Berlin
Early-February, RY145
There are those who consider my organisation and its methods to be a monstrosity. An organisation with no human feeling or appreciation of civilisation. They could not be more wrong. Protecting our people from the threats both without and within is a difficult business, and certainly not one for the faint hearted. If our people are to be strong, then the weak need to be excised so the whole can thrive.
As the saying goes, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.
But plain and simple, there are times when we need to go off duty for our own well-being, and the occasional musical soirees my organisation hosts at various locations around the Reich are a way of doing that. You'd be surprised how many of my senior officers and assistants are of either a musical or artistic bent. I suppose it's in their genes. My brother is skilled at both, while the other patriarch whose descendants I had brought to the Reich was a noted violinist whose father had run a musical Conservatory in Germany on Terra Magica. And when he was younger, even my least favourite nephew was a musician of some skill...although somewhere along the way he had lost the knack, or maybe the heart...proving, perhaps, that lawyers really have no soul.
The soirees started off as a small thing, exclusively for our own people. However, over the years, as the musicians have become more confident in their skills, and indeed more of them have come out of the woodwork, buoyed by those who went before, the Berlin events have rather outgrown us and been thrown open to all who wish to come. Therefore, once a year, in early February, we hold a major concert at the Kaiserin Elsa Centre for the Arts, where the doubters can come along and see that we, too, have our gentler side. Moreover, all the proceeds are sent to good causes around our great country, thus working for the good of our people.
This particular year, I'd actually decided to play myself, rather than merely watch. A few months before, over brandy and cigars one evening, Tristan Heydrich and myself had fallen to discussing music, and the subject of the Bach Double Violin Concerto had come up. It turned out that it was a piece of which both of us were rather fond, and as we are both reasonably skilled at that instrument, we decided to see if we would be able to learn the leading parts for the '145 event. Rehearsal, of course, is never easy when one is as busy as we are, but one of the advantages of our bloodline is an ability to learn and adapt far faster than the norm, and within a couple of weeks, we decided it could be done.
Of course, it was a larger project than was usual for one of our soirees, requiring as it does strings and continuo in addition to the soloists, but we negotiated with the conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Fraulein Doktor Heidi Franks, and she agreed to assist. Of course, one concerto does not a concert programme make, but Tristan was happy to play some additional pieces, and Matthias Kapler, whose piano playing is exquisite, agreed to bring some variety to the proceedings.
My decision did not go down particularly well with Walter Reinefarth, the commander of the Honour Guard, however. I suppose justifiably, he wasn't entirely happy with the prospect of my standing on the front of an open stage, given the lack of cover. On the other hand, it was his job to make sure that the worst didn't happen. That's why I have an Honour Guard in the first place. In the end, he took the point and made no further argument, but I could see that he wasn't happy, and it fell to his deputy, Rikart Schultz, to try to calm his ruffled feathers.
On the evening of the concert, as I arrived with Silvie, a lover of mine and the one who most enjoyed music (unlike Annifrid, probably the favourite of my longer-term lovers, who sadly had no appreciation of music at all), I was surprised at the size of the crowd which was gathered outside the Centre. Apparently the novelty of the RFSS actually taking up a musical instrument in anger had brought out the curious. Reinefarth and Schultz flanked us as we went in, while other members of the Guard made sure of the general security arrangements, and as we headed through the corridors I could hear my security chief co-ordinating his subordinates at various locations around the building.
Initially I headed up to my box, so I could watch the first half of the performance - I was joining Tristan at the end of the evening - and Silvie and I made ourselves comfortable. By the time the performance was due to begin, there wasn't a free seat in the house. Either we had a league of devoted fans, or a lot of people had decided they wanted to see if I would slip up with what, after all, isn't the easiest of pieces. I looked forward to proving them wrong later.
Matthias took the stage for the first half, and delivered beautifully, his fingers flying across the keys with unbridled confidence. Silvie sat close beside me, arm across my shoulder and fingers gently stroking my neck, enraptured by sheer mastery of the young man on stage. I leaned back into her embrace, and as we sat together in silence and I found myself drifting away on the music.
