The Wewelsburg
Summer Solstice RY154
After the mess of 17th June, an uneasy calm fell over the Wewelsburg. To me, probably the most poignant reminder of the recent battle with the Machine was the weakness of the Honour Guard. I was aware of the five bodies waiting under stasis spells in the castle morgue, and the medical conditions of both Rikart Schultz and Xavier Wolfram remained grave . I wished there was an easy way that I could assist them, but my own plans were so close to fruition that I could not jeopardise them at that time. Although at least there was some good news, in that Alyse Dietrich, Niklaus Radulf and young Oskar Harman - the youngest and newest member of the Guard - had been declared fit to return to duty, and Kurt Geiger had been discharged from the infirmary to his quarters as his condition continued to improve.
My ongoing observations indicated to me that the plans by Jürgen Kessler's faction, to replace me as RFSS, continued as if nothing had happened. They were still planning to move on the Summer Solstice, whatever my apparent state of health at that time, and despite the events of the 17th, and still appeared to have a hit list of those they expected to need to die to consolidate their position, which included the remaining Honour Guard. This again gave me pause for thought about whether Kessler had somehow been co-ordinating with Andreas regarding the assassination attempt on the 17th. During Andreas's time as head of the SD, they had worked together on numerous occasions, given Jürgen's duties as a member of personal staff and his experience as Andreas's predecessor. The only one they seemed uncertain about was Dominik, and it sounded as if they were going to judge his actions when it came to the meeting.
As far as the Wewelsburg garrison was concerned, Kessler and Sophia Lange were spending some of their energies bringing in a company of Waffen-SS troops loyal to Kessler, a few at a time, such that once the meeting began, they would have a military force who could act on their wishes, as well as reinforcing the garrison itself after its losses in the fight with Andreas and his people. However, as with the rest of the sorry process, forewarned was forearmed.
After making repairs to my injured leg, and reinforcing the Honour Guard's personal wards so that they would now have the backing of the God of Protection, I spent the intervening days co-ordinating with those I believed I could trust: Conrad Berthelmes, Dominik Gerlinde and Jorge von Raeder. Von Raeder I assigned to negotiate with Matthias Kapler on Sanguine, apparently on his own authority as an officer of equal rank to Kapler with significant concerns about the behaviour of certain individuals within the regiment. That gave me the opportunity to further discuss the possibilities for bringing him into the Order with Conrad, and we finally came to a conclusion on that matter. I thought long and hard about bringing Tristan Heydrich and Kapler himself into my little conspiracy of silence, but in the end decided that too many people already knew what my plans were. After all, I didn't want to tip Kessler off that I was onto him once the Knights started assembling for the Council meeting.
I also spent some of my time addressing the issue of Greifswald, and how to protect it and its position within the Neubrandenberg Group, should its stability be linked to Kessler's life force. There was a certain amount I could do to help it from my position as God of Protection, especially if I could get a Priest on site on that world to act as an anchor. The trouble was, I needed the obvious candidate, von Raeder, in the castle when everything went down. I pondered other possibilities, but for the most part, my Priesthood down in New Yorvik and Eboracum had neither interest in, nor reason to be that close to, the Reich. In the end, I kept coming back to the same choice. Someone I trusted, but who no longer had the right to stand in the Knights Council, and therefore wouldn't be missed once it assembled. Decision made, I brought her Trump to mind and gave her a call. The only question was going to be how much to tell her.
Silke seemed somewhat surprised to see me, but gave me a nervous smile as she recognised me. However, she could speak, I offered her my hand and indicated for her to join me. She stepped through, and after a moment's awkwardness - which Torres, the Guard on duty in my room with me that morning, observed keenly in case of anything untoward - we shared a fond hug of greeting. I know she had maintained her contact with me through the Church of Protection, but I had still missed her being around Berlin.
"Master," she said, "you look well. Obviously the rumours were wrong. I wasn't sure initially, but more recently I've suspected as much. The trouble was, the rumours were so persistent."
"With due reason. I've taken a lot of effort to make sure they're circulating," I replied, then indicated the chair in front of the dressing table, "please, Silke...sit. Sorry I can't offer you anything more comfortable."
"I know I've been out of town, but I don't understand. Why are you here? What's going on?"
"I'm undertaking some pest control, which has required me to remain incommunicado for a couple of weeks," I replied, and I saw her cock an eyebrow at my choice of words.
"Pest control?"
"Don't worry...that's not something I'm about to involve you in. I've actually asked you here in your capacity as a Priestess of Protection."
"What about von Raeder?"
"On this occasion, he's needed elsewhere."
"So what do you need protecting?"
"One of the Aussenhandel Shadows. Greifswald."
"Sixth Veil, Neubrandenberg Group...about the highest one we have on the tech scale. When I last took note of such things, the Gauleiter was Kreszenz Utz."
"That's the one," I answered, "I have reason to believe that it may come under arcane attack at the Summer Solstice, and for obvious reasons I'd like to prevent that. The loss of innocent life could be significant unless it's protected, and if for any reason it were to become separated from the rest of the Neubrandenberg Group, then the secondary consequences could be grave."
"Do you have any idea of the nature of the attack?"
"Not specifically. In fact, I may be being pessimistic and it may avoid attack completely. However, should my suspicions be correct, it could include elements of blood or death magic, and potentially also the backlash from unwinding a ritual which was undertaken on its behalf many years ago. You, however, are perfectly qualified to protect it from all of the above, given your background with the Knights, your own abilities with the Pattern and as a ritual mage, and the fact that you are my Priestess in my aspect of Protection."
"Master, I feel you aren't telling me everything," she said, cautiously.
"That is because I also want to protect you, Silke," I answered, quietly, "however, I've told you the fundamentals, and I know that you are smart enough to work with those on site. The question is, will you do it?"
"Of course, Master," she answered, apparently surprised that I even needed to ask the question, "I just don't want to let you down because I was missing a key piece of information."
"I have no fear of that," I replied, and I saw her smile.
"When do I need to set off?"
"The trouble could start happening after lunch on the 21st, but I believe it is more likely to come to a head during the evening."
"At the same time as the Knights Council?"
"I'm afraid so...so as you can understand, I'm going to be rather busy elsewhere."
"How bad is it, sir?"
"Nothing that won't be handled at that meeting, for good or ill. However, trust me when I say that you know as much as you need to at this point."
It was obvious that she was uncertain, but she nodded.
"Thank you, Silke. I'd suggest you overnight there the night before, so you can be in position, and if things come to a head sooner than I'm expecting, then hopefully you can protect it from harm."
"You have my word that I will do my best."
"Thank you. That's all I ask. Now, can I transport you somewhere? Perhaps back to Eboracum, before too many people know you're gone?"
"No need, sir. I can make my own arrangements for that," she replied.
"Of course," I said, standing and offering to help her to her feet. Then I kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"I've missed you, Silke."
"I've missed you, too, Uncle Rupert," she replied, with a weak smile.
"Once this is over, we should catch up."
"I should like that."
