Chapter 15
They arrived at the capital of Anhalt, Magdesburg, by the evening of the next day. There they found that a great mass of people were already gathered and waiting for them outside its gates, with lit braziers and musicians to welcome them. Henrietta poked her head out the window, but the orange glare of the setting sun was in her eyes, making it impossible for her to clearly make out the features of those among the crowd.
"Who are those people waiting for us?" Henrietta asked, as she ducked her head back in her carriage.
"I would assume that to be my lord husband and his retainers, Your Highness," Lady Joanna answered.
"Truly?" Henrietta's eyebrows went up in surprise. "You and your husband are too kind, to go to such lengths to welcome me."
"We believe in honoring all our guests," Lady Joanna smiled. "It is the Zerbst family's way."
Henrietta smiled at her. "Even so, I thank you for the courtesy. I shan't forget it."
Prince Arduin was a surprisingly short man, Henrietta found, as they came to a stop in front of the Germanian crowd and stepped out of their carriage. When he and his wife embraced each other and shared a brief kiss, she noticed that he stood a full head shorter than Lady Joanna, and was only slightly taller than Henrietta herself. Despite that, he was possessed of an aura of unshakable confidence. As he turned to Henrietta, he smiled widely, his pearly white teeth standing out all the more starkly in contrast to his dark olive skin.
"Your Highness." Prince Arduin stepped forward and bowed. Then, as customs dictated, Henrietta held out her hand and allowed him to lay a brief kiss on it. "I humbly welcome you to Magdesburg. I am certain that it has been a long ride. Please, allow us to escort you to my palace. I've already prepared food and boarding for you and your men."
"I thank you for your generosity," Henrietta replied, "and we would be most grateful to accept your kind offer."
They followed Prince Arduin and his courtiers inside the city walls. Henrietta found herself further surprised by the welcome they received there, as citizens of the city lined up all along the main street that ran straight through the center of the city and cheered her name.
"All hail the princess of Tristain!" some would cry. "Long live Empress Henrietta!" others would shout.
"Her Highness is quite popular here," Mazarin said, as trumpets and lutes filled the air with festive songs. "I'm rather surprised, actually."
"Why wouldn't the people of Germania love their future empress?" Lady Joanna said, smiling lightly at the much older man.
"History," Mazarin simply replied, causing Lady Joanna's smile to falter, and looked back out the window.
Henrietta understood what he meant. Anhalt, being the closest to Tristain of all the Germanian principalities, most strongly felt her influence in times of peace. She could see that now as they arrived at the palace of Magdesburg, a vast, towering structure of gleaming marble and stone built in a largely traditional Tristanian style, though not without the quirks idiosyncratic of Germanians.
However, for the exact same reason, in times of war they were the closest and most bitter of enemies. Decades of living as neighbors had given them plenty of time to build bad blood. Even if she was marrying into the Germanian imperial family, it was strange to receive such a vibrant welcome from the citizens. Lord Arduin was most likely the cause of this, somehow.
Though I suppose that's better than being reviled and having stones thrown at me, Henrietta decided, and pushed her suspicions aside.
As they stepped out of their carriages again, they were escorted into the palace. While hundreds of servants helped unload their wagons, Henrietta, Mazarin, and all her knights were led towards the palace's great dining hall, where scores upon scores of round tables covered in a pure white linen tablecloth and a vase of flowers on the center were set up. Up on the dais at the end of the room, there was a single long table facing them horizontally. Two throne-like chairs were set there, which Henrietta presumed to be Prince Arduin and Lady Joanna's seats. But to her surprise, Lady Joanna took the less decorated seat next to the throne on the right, while Prince Arduin smiled and pulled out the throne on the left for her to sit on. She did so, and he took the seat next to her.
Kirche told me I would always be welcome in her home after she came into her titles, Henrietta mused, but to think I would receive such welcome even before that!
As the rest of the knights took their seats, Prince Arduin stood and faced them all. He smiled the smile that Henrietta was quickly coming to associate with him personally, and began to speak. "Your Highness. Most esteemed Cardinal. Brave knights of Tristain. I'm afraid I'm not much for giving speeches, but as the occasion demands it, allow me to take this time to welcome you all to my city. The hospitality of Magdesburg is yours, and should you require anything to make your stay more comfortable, please do not hesitate to ask." Then he called out to his servants, "Now bring in the food! Our guests are hungry!"
The doors swung wide open, as maids began bringing in trays upon trays of the most delectable foods a prince could offer: whole roast pigs, freshly baked honeynut bread, roast pheasants, and hot pies, and also wine. Copious amounts of wine.
"How do you like the food, Your Highness?" Prince Arduin said once they were well into the feast.
"It is delicious," Henrietta answered honestly. "I fear you are spoiling me, Your Excellency."
