A long time ago in a faraway kingdom lay the fabulous palace of the Grossekaiser Von Adel. The whole discovered world lay under his thumb, from the Northern forests of Immerwinter, monochrome stretches of greenest pines on whitest snow, to the frozen bays of Eisfluss in the South, which thawed every summer into the most breathtaking sun-washed bodies of crystalline water you ever did see.
And in the center of it all stood Mittelhauptstadt, capital of all Weltland and home to Von Adel’s own estate, in which his palace was naturally and rightfully located.
His palace was the grandest palace in the known world. This isn’t to say it had much competition, as Von Adel tore down every other he found, but it will suffice to say that for at least four-and-four generations in either direction, there was never a palace so grand.
In fact, it was so grand that each section in the palace was large enough to be a district all its own. The cooks worked in Kochbezirk, the maids worked in Putzfraubezirk, and so on and so forth. Even the dressmakers had their own sub-district called Schneiderberich, such was the wealth and majesty of the Grossekaiser.
Now, after the Grossekaiser had brought the known world to heel, his ministers began to gently pose the question of succession to him. After all, even the Grossekaiser (may he reign until the stars fall from the sky) must eventually succumb to old age and death (perish the thought). Thus, Von Adel sought out a wife.
However, a man as fabulous as the Grossekaiser mustn’t settle for one woman alone, no. Thus, he was wed to the princesses of the four states, Erststaat, Zweitstaat, Drittstaat, and Viertestaat, and of the four colonies, Nordkolonie, Südkolonie, Ostkolonie, and Westkolonie. They became the Achtfrauen, and within the expected span of time, they bore him his heirs.
Of course, now the ministers came to him again, more quietly this time, and explained the problem. Now there were eight sons to succeed him, not counting the many daughters born along the way. Who should ascend the throne after him? The one from the richest state? The largest colony? Should it go to the first-born, or to the first-conceived?
It was then that Von Adel, Grossekaiser of Weltland (may he reign until the seas wither) declared in his heavenly wisdom that the throne should go to his “greatest son”. Rather than trouble his August majesty for further clarification of the term “greatest”, and to how that should be quantified, the Achtfrauen came up with an idea;
When only one royal heir remains in all Weltland, could he not, without question, be considered the greatest?
And thus begins out story.
*******
The day began as all good mornings began, with Rudolf and his mother and sister, and all his step-siblings and step-mothers gathering before his father the Grossekaiser Von Adel for the Morgengruss. This entailed each of the Achtfrauen approaching the Grossekaiser on his gilded throne and, accompanied by her children, wishing him a glorious morning, and that he should live and rule forever.
After the Morgengruss, they all sat down to breakfast. Every other meal of the day would be eaten separately, the Achtfrauen and their children not preferring to associate with each other. But the Grossekaiser had decreed that, as breakfast was the most important meal of the day, it should be eaten as a family.
The Grossekaiser always enjoyed this immensely, changing his seating each day to converse with a different set of children, but for Rudolf, it was easily the worst part of the day.
It was all well and good for his sister Mathilde, as she could share stories and play games with the daughters of the other three colony Achtfrauen (the daughters of the four state Achtfrauen always considered themselves so much better than them and refused to speak to them), but Rudolf ate alone and in silence.
His mother had drilled into his head since his youth that all his step-mothers and step-brothers were out for his head, so that put a damper on any prospective friendships. He once again found himself envious of his sister, who was born with the valuable privilege of not being an heir.
However, after breakfast was the best part of the day. Any royal plans rarely occurred before lunch, so Rudolf had four hours to himself to explore the Grossekaiser’s boundless palace grounds.
Of course, this was not without risk. Assassins abounded, and it seems not a day went by without another close call with one of the heirs nearly being forcefully abdicated from both the running and this mortal plane. About an eighth of those incidents had even been planned by Rudolf’s mother Notburga. In fact, she had another assassination planed for 9:00 tomorrow.
Now, this led some of the more cautious heirs to lock themselves away in their private estates at every opportunity, like Ruprecht of Südkolonie who only seemed to leave for the Morgengruss and other mandatory event.
But Rudolf knew that a good poisoner or assassin could reach you anywhere, if they tried hard enough. That’s why he went into the gardens every day despite the risk. At least it was harder to be attacked in open, public areas.