I just hoped I'd be around to keep that promise.
I felt her bring up the Pattern, and a short while later she was gone, leaving me alone in the bedroom I was getting fed up to the back teeth of looking at the walls of.
Once this was over, I was going to redecorate.
* * * * *
The Summer Solstice dawned bright and clear, with cotton wool clouds scudding through a blue sky. How long it would stay that way, was anyone's guess. I'd received word from Jorge the previous evening that everything was organised from his end, which was one weight off my mind. Now, pretty much all that was left to do was wait.
It was a nerve-wracking day: after all, if my plans were compromised, then the trouble would definitely start long before the Council meeting, as Kessler would be looking to clean up loose ends before he made his play. However, none of the traffic or behaviour I picked up through my observations seemed to indicate that anything was amiss. That said, I probably drove first Torres and then Karsten, when she came on shift at 4pm, crazy with my pacing. A light meal was brought to me at around 6.30pm, which I consumed with little enthusiasm. I debated whether to wash it down with something alcoholic, but in the end decided that sober was better.
Suffice to say I was exceedingly relieved when Dominik called at 7.45pm, as planned.
"All clear," he said, and offered me his hand.
"Thank you," I replied and I passed Karsten through to the castle infirmary, and then went through myself, "where's Doktor Steinbrück?"
"Taking a little nap..." he replied, but when I looked sharply at him, he added, "I slipped a sedative into her tea. Nothing permanent."
"And the nurses?"
"Auditing the medical supplies. They could be some time."
"Thank you, Dominik," I said, crossing to where Rikart and Xavier were lying, still unconscious in medical comas, and rested my hands on the gurneys they were lying on, "I hopefully shouldn't be away for long, and I'm certainly planning to be back for 8pm, when the balloon goes up."
"I'll see you in the Council chamber," he answered, and headed out. I gave Karsten orders to wait for me in my quarters, and then brought the Pattern to mind and jumped myself and the gurneys to Maui, making sure we arrived in the labs, rather than the main house. After all, it seemed unfair to let Carina see what state her new husband was in without giving her some warning. Then I ramped up the time, and set to work assessing my patients.
Xavier's condition was likely to be relatively straightforward to fix: his back had been broken in a cowardly blow from behind, and he'd sustained damage to the spinal nerve, compounded by a severe concussion from a head wound, but while it was delicate, it wasn't complicated. Rikart was going to be harder. Despite my precautions when he was first injured, infection was beginning to set into his abdomen. I pondered for a few moments, and then decided to work on Xavier first.
I brought up my magical senses, and began gently knitting together the broken bones and damaged nerves using a combination of magic and shifting. Of course, playing with nerves is always a tricky business, so I didn't hurry: after all, rewiring his spine to his brain in the wrong way wasn't going to help him in any way. However, a couple of hours later, he opened his eyes and sat up. He put his hands out in front of him, moving the fingers as if he was trying to rid them of pins and needles, then leaned forward, supporting himself with hands on knees.
"How do you feel, Xavier?" I asked.
"A little groggy, and rather stiff."
"Can you move your feet?"
He thought for a second, and then I saw them moving under the blankets.
"Looks like it."
"Good. Do you remember what happened?"
"I'd engaged their leader...was it really Andreas Delatz?"
"Possibly, but unconfirmed. Go on."
"I was trying to get past his guard when I felt something hit me in the back with the strength of a pile driver. Next I knew I'd gone down like a stone. Then someone kicked me in the head and I went out like a light. Where are we? This doesn't look like the castle?"
"No...we're off in fast time. I don't think you've been to the Maui estate before"
"No sir," he answered.
I concentrated for a moment and conjured two sets of clothes, one for each of them to replace the hospital gowns they were wearing, and handed him one of them.
"Put these on if you want, and then from here, head across the courtyard to the house and get the major domo to arrange you a room overnight. There should be some more clothes in the closet which will fit you, and I'll have your uniform brought to you."
"What about you, sir?"
"I need to work on Rikart now. Go. I'll see you at dinner."
"Yes, Herr Reichsführer," he replied, and carefully climbed out of bed. Then, clothes in hand, he headed next door to change. Once he'd gone, I turned my attention back to Rikart.
Because of the combination of the infection and the sheer amount of damage he had taken, fixing him was a much longer job, and soon I was tired and hungry. However, I had little choice but to press on, given my deadlines, and much magical and shifting healing later, there was a groan from the bed and Rikart's eyes opened. He seemed pretty bleary eyed, but that was an improvement over comatose, as I knew first hand.
"How are you doing, Rikart?"
"I feel like I was run over by a tank," he replied, then realised it was me, "sorry Herr Reichsführer."
"No need for an apology," I answered, "do you think you can stand?"
"Just about."
He sat up slowly, obviously still feeling the after-effects of either real or psychosomatic pain, and swung his legs around to the side. I put the clothes on the bed beside him.
"What happened?" he asked.
"What was the last thing you remember?"
"We were being attacked by Andreas Delatz. I co-ordinated an attack against him with Jorge, but I have a feeling it didn't work out so well."
"I'd say that was an understatement," I replied, "are you up to accompanying me to the Council meeting?"
"Of course, sir," he said, confidently, although I'll admit I had severe doubts. Still...effect was the point here, "what about you? You look dead beat?"
"We have enough time for a large meal and a good night's sleep here before we have to go back."
"I can't say it wouldn't be welcome," he said, and after giving him a moment to change, I teleported the pair of us to the house. Carina seemed surprised but very pleased to see him, and they departed to her room for a couple of hours. Later, over dinner, I brought him and Xavier up to speed on what had happened after they had been injured. Rikart's expression was grim as I broke the news of the fate of those under his command, and I could feel his anger. I assured him that he'd have the opportunity to take that anger out on someone in very short order.
The following morning, we rose, breakfasted and then dressed appropriately for the meeting: Rikart and I in dress uniform, Xavier in day to day. Then I slowed things down once more, and jumped us back to my quarters in the castle, where Karsten seemed surprised but pleased to see her comrades vertical once more. She gave Rikart a hug of relief, before remembering herself and becoming businesslike once more.
"Time?" I asked her.
"Seven fifty-five."
"Thank you."
I brought a Trump to mind, and a short while later, Conrad answered.
"You're back, then?" he said, quietly.
"As promised. Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
"Good. Keep this link up, so I can see what's happening, and I'll be with you when it seems appropriate."
"Be advised that it looks like he's got at least a dozen of his own men far too close to the Gruppenführersaal for comfort. You may meet resistance coming in."
"So noted," I replied, and then set about organising the Guard to assemble in my quarters. Once they were all there - including Geiger, I was both surprised and touched to see, although I rather doubted he'd be up for a fight - I jumped us all to the Crypt below the Gruppenführersaal, and we settled down to wait. I sat down on the ledge around the sunken floor and turned my attention to the meeting. Kessler was beginning his opening remarks.
"Brothers...sister. Once again, we meet in trying circumstances. This week we have suffered an attack here on our own territory, and the condition of the RFSS remains unchanged."