Prince Arduin smiled and laughed. "Such humility you possess! It is an admirable quality, though one that is unfortunately shared by too few. But now is the time for you to let loose your appetites. We are all among friends here, so let us celebrate as much as we can while we are all together."
And so they did. For hours they ate, and some of the rowdier knights, emboldened by wine, took a few of the most comely maids in their arms and began to dance to the music provided in the background by a small chamber orchestra. Fearing that this might insult her host, Henrietta was about to order her captains to reinstate discipline, but Prince Arduin stopped her.
"If possible, could you allow them this small act of celebration?" he asked, smiling. "They are doing no harm."
"If it is permissible with you, certainly," Henrietta answered, and waved her captains back down.
When the feast at last came to its end, they adjourned to the rooms that had been prepared for them. Not all of them left, however. Fearing another assassination attempt, a contingent of knights were ordered to keep watch in turns. Henrietta hoped that this didn't insult Prince Arduin, but if it did then so be it. She was not interested in reliving that harrowing experience from Aubergine, and she took no chances. She even had one of her knights who specialized in the earth element to magically reinforce and lock the windows to her provided room. It would take a sledgehammer swung at full force to smash it open. And when she lied down on her bed and closed her eyes, she made sure she had her wand right beside her pillows.
The next morning, shortly after Henrietta awoke, she was invited to a private breakfast with Prince Arduin and Lady Joanna. As she had no reason to refuse her host's invitation, she accepted the offer; it would have been rude to do otherwise. After her morning ablutions, Henrietta dressed herself in a dress of deep blue and bright gold and followed a servant to the prince's private solar with two of her knights in tow.
"Good morning, Your Highness," Prince Arduin said when she entered the room, her knights taking position just outside the door. He and his wife both immediately stood up and bowed, and Henrietta responded with a polite curtsy. "Your quarters were comfortable, I trust?"
"Very much so," Henrietta replied. "I thank you for your grand welcome last night. It did much to wash away the fatigue of me and my men."
"It was my honor to serve," Prince Arduin smiled. "As I said last night, the hospitality of Magdesburg is yours, for however long you want it. But let us put aside this discussion for the moment so that we may eat. Please, sit."
Henrietta sat down as maids brought in their breakfast. Having eaten so much the night before, Henrietta did not find herself with much of an appetite. Fortunately, their meal was a light one, and it was not long before they each set down their cutlery on the table and the maids whisked their dishes away and poured them cool wine.
"Your Highness," Prince Arduin said. "I'm to understand that you've experienced your share of troubles on your way here."
Henrietta nodded. "Lady Joanna told you about it already, I presume?"
"Yes," Prince Arduin answered. "My wife and I hide nothing from each other. I must apologize. We wanted to keep you safe, but we ought to have welcomed you much closer to the border."
"Your feelings are enough," Henrietta said. "It would not have made a difference, in any case, as the incident took place within Tristain. Lady Joanna mentioned that the two of you were aware of some conspiracy. I wonder if you would be able to tell me anything more?"
"Not at this time, no."
"That is unfortunate," Henrietta sighed.
"Please do not concern yourself over the matter," Prince Arduin said, smiling reassuringly. "You will be escorted to the capital by my finest soldiers. I promise that you will be completely safe."
"Speaking of which," Henrietta said, "I was hoping to ask you for a favor regarding that matter."
"Would that matter happen to be about borrowing my ships to transport you and your men to Vindobona?"
"Yes," Henrietta confirmed. "Lady Joanna told you of that already as well?"
"As I said, we hide nothing from each other." Prince Arduin glanced briefly over to his wife, and they shared a warm smile. "You'll have your ships. I've already ordered a few to be made ready for you. You'll be able to depart by dawn. In the meantime, why don't I give you a tour of the palace?"
The three of them left the solar together, her knights following after them at a polite distance, first heading to the palace's art wing. The floor was covered down the length of the hall by an impossibly long carpet, red and so thick that Henrietta felt her feet physically sink into it like a layer of soft dirt or sand. Judging by its style, it was something that was imported from Rub'al Khali. Henrietta wondered how much something like this cost the Zerbst family. It would have taken at least a small fortune; it was definitely not something any mere noble family could buy on a whim.
Lining the walls were massive portraits, though what they depicted shared no common theme with one another. Some were of famous battles, typically of celebrated Germanian victories; others were of handsome men and beautiful women, and while most were tasteful, some left Henrietta blushing bright red and quickly turning her gaze away from it; but most common were paintings of the Zerbst family, either of them by themselves or all together.
Underneath the paintings, between the walls and the edge of the carpet, were marble busts of historical figures from all across Halkeginia. Aside from the Founder Brimir, there was also the head of Julian the Conquerer of ancient Romalia, Peter the Windfarer of Albion, and even one of Francis the Aggressor of Tristain.
