Hradcany Castle/The Wewelsburg
22nd June RY154
The morning after Summer Solstice, I woke in my suite in the castle at about 7.30am, showered and shaved, then dressed in my work clothes for the first time in seven weeks. My shoulder was stiff, but serviceable, and I could still feel the damage from Kessler's last blow knitting together, but a self-check confirmed that it was well on the way to healing without further conscious intervention. And most of all, it felt strangely liberating to be able to walk out of my suite and downstairs for breakfast without having to worry about who saw me.
Radulf and Stuckart fell into step beside me, and we headed down to take stock of the situation in the castle. The signs of the initial fight with Andreas and his group on the 17th had largely been cleared away over the intervening days. However, the aftermath of the pitched battle between Sophia Lange's forces and the battalion von Raeder had brought in from Sanguine was more obvious. The bodies had been cleared away overnight, and were now laid out in a makeshift morgue in one of the castle outbuildings awaiting burial. The regulars would be interred in the cemetery below the castle, while the fallen Honour Guard and the Knights would be cremated and their remains laid to rest in the Crypt. However, the courtyard was scarred with explosion and shot damage, and would take some restoring, and there were still working parties clearing away the debris, under the supervision of Standartenführer Gerhard Brandt, who had acted as Jorge's second in command the day before.
Perhaps it was the fact that I'd been through a lot myself over the previous couple of months, starting with the Treaty signing and the problems with Sigiswald and working through to Summer Solstice, or perhaps it was just looking across at the courtyard, but I realised it upset me greatly how we had come to this. One part of the regiment at the throat of the other. I hoped that the situation would now stabilise, although until Marin gave me her formal decision - even though I was willing to bet what it would be - there would be an element of uncertainty. I would also need to interview Hans Luitpold, head of our Arcane Defence Group, to sound out his feelings, as he was Max Hauer's son.
Purging the traitors was only the beginning: the mess left behind was going to take some months to sort out.
"Herr Reichsführer," said Brandt, spotting me and coming over, "good morning."
"Morning, Standartenführer Brandt. Thank you for your assistance yesterday."
"We did what needed to be done, sir," he answered, promptly.
"No regrets?"
He looked at me as if he wasn't sure how to answer that.
"The honour of the regiment was at stake from rogue elements," he replied, "we had to cleanse it."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that again," I mused.
"Indeed, sir."
"Anything else to report?"
"No sir. It's been quiet this morning...I think people are just getting over the shock of what happened, and are slowly getting back to normal."
"Do you think you will be able to have the courtyard ready for this evening?"
"It will be done."
"Thank you, Standartenführer Brandt."
He saluted, and headed back to his working party, while I went and grabbed some breakfast. And then it was time to actually show my face at the office. I brought the Pattern to mind, and jumped myself and my escort to back to Berlin, arriving in the appointed place in the Hradcany Castle courtyard. The castle guards seemed surprised to see me, but saluted promptly.
"Welcome back, Herr Reichsführer," said the lieutenant of the detachment in the courtyard: his name tag read Wechsler, "we weren't expecting you today."
"Tide and time wait for no man, Obersturmführer Wechsler," I answered, "is Oberstgruppenführer Heydrich in the castle yet?"
"I believe he arrived about half an hour ago. Do you want me to send a message to him?"
"No, that won't be necessary," I answered, "I'll catch up with him later. Carry on."
"Yes, sir," he replied, and I headed for my office.
The door to the outer office was locked, and as I opened it, the first thing that caught my eye was the huge pile of post sitting on Marja Tomas's unoccupied desk. It took me a moment to remember that Marja was gone: Schultz had told me that she'd died on May 1st, and while he hadn't specified what had happened, the timing was suggestive. Andreas just kept coming back to haunt me, and I still couldn't get over how badly I'd fucked up. No wonder the Cavazza site had been compromised if my PA had been reporting to the Master of the Machine.
Still, on the bright side, it also sounded as if a lot of my former protégé's deep cover agents had met their end due to the Curse, so perhaps I'd soon be able to close that particularly unsatisfying chapter in the Reich's history. I made a mental note to speak with Philip Metz with a view to accelerating the roll-out of the Aurellian ID Magic system across the SS and all key government organisations. After all, we now had examples of the majority of models of Machine drones, and as there was a genetic element to the ID Magic system, we should soon be able to root out any remaining Machine agents. Assuming there were any more left to find.
Despite the fact that my condition hadn't exactly been kept secret, and the Triumvirate had officially been running things for the last seven weeks, it appeared that that hadn't stopped people writing to me anyway. Still, someone in the post room had been making sure that the mail was delivered, but at least attempting to keep it confidential. I took another look at Marja's desk, then crossed to my office door and unlocked it. I stepped inside and glanced around. It was good to be back.