Once the interval came around, it was hard to bring myself back down to earth. However, I eventually disentangled myself, with promises of mutual entertainment to come later, and made my way downstairs to go backstage. I settled down in one of the dressing rooms, and practiced a few scales and other exercises to warm up. I was called about half way through Tristan's second piece - the Bach Violin Concerto #2 in E Minor - and as I headed towards the stage he was playing confidently, and probably as well as I had ever heard him. The applause once he finished was enthusiastic, and then it was time for me to join him.
I'll admit to a certain amount of nervousness - after all, it wasn't often I played for an audience, usually preferring a more intimate setting. However, I conquered it to the best of my ability, and strode out onto stage as if I belonged there to take my place. We spent a few moments tuning up and then Doktor Franks indicated for us to begin. Once the music started, any nervousness I was feeling dissipated in the combined terror and rush of public performance, and I bent myself completely to concentrating on our playing.
Time flies at a moment like this, lost in the music as we were, and it didn't seem like twenty minutes before we played the final notes. We looked at each other and smiled as we finished, knowing we'd done a bloody good job, and then turned to the audience who erupted in cheers and applause. It didn't seem just polite, so presumably they had enjoyed our little performance. Then Matthias joined us for the final bows, and we made our way from the stage.
However, before I could say anything to Tristan - who like me seemed pleased with the reception our little recital had seen - I saw Schultz and Marius Waldemar, son of the then Priestess of the Knights of the SS and one of the newer members of the Honour Guard, waiting in the wings. Of Reinefarth there was no sign, and Schultz seemed concerned.
"Problem?" I asked, feeling the warmth of the crowd's adulation fading away in the light of potential trouble, and regretting its passing.
"Not sure, sir," he answered, "Heinz thought he saw someone moving around on one of the buildings outside and the boss went to check it out. I'm still waiting for the all clear."
"I'm sure it's nothing," I commented, "however, we have time for them to confirm. Let me put this away..." I indicated the violin, "...and then I need to go and pick up Silvie before we go anywhere else."
"Of course, Herr Reichsführer," he answered, and they fell into step beside me as we headed back to the dressing room.
I carefully replaced the instrument in its case - after all, one should take good quality of a Stradivarius, and I had earned this one the hard way as spoils in an engagement I had been involved in some years before - and closed the case as Tristan came in to join me.
"Pleased with how it went?" I asked.
"Very," he replied with a smile, "well played, sir."
"Practice makes perfect," I answered, with a chuckle, "presumably you're heading out with the lovely Veronika?"
Veronika was his wife of many years, and yet they still seemed as fond of each other as ever, albeit Tristan had occasionally been known to take advantage of the facilities at the Lebensborn Centre when he wanted to attempt to improve his pay grade. For myself, though, I couldn't understand even that degree of exclusivity between two people.
"We're going to Spitzer's..."
"On Unter den Linden?"
"That's the one. Why don't you and Silvie join us there?"
"Let me finish up here, and then perhaps we will," I answered. Fine food, good wine and one of the best cabarets in Berlin sounded like a perfect way to round off a successful evening.
He saluted, and then headed out. I handed the violin case to Waldemar, and ordered him to take it out to the car, while I headed up to the box, Schultz in tow, to collect my lover. As we walked, I could hear my escort on the comms system. He sounded alert, but less concerned than he had been earlier.
When she saw me, Silvie congratulated me in her own unique way, and I was more than a little tempted to just say to Hell with Spitzer's and head for my quarters in the SS Village. I offered her my arm, and then glanced at Schultz for a report.
"It sounds as if everything's alright, sir. However, Obersturmbannführer Reinefarth suggests we leave by the stage door, rather than going out front, just in case. He'll meet us there, and Waldemar will bring the car round."
"Better safe than sorry," I concurred, and we followed him as he led the way.