"Dominik, you've been treating him," Heydrich said from his position to Kessler's right, "can you shed any light on why he isn't showing any improvement?"
"That's not an easy one to answer," Gerlinde replied, smoothly, "physically, he's fine, albeit his body is now exhibiting the inevitable negative effects of having been in a coma for over six weeks. Mentally, however...as I said at an earlier Council meeting, his actions at Beltane seem to have burned him out, and as yet he's showing no outward signs of regaining consciousness, in my opinion."
"Would it be fair to say that after this amount of time, his mental condition is unlikely to change?" Max Hauer said from across the room.
"No, it would not," Dominik answered, firmly, "such things are unpredictable. Even though there's no obvious sign of improvement, that doesn't mean that his shifting isn't restoring the injuries he suffered. So in theory, he might wake up tomorrow and not be any the worse for where."
"But equally, he might never wake up," Kessler retorted.
"No doctor likes to think that his patient is incurable," came the reply.
"Why the questioning now, Jürgen?" Conrad asked," the existing Triumvirate agreement is in force until 1st August.
"In light of the attack on the castle, I don't believe we can wait that long to make a more permanent arrangement," Kessler answered, coldly, "our enemies would not have attacked us here, in the spiritual home of the SS, if they did not consider us to be weak. We remain weak as long as we have no clear leader."
"You have a better idea?" Matthias Kapler asked, levelly.
"Indeed," Kessler answered, without missing a beat, "I propose the termination of that agreement."
"Seconded," Rudolf Lange said, promptly, from his position along from Conrad, and the room erupted into angry shouting. The rumblings continued, until Matthias's best battlefield voice cut through the noise.
"Silence," he ordered, almost daring the others to disagree, and then glanced at Kessler, "Jürgen, you know as well as I do that that isn't going to happen. The current arrangement is based on a legal framework, agreed by this Council. And even if that weren't the case, don't forget that you didn't have enough votes in this Council when you first proposed replacing the RFSS back in May. Looking around this room, that hasn't changed, unless the views of those around the table have altered dramatically in the intervening time. Which still means that those wanting you to take over from the RFSS are in the minority."
"Under certain circumstances, no vote is necessary in this Council," Jürgen replied, calmly, "after all, this Order only has any vestige of democracy on the RFSS's whim, and that can be overturned at any time."
Through the link I had with Conrad, I felt his surprise at Jürgen's statement. However, I realised where he was going.
"Article 265, Para 3 of the Constitution of the Schutzstaffel. If the honour of the regiment is at stake, then the RFSS or, in the case of his incapacity or death, his deputy or appointed representative, is entitled to take any steps necessary to ensure that the regimental honour is upheld and, if necessary, restored."
I'd put the clause into the constitution in the early days, when I still thought there was a high chance that brother Robert might send me off to regenerate, so there was a method in place to succeed me in case of emergency, but as things had developed between us, I'd decided not to appoint a formal deputy due to the potential for target practice on whoever I chose. I almost had to admire Kessler for finding the loophole.
"And Article 4, Para 1 of the Rules of the Order of the Knights of the SS. All Knights of the Order have an equal vote in Council, regardless of rank or honorary status. However, the RFSS reserves the right to revoke that privilege at any time, if he believes the situation warrants it, or the integrity of the Order is threatened."
"Conrad?" Kapler said, glancing at the Party Chairman, who was furiously reviewing everything he knew about the subject in his head. The sheer depth of his legal knowledge astounded me.
"Technically, Jürgen is right," he said, slowly, although I could feel his annoyance at having to agree the point.
Kessler glanced at Kapler, his expression stony.
"However..." Conrad continued.
"However, what?" Lange demanded.
"However, to invoke the first clause mentioned, you need to prove two things. 1. That the honour of the regiment is actually at stake; and 2. that you are his deputy or appointed representative."
"I think the former was indisputably proven on the 17th," Hauer answered, "with an attack within our very walls and the losses suffered by the Honour Guard. And that's laying aside the fact that Schultz had the bad taste and poor judgement to bring in forces from outside the SS to help him do his job, because he was incapable of doing it without them. You backed him in that decision, did you not, Tristan?"
"I backed him because it was the right thing to do to help him protect Rupert in his current condition," Heydrich replied, calmly, "the situation was unique, and they are sworn to the service of the RFSS."
"But they are also men you neither knew nor had background checked," Hauer replied, "for all we know, they may have been the ones who let the attackers in here."
"Oberstgruppenführer von Raeder confirmed that they did not," Heydrich said, firmly.
"That would be the Oberstgruppenführer von Raeder who hasn't served actively in this regiment for some months, until you conveniently brought him in when Delatz was injured, and whose last posting was in the home territory of the forces which Schultz brought in from the cold?" Kessler said, mildly, "I would have said that that makes von Raeder a less than impartial investigator."
He'd been doing his homework.
"It sounds to me," Rudolf Lange said directly to Conrad, "that there is certainly an argument that the honour of the regiment is compromised. I suggest we take that as read and move on."
His answer elicited more spirited discussion, and I was alarmed to hear supporting arguments from more than just the conspirators. Andreas had really picked his time, and the more I thought about it, the less coincidental that timing appeared.
"That still leaves the second clause," Conrad replied, slowly, and I could feel his thought processes as he tried to think what to say next, "the RFSS has never appointed either a deputy or a representative."
"An error on his part, it would seem," Wolfram Kapler commented from across the table. His tone wasn't hostile, although he was obviously being cautious.
"But indisputable nonetheless," Conrad answered.
"Not indisputable," Marin said, quietly, speaking formally to Council for the first time that meeting. Conrad's observations of her suggested that while she was surprised at her father's actions, considering them to have been a step too far, she still couldn't find it in her to condemn him and act against him.
"Explain, Marin," Schneider asked, breaking his silence.
"A short while ago, when we were pursuing Sigiswald, the RFSS appointed Oberstgruppenführer Kessler as his replacement for the ruse which captured the traitor."
"He also said, and I quote 'Oh, and Oberstgruppenführer Kessler... Don't get any ideas'," Dominik said, smoothly.
"At that time, he was capable of saying that," Kessler answered, obviously annoyed to be called on the fact, "however, earlier in this meeting, you could not deny that he may never be able to make any decision again."
"I said that such things were unpredictable."
"You also dodged my direct question on the subject with a neat piece of evasion," Kessler answered firmly. Gerlinde looked daggers at him, but unfortunately, Kessler had scored the point. "This has to end, and I'm disappointed that you don't see that, Dominik. I'd hoped you had more vision."
"My loyalty is to Rupert Delatz as RFSS, and last time I checked, he was still breathing. If he's breathing, then there's hope, in which case your ambitions are misplaced."
"My loyalty is to the regiment," Kessler replied, "and for the good of the regiment, I do not believe we can remain in this limbo. Therefore, due to Delatz's actions during the apprehension of Sigiswald, as well as the fact that I am both senior Knight present, and the longest serving officer in the regiment behind Delatz himself, I have earned the right to stand as his deputy. And in the interest of taking any steps necessary to restore the honour of our regiment, I hereby assume the rank of RFSS."