Despite the summer weather outside, the room had the chill of disuse and the air smelt vaguely musty. There was a fire laid in the grate, awaiting autumn, but I snapped my fingers and set it alight. It probably wouldn't need to burn for long; just enough to make the room feel more habitable.
"What do you want us to do, sir?" Radulf asked.
"I'd better take a look at the mountain of post, next door...if you'd be so kind."
He nodded and he and Stuckart began bringing it through. I indicated the table by the fireplace, between the two armchairs, then crossed to the window and looked out over Berlin. The sky was bright blue with a few clouds, and the sun sparkled off windows and spires, showing the city at its best. I opened the window to let in some fresh air, but then my reverie was interrupted by a phone call, and I crossed to my desk.
"Delatz."
"It's true, then," came Wilhelm's voice, "you're up and about again."
"Yes, it's true."
"We need to talk."
"No doubt," I replied, with a sigh.
"I imagine you're going to be busy today, but say tomorrow at 9am, my office."
"I need to be back at the Wewelsburg tonight, and it could be a late one. Would 10am be acceptable?"
"That's fine. I'll have Isa pencil it into my schedule," he answered.
"Of course, sir."
"Good...and by the way, congratulations on your recovery."
"Thank you."
"You know what they say," he replied, and I thought I could sense amusement, "Better the devil you know."
I wasn't entirely sure what to say in response to that, but Wilhelm took the need to reply away from me.
"Until tomorrow..." he said, and hung up the phone.
I sighed again. That was going to be a difficult conversation. One of many, I suspected. I wasn't exactly looking forward to talking with Tristan or Matthias, either, and Jorge...
"Niklaus, can you ask Oberscharführer Horn if she can send me up the details of some possible candidates to replace Marja Tomas."
Gitta Horn was the queen of the Hradcany Castle secretariat, and it was obvious that I was going to need a new PA sooner rather than later. I had debated asking Carina Schultz if she'd like the position, but had had second thoughts on whether that would be taking keeping it in the family too far. Which meant looking further afield.
"Of course, sir," Radulf answered, "Anything else?"
"Not just now," I said, and crossed to the fireplace to sit down, "I need to make what will hopefully be a quick call, and then I might as well make a start on this lot."
"Anything I can help you with, sir?" Stuckart asked from the doorway.
"Not really," I replied, "I'd appreciate it if you could keep interruptions to a minimum, although if Oberstgruppenführeren Heydrich, Kapler or von Raeder come up, send them in."
"Yes, Herr Reichsführer," he answered.
And with that, I settled back into the armchair, and brought Silke's Trump to mind.
"Good morning, Silke" I said as she opened the contact.
"Master," she replied, but she sounded tired.
"Are you alright? I wanted to check in with you about last night."
"You were right," she answered, "Greifswald was hit by a major storm at about 8.30pm."
"Was there much damage?"
"Some...the winds got pretty wild in the middle there...in fact, I'd swear we were hit by a hurricane...but I managed to keep on top of things. Working with whole Shadows, though...it isn't something I'd previously have put on my CV."
"Casualties?"
"A few thousand across the Shadow, and quite a bit of infrastructure damage, but it could have been a lot worse."
"I'm sure that's wholly down to you," I answered, with a smile.
"I always try my best to serve you, Master," she replied.
"How about the links to the rest of the Neubrandenberg Group?"
"They were temporarily severed. I've reinforced and reconnected them, but I'd be more comfortable if you could check everything out, in case I've missed something."
I got to my feet and offered her my hand, indicating for Stuckart to join me. He quickly scribbled a note to Radulf, saying where we were going, and then crossed to me.
"Bring us through."
She did so, and I looked around, Stuckart close by in case of trouble. I guessed we were in main square of Greifswald's capital, as I recognised the key public buildings, as well as the Kaiser Wilhelm Hotel on the south side of the square. As we arrived, I noticed various people looking at us, and realised it was only a matter of time before they recognised us, so I threw up some wards which would cause them to ignore us unless we chose otherwise.
"Interesting choice of location."
"And there's an excellent coffee shop just over here."
She led us down the street slightly, to a small café which went by the name of Carlo's, and had maybe half a dozen tables and the most glorious aroma of roasting coffee.
"Good choice," I commented, as we were shown to a table towards the rear.
"The chocolate torte in here is to die for," she replied, "but if you feel its too early in the morning for a solid slab of chocolate, I'd recommend the hazelnut sponge."
"You know the place well?"
"I had a boyfriend who was posted at the hospital here for a few months...many years ago. We came here a lot."
"What happened to him?"
"It didn't work out and he moved on...I believe he's married with children and living in Berlin now."
The waiter came over, and we ordered, and once our food had arrived, I put up some anti-eavesdropping wards.
"Let me take a look around," I said, and brought up the Pattern. To my side I felt rather than saw Stuckart get into the optimal position to watch my back, so to speak.