He did so with the confidence of one who had paid very close attention to the layout of the building on the advance party checks of the location earlier in the week. Reinefarth was waiting for us in the corridor leading to the stage door.
"Report?"
"It turned out to be nothing. Hauptsturmführer Heinz thought he noticed a movement across the street and asked for it to be checked out. As the area he indicated would have made a good sniper position..."
"Understood...presumably all was well when you did so?"
"Yes sir. No sign of anyone."
"Good," I replied and indicated the door, "then unless you have any further objections...?"
He saluted, and then we headed out, Reinefarth and Schultz flanking us as we went.
What followed happened too fast to really take in. I heard a shout, and then someone was knocking me to the ground and I heard a massive explosion. My shields gave out as the explosion went off, and I cracked my head on the concrete of the alleyway as I landed, winded and hurting, the smell of burning flesh around me, and I could feel a heavy, dead weight on my back. I tried to move, but felt my head being forced back to the ground, which caused me to get stars in front of my eyes as I hit the injured spot once more. Then, through the semi-deafness caused by the explosion, I heard gunfire. I lay still, feeling too battered and bruised to move, and trying to persuade my stomach not to rebel from the nausea I was experiencing from what felt like a concussion, until the gunfire finally subsided.
Off to one side, I could hear someone trying give orders, but the voice sounded weak and I could hear the pain in it. Then someone knelt beside me and the weight was rolled off me.
"Are you alright, Herr Reichsführer?" came Schultz's voice, and he offered me his hand.
"I'll live," I replied, taking it and he helped me to my feet, again having strong mental words with my stomach. As he did, I heard him whimper in pain, and when I could finally take a good look at him, I saw that the right side of his dress uniform was ripped and torn, and he was burned and bleeding heavily. His right arm hung limp at his side and he looked as if he, like me, was about to throw up from the pain.
"The ambulance is on its way, as are the rest of the Guard," he began, but as he did he sagged, and I caught him as he passed out. As I helped him into the recovery position, I saw Reinefarth lying on the ground beside where I had been lying, presumably the dead weight which had kept me pinned to the ground. I bent and checked for a pulse, but his dead eyes were staring at nothing. As I did so, Waldemar took up station beside me. He seemed shaken but unhurt: perhaps the fact that he had been with the car had made the difference.
I took a moment to attempt a self-check, and came to the conclusion that I had a concussion and was bruised all over, but that nothing was broken thanks to the shields holding out as long as they did, although I was sufficiently befuddled by the explosion that I wanted a second opinion. Still, if truth be told, I'd got off lightly, even if I felt as sick as a dog. Reinefarth had probably died to save my life, getting between me and the blast.
"What the fuck happened?" I demanded of Waldemar, furious at the violation of what had been such a pleasant evening with death and destruction.
"It looks as if someone threw a bomb - or maybe an explosion spell - from the roof of the auditorium."
"Who was up there? Wasn't it checked?"
"Eggers is up there now. He's reported that he's found Meyer with her throat slit and Müller is unconscious with stab wounds. We've contacted HQ to send a forensics mage in the hope that we can figure out who did this."
"Where's Heinz?"
"He hasn't reported in yet."
"Find him!" I barked, but he hesitated.
"I can't leave you sir..." he answered, looking torn between duty and orders, "there's no-one else..."
In the distance I could hear the sirens of the approaching ambulances, and I was about to point out that the chances were that the danger was long past, when he added quietly, pointing off to the side "Fraulein Heusser..."
I looked in the direction he indicated, and could see Silvie lying in a crumpled heap. Anger changing to concern I crossed to her, but like Reinefarth there was nothing I could do for her. One look at the unnatural angle of her neck told me that. I was still standing, tired and aching, looking down at the ruin of her beautiful face, when the first ambulance drew up, the insignia of the Berlin Military Hospital on the side. The second and third were shortly behind it, although the third would need to wait until Müller was brought down from the roof of the auditorium.
I felt a hand on my arm and turned to see one of the crew, noting that Waldemar was watching like a hawk.
"Herr Reichsführer...please...come with us."