Ducking into a tunnel he had carved in the hedges, he slipped from one secluded gardenscape to the next, finally stopping before a high stone wall broken only by a single set of silver gates, which were being steadfastly guarded by two of the Grossekaiser’s palace soldiers. This was the Grossekaiser’s summer retreat, naturally still within the grounds of his palace.
But Rudolf was undeterred.
Quite by accident, he had discovered a secret entrance, one no doubt used by the Grossekaiser whenever he needed peace and quiet away from his ministers. Waving to the bored soldiers as he passed by, he entered back into the palace through a servant entrance.
Weaving his way through the twisting corridors with the sureness of one who has walked the same path countless times before, Rudolf ended up in front of a large cleaning cabinet that oddly enough showed little sign of use.
Carefully checking for any signs of having been followed, Rudolf slipped into the closet, pulling the doors shut after him.
A moment later he stepped out again, emerging behind a conveniently placed hedge, inside the Grossekaiser’s enclosed summer retreat. Shutting the door behind him, he made his way to the center of the hidden garden, where his best friend was already waiting.
“Took you long enough,” Pauline of Südkolonie poked playfully, skipping a stone thrice across the pond’s crystal surface.
In response, Rudolf grabbed a stone and skipped it after hers.
One, two, three, four, five skips.
He turned and smirked triumphantly at her, eliciting an eyeroll response.
Their unlikely friendship had begun two years ago, around the time he had first discovered the way into the summer getaway. He had slipped away as per usual to do some luxurious sunbathing when he discovered he was not alone. Pauline was already there, practicing swimming in the pond.
What ensued then was one of the tensest moments in their collective lives, as they tried to assure the other they were not an assassin, while trying to determine if the other was lying.
Rudolf learned that Pauline’s younger brother Ruprecht was sickly and weak, a problem not improved by his albinism. Thus, Pauline was charged with protecting him whenever he left their estate, even at risk of her own life. This made her the only daughter of the Achtfrauen who was also in danger of assassination, which made it easy for the two to bond over their lacking lot in life.
Earning each other’s trust hadn’t been easy, but it helped that they were both children of a colony Achtfrauen, and that Rudolf’s own sister Mathilde was a good friend of Pauline.
Now they were old friends, clinging to each other for stability in the midst of a war that neither of them cared a whit about.
“Oh, that reminds me, I learned a new trick!” Rudolf announced, drawing a small dagger from his belt. Even though they trusted each other, Rudolf was careful not to point the blade anywhere near her. He wanted nothing less than to jeopardize their unlikely friendship.
“You see that flower?” He pointed at a daffodil that rose a half-foot higher than its neighbours.
“Sure do.” Pauline nodded.
In a single smooth motion, Rudolf flicked his wrist out, launching the dagger and neatly clipping the flower off just below the bulb.
“Hey, that’s not bad!” She clapped appreciatively.
“All in the wrist,” he bragged, accenting his words with a second deft flick.
“Now let me try something!” she announced, standing up. Walking out to where the dagger lay, she chucked it back to him in a lazy overhand that landed several feet shy of him. Then, she bent down and picked up one of the carved pieces of wood used to edge the garden. Holding it loosely in one hand, she gestured to Rudolf.
“Throw that again, but aim at me," she declared.
He raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
“Wouldn’t be much of a trick if I wasn’t," she called back. “Go for it!”
Resolving to throw a little to the side of her, Rudolf shot off the dagger, aiming at the tree to her left.
It never reached its target.
In the blink of an eye, Pauline whipped the piece of wood up, stopping the blade short as it drove into the carved board.
“You need to work on your accuracy," she joked. “That wasn’t even close to me.”
“How’d you do that?” Rudolf shot back in surprise, walking over to retrieve his dagger.
“It’s aaaall in the eyes.” She winked at him. “I’ve been working on my hand-to-eye coordination and object tracking skills. If I can see where you’re throwing it, I can get there first,” she explained. “Ruprecht doesn’t let many people near him, so I have to be ready to protect him from attacks at a distance.”
“Well, I’d say you’re ready.” Rudolf smiled in admiration, removing his dagger from the wood.