I extended my senses, and began to give Greifswald the once over. Sure enough, the links which held it within the Neubrandenberg Group had been weakened, as if it had tried to break away. However, I could feel Silke's work in renewing the connections, and after half an hour or so of concentrating, drawing on some of my inherent abilities with the Jewel, I had reinforced the bonds she had restored, and Greifswald once again felt like it fitted properly within the Group. I also checked the Shadow itself, and could feel the after effects of a storm based on magical, rather than natural energy, but for the most part they had dissipated, helped by Silke's judicious use of the Pattern. I cleaned away the last traces of trouble, and then returned my consciousness to the present. As I did so, I was surprised at how tired I felt, and how much I hurt. Obviously the injury I had taken the previous evening had taken more out of me than I'd realised.
The coffee in front of me had gone cold, but a quick spell had it steaming again, and I sat back and enjoyed it. It complemented the hazelnut of the sponge, with its chocolate praline filling, perfectly.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"It's fine."
"I felt you Working..."
"Reinforcing what you'd already done...nothing more. You did a good job, as I knew you would."
She smiled.
"I'm glad you think so," she said, then looked more serious, "am I allowed to know what happened last night?"
"I owe you that," I replied, and briefed her on what had happened, without mentioning the specifics of the initiation afterwards. As I spoke her face was troubled: obviously, she'd known Kessler, Hauer and Lange well while she was still Ahnenerbe Chief. And given my assumptions on Marin's decision, I probably needed to find a replacement for her replacement. As so often before, I regretted that she'd felt she'd had to leave, due to the circumstances of her restoration after Rensburg, even if I understood why she'd done it.
"Sophia Lange was the Summer Circle Priestess, wasn't she?" she asked, as I finished.
"Indeed. And with Marin likely to leave us as well...it's going to be interesting these next few months."
"How did von Klieburg take his elevation?"
"In truth, that could have gone better."
"I may dislike him on principal because of his hatred of Dominik, but he's never struck me as a possible Knight. At least, not of the Winter Circle."
"Originally I'd considered making him a Summer Knight," I answered, "but in the end, when I instituted that group, I decided that it wasn't time. Especially as at that point he was working in the Temple in New Yorvik, rather than being based back in the Reich."
"So what changed?"
"Too many people trying to kill me," I answered, "and the weakness of the Winter Circle, coupled with the fact that he was one of the group that made damned sure they couldn't get to me while I was in the coma, and so I trust him. That, and I thought he'd understand why it was necessary."
"But he didn't?"
"I don't know. I haven't had a chance to speak with him yet. But he wasn't happy after the ceremony."
"I'm sorry."
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...however, I did want to ask you something."
"What?"
"You're well aware of the differences between the Summer Circle and the Winter Circle."
"The Summer Circle is more concerned with the generation and channelling of life energy, as I understand it, with less of a ritual component. Back with the original idea of rewarding good service to the regiment. The Winter Circle is the original group, and therefore has a decidedly darker focus."
"I'm hoping to change that with time...although its going to be a slow process."
"Corrupting the Summer Circle, or redeeming the Winter?"
"The latter."
She looked at me surprised.
"Why the change of heart?"
"A lot of things are changing just now," I replied, "in which context, I was wondering if you might help me."
"I'm not even in the SS any more."
"Neither is Conrad Berthelmes...never has been."
"I can't...you know why I left the Knights."
"That was when there was just the one group. What I was hoping was that you might consider becoming Priestess of the Summer Circle."
She didn't answer immediately, instead working diligently on her coffee and cake for a few moments while she thought, before looking up at me.
"I'm flattered, but I don't know if I can do it."
"I'm not asking you to decide now," I replied, "I'm asking you to think about it. And I'm more than happy to discuss things with you if it will help you make a decision. But I assure you, nothing happens in the Summer Circle which would compromise your position in Eboracum, and with your guidance, I could see it coming more into line with the rites of the Church of Protection...just focused on protecting the Fatherland."
"I'll think about it. But I can't promise anything."
"I understand," I replied, and then was aware of the clock striking eleven. I hadn't realised how much time had passed since I'd left my office. Radulf would be wondering where we were.
"I should be getting back to Berlin," I said, finishing my coffee with regret and getting to my feet.
"I understand...I imagine there's a lot to do just now."
"Yes...oh, and the ceremonies for the fallen will be held at the castle tonight. You would be welcome..."
"I'll check with Titus to see if he needs me back," she replied.
"Of course," I answered, and with that I moved round and embraced her warmly, giving her a fond kiss on the forehead, then looked at Stuckart.
"Ready, Hans?"
"Yes, Herr Reichsführer."
"Thank you, Silke...for everything you've done here...and everything else. Call me."
"I will."