"Take Sturmbannführer Schultz, first," I answered, "he's in more need. Then deal with me."
"Of course sir."
Orders were given to the crew to get Schultz onto a stretcher and then I was guided to the next vehicle, Waldemar by my side. As I did so, I saw Kessler's car pull up and my chief trouble-shooter stepped out. Wanting to bring him up to speed personally, I sat myself down on the sill of the open rear doors to wait.
"Marius," I said quietly to Waldemar, as I waited, "I know that standing orders are that I should be accompanied at all times, but at this point, it is more important that you find Heinz. I don't like his silence. When the others arrive, then by all means come and find me at the hospital, but until then, I need you working with Eggers to figure out what the fuck happened."
He looked at me, obviously still in two minds, but eventually nodded. He saluted and then turned on his heel and left me to it. As he went, I could hear him talking to Eggers on the comms.
Kessler surveyed the carnage and then crossed to me, his face a picture of concern.
"Are you alright, Herr Reichsführer?"
"I believe so. Bruises, concussion...I don't think anything else, but the good doctors at BMH will confirm for me as I don't trust myself to self-diagnose. Reinefarth's dead. Schultz is badly hurt. There are two more casualties on the roof, which seems to have been the attack position, and one of my people is missing. No idea if he's injured, dead or involved. And Silvie was collateral damage. Deal with it, Kessler. Find out what happened. Tell me who the hell I need to kill."
"Of course," he answered, saluting, and with that, I surrendered myself to the ambulance crew.
* * * * * * *
The emergency department of the BMH took about half an hour to give me a clean bill of health, mainly because of the suspected concussion. However, the duty doctor and I eventually came to an agreement, healing spells were cast, and I was discharged. Waiting outside as I left was the ever-faithful Waldemar.
"Oberstgruppenführer Kessler sent me here once the rest of the squad arrived. Obergruppenführer Heydrich returned shortly after you left and is handling the forensics. Oberstgruppenführer Delatz is currently in the field with Einsatzgruppen-A and couldn't be reached."
I remembered that I'd sent Andreas off the previous day, with orders to check that Einsatzgruppen-A was doing its job properly: our recent invasion of Adonijah, a ninth veil world beyond Rosenheim, one of the worlds in the Bayern Aussenhandel group, was not going smoothly due to fifth columnists and I'd wanted to make sure that everything was being done to control the situation that could be. Hence sending one of the organ grinders to check on the monkeys.
"Preliminary results?"
"Oberstgruppenführer Kessler said he would discuss that directly with you when you returned to the scene."
"Then let us do so," I answered. To save time, I brought Kessler's Trump to mind and called him, although almost immediately I realised that was a mistake as the headache hadn't subsided. Still, he answered quickly, and when he recognised me, he extended his hand. I passed Waldemar through, then went through myself.
"Well."
"Over here..." he answered, and took me to one side.
"I'm not going to like this, am I?"
"Probably not. Heinz was the one who killed Meyer. He had an accomplice who took out Müller."
"How's Müller doing?"
"In the hospital...still alive last I heard but it's touch and go."
"Go on."
"Tristan managed to get an image of the accomplice, for what it's worth, as well as his signature to run past the ReichsMagieren."
"Show me."
He brought a holo-crystal out of his pocket, triggered it, and a three dimensional image appeared beside us. I could see what he meant about 'for what it's worth': the mage was wearing dark clothes, with a balaclava covering the face. About all we could tell was that the figure was around 5'9", of medium build and male. That and the fact that he was messy with a knife, and therefore probably either hadn't been trained, or had been trained long enough ago to forget what to do correctly.
I sighed.
"Maybe the signature will tell us something."
"He's Aussenhandel taught...we're guessing Bayern Mage School from the feel of things, but we'll confirm that first thing in the morning. Perhaps he didn't realise that Aussenhandel mages are in our records are as well as Reich-trained ones, and slipped up."
"We'll see."
"Sir. Go home. Tristan and I can handle things here."