*******
Noon came sooner than either of them wished, and so they had to part ways, returning to their respective mothers for lunch. Fortunately, there was nothing planned for the afternoon, so Rudolf resolved to spend it amidst the books in their personal estate’s library.
Returning home by the main entrance and handing his shoes and overcoat to their butler, Rudolf hurried to the dining room.
“Yer late, Mittwoch,” a perfectly identical Rudolf called out from down the hallway.
“Aw, stuff it, Montag," the first Rudolf called back, hurrying after him. As he reached the end of the hall, two more Rudolfs joined them, still fighting.
“C’mon, I’m just asking you to switch with me this once!” the third Rudolf besought the fourth. “The Grossekaiser’s going boar hunting on Friday, and wants to take me along. I hate boar hunting! Just switch with me this once, please Samstag?”
“Ever notice how it’s always “just this once” with you?” the fourth Rudolf shot back. “Besides, you act like I enjoy boar hunting. I’m looking forward to a quiet Saturday for a change. You’ll have to find someone else, Freitag.”
“Keh, stingy.”
The four Rudolfs rounded another corner to where two more Rudolfs waited at the dining table, along with their sister and mother, Mathilde and Notburga.
“Hey Donnerstag, wanna swap days?” the third Rudolf asked the fifth, who was sitting calmly at the table, handkerchief tucked under his chin.
“Sorry Freitag, Mittwoch and I are already swapping,” he apologized.
Grumbling, the third Rudolf took his seat with the rest.
“Children, before we eat, I have an announcement to make.” Their mother clinked her glass with her knife. “I’m sorry it took so long, but we finally have a new Sonntag!” she declared cheerfully. “Come in and introduce yourself, dear.”
At her invitation, a seventh Rudolf entered the room, taking his seat next to their mother.
“At bloody last!” The sixth Rudolf sighed. “I was getting tired of doubling up.”
“You and everyone else, Dienstag.” The fifth Rudolf smiled.
This was Rudolf’s mother, Notburga’s, best kept secret. Ostkolonie was the largest domain in all of Weltland, but it primarily consisted of farmland, making it one of the least-wealthy colonies, only surpassing Westkolonie and its seasonal fishing industries.
This meant that when it came to the money required to wage a decent war of succession, Notburga was at a huge disadvantage. While the state Achtfrauen had entire armies protecting their heirs ‘round the clock, Notburga could only afford a single battalion of guards. While they were experimenting with gunpowder and alchemy, she was still relying on herbal poisons.
However, what her colony lacked in wealth, it made up for in population. Her Kinderhändlers scoured her nation day in and day out, scanning the children of the land, looking for a specific face.
That of her son, the heir Rudolf.
Through means fair and foul, the Kinderhändlers had procured dozens of Rudolf near-lookalikes, bringing them back before their mistress to undergo their training.
Flesh was pressed, bones were broken and reset, hair was dyed, skin was rosed or paled, until even Notburga herself could hardly tell the difference. These were her Shadows, her secret weapon.
Now, with seven fake sons to fill in for her precious heir, Notburga rested easy. Let her son study in peace, deep in the dungeons of the Grossekaiser’s palace, awaiting his eventual coronation. She had no shortage of body doubles in place for him. She could afford to lose a few.
The latest would-be-Rudolf sat down at the table, next to his siblings. The training for the role of a Shadow had been grueling, but it was better than being a farming serf. Plus, his parents had been well paid for his sale. Maybe now, his brother…
No. He had to push that out of his mind. Like it or not, these were his brothers now.
They were all he had.
“So you’re the new Sonntag.” Donnerstag smiled across the table. “Welcome to the family.”
Nobody made any mention of the old Sonntag. The memory was still too fresh.
“At least I won’t be the youngest anymore.” Freitag grinned. “Wanna swap shifts?”
“That means ya gotta act more responsible now," Montag cut in. “Set a good example and take the shifts given ya.”
“Actually, I suppose I ought to rework the schedule.” Samstag wiped his mouth. “Now that we can be back to one shift a week, and all.”
“Hell yeah,” Dienstag muttered. “Two days a week is murder.”
Mittwoch was seated closest to their new brother, so he threw a comforting arm over his shoulder.
