Chapter 22

The battle was over. The rebels were in full retreat, and only the crows and the workers collecting the corpses for the mass graves remained on the battlefield.

But no cries of victory could be heard within the walls of Vindobona, nor in the great feasting halls of its sprawling palace where the high princes and lords of the empire were gathered. There was only that creeping sense of dread, like a dark ink spilled upon a piece of parchment, its black tendrils slowly crawling across the surface. And none felt that dread more keenly than the princess Henrietta de Tristain.

In the end it was a matter of scale. Alex had told her that he was a killer who had murdered thousands; a monster that had terrorized the city of his birth, back in his own world. She had known all of that already, and until this day she thought she had understood and accepted that. But what she had not known was... well... this. Now she realized that she had never truly understood just how monstrous he could be.

But with that realization came a choice. And that choice was the source of the dread she felt now.

Alex had asked her not to think of him any differently. He had made her swear it. Yet in the same breath he offered his strength in the defense of Tristain, so long as she refused to marry Emperor Albrecht. Did he not realize that those two things were mutually exclusive? Henrietta knew in her heart that if she started using Alex as a weapon of her nation, she would never stop. He was simply too powerful, too convenient, to not make use of. She might be able to moderate the frequency of her usage of him, but completely stopping herself once she started would be all but impossible. And it was that which troubled her so.

She did not mind giving up her own freedom for the sake of her country. She mourned for it, true, but ultimately it was a sacrifice she was willing to make. But that was a decision she could make with only her own life. How could she possible demand someone else make that sacrifice in her stead, especially a friend who had been through so much with her already? Was that the type of queen she wanted to be? Was that the kind of person that she was?

The worst part of it all, Henrietta thought glumly, was that there was a part of her that was thrilled by Alex's offer. Even if it meant treating him as a tool, she wanted her freedom back. She wanted the ability to choose how she lived her life back. Besides, he had been the one to make the offer, so there was no reason at all to feel guilty about accepting. She would be doing him no wrong if she unleashed him on Reconquista, should they bring war to her lands.

But those were petty justifications for petty emotions, and that was something she could neither deny nor fool herself into thinking otherwise.

What should I do? Henrietta wondered.

She glanced off to the side, where the emperor sat beside her on his throne. They were seated at the head of the hall, and at this distance she was the only one who could see that glint in his eyes, hidden as they were behind a mask of perfect calmness. What did that light mean? Was it fear? Anger? Greed? Or perhaps it was something else entirely. Henrietta didn't know. She didn't know, but when she saw him rise, lifting his silver goblet into the air, she had a feeling that she was about to find out.

"My lords of the empire and valued friends of Tristain." His voice resounded so loudly through the hall that Henrietta wondered if he had secretly cast a spell on himself to enhance his volume. "Thanks to your courage and bravery on the field, I am pleased to declare that we have won this day!"

There was a light smattering of applause. Everyone there knew that this words were empty, as hollow as a bell without its clapper. For it was not the Germanians who had won the battle, nor was it the Tristanians. It was Alex, and only Alex, who had won the day. This victory belonged to him alone.

But for all that the other nations accused the Germanians of their uncouth behavior and lack of morals, these were all still men of no small amount of pride and were used to being masters of their own destiny. To be forced to acknowledge their own helplessness was a humiliation they could not bear, and Emperor Albrecht was more than eager to appease them by claiming this victory as their own.

It was probably a good thing that Alex wasn't in the room with them, Henrietta thought. For all she knew, he and the emperor might have come to blows again over the matter. She could still feel his presence nearby, however, but whether he was standing just outside the hall or else had disguised himself as someone in the room was something she could not quite discern.

"Prince Arduin of Magdesburg," Albrecht continued. "Step forward."

The prince of Anhalt stood up. Lady Joanna sat next to him. He approached the throne with his shoulders straight and chin held high. At the foot of the emperor's throne, he knelt gracefully. Then softly, so softly that she almost missed it, Henrietta heard Albrecht click his tongue, and for a moment his mask slipped to reveal his irritation.