And with that, I brought the Pattern to mind, and jumped myself and Stuckart back to Berlin. We checked in with Niklaus, and then I headed back into my office. My heart anew as I saw the pile of post again, and realised that I couldn't put it off any longer. I put a couple of logs on the embers of the fire, rang down to the kitchen to order a pot of coffee and some lunch, and then sat back down in the armchair.
I began at the top and started working downwards, on the theory that anything new I might still be able to act upon in a timely manner, whereas the older stuff was probably too old for me to do anything useful. An orderly arrived about fifteen minutes later with the coffee and a platter of bratwurst with sauerkraut and potatoes. I indicated for him to put the coffee on the tiles by the fireplace, after pouring me a cup, and then he departed quickly and quietly. Despite the fact that I had been eating cake only about half an hour before, I still found myself tucking into my lunch with gusto. Obviously my shifting was still working overtime in the background, and needed refuelling.
Once I'd finished, I put the empty plate on its tray on the table by the door, and addressed the pile of post with a decided lack of enthusiasm. Job number one. Separating external and internal mail. As I did so, I was interested to find an envelope with the arms of Baron Horsley of Sable on it. Intrigued, I opened it to find an invitation to the second wedding anniversary party of a Sable great niece of mine: specifically the niece whose wedding I'd sent Jorge to, to protect her from certain enemies she had by virtue of the identity of her father, which had led to Jorge first meeting Elanor. I put that aside with the intention of answering in the affirmative.
I was three more cups of coffee in, regretting I hadn't ordered a pot from Carlo and still only halfway down the pile, when there was a knock at the door.
"Herr Reichsführer..." said Radulf, poking his head into the room, "I apologise for troubling you, but Oberstgruppenführer Heydrich is here."
"Send him in, Niklaus," I replied, and looked at Stuckart, "and would you mind waiting outside?"
"Are you sure?"
"I'll be fine," I answered, and Tristan was let in. I indicated for him to take to chair opposite mine, then rang for a new pot of coffee and a second cup to be sent up.
"A fire in June?"
"All the better for burning this lot on when I get bored," I answered, gesturing at the pile of envelopes, "how are you, Tristan? We didn't have much chance to speak last night."
"Well enough," he replied, as he sat down, "how about you? That was quite a hit you took last night."
"It's healing...one of the joys of now being a legal shape shifter," I replied, "I'm fine as long as I take it slowly. Hence sorting the post while sitting here in the warm. Oh, I saw Silke earlier."
"How is she?" he asked. He had always been fond of his granddaughter.
"Well. She was doing a favour for me."
"A favour?"
"Keeping an eye on Greifswald overnight."
"And?"
"And it's just as well she was...there was some trouble there during the Council meeting, but everything looks to be stable now."
"Glad to hear it. Given its location, tech level and resources, losing that Shadow would have been very bad."
"Quite."
We lapsed into silence for a few moments as one of the castle orderlies brought the new pot of coffee and poured us both a cup (Stuckart standing protectively by the door while he did so), and I could tell from Tristan's body language that he was uncomfortable.
"You're angry at me for not telling you what I had planned for last night," I commented, once the orderly and Hans had gone out.
"Not angry exactly...but disappointed that you didn't trust me enough to let me know what you were up to. I thought you knew me better than that."
"You're taking this better than Dominik did."
"Emotional control was never his speciality," came the answer, and then he met my gaze, "why didn't you tell me?"
"As I understand it, you were about the most high profile of the Knights watching my back while I was down, for which I thank you, but while I knew that you wouldn't betray me, I couldn't risk anyone realising that all was not what it seemed."
"Give me credit for some competence," he snapped, more hurt than anything else and I sighed inwardly. Balancing business and friendship was still difficult for me, and hadn't been made any easier by Kessler's betrayal.
"I do...but the situation was difficult. And I needed for at least some of those who I knew I could trust to be able to go into the Council meeting not knowing what was going to happen, otherwise my hand might have been tipped to the conspirators."
"But you told Dominik and Conrad?"
"I needed Dominik to help me on the 17th. I'm not sure what the reports you got said, but first hand, it was a bloodbath. He can heal, while that isn't one of your specialities, and I wanted to try to stop Kurt Geiger expiring on the floor of my suite in the castle."
"You couldn't have done that yourself?"
"I was helping Rikart, who was dying rather faster. I wouldn't have got to Geiger in time. And apart from brother Robert, who isn't feeling particularly civil towards me right now, I had a short list of people I could risk calling."
"I suppose that makes sense. Dominik seems to have become your personal physician this last couple of years. But it doesn't explain our beloved Party Chairman."
"Now there I had no choice," I answered, "when I first came to, things were rather...complicated. They didn't get any less complicated when I ended up in the Crypt under the North Tower, all alarms ringing, and Schultz found me. He did his job, arrested me and refused my request for him to help me get to the Pattern without verifying my credentials. But he couldn't do that himself, so he called Conrad."
