today. Sound the alarm and bring me to His Majesty."
At the announcement, the guard just stared at the minister for a long moment. He was dressed in black, his uniform perfectly arranged. A single scarlet stripe ran up the outside of his trousers, and scarlet tassels on his shoulders and his hat waved in the wind. At his side, an impressive saber bounced, and a wickedly pointed bayonet waited on top of his shouldered musket. More than six feet tall, the man was a prime warrior. And if my guess was right, he was just another common specimen of the royal guard.
Finally he spoke, his voice an efficient rumble. "Minister, those are some heavy claims. We'll sound the alarm, but if it's false, I look to you for explanations." The minister made a bow of gratitude from his seat. The carriage was let through and the guard rushed over towards his commander. This new man uttered a quick curse before mounting a nearby horse and dashing across the grounds towards the palace. Our carriage chased the messenger as we raced to inform the king of the danger.
Stopping before a wide, long set of stairs leading into the palace, the minister threw open our carriage's door and bolted for the palace. Given his age, I was impressed. The three of us attempted to keep up with the man. Ahead of us, the messenger had dismounted and was practically sprinting. He held his hat and loped up the stairs. Reaching the palace's great doorway, he saluted the guards who stood watch. Still climbing the steps, I glimpsed the messenger exchange some words with his counterpart. Even at a distance, I could see the shock register on the sentry before he too flew off into the palace. Our group finally reached the stair's summit and faced the waiting party.
"I'm sorry, sir, but the palace is closed as of this moment. There may have been a security breach." The sentry tried to block our passage.
Joseph huffed. "Out of the way, you! I'm the minister of war, and if His Majesty needs to see anyone right now, it's me. Besides, you wouldn't have a damn clue about any breech if we hadn't just spoon-fed you the information. Step aside; I'm going to see the king."
Taken back by the ferocity of the man's words, the sentry moved aside. Joseph didn't wait for him to change his mind as we rushed forward into the palace's main foyer. Two winding staircases led up to the upper floors, and a long corridor opened before us. On either side of the halls, countless doors opened into unknown rooms. Around us, servants milled about carrying things, cleaning, and maintaining the efficiency of the building. Bureaucrats wandered the halls, chatting. More guards stood at attention. Elsewhere, a group of soldiers strode into the foyer from a side door. Then, suddenly, a deafening, monstrous clanging filled the room. Somewhere out of sight, a giant bell was being rung. I glanced around at the sound, but paused instantly. Everywhere, the soldiers had drawn their swords and lowered their muskets. They accosted bureaucrats and servants. They began rifling through each person's possessions and clothing. This alarm was not something to be taken lightly.
The squadron who had just entered approached us. Their officer, his saber drawn, looked disdainfully around the group before speaking. "Gentlemen, what is the meaning of your presence here?"
Joseph drew himself up. "To see the king. Without us, you'd never have known about the plot or have any reason to raise the alarm. Do you know who I am?"
I held back a chuckle as the officer tried to answer. "Of course I do minister," he stammered, "But—"
"Then you will take us to the king. Now. I'm no traitor, and I'm not about to let the king to die for your ineptitude." Blustering, the man was a force to be reckoned with, and the officer agreed without further protest. The squad spread out around our group, and we marched down the long corridor.
Seen from the outside, the palace was large. From the inside, it was a labyrinth. At the end of the main corridor, having passed at least a score of rooms, we reached another foyer. It was a mirror image of the one we had just left, and we took one of the winding staircases up several floors. Reaching the top floor, three more hallways arched out in different directions. Without hesitation, the officer took us to the right. Our heels clicking on the polished marble, we had little time to enjoy the numerous gilded frescos and mosaics that graced the walls. We passed more doors, and I was becoming thoroughly lost. Joseph seemed to know the way, for he didn't look surprised when the officer suddenly opened a nondescript side door and ushered us inside. Once more, we found ourselves facing three more corridors. Now, we took the left and continued the journey. At first, this hallway was like all the others. Doors lined each side, and paintings bedecked the walls. Then, the corridor came to a sharp curve. Up to that point, windows and the occasional lamp had lit our path. In fact, I was impressed by the lighting. Many of the large buildings I'd visited were dark and stuffy.
But as we turned around the curve in the corridor, the light disappeared.
With shock, I realized that this entire corridor had been lit by a single window. No lamps hung on the walls. Yet, with the curve, we were thrust into complete darkness. The officer leading us did not pause. Instead, he walked boldly into the gloom and we followed. I was feeling a bit nonplussed when I heard a shouted 'Left!' from up ahead. I pondered this for only a moment until I walked headlong into a wall. Claustrophobia grabbed hold of me, and I could almost see horrors descending out of the darkness. We were trapped in some dark hole! As my breath grew ragged, someone grabbed my arm.
"Turn left," Logan whispered in my ear. It was one of the most reassuring sounds I'd ever heard.
"Ah," I replied sheepishly. My terror dispelled, I turned left and continued walking through the darkness. For the next five minutes, our leader called out directions and we turned one way or another. With a guide, the route was relatively easy. Without help, it would've been a nightmare. By the time some assassin made their way through this maze, a group of eager soldie
rs could be ready and waiting at the other end.