Prince Arduin's appearance had taken them all by surprise. While the rebels were in the middle of their retreat, he and his army had seemingly come out of nowhere to strike them down. In a lightning attack, he captured three different kings and several of their generals, before marching triumphantly into the city.

"You have proven your worth as both a general and a prince of Germania this day by capturing the rebels Otto, Horst, and Jurgen," Emperor Albrecht declared. "For that, you may ask for whatever reward you wish. If it is within my power to grant, then so I shall."

It was a subtle thing, but Henrietta could tell that those words had been forced out through gritted teeth. There was a part of her that sympathized with the emperor. It was the part of her that wore the crown. If one were to be generous, they might have called Prince Arduin a cautious man. Most would simply have referred to him as an opportunist, however. Under ordinary circumstances, Emperor Albrecht might have been able to get away without rewarding the prince or even chastising him for arriving so late to the battle, but with the necessity of twisting Alex's victory as their own, he had no choice but to heap praise upon the only man who had delivered tangible results to him... even if it meant lending a wand to a powerful potential enemy. Judging by the twitch of the prince's lips, and the outright open grin on Lady Joanna's, he knew it as well.

"Your Imperial Majesty," Prince Arduin began. "The Zerbst family has always and only ever wished for the prosperity of the empire. It is by merit of our great love and loyalty to our country that we claim our place in it. But through their treachery and deceit, these three princes I captured have proven that they are no longer worthy of that privilege. And so, for my reward, I ask only the opportunity to be of even greater service to Germania. Let their territories be divided into parts, and let those parts be added to the lands of those who remained loyal to you during these troubled times. Let them be governed with honor and respect for the crown, as they should have been." Arduin smiled. "For myself, if I may be so bold, I would ask for governance over Prince Otto's lands, north of the Adeleig Mountains."

Oh, you are a crafty one, Your Excellency. Henrietta couldn't help but to be impressed by the sheer audacity of the prince. But although she was fond of and indebted to Kirche and her family, she secretly hoped that the emperor would refuse.

By claiming the northern half of Prince Otto's lands, the Zerbst family would gain control of nearly the entirety of Germania's western trade routes and all of the routes leading to Tristain, their most valuable trading partner. With Germania's dearth of mages, the books and enchanted items of Tristain were always in high demand here. It was mildly surprising that he had not asked for the whole of Prince Otto's territory, but Henrietta chalked that up to the prince's cunning and caution.

If he seized too much land at once, the other princes would grow jealous of his power. That jealousy would become a banner around which they could gather against him. And the emperor? Why, he would be all to happy to raise that banner for them. Together they could either force the Zerbst into giving them more and more concessions, or else drive them into a rebellion all their own. But outnumbered and overwhelmed, they would find their lands and wealth stolen from them regardless.

By sharing his reward with his peers, Prince Arduin negated that possibility. More than that, he reversed it. If Emperor Albrecht refused Arduin's request now, then the other princes would grumble over the emperor's perceived selfishness. Should he accept, they would know who it was that had added to their strength.

Indeed, the only one disadvantaged by this was the emperor himself. By reducing the number of princes in the empire and strengthening those that remained, Prince Arduin eroded some of the emperor's power, making it harder for him to control the princes in the future. For someone who had dreams of establishing a familial dynasty, this was almost a direct slap to the face for Albrecht.

Henrietta could practically hear the emperor grind his teeth.

"Done." The word just barely did not come out as a snarl. If anyone noticed otherwise, they politely pretended not to. "From now and forevermore, the Prince of Anhalt shall count amongst his holdings the land north of the Adeleig Mountains. May your rule by fruitful and just, and in accordance with the laws of the crown."

For one wild moment, Henrietta wondered what their faces would look like if she stood up now and declared that Tristain would hereby be ending all existing trade agreements with Germania. She would never actually do it, of course – the lumber, metals, and sheer industry of Germania were simply invaluable to her country – but it was an amusing thought nonetheless.