There was another outburst of angry shouting, and then I heard the sound of booted feet entering the Gruppenführersaal. Conrad turned towards the door as Kessler's men entered the room and began moving around it, purposefully.
"Get them out of here," Heydrich demanded, "only Knights are allowed in here during Council."
"Council is adjourned," Kessler replied, meeting Tristan's gaze and daring him to contradict.
"What is your command, Herr Reichsführer?" Lange said, firmly.
"Have Oberstgruppenführer Heydrich, Oberstgruppenführer Kapler, Obergruppenführer Gerlinde and Chairman Berthelmes," he stressed Chairman, rather than giving Conrad his honorary rank, "removed to their quarters. Dierk...Wolfram, are you with the nay sayers, or will you see the bigger picture and stand with me?"
I took that as our sign to move, and broke the link.
Quickly and quietly, we headed up the stairs from the Crypt. As we reached the ground floor, I could once again hear the sounds of fighting in the castle courtyard, and knew that Jorge was putting his part of the plan into operation. Secure in that knowledge, I paused a moment, to take a few deep breaths and check my wards, and then made my entrance, flanked by Schultz and the rest of the Honour Guard.
"Everybody stand exactly where they are," I said in my most commanding voice, and Kessler turned to look at me, his face going white as he realised how untenable his position had just become. He paused for a moment, the cogs whirring in his mind, and then he crossed the final line.
"Kill him!" he ordered his men, and all Hell broke loose.
Radulf pulled me backwards, while Schultz got between myself and two of Kessler's men, cutting them down easily. While his movements weren't quite as fluid as usual, they were effective, and moments later his opponents were bleeding on the floor. As he did so, the rest of the Honour Guard moved in to deal with the rest of the interlopers.
Two minutes later, it was all over. Kessler's men were dead, injured or being restrained by the Honour Guard. Lange was lying on the floor of the room, his neck at an unnatural angle and Dominik standing nearby looking satisfied; Hauer was standing disarmed in Tristan's clutches, hands behind his back locked in a magical cuffs spell; and Schultz was beside Kessler, sword at his throat. Sitting at his place at the table, I saw Conrad leaning heavily on his elbow to support himself and crossed to him. As I did, I saw blood on his side. Obviously one of Kessler's men had got too close to him during the struggle.
"I'm getting too old for this, Rupert," he said, quietly.
"Let me get that," I answered. I tore aside his shirt to see a nasty gash, but it didn't look like it had pierced anything vital, so magic would probably be sufficient. I concentrated for a few moments to confirm my diagnosis, then cast a healing spell to close the wound, and he got slowly to his feet. As he did, I heard him muttering, as he did what he could to mend the shirt and tidy up his appearance. If the situation hadn't been so serious, I would have found his preoccupation with appearances amusing. Then I heard a knock at the door, and turned to see Jorge, looking tired but unhurt. I gestured for him to enter, which he did with some reluctance.
"Report?"
"The insurrection has been put down," he answered, promptly, "Kommandant Lange is dead. I've handed command of over to Standartenführer Brandt."
"Thank you, Oberstgruppenführer von Raeder. Please, remain here in the chamber to await further orders."
"Sir," he answered, with a smart salute.
I nodded, then turned back to Kessler. I wouldn't have thought it was possible for him to blanch even whiter, but he did.
"You know, Jürgen. After what happened with Sigiswald, I'm surprised that you didn't see this coming."
"Perhaps I did, but I thought it was worth the risk," he replied, his voice surprisingly steady, given his situation.
"Why? Why did you do it?"
"For the good of the regiment," he replied, "and for the good of the Reich."
"And you justify that how?"
"I believe you to be compromised due to your relationship with Robert of Sable. And I feel that we need a new vision at the top. One hundred and fifty years is a long time to maintain the status quo, and over the last few years, it has become apparent to me that you're too old for the job. You're spiralling into your dotage, caring more about your family, yourself, and your amusements, than the real business of what the SS is about. You dropped the ball spectacularly in the way you handled Andreas Delatz, and it's going to take us years to be sure that we're clean of his influence. Then you compounded that by going ahead and signed the peace with Sable, flying in the face of the sacrifices our men and women have made over the years. And to cap it all, four days ago, the Master of the Machine himself came here and attacked this castle. It's going to take a long time to recover our prestige from that."
I looked him up and down. My former friend and trusted advisor. I knew I had handled Andreas badly. On the other hand, in my mind, with the taking of Sigiswald's curse into myself and then pronouncing it on Prime I had made amends for my mistake. But too old for the job? That annoyed me.
"And so you waited until you thought I was unable to defend myself before making your move," I said, finally, "what were you going to do? Slit my throat in my sleep? Put poison in my IV? Not exactly the honourable course."
He looked at me, meeting my gaze, his expression completely neutral.
"You forfeited your honour at Riversend," he answered, coldly, "and you compounded that on Cavazza."
"And yet, here I am, and I'm willing to bet that not everyone in this room agrees with you on that" I said, quietly, "especially those of your fellow Knights who you were about to have 'removed to their quarters'." I indicated quote marks with my fingers as I said that, "You realise that this has to end now, don't you, Jürgen? That only one of us can walk out of here alive?"
"So what? You take me out to the castle courtyard and have me shot? Or personally cut my throat the way you did to Johan Heinz?"
Believe me, that would have been my preference, if it hadn't been for the issue of the death curse he would almost certainly throw in my direction. That and the conversation I'd had with Conrad.
"No. I intend to do the honourable..." I stressed the word, just to twist in the knife, "...thing. I challenge you to a duel to the death. Here and now, where our brethren can bear witness."
"Conditions?"
"Completely mundane. Shields down, no magic..."
"No shifting, oh newly-registered with the Forstapo?" he interrupted.
"No shifting," I agreed, reluctantly, "and whichever of us loses does not utter his death curse at his opponent or anyone else."
"Don't, Jürgen," said Hauer, "it's a trick. It has to be."
"There will be no tricks," Conrad said, quietly and clearly.
"You knew this was going to happen?" Kessler said, looking at his father.
"I hoped it would not," came the reply, "but matters took their course despite my hopes, and as far as I can see, this is now the only way to settle this."
"How long have you known what we were planning, Father?"
"Long enough."
"Why did you not support us?"
"I did not agree with what you were doing," he replied, simply, "I believe in the good of the Fatherland, and in my opinion, the Fatherland was not best served by your actions. Signing the Treaty was tactically the right thing to do, and my belief is that any stain which might have accrued to the RFSS's character resulting from his treatment of the Master of the Machine was removed when he took the fight to Prime at Beltane, regardless of the consequences to himself. Consquences, in fact, which have led us directly to this. I also see the merits of the informal diplomatic contact between Rupert and his brother in maintaining the overall stability and integrity of the Sable universe."
"And Riversend?"