"Perhaps you're right," I concurred. After all, I could still feel the after effects of my injuries, even if I wasn't in as much pain any more, and I was dog tired, "let me know if you get anything else in the morning."
"Of course, Herr Reichsführer," he answered, snapping a salute, then added more quietly "I was sorry to hear about Silvie."
"Then get the bastards who did this," I answered, and with that I brought the Trump of my quarters in the Village to mind, and transported myself through. On arrival, I decided to anaesthetise myself by judicious application of a strong Scotch and another handful of painkillers, and then took myself to bed to sleep the sleep of the dead.
* * * * * * *
I felt stiff and sore when I came round the following morning, and was late into the office, not arriving until around 9am. As I entered my sanctum in Hradcany, I saw that the violin case had been delivered at some point since the previous evening. Out of curiosity, I opened the case and checked it over, but it appeared undamaged. I plucked a few notes before laying it carefully back in its case, Silvie in my thoughts as I did so.
My reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Come!"
"Good morning, Herr Reichsführer," said Eggers as he entered. He looked tired, but at least he must have had some sleep overnight.
"Progress report?"
"With regret I must inform you that Hauptsturmführer Müller succumbed to his injuries during the night. However, the doctors believe that Sturmbannführer Schultz will make a full recovery."
It had been a bloody day. I hadn't lost as many as three of the Guard in a single attack since Mihopolis, more than fifteen years before.
"The investigation?"
"We have Heinz in custody. He was trying to leave Berlin on the morning zeppelin out to Bayern. His ticket had been pre-bought two weeks ago."
Bayern again. Always Bayern.
"Premeditated, then," I commented, but I suppose it couldn't have been otherwise. The combination of his diversion and the planning of the mage's attack had smacked of conspiracy, "has he said anything?"
"We concluded that you would want to be the one to question him," came the answer, "he's in the cells."
"Good work. Lead on."
He saluted, and then fell into step beside me as we headed down to the cells. As we arrived, I noted that two of the other members of the Guard - Torres and Wolfram - were standing outside. They snapped to attention as I arrived and then unlocked the door, and Eggers and I stepped inside.
Heinz looked somewhat the worst for wear. I rather suspect that some of the Guard had taken out their own feelings at his betrayal on him once they had captured him. After all, he had double-crossed them, as well as me. He got gingerly to his feet as he saw me come in, but there was no attempt at a salute. Likewise, I dispensed with any pleasantries. Instead I grabbed him by the collar, forced him to look into my eyes, and raped his mind, taking the information I wanted from it rather than giving him the benefit of an interrogation, and not particularly caring if it hurt him in the process.
Then, once I was done, I dropped him and left him to fall whimpering to the ground, his head shielded in his arms. I kicked him once, and then turned and headed back out of the cell.
"Have him in the Wewelsburg courtyard this evening," I ordered his guards, "I intend to make an example of him."
"Of course, Herr Reichsführer," they answered as one, and Eggers and I headed back upstairs. Once we got back to my office, I asked my PA, Marja Tomas to inform Jürgen and Tristan that I wished to see them at 11am, then turned back to Eggers.
"Presumably Schultz is still in the hospital?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then we should pay him a visit."
He nodded, and I called ahead, then visualised the remote arrivals section (teleports and Trumps) of the courtyard of the hospital and teleported us there, it not being a location I readily have a Trump for. We were met by a guard who escorted us inside to Schultz's room, where we were met by his doctor, who was incidentally the same man who had treated me the evening before.
"Status?"
"He suffered significant burns and internal injuries, as well as a nasty abdominal wound, and two broken ribs punctured his lung. He also has a broken right arm. However...Herr Reichsführer, there is something you should be aware of."
"Which is?"
"He's showing signs of being a shape shifter. His injuries have stabilised more quickly than I would have expected."