The next person to be called up was the boy, Alois of Hessan. He had been sitting near the far end of the hall, a mark against his comparatively lower status and of the actions of his family. Thus, it was with no small amount of surprise amongst the other nobles that they watched as he approached the throne.

"Though you are a child, in you beats the heart of a man loyal and true," Albrecht intoned. "You risked everything to warn us all of your father and brother and their co-conspirators schemes. Without you, we would not be here now. For that, I thank you. This war has dragged your family's name through the mud, but by your actions you have redeemed it. Rise, and let all those here bear witness as I proclaim you as the new prince of Hessan."

"You honor me, Your Majesty." Alois's words were nearly lost amidst the clapping that sprang up around him. "The chance to lead my people is all I ever wanted. I swear to you now that I shall serve you faithfully, until the day I die."

On and on the ceremony went, with Albrecht going to painstaking lengths to reward as many people as he could. By this time Henrietta had drunk so much wine that she was starting to feel a little heady. It was difficult not to yawn out of boredom.

Once the feast was over, they moved to the ballroom to enjoy quiet music played by the palace orchestra, and to dance and talk amongst themselves. Henrietta would rather not have attended. The fear and tension of the battle had already spent most of her strength, and she sheer length and tediousness of the feast had drained whatever was left in her reserves. But there was no other choice, if only for the sake of propriety. And just as she expected, she was soon swarmed by the Germanian nobles.

"Princess Henrietta," said one prince. "You simply must come visit my home before you return to Tristain. I would be honored to be allowed to host you and your men."

"No, Your Highness," said another. "Come to mine."

"Please, Your Highness, allow me to escort you on your back to Tristain!"

"No, me!"

"Me!"

Henrietta wanted to clamp her hands over her ears. Me. Mine. Me. Mine. Me. Me. Me. They were as noisy as the crows outside.

"Your Excellencies, may I ask what you are all doing?" said Emperor Albrecht. He pushed his way through the throng of princes and took Henrietta by the hand. "Why, I can scarcely imagine that my fiancee can even breathe right now."

The nobles backed away, some with a sheepish look on their face, like a schoolboy caught while breaking the rules, and others looking more annoyed by the emperor's arrival.

"Might I have this dance, my lady?" Albrecht asked her.

Henrietta could not think of a reason to refuse, so she quietly nodded and allowed herself to be swept out onto the dance floor.

"My lady," Albrecht said quietly, as they slowly swayed along to the music. "There is something we must discuss."

"Is now the right time for it?"

"We could do it later, if you'd like. It is about Tristain. Reconquista. Us."

Henrietta's eyes widened slightly. She nodded for him to continue.

"It is known to all nations that our marriage will cement an alliance between Tristain and Germania," Albrecht said. "But with this rebellion, I fear for your country."

"My country?" Henrietta frowned. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand."

"It is no secret that Reconquista means to conquer Tristain after Albion," Albrecht explained. "Our alliance was meant to discourage such an invasion. But with the recent troubles within my own borders, it may well be that Reconquista believes that Germania no longer intends to uphold our side of the bargain. We must prove otherwise."

"That makes sense," Henrietta said noncommittally. "But regardless of intentions, it is true that your military forces will be otherwise preoccupied."

"Today we have proven to the world that when our two nations unite, we can overcome any foe," Albrecht said. "There is no reason why we should not continue to aid each other."

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Our marriage was intended to take place in two months time," Albrecht said. "I had thought before that would be the most ideal situation. But now I say we ought to be wed sooner. Within the week, perhaps. This would show our continued commitment to each other, and both of our countries will be made stronger for it."

"I must think on this, Your Majesty," Henrietta said, as the song ended. They parted from each other, him bowing and her curtsying. "Might we continue this conversation in the morning?"

Albrecht smiled. "Of course. I shall expect a good answer then."

When the dance ended, Henrietta was initially being guided back to her room by a pair of armed guards. But before they could even turn the corner of the first hallway, she felt that all too familiar warmth in her chest.