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime.” He gave a friendly grin. “On your days off, you have to stay inside, but there’s lots to do, from studying to training. Stick to everything they taught you, and you’ll live to retirement.”
“Thanks, everyone.” Sonntag smiled shyly, looking around the table. Maybe things were going to be okay after all.
*******
It was a full week until Rudolf-who-was-Mittwoch was out in the sun again. Now that they had a new Sonntag and they were back to one shift a week, Mittwoch found plenty of time to practice his dagger throwing. Besides that, an idea had crept up on him, settling in the back of his mind and ever-so-often reminding him of its presence.
And so it was that Mittwoch, with the help of Donnerstag (who always seemed to know everything) began to study the blueprints for the Grossekaiser’s palace, and the layout of the grounds beyond it.
All for this day.
After the Morgengruss and breakfast, Mittwoch went to see Pauline. As usual, she had already arrived ahead of him, and was cooling her feet in the garden pond.
“Hey Pauline,” he greeted her.
“Hey Rudolf,” she answered back without looking.
Wordlessly, Mittwoch sat down next to her, taking off his shoes and dipping his feet into the pleasantly cooling water.
This was exactly what Pauline was to him. Ever since the Kinderhändlers had found him all those years ago, he had lived every day in fear of his life, surrounded on all sides by liars and murderers, living as a very small piece in a very big game.
But Pauline stood in the middle of all this as a cool pond he could rest by, safe, secure, and with nothing hidden.
Mittwoch paused. Actually, he was the one that was keeping things hidden. How would she react when she found out he was a Shadow, someone else’s brother play-acting as her own? He swallowed hard.
“Hey Pauline…” he started, fiddling with his jacket.
“What’s up?” she asked, turning to face him.
“Have you ever… considered running away?” he finally forced out. “Away from this palace, away from all the spying and assassinations, far away to someplace, anyplace not under the Auchtfrauen’s thumb?”
Pauline raised an eyebrow. “I know you, Rudolf. This isn’t just some idle fantasy. You’ve come up with a plan, haven’t you?”
Mittwoch nodded. “I’ve been studying the palace blueprints; I know every servant passageway and access tunnel. I could get us half way to Nordkolonie before they’d even realized we were gone. I know how to ride, and I know where to sneak supplies from the royal pantry.”
He held out his hand. “We could do it next week, even. But I don’t want to go alone. Will you come with me, Pauline?”
A look of confliction crossed Pauline’s face. Reaching out to take his hand, she found herself pulling back at the last second.
“I can’t,” she admitted finally. “I’m sorry, but I can’t leave Ruprecht behind.”
“He has plenty of bodyguards!” Mittwoch protested. “He hardly ever leaves his room anyway!”
“It’s more than that.” She explained gently. “He…he needs me as his older sister. You understand too, don’t you? Could you just leave Mathilde behind?”
Easily, thought Mittwoch, his hands clenched. “Listen…” He forced out. “I…haven’t been completely honest with you.”
Pauline looked up at him, a worried expression on her face. “What are you saying, Rudolf?”
“My name isn’t Rudolf at all,” he admitted. “And I’m not the son of Notburga and the Grossekaiser. My name is Mittwoch, and I’m the real Rudolf’s Shadow.”
He hung his head, expecting the worst. But in the same breath, he felt relieved. It was finally out there in the open. No more secrets.”
“Are…are you telling the truth?” Pauline asked in shock, tears forming in her eyes.
“Damn, I’ve done it now”, he thought. “I don’t blame her. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to go back to the way things were before.”
“Me too!” she yelled out, embracing him.
“Huh?” His eyes popped wide.
“No, I mean, hear me out, I’m not saying I’m Rudolf too, I’m…what I mean is…” She laughed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve and taking a deep breath. “My name is Narzisse, and I’m one of Pauline’s Shadows.” She gave a little smile.
“What? But…how?” he exclaimed, his mind whirling. “And why? You’re a girl!”
“Of course, silly!” She laughed. “There was no way for Marina to find a dozen albino lookalikes for Ruprecht” she explained, “So the next best thing was to get a dozen Paulines to protect him. The real Pauline is in a convent somewhere in central Südkolonie.”