"Why did they need to verify your credentials? Of all people?"
"Because at the time I wasn't entirely myself. I woke up with a major case of amnesia and some identity issues...hence the need to get to the Pattern to try to figure out what was going on."
"I'd been working closely with Schultz throughout your illness. I'm surprised he didn't contact me."
"You'd have to take that up with him, although I'd guess that maybe you weren't in the castle and Conrad was easier for him to reach. While he has some Trumps, like myself, the Honour Guard and one or two others, Schultz doesn't have a full set, so it's quite possible he couldn't have contacted you quickly enough, given the urgency with which he wanted to figure out who was in the Crypt. He was only away for a couple of minutes."
"He has Conrad's Trump?"
"You know that Conrad is Rikart's father, don't you?"
"I'd suspected, but I've never had it specifically confirmed before, and obviously one doesn't ask about Lebensborn parentage. But in light of that, I suppose it makes sense."
"That and the fact that Conrad has full access to the Pattern here...which unfortunately you don't. However, I'll make sure that Rikart has your card for the future as well, if he doesn't already. And I'll admit, if I have any say in it, if something like that happens again, my preference for dealing with it would be someone from within the regiment, rather than someone with a foot in both the Kaiser's camp and mine, like Conrad."
"Thank you," he answered, then paused before asking the main question on his mind, "so when did you actually wake up?"
"June 1st."
"Do I get the impression the timing isn't coincidental? Is this somehow related to why you and Robert aren't talking."
"Yes."
"What the Hell did you do?"
"I screwed up. And yes, I have to make it right eventually. However, at the moment I need to make sure my own house is secure before talking to my brother."
"How bad is it between you?"
"On a scale of one to ten? I'd say a minus five."
"Ouch."
"As I said, I screwed up."
"And then you spent the next three weeks figuring out what was happening with Jürgen?"
"Pretty much. Once I'd walked the Pattern, Rikart and Conrad brought me up to speed with what had happened in the Council meeting which set up the Triumvirate...a brave move, by the way, even if not entirely successful...and the fact that Kessler had started empire building, and so I laid low and gathered my facts."
"Hence the crystal you played at the meeting yesterday."
"Yes."
"You know I wouldn't have betrayed you."
"I know. But I had to make a choice. Maybe it was a bad one...I seem to have been making enough of those lately... and if so, then I apologise."
He looked at me, surprised.
"Tristan, I know it's going to sound like a platitude, but a lot has happened this last couple of months, and it's taking some time to process."
"This isn't like you, Rupert," he said, and I could see concern in his face.
"What?"
"The whole self-doubting thing," he replied, "you usually know exactly what you want and how to get it."
"And maybe that's been my mistake all along."
"What happened with Robert?"
"I attacked him to break myself out of the coma, which seemed like a good idea at the time, given what I knew at that point. But once I'd walked the Pattern and regained the full picture, rather than the edited highlights I'd gleaned up until then, I realised that I'd made a huge mistake. And what's worse, I think he was genuinely trying to help me and I punished him for it."
"And that bothers you?"
"Yes," I answered, slowly, "yes, it does."
"And the business with Jorge, last night?"
"That bothers me as well. Maybe Kessler was right, and I am getting too old for this."
"And yet you killed him for saying that."
"Technically, I killed him for ordering his people to do the same to me as soon as he saw me walking," I answered, with a wry smile, "Saying I was too old just got me mad. Maybe Dominik isn't the only one with emotional control issues."
"And yet, here you are. Still RFSS, despite his better wishes."
"Did he ask you to join him?"
"He raised it in passing a few days after you were injured, in the context of what would happen if you didn't recover. I gave him short shrift."
"Hence your starring appearance on his hit list."
"No doubt. Although, in his defence, he was never the same after Andrew de Lacy killed Irma. I'm not surprised that he had problems with the Treaty."
How had I forgotten that little detail? Jürgen had been devoted to his wife, and yet...
"Have you decided what to do about Marin?" Tristan continued.
"I've given her the choice of backing me or resigning."
"Which way do you think she'll go?"
"I think she cared too much for her father to be comfortable working for me any more."
"So?"
"She's a wealthy woman now. Subject to the Kaiser's agreement and the Imperial Council's approval, she inherits his Leipzig title, which makes her Uradel. She's his only acknowledged child, and legitimate with it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she resigned her commission and went off to be a full-time landowner. And before you ask, yes I'm willing to let her walk away, just as I was with Silke."
"Where does that leave the Winter Circle?"
"Looking for a Priestess, as well as three new Knights."
"And the Summer Circle?"
"I've had a couple of ideas, but I'll see if they pan out."
We lapsed into silence for a short while, sipping our coffees and listening to the crackling of the fire, before Tristan caught me with a question out of left field.
"When did you last play?"