"If Rupert had not assisted there, then my assessment is that Sable would have considered the Reich as the most likely perpetrator and responded in kind. And I'm sure you remember what happened at Danzig as well as I do."
Jürgen stood in silence, obviously hurt at his father's rejection, and I could see him calculating the possibilities in his head. Finally, he turned back to me, his expression resigned.
"I accept your challenge," he said, quietly, realising it was his only choice, "am I allowed to choose a second?"
"If you wish," I replied.
He looked Conrad, who nodded, and stepped across to join him. I vaguely wondered at his motivations, but then, perhaps despite his condemnation of Kessler's actions, he felt it was the right thing to do. The day I figure out the complex thought processes of Chairman Berthelmes' mind...
"Schultz," I said, shifting my attention from Kessler and Conrad, "go to the armoury. Find a pair of duelling blades and bring them back. And then, if you would do me the honour..."
"Yes, Herr Reichsführer," he replied, and left to do so. Karsten and Radulf moved closer to me, just in case, especially as Hauer was still looking decidedly belligerent, despite his situation.
"Tristan. Perhaps you could let Dominik look after Oberstgruppenführer Hauer and stand as referee?"
"Yes sir," came the answer.
"Is that acceptable to you, Jürgen?" I asked my opponent.
"It is."
"Sobeit."
Dominik crossed to take charge of the prisoner, while Heydrich joined Kessler, Conrad and myself. I noticed that Hauer looked nervous as the changeover took place: no doubt only too aware that his brother Rudolf's broken neck had happened in suspiciously close proximity to where Gerlinde had ended up after the struggle. I'd probably have to ask the Head of the Forstapo about that eventually. If I remembered.
I concentrated for a moment, magically moving the table and chairs slightly towards one side of the room, to give us some space for what would follow. Rikart returned about ten minutes later, carrying a dark oak box, inlaid with silver tracery. He placed it on the table and opened the lid. Inside gleamed a pair of duelling rapiers, with sharpened points and no sign of buttons on the ends. Kessler looked at Conrad, who crossed to examine the blades.
"No tricks, Jürgen," he said, once he was satisfied.
I indicated for my opponent to choose first, and once he had done so, I picked up the other blade, removing my uniform jacket to aid with ease of movement. SS dress blacks may look stylish, but they aren't exactly practical for a swordfight. He did the same, throwing his over the back of his chair at the table. Rikart moved into position as my second, while Tristan took his place where the referee would stand.
"To reiterate the terms of this duel," Heydrich said, calmly "to the death, completely mundane, no shifting, no death curses. And any breach of those conditions means that the perpetrator's life is forfeit. Do you both understand?"
We acknowledged almost simultaneously.
"So mote it be," the remaining Knights intoned in unison, and along with the Honour Guard, they took up positions around the room.
"Drop your shields," he ordered. With regret, I deactivated my personal wards, and felt Kessler doing the same. Given my opponent's reasons for what he'd done, the irony didn't escape me that the last time I'd fought any kind of formal duel had been against brother Robert.
"En garde," he said, and we brought the blades up almost simultaneously.
"Prêt...Allée."
The first clash of blades was quick, and left neither of us with an advantage over the other. Reading my opponent's body language, however, he seemed very confident. Which I suppose I would have been in his position, given that as far as he knew, he was considerably better than I was with a blade. He also had the advantage of reach, as he had three inches over me in height. On the other hand, I couldn't discount the possibility that he was as aware as I that I wouldn't have proposed this course of action if I didn't think I had a fighting chance.
We stepped back and began to circle, testing each other's defences. He seemed slightly more put off by the fact that I was left handed than I was that he was right, but he was a good enough swordsman to compensate. Almost before I realised what he was doing, he made a quick cut towards my left leg, testing his reach. My parry was more hurried than I would have liked, but at least it succeeded at no more cost to myself than a pulled thread on my uniform trousers. However, my riposte was weak and easily diverted. For a moment he seemed surprised that I'd even got the riposte in, but then he was recalculating possible angles of attack.
I tried a feint towards his right side, but he knocked my blade aside easily, binding it and pushing back to clash off my guard. A quick beat against his blade, followed by a long lunge, and I scored his shoulder. I don't think he was particularly hurt, but he was surprised, and disengaged. Then he circled once more for a few moments, trying to gauge my weak spots, much as I was doing to him.
We moved together, resulting in another clash of blades, and I felt him pink my cheek with the point of his sword. The blood began to run, but there was nothing, just then, that I could do about it. Once again we stepped apart, but almost immediately he described a quick cut towards my left shoulder. I managed a parry, but again succeeded in only a weak riposte. He pushed my blade out of the way, reprised, and sliced into my shirt. The point grazed me, cutting flesh but not enough to do any serious damage.
Beginning to worry that I'd made a Hell of a mistake in agreeing to this, I renewed my attempts to find a way through his guard, and after having to draw him out a couple of times, I noticed that on certain movements, he lifted his arm a little high. Of course, there was always the possibility that it was a trick to get me overextended, but I had to try. I pressed forward with a series of short, sharp blows, and the moment I saw the opening, I went for it. I was rewarded as my blade dug deeply into his right side, just below the ribcage, but as I did so, I felt his own weapon go through the fleshy part of my left shoulder. Nothing serious, but enough to restrict movement. Still, pain or not, nothing was going to change the terms of the duel now. I had to fight on.
I disengaged, to try to snatch a couple of breaths, and realised that he was favouring his side pretty badly. Maybe I'd successfully hit something vital. Alas, a moment or two later he was once again alert and coming for me. We traded blows again, and I noticed that he was no longer lifting that elbow. Had it been a trick, or had he realised what I'd done? I didn't have time to come to any conclusion, as he made a very fast, very strong lunge towards me. I only just managed to sidestep, and he passed me on the left. I turned to meet him, but as I did, he caught me a glancing blow around the kidneys with the side of his blade. Pain laced through me, and spurred me to action. I gathered myself together and began ducking in and out rapidly, hoping to mess with his reach. Nothing. His defences were solid. I guessed he'd been luring me into a false sense of security earlier, and now he'd stepped up a gear.
I could feel my defences slipping as the pain in my shoulder caused my arm to weaken. It was time to try something desperate. I shifted more weight onto my front foot, and then pushed off in a flèche attack. It was a risk, as he could just as easily impale me as I could him, and indeed he tried to throw me off my attack, but I held purpose, and my blade connected with his chest. At the same time, I felt his weapon cut through me, this time piercing a kidney on its way out the other side, rather than just hitting the area with the flat of the blade. I landed badly, staggered, and felt my own sword pulled from my hand. It clattered to the floor, and then his was being withdrawn, and I was barely standing.
"Damn you, Delatz," he hissed weakly, but there was none of the power behind his voice that I'd heard when Rikart had sent away Andreas and his assassins. I tried to ignore the pain, and attempted to focus on my opponent. He was lying on his side in front of me, my blade on the ground beside him. His shirt was bathed red in the area of his heart, and the stain kept getting larger.