At long last we turned a final right and came out into sunshine once more. This time, several skylights filled the hall with warm patches of light. A large set of double doors waited at the end of the corridor. Three guards stood outside it, but otherwise, the space was abandoned. Without pause, the squadron's officer led us forward.
The three guards at the end of the hall presented their muskets warily, but our leader waved a hand. "Albert, you know who I am. I've the minister of war with me. Step aside." The sentry lowered his weapon, knocked on the large door, and swung it open for us as he moved out of the way.
We made to enter, but the officer held up a hand. "I'm sorry, minister. I know and trust you, of course, but I don't know these men. I'm sure you're willing to vouch for them, but given the situation, we must take precautions. If any of you are armed, I must have your weapons." Joseph tried to protest, but the soldier cut him off. "Sorry sir, but it can't be helped. Surrender your arms, or I won't lead you to the king."
Grumbling, the three of us withdrew our pistols and handed them over.
I laughed as Jacob took out a second revolver, as well as a wide knife from his boot. "I come prepared," was all he said.
The task accomplished, the officer moved out of the way, and we bustled inside. I expected a dark, well-protected bunker in the midst of the royal palace, complete with barred doors, locks, and guards bristling with guns. What we found was a spacious chamber. Light again shone down from various skylights and windows. One whole wall contained numerous panes which provided an expansive view of the palace grounds. Elsewhere, another half dozen guards milled about. Several men stood in a corner conversing. Then, as my eyes continued to track across the room, I saw the king.
He was perched like an owl upon a small throne in the center of the room. He possessed piercing eyes, cropped black hair, and a sharp, long goatee and mustache. He was hunched over in his chair, his arms resting on his knees, as if he was sulking. I'd never met a monarch before, but King Martin III was not exactly what I expected. He was handsome enough, and he bore the look of command, but he seemed not the bombastic, raging man I had expected of monarchy. Weighed down with melancholy, apathy, or something else, this king seemed resigned. I'm not one to judge regality, but this king was surprising.
Upon our arrival, the room froze. The few guards reached for their weapons. The conversations ceased. Even the king perked up at the new development. Joseph walked boldly forward and bowed low to the king. Following in his wake, we did likewise.
"Your Majesty," said the minister. "I raised the alarm. My apologies for disturbing you, but we have reason to believe there will be an attempt on your person today." He paused, apparently remembering us. "Allow me to introduce my companions. Viscount Logan Harling and Nathaniel Fletcher hail from England, while Jacob Douglas comes from America. They have offered their services in defense of the crown today." We bowed again at the introduction, but the king seemed not to notice.
"I'm honored. Thank you for your willingness," he said distractedly. He turned instead to the minister. "Now, Joseph, what is the meaning of all this? I know caution is key after the bombing, but I was practically kidnapped from my own tea table by the guards. Ushered here and told to wait, I know nothing. What is going on?"
"Majesty, we learned only this morning of a dangerous plot against you. It didn't come from my channels but from my daughter's friend, Eva Myasnikov. Yes, the Russian ambassador Aleksei Myasnikov's daughter. To mince matters, she fell in love with a Courtier and only just escaped their grasp. She's been living with them for months. Your brother has not been hunting. He was captured somehow and is in their possession in the Riktian countryside. We don't know how, and I don't know where yet. Eva can be questioned on that later. Right now, it was imperative to ensure your safety. While among the Faith, Eva was with the Fuchs brothers. Incidentally, the Viscount here killed Otto some weeks back in a duel. The Courtiers have been chasing them since." The king nodded towards us, a new appreciation in his eyes.
"But that's all beside the point. Eva overheard Aloysius describe a plot to assassinate you. The man plans to murder you today and impersonate you himself somehow. With his theatrical skill, you know that wouldn't be difficult. Besides, the two of you already look alike — same build, same facial structure. If he killed you in secret today, he could impose his own will. All your changes would be lost."
At the news, the king sat straight up, his vulture-like stoop forgotten. He spoke, his phrases all in a rush. "Good heavens!" he cried. "This is too much! Phillip was in Switzerland. I've gotten numerous letters and telegrams from him these last few weeks. They came from Zurich and Bern, not Riktenburg. And you say he's been captured? And they wish to impersonate me! Whoever heard of such nonsense?" He paused for breath, his eyes dancing about the room. "Well, at least Eva reported it all. Now that we know, we must rescue Phillip. I shudder to think about what they've been doing to him."
"Your Majesty, if what Eva says is true, we have evidence. We can finally arrest these traitors and move on with our lives in peace." Joseph paused. "But we have to catch them first. What's been done to secure the palace?"
At the question, a thick man in uniform stepped forward. He'd been conversing in the corner, but now he walked towards the throne. Joseph whispered to us, "That's General Von Richtofen. He's in charge of the palace's security."
The general bowed to us formally and faced Joseph. "Minister, the palace has been secured as we discussed. At the alarm, our first task was to spirit the king away to the secure room here. That done, all guards on leave were recalled and deployed throughout the grounds. Checks on all persons were conducted, and searches for suspicious objects, signs, and intruders were undertaken. No visitors have been allowed to enter, and the army staff has been notified. Lacking further information on the threat, we haven't done anything more."
"That's admirable work, general. The king is well protected here, and our planning was well worth it. Fuchs won't be able to get to us here without some difficulty. We're safe."
The double doors flew open, and with muskets cracking, all hell broke loose.