I had known Schultz was an active shifter for some time - since Mihopolis, about two years after he'd joined the Honour Guard - although to my knowledge what he did was no more than an inherent ability to survive otherwise fatal injuries. However, that it might become known now was irritating to say the least, especially given that I was about to give him command of the Honour Guard...assuming he a) survived and b) agreed. I would have to organise his Forstapo exemption with Dominik at the first opportunity.
"Have you informed anyone else of your suspicions yet?"
"Not yet...it's too early to tell for sure."
"Let me take a look," I answered, "maybe I can both confirm and assist with his treatment?"
"Sir," he replied, smartly, and stepped back to let me work.
I conducted the examination for form's sake as much as anything else, although I knew that I was going to have to cover up the truth in plain sight until Schultz's status was legalised. So I concentrated and began to cast some of the higher levels of healing magic at which I was more than a little adept, and soon Schultz's injuries were considerably further healed than they had been before. The doctor stood quietly observing, and after about half an hour, I was satisfied that my patient was fine. He'd need some good old fashioned R&R, but he was going to live.
I glanced at the doctor who seemed impressed. I looked the man in the eyes and smiled, and at the same time gently entered his head and adjusted his memory so that he would have no recollection of his suspicions. Then we both turned as Schultz groaned and opened his eyes.
"Thank the gods..." he muttered as he saw me, "...you're alright."
"I am, thanks to yourself and Obersturmführer Reinefarth. Alas, he is beyond thanking, but you have my gratitude, Sturmbannführer Schultz. I suggest that once the doctor discharges you from here, you take a couple of days off to get your bearings, before having to report back on duty."
"What's happening with the Honour Guard...?"
"We'll muddle along for now...I'm hoping you'll consider taking command once you're back on your feet, though. Think on it. Tell me your decision when you return to duty."
"Yes, Herr Reichsführer."
"Good. Now...I need to be getting back. Doctor, may I leave the patient in your care?"
"Of course, sir," came the answer.
"Excellent."
We headed back out to the courtyard, and then I Trumped us back to Hradcany, before returning to my office for my meeting with Kessler and Heydrich.
They arrived exactly on time and I indicated for them to sit.
"I've interrogated Heinz," I began, "it would seem that he was working with an agent from Adonijah. He was paid a great deal of cash to cause a diversion last night, which set up the attack."
"Why?" Heydrich asked, obviously curious. "After all, loyalty to yourself unto death and a total lack of corruptibility are usually required traits in members of the Honour Guard."
"Apparently he had a lover from that Shadow, who returned home when the fighting started and was killed by Einsatzgruppe-A for being a radical intellectual, so he was easily bought by the right person," I answered, and my tone became more icy, "the pair of you are going to discover how that got through vetting...aren't you."
"Of course, Herr Reichsführer," they answered in unison, although I could see them exchanging worried glances.
"Excellent. To return to Heinz. The agent was a trained mage - Heinz knows him as Elek Rubens - who made his acquaintance about six weeks ago, shortly after we announced the concert, and persuaded him of the benefit of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Their original target was apparently my good friend Annifrid, who they thought would be accompanying me to the concert. They didn't realise that she has no interest in music, and that I would therefore take a different companion. Rubens gave Heinz the impression that he would only injure her, to prove a point, so Heinz agreed to take his thirty pieces of silver.
The plan was for Heinz to send various members of the Guard off on a wild goose chase to give his accomplice a chance to get into position by the back door, knowing procedure was such that if the front wasn't guaranteed secure, an alternative method of departure would be found, and he suggested that Heinz make sure he was elsewhere by the time I left the theatre, to give him some form of alibi. However, when we put two people on the roof on Reinefarth's insistence - he never was happy about the concert in general - instead of the normal one, the mage asked for Heinz's assistance in neutralising them. He gave Heinz the impression that his idea was to put them both to sleep, but for whatever reason, Meyer heard them and they had no choice but to go for the kill.
Of course, Heinz knows how we work, and made himself a contingency plan in case things didn't go according to what he thought the plan was. Hence the zeppelin ticket. He claims he didn't realise that Rubens was planning to use an explosion, but as far as I'm concerned, that doesn't excuse him of treason. He used his knowledge to enable a direct attack on me and mine, which killed a woman I had some feelings for and three of my most faithful people, and it is my intention to execute him this evening. Any questions?"