Conrad knelt beside him, feeling for a pulse and listening for breath, but after a short while he shook his head.
"He's gone."
He tone was flat, lifeless, but as he looked at me I could see his distress. Perhaps he did think of the best for the Fatherland, but it was obvious that just then he hated himself for it. I caught his eye and mouthed "I'm sorry." He acknowledged with a shallow nod of his head, then he unclipped Kessler's Honour Dagger from his belt and handed it to me hilt first.
"I suggest you deal with the fact that you're leaking, Herr Reichsführer," came Dominik's voice from off to my side.
"That fact hasn't escaped me, Obergruppenführer Gerlinde," I snapped, rather more tartly than I'd intended. But then I hurt like Hell and wasn't feeling particularly charitable by then.
I crossed to my seat, placing Kessler's dagger on the table in front of me, and sat down, as that was less embarrassing than letting myself collapse back to the floor. The concept of actually openly shifting in front of the Knights was still difficult for me to get my head around, so I made the external repairs magically, and then set my shifting to work on the internal damage. About ten minutes later I felt a little stronger and got slowly to my feet.
As I did, I looked around the room, taking in expressions. Marin looked shocked, even sick, but then, she had just seen her father die. The ever-present Conrad had crossed to her, and was attempting to comfort her. And off to one side, I could see Jorge, obviously still awaiting orders, watching the proceedings. His face seemed impassive, but his eyes told a different story. I realised that technically I ought to ask him to leave for what had to happen next. But on the other hand...
I shifted my gaze to the prisoner, and from the expression on his face, he knew he was a dead man. For my part, I was no longer feeling either honourable or merciful. It was time to begin formal proceedings against him.
I indicated for the Knights to take their places, and as they did, Heydrich slid Hauer's Honour Dagger across the table to me, and I caught it under the flat of my hand and laid it beside Kessler's. Then I gestured to Waldemar and Karsten, and they took up positions either side of Hauer, so Dominik could take his seat, handing me Lange's ritual weapon as he did so.
"Brothers, sister...over the past few weeks, along with two now fallen, our Brother Maximillien has plotted against myself, a number your fellow Knights and several Companions of our Order present in this room. This Council needs to decide how he should answer for those crimes."
"Are we allowed to know who their potential victims were?" Wolfram demanded, obviously uncomfortable at what was going on. After all, he'd been a Knight barely six months, and this was the second act of treason he'd witnessed.
"Aside from the fact that Jürgen ordered his men to kill the RFSS as soon as he saw him, I would think the fact that he had previously told them to seize Tristan, Matthias, Dominik and Conrad ought to answer that question," Schneider commented, "bear in mind that you and I were at least asked to state our intentions: the others weren't."
"With the exception of Dominik, your assumptions are correct as far as they go, Dierk," I answered, "however, even that isn't the whole story. In the interests of full disclosure, perhaps this will confirm it for Brother Wolfram."
I pulled a recording crystal out of my pocket, reached over to lay it in the centre of the table (immediately regretting it, as I felt Kessler's parting gift hurting as I moved), and then replayed those sections of their discussions dealing with the potential murders of Matthias, Tristan, Conrad, Rikart and the rest of the Honour Guard. By the time the recording faded, the expressions around the room were stony. Hauer looked like he'd been kicked in the teeth, no doubt shocked how compromised their plans were, even before they put them into operation. And even Marin seemed numbed by what she'd heard, her reaction at least giving her the benefit of the doubt in my mind that while she was obviously allied with her father, I had uncovered no evidence that she had been involved in the actual conspiracy against the other Knights.
"Whatever possessed you, Max?" Matthias said, in disbelief.
"We knew action had to be taken to restore the honour of the SS, and that action involved replacing the RFSS."
"But surely you know the four of us well enough to know that we would never do anything to bring the regiment into disrepute," he protested, "we take our loyalty oaths seriously. We always have."
"And for you and Tristan, that was as much part of the problem as anything else. You've both done very well out of your relationships with Delatz. Schultz...well, what can I say? He wouldn't take a piss without his boss's say so. And Conrad isn't even a full member of the regiment. We debated at length whether any of you would...could...put regiment before Reichsführer, and came to the conclusion that you would choose loyalty to the man over the good of the whole, much as Dominik did here at this meeting. We couldn't afford for you to do that, as you would then be working against us, not for us. And so we needed to make sure that there was a clean break between the old guard and the new."
I glanced at Wolfram Kapler, whose lips were pursed in anger. After all, he and Matthias are close, and here was Hauer, calmly discussing the murder of his brother.
"And the Honour Guard?" Rikart asked, quietly.
"After Tuesday., I had so hoped that you weren't going to be a problem any more, little boy scout" Hauer answered, coldly, "again, a clean break needed to be made. After all, once Jürgen had replaced Delatz, alive or dead, is there the slightest chance that any of the Honour Guard wouldn't have be out for his blood? Of course not! You've been conditioned to put his life before yours...as you proved admirably on the 17th, although alas it appears you survived the experience...and therefore, we couldn't afford to let any of you live."
Rikart flinched as if he'd been hit, but he held his ground and restrained himself from saying anything he would regret later.
"Do you have anything to say in your defence?" Tristan said, quietly.
"We did what we did for the good of the Reich. If there is a cancer within this regiment, he's standing at the head of this table. The sooner you realise that, the better it will be for all of you."
"So you have no regrets about what you've done?" Dominik asked, looking at his brother.
"My only regret is that we didn't succeed," he replied.
"Sobeit," I said, turning away from him towards the others, "you have heard the evidence against this man, and his own statement. I am his accuser in this matter. I invite the rest of this Council to stand as the Honour Court to pass judgement on his behaviour. Are there any here who would speak in his defence?"
Silence.
"Again I ask, are there any who would speak for him?"
Silence.
"I ask a final time. Will any of you speak in his defence?"
Silence.
"The opportunity has been given. It has been declined. Therefore I call a vote. Do you find the accused, Maximillien Gottfried Hauer, guilty or not guilty of betraying the Order and planning the murder of your Brothers in the Order. Tristan?"
"Guilty," he said, firmly, "Dominik?"
"Guilty," he answered, obviously without a qualm about passing judgment on his own brother, "Matthias?"
"Guilty," Kapler senior replied, although I detected that he felt uncomfortable saying so, and it felt to me as if he was still finding it hard to accept Hauer's treachery, "Conrad?"
"Guilty," Conrad said, without hesitation, "Rikart?"
"Most definitely guilty," Rikart answered, fired by righteous indignation on behalf of his command, "Dierk."
"Also guilty," Schneider replied, then looked at Kapler junior, "Wolfram."
"I can't believe we're even going through this process," he replied, angrily, "he condemned himself. Of course he's damn well guilty."
Which left Marin.
"Gruppenführer Adler?" I asked, quietly.
"I'm sorry, Max, but I have no choice," she replied, looking at him, her inner conflict obvious in her body language, "Guilty."
"And I also find the accused guilty," I said, my eyes scanning the remaining Knights, "the verdict is unanimous. Brothers...Sister...you are free to pass sentence on the actions of Maximillien Gottfried Hauer, Brother of this Order."