"Excuse me?"
"Music...the piano...the violin. When did you last play?"
"I'm not quite sure how that's relevant."
"Humour me."
"My personal timeline...I've occasionally picked out a few notes, but I haven't played seriously for probably five or six years."
"Why did you stop?"
"I haven't the had time."
"It used to be one of your main outlets for channelling your emotions. It was something you could connect with. In fact, in the old days, it was one of the few things you could connect with."
"Perhaps before I had a family...by the gods I had no idea how much hard work that would be."
"Now they're older, you should take it up again."
"Frida isn't really a music lover."
"So? Come round and spend the evening with Veronika and I some time soon. You know she'd love to see you."
"Perhaps I will...although I'm still not quite sure why you're asking."
"Maybe I'm worried about you," he replied, with a shrug.
"As I said, I have a lot to process at the moment."
"And right now that seems to be making you vulnerable."
"Would you prefer I locked my emotions up in a little box and went back to how I used to be? Caring for nothing but myself, the regiment and the good of the Reich?"
"No," he answered, "in fact, I think its far better that you're responding to other people. All I'm saying is that if you want someone to talk to, I'm here...and music can be good therapy."
"I'll bear that in mind..."
"You're welcome," he replied, and got to his feet, "I should get back to work. But its good to see you up and about, whatever the circumstances."
"I'll see you this evening at the castle?"
"Of course," he answered, "until then."
And with that he headed out, leaving me a little surprised at how the meeting had gone. Stuckart came back in a short while later, and resumed his vigil. By seven, I had finally finished sorting the sheep from the goats as it were, and stood up. I felt stiff and cold, despite the restored warmth of the room.
"Time to go, I think," I said, looking at him.
"Of course, Herr Reichsführer," he replied.
"Grab Niklaus, would you, while I finish up here."
"Yes, sir."
He went to get his compatriot, while I made sure that the fire was out, the post was stacked on the tables by the window, and the window itself was closed and locked. By that time, they were both waiting for me.
"Shall we?" I said, and brought the Pattern to mind. I thought for a moment, then jumped us through to the reception area of the Wewelsburg courtyard.
As we arrived, surrounded by the men guarding that location, I glanced around me. Nine pyres had been built for the dead, and flowers and greenery had been gathered, and placed in standing wreaths around the courtyard, gently sprayed with water to bring out the aromas of garden and forest. There was even a raised area to one side where the musicians would sit which looked big enough for a small orchestra. In passing, I looked over towards where Andreas and his men had allegedly arrived on the afternoon of the 17th: definitely not the usual reception area. I'd have to do some work securing the area.
As we were heading back towards my quarters, we were met by Harman and Marius, who relieved Radulf and Stuckart (whose shifts had technically already been over for a couple of hours).
"I'll see you both later," I said to them, and they saluted and headed for the Honour Guard quarters within the castle, while my new companions and myself made for my suite.
"I should probably warn you," Marius said gravely, "there's a reception committee waiting for you."
"Do I want to talk to them or shoot them?"
"The former would be better, Herr Reichsführer," he answered, and I saw the trace of a smile.
Without too many concerns, as Marius obviously wasn't worried, I got to my suite and went in, to be almost bowled over by a pair of small whirlwinds.
"Papa!!" Josef and Isabelle said together. I put my arms around them and brought them close. While I'd agreed to let Frida in on the secret of my recovery, we'd decided to keep the children out of it, both for their protection and mine, but I'd missed them. It had been damned hard playing possum when they were in the room. I held them for a few seconds, before letting them go.
"Are you going to be alright, Papa?"
"I'll be fine, Josef," I answered, tousling his hair absently.
"Hello, grandfather," came a quieter voice from one side, and I saw Kristina standing with Frida. I indicated for her to come over, and then gave her a hug as well.
"You're looking better, Ertti," Frida said, crossing to me and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"I feel better," I answered, then turned to the senior of my guards, "Marius, we're due to start at nine, I believe."
"That's right, sir."
"Give us a while, then come and find me."
"Of course, sir," he answered, and he and Harman stepped out, leaving me to spend a little time with my family.
Frida called for their nannies at about eight-fifteen, and they were taken back to the suite they'd been borrowing at those times when they were in the castle during my recovery, leaving me alone with my wife. However, sadly there wasn't enough time to take advantage of the fact.
"Do you want me to come to the ceremony with you?" she asked, quietly.
"I'd like that," I replied, "and we'd best get ready."
I kissed her rather less chastely than she had me earlier, and then we headed for our respective dressing rooms off the bedroom. During the course of the day, someone had had the foresight to get my dress uniform cleaned and repaired after the privations of the previous evening, although I was going to have to see the tailor for a fitting for a new one sooner rather than later. I pulled on a new shirt, then the uniform, attaching sword and dagger to the belt. I came out of the dressing room to find Frida wearing a beautiful black silk dress, trimmed in silver, which perfectly balanced modesty and the promise of things to come.