Henrietta politely ignored the fact that King Francis's profile had been carved in a somewhat unflattering light.
"These are all so wonderful," Henrietta said, as they walked down the aisle. "It must have taken you quite a long time to collect all these."
"That would be putting it mildly," Prince Arduin chuckled. "These are my family's treasures. It will be our gift to our descendants, and to you. Along with the ships, I've had my men prepare suitable treasures for one of your rank to depart with. Yet even these are not what I would consider my family's crown jewels. This way, please."
After leaving the art wing, Prince Arduin called for a few servants to prepare a horse for himself and a drawn carriage for Henrietta and his wife. Once they were situated on their rides, Prince Arduin led them to the far west side of the palace grounds. As they drew near, Henrietta could hear the sound of gunfire echoing through the air like thunder.
"Is the prince taking us to the training grounds for your soldiers?" Henrietta turned and asked Lady Joanna.
"Yes." Lady Joanna looked amused. "He is very proud of what he is about to show you. Apologies. This probably isn't something Your Highness is terribly interested in, but would you humor him for the time being?"
"Not at all," Henrietta replied. "I'm rather curious about what he has to show me myself, actually."
Once they arrived at the grounds and dismounted from their rides, Prince Arduin led them to the training field proper. Upon seeing their lord, the call to attention sprang up among the soldiers and all of them immediately stopped what they were doing and saluted the prince.
"Princess." Prince Arduin gestured over to a soldier with a musket. "This is Eckhard. He is a lieutenant in my army. Eckhard, will you show the princess a demonstration of your skills?"
"Yes, my lord." Eckhard turned to a pair of soldiers and said, "Get a target ready for me."
The two soldiers saluted, then hastened to do as they were bid. Soon there was a wooden stake, about as long as Henrietta was tall, driven into the ground on the far end of the firing range, and an apple set on top of it. Then Eckhard took his place at the other end of the range.
"So far," Henrietta murmured, her brows creasing as she measured the distance between Eckhard and the apple.
Eckhard raised his musket, took aim, then after steadying his body with a deep breath, exhaled and then fired.
In the distance, the apple burst apart into a thousand red and yellow pieces.
Henrietta was stunned. She turned to Prince Arduin and said, "That must have been a lucky shot, yes?"
Prince Arduin smiled. "Eckhard, once more, if you will."
"Yes, my lord," Eckhard replied, and after a new apple was brought forward, he made the same shot again.
"Incredible," Henrietta said. She was no expert in terms of weapons technology, but it was common knowledge that muskets were terribly inaccurate weapons. At most a single musketeer could land a shot up to sixty paces away, but just now Eckhard had easily made a shot that was at least quadruple that distance. With a feat like that, it was no longer a matter of skill; rather, there must have been something unique about the weapon itself. "That is no ordinary musket, is it?" she said to Prince Arduin.
"Right you are, Your Highness," he replied, grinning broadly. "It is a rifled musket."
"Rifled?" Henrietta said. "Forgive me, but I am unfamiliar with this term. What does it mean?"
"Well, let's just say that it is something that makes it far superior to your typical musket," Prince Arduin winked at her. Henrietta merely nodded at that. No matter how gracious her host had been so far, only a fool would so easily give away his military secrets like that. Though that only begged the question: why was he showing this to her? Surely it could not be for the sole purpose of flaunting his strength. "Your Highness, I'd like you to imagine that you are on the battlefield for a moment. Conventional wisdom states that the best way to use muskets is to form up the soldiers in solid blocks and use massed volleys in order to inflict as much damage as possible."
"Yes," Henrietta agreed. "I was taught as much. It is something necessary in order to compensate for their inaccuracy."
"Indeed," Prince Arduin said. "And if you would be so kind, could you explain Tristain's countermeasures to this tactic?"
"There are many," Henrietta frowned. "But the standard counters include the creation of stone barriers to block the bullets and to then attack with spells from cover, utilizing a mage's superior firepower while sending golems forward to wreak havoc upon the enemy lines."
"And as many Germanians can attest to," Prince Arduin said, still smiling, "it is deadly in its efficacy. But now imagine this: you are leading your troops when you hear the sound of gunfire somewhere in the distance. You know not where this gunmen has fired from, only that, before you know it, your knights are falling all around you. Please try to imagine that."
Is this meant to be a threat? Henrietta frowned. It seemed unlikely given the prince's demeanor and past treatment towards her, yet what else was this supposed to be?