"He is worthy of death," came the answer, although I noticed that unlike with Sigiswald, the chorus wasn't unanimous. Most notably, Marin held her peace.
"Maximillien Gottfried Hauer. You have been found guilty of betraying the Order, and inciting the murder of a number of its Knights and Companions. Your Brothers judge you worthy of death. Their wishes will be respected."
"Do I not have right of challenge?" he asked, "you gave Jürgen the option."
I moved from my place around the table to where he was standing. Karsten turned him to face me, and I locked my gaze with his.
"Your obvious contempt for myself and these proceedings, and your complete lack of remorse for your actions, mean that I, as Master of the Order and senior Knight, withdraw any right of challenge you may have had," I answered, coldly, "however, in view of your longstanding service to the Reich, I will give you a choice on how the sentence is carried out. The first option, is that you can voluntarily give up your life to atone for your betrayal, bless the Reich's future endeavours and be buried with the full ceremonies of the Order. Choose this, and the truth of what happened here will be kept private, so that no dishonour falls to your wife and children, who will be well cared for..."
I glanced around the room, gauging the reactions of the others. Conrad obviously approved. Tristan and Matthias, however, seemed less keen, and Rikart's face was a studied neutral.
"Or?" Hauer said, after a moment.
"Die the way your brother Rutger did, broken and screaming, have your carcass fed to the dogs, and know that your family will suffer because of what you did."
He paused, and I could see him remembering what had happened to Sigiswald. And no doubt he also remembered what had happened to Sigiswald's co-conspirator, as he had joined the hunt which had run her to ground.
"I agree to the former."
"Sobeit."
"Herr Reichsführer, I protest," Schneider said from across the table.
Without taking my gaze from Hauer, I said "State the nature of your protest, Brother Diederick."
"How can you trust him? What's to stop him changing his mind when the moment comes, and cursing us all to Hell?"
I concentrated for a second, locking the correct behaviour into Hauer's mind.
"You wouldn't do that, would you Maximillien."
"No, Herr Reichsführer," he replied, his tone barely mechanical.
"Marvellous."
"Am I allowed to say goodbye to my family?" Hauer asked, quietly.
"That won't be possible," I answered, coldly.
He seemed to wonder whether to argue with me, but no doubt realised that there was no point and said no more. Then I turned back to the others.
"The proceedings of this Honour Court are adjourned. Now we should head downstairs. Karsten, Schultz, please escort the prisoner. Waldemar, Stuckart, arrange for the bodies to be transferred to the castle morgue. Von Raeder, walk with Conrad..."
"What the Hell, sir?" Dominik said, surprised.
"Not now, Obergruppenführer Gerlinde," I answered, and one look at him caused him to shut up, "thank you. Gruppenführer Adler, you're with me."
I looked across at Jorge, and saw his obvious surprise, as well as a measure of discomfort. However, he did as he was told, and crossed to stand at Conrad's side. Marin joined me as I picked the three daggers up from the table, and it was obvious that she was still understandably shaken by what had happened. Then we headed out of the Gruppenführersaal and down towards the Crypt. I crossed to the keystone and opened the staircase heading down to the chapel (after the embarrassment when I'd first arrived there in this body, I'd made sure that couldn't happen again, and re-keyed myself to it). I indicated for Marin to lead, and followed close behind her. The Honour Guard would wait at the top until we returned.
"There was no other way," I said to her, quietly, "the genii was out of the bottle and nothing was going to put it back in."
"He was my father...I thought he was your friend."
"So did I. But obviously I was wrong," I replied, trying to sound gentle and sympathetic, although I can't guarantee it worked, "now, I need for you to focus. Can you do that? Just for a little while?"
"What do you want?"
"I need you to go into the chamber first and ready it for an initiation."
"That's why you didn't kill Max up in the Gruppenführersaal?"
"He is the one who survived the initial action. Would you have preferred it to be your father?"
"No."
"I thought not. Marin, I know this is difficult for you, but can't you see that once they'd set their plans in motion, there was only ever going to be one outcome?"
"You were unconscious. You had been for six weeks. They honestly believed that there was a good chance you wouldn't recover, and they were trying to do the best for all of us."
"And I'd almost believe that, if it wasn't for the fact that your father ordered his men to kill me the moment he saw me walk in. That was the moment which sealed his fate."
"How did you know? When did you regain consciousness?"
"June 1st. And then I watched and waited."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"That depends entirely on you. I know you weren't involved in their conspiracy - at least, certainly not the part of it which led to today. If you're wiling to prove to me that I can trust you, then nothing further will come of this for you. However, if you do not believe you can do this, I need to know."
"And what would you do with me? Kill me?"
"I'd rather not," I answered, "although I'm sure you understand that I'd have to replace you as head of the Ahnenerbe, as well as Priestess of the Winter Circle. But I'm willing to let you walk away, if that's what your conscience dictates."
"When must I decide by?"
It wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but I suppose it wouldn't have been realistic to expect her to make her decision there and then.
"Let's say that by July 1st you should have either sworn your loyalty to me once more, or tendered your resignation."
"I understand," she answered, and lapsed into silence.
We arrived in the ante-chamber, robed, and then I handed her the daggers, and she headed inside to prepare. The others joined us a short while later, with Karsten handing off Hauer solely to Rikart before departing back upstairs. They also robed for the ceremonies, with the exception of Jorge, who looked decidedly nervous.
"Have you explained, Conrad?" I asked.
"Approximately."
"Jorge?"
"I can't do this..." he answered, firmly.
"Of course you can," I replied, "I require it of you."
"But..."
"But nothing. What must be done, must be done."
He fell silent, knowing that I wasn't going to brook any argument from him. Conrad stood at his shoulder, in case he decided to bolt.
"Conrad, there should be suitable attire for Oberstgruppenführer von Raeder in the vestments chest. I'll see you inside."
He nodded, and I announced myself to the wards and stepped into the chamber. The room had been stripped of decoration, with the exception of the Sigrune banner hanging on the wall opposite the entrance. The altar was covered with a simple black cloth, the Honour Daggers which had formerly belonged to Kessler and Lange lying unsheathed on it. Hauer's own Dagger was on the side table, with the ritual vessels. Hauer was in his normal position, with Schultz beside him. The others were in their accustomed places, although the empty space to my left couldn't help but remind me of the many times that Kessler had stood there. Damn him for his ambition anyway.
Conrad brought Jorge in, wearing the robes of a postulant Knight, although the overall impression I had from the younger man was that he felt he was being marched out in front of a firing squad. Conrad took his place, Jorge just behind him. Dominik's expression looked like thunder, but he wisely said nothing. Once they were present, we exchanged the ritual greetings and sealed the room, and then we began.