"Have I told you yet today that you are by far the most desirable woman in the Fatherland?"
"Not for at least half an hour," she said with a truly wicked smile that held many possibilities for later.
"Herr Reichsführer," came Marius's voice from the lounge, "are you ready to go down?"
"Coming, Leon," I answered, and then indicated for Frida to go first. Once outside the suite, I fell into step beside her, Marius and Harman walking purposefully nearby, and we made our way down to the courtyard. Torches were mounted all around, ready to be lit, and the area was already beginning to fill up. Off to one side I saw Tristan speaking with Matthias and Wolfram Kapler. Schultz crossed over from beside the podium when he saw me.
"Evening, Herr Reichsführer."
"Rikart," I said, "is everything in order?"
"Gruppenführer Adler, Standartenführer Brandt, Obersturmbannführer Jakob, Heinrike and myself have been working most of the day to make it so," he replied.
"Is Marin around anywhere?"
"She left about an hour and a half ago, as she wanted to spend some time sitting vigil by her father, but I imagine she'll be here shortly."
"Understood," I answered, then felt the stirrings of a Trump call. I checked my mental deck to discover it was Silke, and opened the contact. She was dressed in a formal black skirt suit, the pin designating her honorary rank on her lapel, and when I offered her my hand, she stepped through.
"Welcome back," I said, with a smile, "I'm glad you could make it."
"I felt I should," she replied, looking around the courtyard with familiarity, and a trace of regret. Then her eyes met Tristan's, and she excused herself from me and crossed to him, and they embraced then started talking nineteen to the dozen to catch up.
I moved my gaze away from them and scanned the courtyard. I saw Conrad arriving at the reception area with Theodor König, Wilhelm's younger son and one of the Summer Circle, and almost as soon as they were cleared into the courtyard, they were followed by Cornelius and Josef Linz. At about five to nine, a bell began to toll, indicating that we should take our places, and as we did so, I saw that Dominik and Dierk Schneider had arrived. That just left Marin and von Raeder missing of the Winter Circle, albeit I had temporarily lost track of Schultz. Marin I could understand, but Jorge's absence surprised me, given that his upbringing meant that he was a stickler for protocol.
However, with a minute to go, I saw them emerge from the east wing together, and she showed him to his place with the other Knights, before crossing to stand beside me. We would be conducting the ceremony together, Marin leading as Priestess, while I said the words for the fallen. I glanced at Jorge, but rather than meet my gaze, he looked down at the flagstones of the courtyard and then found something interesting to say to Matthias. Nearby, I recognised Max Hauer's wife Heidi, and their little boy, Rudi, plus Rudolf Lange's brother and sister. Hans Luitpold was across the aisle from them, beside Beata Dietrich. I sighed, and returned my attention to the job at hand.
As the clock struck nine, the torches were lit around the courtyard. Then the musicians began to play Siegfried's Funeral March, the standard introit for an SS funeral, and nine coffins were borne out from the east wing, each led by two torchbearers. The coffins were draped with the Sigrune flag, and the caps of the deceased resting on top. Each also had a dagger by the cap, although I knew well enough that in two cases, at least, they weren't the weapons which had been borne by the dead in life. I saw Schultz acting as pall bearer for one of the coffins, with several of the other Honour Guards strategically positioned around four others. Marin and I moved to the podium to greet them, and the crowd parted to let them through. Once they reached us they peeled off, four to one side, five to the other, placing the coffins on the flat frames resting on the wood of the pyres, and then the pall bearers stood back looking out towards us. They saluted in unison, and the music died away so that Marin could begin the ceremonies.
She did her best to sound strong, but I was close enough to her that I could hear the emotion in her voice. She began by listing the names and distinctions of the dead, in suitably neutral alphabetical order, and as each was named, wreaths of yew tied with ribbon showing the Sigrunes were placed at the feet of their coffins. Once that was done, she stepped back to allow me to deliver the eulogy. It was a strange experience to say the last words for both those who had died for me, and those who had died to unseat me, but I did my best to make sure that I limited criticism of the guilty, as well as extolled the virtues of the innocent. I also made sure that I mentioned terrorists more than once, which was nothing less than true for the deaths of the Honour Guard, and was the cover story we were publicising for the others.
I suppose I spoke for about half an hour, before I stepped back and handed the proceedings back to Marin. She then began the words of committal, and the torchbearers handed the flaming brands they carried to the lead pall bearers for each coffin, before withdrawing into the crowd. Then, as she spoke of the flames of renewal and rebirth, the torches were put to the pyres, and the flames began to take. Their duty done, the pall bearers stepped back to take their places with the rest of us, and the musicians began to play the SS-Treuelied, the Song of Loyalty, which the assembled company joined in to sing. Then followed the Reich National Anthem, after which we held a silence, watching as the pyres burned, the only sound being the crackling of the flames. Finally, at a signal from myself, the assembled company saluted, before the formal proceedings were finished and the crowd began to disperse. The musicians continued playing quietly in the background as the rest of us adjourned to the main hall, to drink to our fallen comrades.