"Does he know what happened to the mage?" asked Heydrich.
"He gave no indication of such, no. However, we have a name and we have a signature. You will find him, won't you gentlemen..."
"Yes, sir," Kessler answered, "I'll deal with it personally. I'll also ask Andreas to keep an eye out for him on Adonijah, in case he's fled home."
"Thank you, Jürgen. Anything else?"
The looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Excellent. In that case...you have your assignments, and I'll see you at the Wewelsburg this evening. Then, once the business with Heinz is completed, we will lay our fallen Kameraden to rest."
Without further comment, we got to our feet, and the pair of them saluted and made their exit. Then, once they were gone, I brought to mind my Trump of Wolfram Kapler, Matthias's younger brother and Kommandant of the Wewelsburg, to make arrangements with him for that evening.
* * * * * * *
There was snow drifting in the air as I arrived in the Wewelsburg courtyard with Karsten and Waldemar, my evening escorts. Off to one side, I could see the funeral pyres for the three fallen Honour Guards However, I knew that once they were lit, the snow would cease to be a problem. Kapler was waiting for me along with the castle garrison, and to one side I could see my remaining Knights - Tristan and Jürgen among them - come to pay their respects to their fallen member, along with the rest of the Honour Guard. Only Torres and Wolfram were missing.
Standing with them, if slightly to one side, was a pale looking Schultz, in day to day, rather than dress uniform. I didn't begrudge him the breach of protocol. After all, he hadn't exactly had time to visit the tailor since last night. He saw me regarding him and nodded, and I knew then that he was going to accept command of the Guard.
Once everyone was in position, I brought to mind a Trump of Torres, and she and her partner brought the prisoner through to the courtyard. All trace of defiance was gone from his face, as he knew the fate that was about to be handed out to him. Torres handed me the honour dagger I had given Heinz when I had accepted him into the Guard, and then stepped back into position beside the prisoner.
I signalled for quiet and looked at the traitor.
"Johan Heinz. You have been found guilty of treason, betrayal and causing the death of your Kameraden. Do you have anything to say in your defence?"
His lifted his head and met my eyes, which were burning with a hatred that hadn't been there earlier. But he said nothing.
"I repeat...do you have anything to say in your defence?"
Nothing.
"By tradition, you have three chances to offer your defence? So I offer you a third opportunity. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"I do not. Save that I'm glad I did what I did."
There was a ripple of muttering from the assembled company, but rather than be distracted, I kept my gaze fixed firmly on the prisoner.
"And the fact that an innocent woman died? The wrong woman?"
"Innocent? She was fucking you, Herr Reichsführer. How innocent could she have possibly been?"
I felt a rush of anger, and before I realised what I was doing, his confiscated honour dagger was drawn and in my hand. I stepped forward and channelling that anger: I stood beside him, yanked his head upwards, then slit his throat with one quick, surgical move. The spray of blood bounced off my shields and dropped harmlessly to the floor. As it did, I felt the rage subside and let him go, and his body sagged to the floor. Then I snapped the blade of his honour dagger from its the hilt and dropped the pieces on the body.
I felt calmer, but I'll admit to cursing inwardly at my burst of anger. I'd originally been planning to have him shot. Still perhaps this made the point better.
As the blood pooled and steamed in the cold, I gestured for half a dozen of the garrison to come forward and indicated the body.
"Take it. Feed it to the dogs."
They saluted and the body was borne away in silence, and then I turned to the assembled company.
"It has a been a black twenty-four hours for the regiment...three of our number have been murdered through the actions of one who we had considered our own. But justice is now served, and it is time to forget the worm who had crawled in among us, and honour our fallen Kameraden. My sister...please..."
And I stepped back into their ranks and gestured for Lili Waldemar, the Priestess of the SS, to come forward and begin the ceremonies for the honoured dead.