"You may leave," Henrietta told the guards.

"But, Your Highness..."

"It's all right." Henrietta smiled. "It would seem that my escort is already here."

From around the corner, Alex stepped into view. Seeing him, the guards turned pale and quickly scampered away.

"What did he have to say?" Alex asked.

"Who?" Henrietta said.

"Albrecht."

"How do you even know I spoke with him?" Henrietta asked honestly. "I am certain you weren't in the hall with us."

"I could see."

Henrietta frowned, but then shrugged and decided to leave it at that. "Let's return to my room first. I'd like to sit."

The hallways were quiet, with most of the palace having now gone to bed. Their footsteps were muffled by the thick, luxurious carpets that covered the floor. When they arrived at her room, Henrietta practically threw herself into her bed. She had never felt anything so soft and wonderful before in her life.

"So?" Alex said. "What did he want?"

Henrietta did not look at him as she lay sprawled on her back on the mattress. "He wants to use you to win the war," she said.

Alex clenched his fists. Briefly, Henrietta elaborated on what she and the emperor had spoken about, and all the while Alex's expression turned more and more into stone.

"Don't," he said when she was finally finished. "He just wants to use you."

"Yes, that's quite obvious." Henrietta sighed. "Still..."

"You can't be serious." Alex stared incredulously at her. "You're actually still considering it?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Why?" Alex demanded.

Henrietta slowly sat up and stared evenly at him. "Alex, this marriage was meant to cement a military alliance to protect Tristain, not for us to help preserve the emperor's throne. We do not have the resources to spare for that. But until today, there was simply no other choice. We needed allies. But now..." She trailed off and glanced out the window. "Now we have options. And thus, we have a choice to make."

"It's an easy choice," Alex said, snorting derisively.

"Is it?" Henrietta stood up and approached Alex. "Do you truly understand the choice you're telling me to make?"

"I do. So what?"

"And with that, I am certain you do not understand at all." Henrietta shook her head ruefully. "You asked me before to not change how I think of you, and I'm trying, Alex. I truly am. But I must confess, it is difficult for me."

"You're afraid of me?" If Alex was offended, he gave no sign of it.

"I'm afraid of what might change if I take the choice you have set before me," Henrietta explained. "No one person was ever meant to hold such power. I apologize if I offend, but it's true. And do you know what the most terrifying aspect of power is? It's its convenience. I'm afraid that if I use you as a tool now, then I will never stop. More and more... more and more... I would continue to make you serve Tristain's interests, regardless of what you want, simply because of how easy it is, until eventually I forget the very reason why I summoned you in the first place. I'm afraid, Alex, that I will break the promise we made."

"No," Alex said. "That's not you. You wouldn't do that. That's why I'm here. And even if you did, I'm not some mindless slave. If I don't want to do something, do you really think I will?"

"Well... no," Henrietta admitted. "But..."

"What I want for you is for you to be safe and happy," Alex said, interrupting her. "So don't marry him just because you think you have to. Choose what you want for yourself."

Henrietta chewed her lower lip. "Alex... are you sure? I might ask you to fight against entire armies again. I might ask you to... to kill people again."

"That's fine."

"I may ask you to do something for me, not as a friend, but as the princess of Tristain."

"I know. But I don't think you'll do it often, or unnecessarily."

"I can only promise that I'll try," Henrietta said soberly. "Even so, will you fight for me?"

Alex stared directly into Henrietta's eyes, and nodded.

"Always."

Before he could see the tears that had begun to form in her eyes, Henrietta threw her arms around Alex's neck and hugged him tightly. It felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, a weight that she now realized had been there ever since the uprising of Reconquista. Alex froze for a moment at the sudden contact. Then slowly, awkwardly, he patted her on the back with one hand.

"Thank you," she whispered into his ear. "Tomorrow, let's go home."

That night, as Henrietta slept, for the first time in a long while, she was at peace.