The two just looked at each other for a time, taking it in. At last, the truth was out. No more smoke and mirrors, just two children, caught up in the same pointless war.
Mittwoch spoke first. “But…Narzisse…if you aren’t even related to Ruprecht then what’s stopping you from coming with me?”
“It’s not so simple.” She smiled sadly. “I know we’re not real siblings, but that doesn’t stop me loving him as if we were.” She turned and looked Mittwoch in the eyes. “It’s not like you and I are related either, Mittwoch, but that doesn’t change how I feel.”
She sighed. “He reminds me of my real younger brother. Back before I was Pauline or Narzisse. Not his looks, mind you,” she amended. “But even though the other Shadows and I are his servants, he never treated us that way. He calls us by our names, and can even tell us apart.” She laughed. “You have no idea how long it took me to do that.”
“You and me both.” Mittwoch laughed with her, thinking back to his apprenticeship, and of his “sister”. Mathilde had always treated the Shadows with kind indifference, but she also never picked on them either. In fact, she willingly included her name in their chores rotation even though they were technically her servants too.
He looked off into the distance thoughtfully. Next time he saw Mathilde, he’d have to thank her.
Maybe.
“I understand.” Mittwoch got up, drying his feet on the grass. “You can forget I asked. There’s no way I’m leaving without you Narzisse, so we can go back to normal starting next week.”
“That’s playing dirty.” She punched him lightly in the leg. “Can you…” She started. “Can you give me until next week?”
“What for?” he asked.
“To get ready to leave.” She looked up at him. “I want to leave a note, not just for Ruprecht, but for Flieder, Schwertlilie, Nelke, and the rest.” She smiled wryly up at him. “I’ve got a lot of writing to do.”
“You know I’ll wait as long as you need.” He smiled back. “I already said I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Thanks, Mittwoch.”
“Anytime, Narzisse.”
*******
Narzisse practically skipped back to Marina’s estate. Unlocking a servant entrance, she slipped inside and relocked it behind her, whistling to herself.
“Somebody had a good day.” A perfectly identical girl grinned at her from one of the bunkbeds, looking up from her book.
“No idea what you’re talking about, Nelke,” Narzisse shot back, smiling serenely to herself.
“Hmm? What’s up?” another girl asked, toweling off her hair as she entered.
“Flieder, tell Narzisse that her and what’s-his-name should just get together already,” Nelke called out, rolling onto her back.
“I’m telling ya, watching those two is enough to give me diabetes,” another Pauline called out from the back of the room.
“Oh, gross!’ Narzisse threw her shoe at the offending Shadow. “Stuff it, Goldrute. We’re practically family you know!”
“That didn’t stop Schwertlilie and Donnerstag,” Goldrute called back, dodging the projectile. “’Sides, we’re all Shadows. No blood, no foul.”
Narzisse raised her other shoe to throw, but paused. “Hold up, you knew Rudolf was a shadow?”
“Girl, who doesn’t?” Flieder hung up her towel, climbing into the bunk above Nelke.
“We didn’t tell you until now because it was just too much fun watching you two.” Nelke laughed, kicking her feet. “Sorry.”
“Oh, so you’re all in on this?” Narzisse raised her shoe again. “I swear if you don’t start talking, I’m gonna start throwing.”
“Hey, you ought to be thanking us!” Flieder shielded her face with her pillow. “How do you think you and Mittwoch always got the same days?”
“I…” Narzisse blinked. That’s right, how did that happen, anyway?
“That’s more thanks t’ Schwertlilie than the rest of us, though,” Goldrute called from the back of the room. “She and Donnerstag always planned out the schedules together so we all matched up.” She looked up a Flieder. “Right, speaking of, how’re you ’n Freitag getting’ along?”
“None of your business, stupid!” Flieder called back, flinging her pillow at her.
“Takes one t’ know one,” she quipped, blocking the projectile. “Anyways, I’m taking the next bath, m’kay?”
“I’d hurry if I were you.” Flieder grinned mischievously down from the bunk. “When I left, it looked like Schwertlilie was waiting to get in next.”
“That skank!” Goldrute yelled, grabbing her things and running for the door. “She gets the last bath this week!”
Sighing, Narzisse dropped her shoe and rolled into bed.
“You okay, girl?” Nelke rolled over to face her.