My first action was to take the blades on the altar Lange, and broke them off at the hilt, returning the pieces to the altar. Then I magically consumed them with a fire so hot and focused that they were effectively vaporised. As I did so, the other Knights intoned the ritual words of destruction. The black altar cloth burned with them, and soon there was nothing left but ash. Marin crossed to the side of the room, and returned with the blood red cloth of initiation, which she placed over the ashes. This time, unlike with Sigiswald's death, I didn't intend to go through the formal process by which Hauer was stripped of the trappings which made him a Knight. After all, he had "agreed" to give himself voluntarily, and I had promised that his honour would remain in tact, whether or not I felt that he deserved it.
So without further ado, Marin and I began the ritual of initiation, the other Knights speaking in the appropriate places. It isn't a particularly complicated ritual. Largely it involves welcoming the postulant, acknowledging his or her right to be initiated as a Knight of the Order, and then having the postulant perform the sacrifice which will bind him or her to the Order. Of course, within that there are a few ritual questions which need to be asked of the would-be Knight. That was where this was going to go wrong if Jorge decided to be an idiot and stand on his principals as a ReichsMagus. I knew I was taking a big gamble on which way he was going to jump, and after the mess upstairs in the Gruppenführersaal, if this went sour, then I suspected various of the other Knights would remember Kessler's accusation that I was entering into my dotage. But I hadn't left things completely to chance.
Once the preparations were made, and the initial parts of the ceremony had been completed, I moved to the head of the altar, Marin on my left, and gestured for Jorge and Conrad to move into position at the opposite end of the stone table. Conrad guided the younger man to the correct place, and then stood at his left shoulder as his sponsor. Then I began the formal questioning.
"Jorge Wilhelm Adelmar von Raeder. You have been selected as a potential Knight of the Schutzstaffel. This is the highest level of reward and recognition which can be offered to a member of the SS, and is an honour accorded to few. Do you understand this?"
"I do," he said, quietly, and I could hear his inner conflict in his tone.
He'd told me on many occasions how important the SS was to him, and how he had regretted having to give up his career to enable him to marry pretty little Elanor, even though I had arranged for him to continue to serve me as a Priest of Protection. His dilemma of love versus career had even touched a sentimental streak within myself which I hadn't realised I'd had. Through doing this, I was effectively offering him the chance to resume his original career, at a higher position than when he had left. But I didn't doubt that he knew there was going to be a price: both in terms of his relations with his wife's family, and especially his grandfather Andrew; and for his position as a ReichsMagus, given that by its nature, the ritual of initiation into the Knights went against the official position of the RBTA on what was acceptable within a ritual setting.
"You have served the regiment well in the past, and already stand as a Companion of the Order. Do you consider yourself worthy of the honour that promotion to Knight accords you?"
He paused before answering, and I had a rather nervous moment before he spoke.
"It is not my place to consider my worth for such an honour, but for you to choose if I deserve it," came his response. It sounded like textbook Conrad.
"If I did not consider you worthy, Oberstgruppenführer von Raeder, then you would not be here," I replied, although I heard a hiss of disapproval from Dominik as I spoke. "Who brings the postulant for initiation to this Order?"
"I do," Conrad said, clearly.
"And do you understand that should this postulant fail in his initiation task, you will be held to account for his actions? And pay for your misjudgement in bringing him before us with your own blood."
"I do," Conrad repeated.
I heard various gasps of surprise around the room, as the others were well aware that this wasn't a normal part of the ritual. However, Conrad remained calm and relaxed. After all, he and I had worked out this little piece of theatre in advance. It seemed such a little bit of blackmail: giving Jorge the impression that if he refused to go through with this, Conrad would suffer for his actions. And if Jorge ever queried it at a later occasion, I could honestly say that because of the circumstances, ie that I had decided to make him as a Knight, rather than his accepting the position before the ceremony, his initiation had to be handled a little differently to the norm.
"Brother Conrad has agreed to offer himself as surety for your actions, Oberstgruppenführer von Raeder. Do you understand this."
He looked pale, as the implications sank home.
"Yes, Herr Reichsführer," he said, quietly. I was going to have to do a lot of smoothing of his ruffled feathers later, but I hoped common sense and duty would win out.
"Excellent. Schultz, bring forward the sacrifice," I ordered.
I indicated for Hauer's captor to lead him to the altar and lay him down, and he obeyed meekly, remaining quiet. After all, I had made sure that was the only course of action he could take.
"Brother Maximillien," I said, quietly, "by agreeing to act as a willing sacrifice, despite your actions against us, your honour as a Knight will remain in tact, and the postulant will take up the mantle of all the fallen Knights in the history of the Order. Do you regret your decision to do this?"
"I do not," Hauer replied, "I acted against the good of this Order, and I must pay the price."
It warmed my heart to hear the words I had put in his mind, coming from his lips.
"So mote it be," intoned the others, and I looked directly at Jorge.
"Join me," I said, indicating for him to take his place the other side of Marin from me, and she reached for the ritual vessel which would be used to catch Hauer's blood when the time came. She then moved the prisoner's head back so that his throat was bared.
Jorge was obviously unhappy, and looked tired and shaky, but he realised that he had no choice. I indicated for him to draw the dagger at his belt - in his case, on the SS pattern, but instead of the usual symbology, dedicated to the Church of Protection - and began to intone the words of sacrifice. Then, when the moment arrived, I indicated for him to strike. He definitely hesitated as he put his dagger to Hauer's jugular, and he looked at me, willing me to spare him from this, but with a flick of my mind, he pushed the blade in. Later, I would explain to him that by doing that, I had given him the option to abjure himself of the responsibility for his actions with his Sable in-laws. They would hate me on his behalf...but then, most of them hated me anyway.
Spells I had set up long in advance made sure that rather than spraying everywhere, the blood was directed towards the vessel Marin was holding. As it flowed, I moved to join my blade with his, intoning the words which would link his to mine, and him to the Knights, and I could feel the power suffusing us all as the ritual took effect. I also knew that when he next looked at his blade, the usual SS motto would once again be on it, as well as the Protection runes it bore as the working dagger for one of my Priests. Then we stepped back, as Hauer's life flowed out of him, down the side of the altar and into the groove around it, before draining away. As it did, I heard him utter the words "A blessing on the Fatherland's actions against its enemies within and without." Not quite how I'd specified it, but at least it didn't mention myself or anyone else by name.
Marin drank from the vessel first, then myself, and then Jorge, and I could feel his horror at what he was doing. But by then it was done. Conrad stepped forward to rest a supporting hand on his shoulder, as he took his turn, and then the cup was passed around the other Knights. They each took a sip, and then returned it to myself. I drained it, then turned it upside down beside Hauer's head as the light finally went out of his eyes. Conrad guided Jorge to his position as the junior surviving Knight, the others spoke the formal words of welcome, and Marin and I completed the ritual.
Once the final words were completed, we stood in silence for two minutes, to honour the fallen, as was traditional at the end of our rites, and then Conrad opened the wards and led Jorge from the chamber. The others filed out after them, leaving myself alone with Marin. We would join them upstairs in the Gruppenführersaal after we had closed down the ritual space and seen the body to the morgue, to await burial with the others the following evening.