Just before midnight, myself, the Knights of both Circles and the remaining Honour Guard returned to the courtyard. The pyres had burned to the ground, and after being cooled magically, the sets of ashes had been collected and placed in appropriate labelled vessels. We took them, and proceeded to the North Tower, to inter them in the Crypt. Marin carried the remains of her father, and as I had expected, she crossed to place them in the same niche as her mother, Irma, herself a former Priestess of the Order, which had been unsealed earlier that day on my orders. The others were placed in their own niches, Knights on the walls of the Crypt, Honour Guard in the central ring, and where they had daggers and coats of arms, those were also sealed in with the remains. I saw to it that Sophia and Rudolf Lange were placed as close as they could be to the niche containing the remains of Traudl, Sophia's mother and the first Priestess of the Order. Then, once that was done, Marin and myself said a few last words, and we began to disperse.
I was one of the last to leave, but as I took a final look around, I saw von Raeder, still standing beside the niche containing the remains of Max Hauer.
"Jorge?" I said, crossing to him.
"Herr Reichsführer," he answered, but his tone was flat.
"Time to leave."
He shrugged, and then fell into step beside me as I headed for the stairway.
"Say your piece," I offered .
"Elanor was right," he replied, quietly, "she always said you'd screw me over in the end. I didn't believe her. I didn't want to believe her. But here we are."
"You think I've screwed you over?" I said, stopping at the foot of the stairs and turning towards him.
"Let's see," he answered, and for the first time I heard defiance, "one, you had me kill a man in cold blood; two, you've probably busted up my marriage as my in-laws are never going to accept Elanor staying with me after this; and three, the chances are that my bloody grandfather will shoot me in the back before I'm very much older. So yes, I think you've screwed me over."
"I have to disagree on all counts," I answered, "One, you're an assassin. You're quite used to killing people in cold blood..."
"Not like this," he answered, angrily, "for my country, yes. But not in a sacrificial ritual."
"Would you have had any problems if I'd ordered you to shoot him as a traitor?"
"That isn't the point," he protested.
"Actually, it's precisely the point," I snapped, then added more calmly, "once I'd decided to make you into a Knight, I was in a quandary. I knew you wouldn't agree to join the Order under the old terms by which such things were done, but the other Knights would not accept you unless you'd undertaken the same form of initiation as they did. So I made sure that your...victim, if you want to use that word...was someone who your conscience should not have had problems with you ending the life of. I even nudged your hand so that if it came to it, you could honestly say that you didn't choose to take his life.
Two, Elanor. Before, I tried to let things run their course between you, and gave you enough leeway so that you wouldn't have to make the decision between love or country, but I can't afford to do that any more. I need you working with me: you're too high ranked to carry on acting like a dilettante, and I can't afford to retire you back to honorary status and the Church of Protection just now. And if your wife loves you as much as I believe she does, she'll make the right choice.
And three. As far as Andrew de Lacy is concerned, while he would certainly kill you if you were presented to him as a target of opportunity, I don't believe he would actively hunt you down."
"He's hunted down enough other Knights over the years."
"No, he hunted down a specific group of Knights, of which I'm now the only one still alive. The others he and Graham have killed have been in the wrong place at the wrong time."
He looked at me, his expression neutral and his eyes having an almost haunted look.
"Jorge, I wanted you to become a Knight because I thought I could trust you, especially after what's happened since Beltane. Was I wrong?"
"You didn't need to force me to do this," he said, quietly, "you knew my feelings. I would have happily served you without being made a Knight. It wasn't necessary."
"I did what I had to do under the circumstances," I replied, "but it's obvious to me that you can't see that yet. In which case, I suggest that we draw a line under this conversation for now. Go away. Think about it. Think about what I've said. And we can talk again when you've had time to talk to Elanor and digest what's happened."
I thought he was going to argue, but instead he held his peace. He snapped a sharp salute, and with a perfectly proper "Yes Herr Reichsführer", he headed up the stairs, leaving me alone in the Crypt. I watched his retreating back regretfully, hoping that once he was over his righteous indignation, he'd come to understand why I'd done what I'd done. The last thing I wanted just then was to have to deal with another rebellious Knight. Especially one I'd gone out on a limb to initiate into the Order.
I turned back to the Crypt, and took a final walk around, remembering both the recently fallen and those who had died before. A few minutes later, I found myself back at the staircase. I cast a quick spell to douse the flames of the torches which had been lighting the room, and then headed upstairs to find Frida.