"This new technology has vast implications on the tactics of war," the prince continued, gesturing grandly towards his soldiers as they returned to their training. "No longer do they need to fight in tight formations; they will be able to more effectively take advantage of the natural terrain and cover, be less susceptible to both mass gunfire and spells, and be all the deadlier for it." Prince Arduin paused for a moment to smile and let out a short, proud huff. "Tristain, I know, is the country of magic. More mages live there in proportion to commoners than anywhere else in the world. Your royal knights reflect this fact, being totally composed of mages. Yet, if I may be so bold, Your Highness, this also means that you are still neglecting to use a majority of your population. A tragic loss of potential."
Ah, Henrietta thought, for at last she understood. So this is not a threat.
"As proof of friendship, I would be more than happy to provide two thousand of these rifled muskets to you every month," Prince Arduin continued, smiling more broadly than ever, showing those pearly white teeth in all their gleaming glory. "With this, why, your military strength will more than double in only a year."
It was a sales pitch.
Henrietta smiled back at the prince. "You are generous, Your Excellency. But I cannot accept a gift of that magnitude. The world would know me as a shameless woman, greedy beyond measure, if I did."
"I understand." Prince Arduin looked pleased by her reply. "Then what if it were to be done as a trade? No one could criticize you then."
"True," Henrietta said casually. "But you have shown me that you are a man of great wealth and power already. I doubt that there is much my small country could offer you that would make for a satisfactory trade."
"We do not need much," Prince Arduin said. "A trade pact that will allow us to purchase Tristanian goods at a fair and reasonable price is all I ask."
"A fair and reasonable price, indeed," Henrietta remarked.
Prince Arduin nodded. "Truly, Your Highness, my only desire is to be of great service to my future empress. Why, I've heard that the royal orphanages your kingdom runs have as of late been quite a drain on your coffers. I would be more than glad to accept those orphans as if they were my own children and provide for them instead. I promise you that they will rise high and go far."
"You truly have the soul of a father," Henrietta said. "Of course, those orphans you speak of have, shall we say, special needs you may be hard-pressed to accommodate for here in Germania."
"Indeed," Prince Arduin said. "But I believe that I would be able to purchase everything that is necessary for their care through that trade pact."
So that's it, then, Henrietta thought. It was now clear what Prince Arduin wanted. Saying that he wanted to alleviate a portion of her country's monetary concerns was a thinly veiled cover, one that was easily seen through when one knew who composed the majority of the children in the royal orphanages: the illegitimate offspring of nobles.
Or in other words, mages without titles.
With that piece of information in mind, it made sense why Prince Arduin would be so willing to simply hand over such a crucial piece of military technology, and at such exorbitant, nearly impossible, costs to himself too. For lack of a better word, he was aiming to breed mages within his principality. For such a goal, no price was too high, even if that meant impoverishing his own province in the short term.
Moreover, what he wanted to obtain from Tristain were not only mages; he wanted all the assets necessary to train them: books, wands, perhaps even teachers. He wanted them all for the goal of transforming Anhalt into a province wholly unique in Germania; the only place where magic flourished.
Henrietta felt a little better that the prince's motives were so grand. Otherwise, she might have felt insulted thinking that all his welcome was solely for the sake of making her more agreeable to his proposition.
Unfortunately for the prince, Henrietta was now thinking of a way to reject his offer.
It was true that royal house of Tristain did not maintain a non-magical military arm, but it did so for good reason. Establishing a fourth branch of the royal army meant that the resources currently spent on the Griffin, Dragon, and Manticore Knights would have to be further split into quarters. And although Henrietta could freely admit that these rifled muskets were potent weapons, she did not see them as weapons that could overtake the power and versatility of magic. It simply was not worth weakening the strength of the knight orders just to equip an army of commoners. Additionally, although she had grown quite fond of the Zerbst family, she was still uncomfortable with the idea of giving away so much of Tristain's advantages to a foreign family that shared borders with them, never mind what may come after she had wed the emperor.
This was a difficult problem. Henrietta was having a hard time trying to figure out a way to refuse the prince without sounding blunt and rude, until finally she struck upon a good idea.
I shall leave this matter for Mazarin to take care of, she decided cheerfully, while outwardly maintaining a serious expression on her face. "Unfortunately, Your Excellency, while your offer is beyond generous, it is not something I can decide for myself. I am still but only a princess, not yet risen to the throne. It is my mother who rules, and Cardinal Mazarin who speaks with her voice. I recommend that you discuss this matter with him."
"I understand, Your Highness," Prince Arduin said in a slightly stiff tone. Behind him, however, Lady Joanna looked amused and rolled her eyes at her husband. But when a messenger came running towards them and handed her a small, sealed letter, which she opened and quickly read, her smile faded and was replaced with a grim expression.
"Dear husband, Your Highness," Lady Joanna said. "I'm afraid we must return to the palace at once, for there is a matter of grave importance we must now attend to."
"And what matter would that be, my love?" Prince Arduin asked.
"Some of my men have returned from the task I set upon them before," Lady Joanna answered. "And they have brought Ingemar with them."