“Yeah, fine, I guess,” she assured her. “Just…confused, is all. I don’t really know what to believe anymore.”
“Believe in your heart,” Nelke advised her.
“What the heck?”
“…Is what you thought I’d say!” She laughed, rolling out of bed and throwing herself on top of Narzisse, fiercely tickling her ribs.
“Hahaha! Stop it! I’ll kill you!’ Narzisse gasped between laughs, trying to push Nelke off.
“I’m gonna tickle all the bad vibes outta you!” She laughed back. “Look, no matter what you do, we’ll all have your back. We’re just Shadows, we gotta live it up just to spite the Achtfrauen, okay?”
“Okay, okay!” Narzisse laughed, throwing Nelke off her and onto the floor.
“Ow,” Nelke deadpanned, flat on her back.
“You okay?” Flieder asked from the top bunk.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Nelke gave a thumbs-up, slinking back into her bunk.
“Wasn’t talking to you,” Flieder shot back. “You feeling better now, Narzisse?”
Narzisse smiled in response, stretching flat on her bed. “Yeah, much better.”
“Thanks, everyone,” she silently whispered to herself.
*******
The next week came faster than either Mittwoch or Narzisse expected. Throwing his jacket on, Mittwoch was about to head to the Morgengruss when a thought crossed his mind. Turning around, he addressed his fellow Shadow.
“Hey Donnerstag, the reason you’re always swapping my shift around…could it be…?”
Donnerstag grinned knowingly, clapping him on the back. “Go on, don’t keep her waiting now.”
“Heu-heu!” Freitag called after him.
“Lucky dog,” Montag spat, smirking. “I dunno why I can’t seem to get a girl for the life of me.
“Well, as much as I’d like to say it’s your face, we all look alike.” Dienstag laughed. “That only leaves your godawful personality. Look at Mittwoch, the guy’s a natural lady-killer.”
“Damnit, guys.” Mittwoch flushed, slamming the door behind him, amidst general laughter. He sighed, adjusting his tie as he headed downstairs. Somehow, it always seemed like everyone around him was in on every secret, and he was always on the outer circle. Still, he’d have to thank them later.
Later…
Mittwoch felt a lump in his throat. There was no “later”. This would be the last time he’d see them all…
“What’s the holdup?”
Mittwoch turned. It was Mathilde, his “older sister”.
“Yeah, sorry,” he apologized. “Just thinking about…well...lots of stuff. Wondering if I’ve got what it takes for everything coming in the future, and all that.”
“God, you’re a hundred years too young to be worrying about that.” Mathilde gave him a push on the back. “Just worry about the now. You know whatever happens, we’ve got your back.”
Mittwoch smiled. “We? Not they?”
“Did I stutter? Get going, Mittwoch.”
He made his way towards the stairs, turning back to look at her.
“Hey Mathilde!” he called. “Thanks. For everything.”
“Ew.” She laughed. “Just get going already, stop keeping Narzisse waiting.”
Waving, Mittwoch opened the door and went on ahead of her, towards the Morgengruss.
*******
Mathilde arrived behind him with their mother Notburga shortly after, signaling the start of the Morgengruss. And after that, it was time for breakfast.
In all his life as a Shadow, Mittwoch couldn’t remember a meal he had enjoyed more than this one. As luck would have it (or really, was anything around here luck?), Mittwoch and Narzisse were seated next to each other, along with their siblings Mathilde and Ruprecht. Contrary to the rest of the table, the four spent the whole morning laughing and joking with each other as the Grossekaiser beamed in approval.
Afterwards, the family headed towards the royal gardens. It was a warm April morning, and the Grossekaiser had planned to regale them all with a tale from his youthful days of conquest.
Mittwoch hung back, watching everyone from behind, savouring his last day in the palace. Ahead of him, Narzisse and Mathilde were walking together, laughing to themselves and occasionally glancing in his direction. Just to their right, Ruprecht was unfolding his parasol, his pale skin weak to the sun’s touch. All the state Auchtfrauen’s kids were walking up front with the Grossekaiser, except…
Mittwoch blinked. Where was Albrecht? Scanning his surroundings, Mittwoch found him hiding behind a pillar, well behind the pack. As he looked on, the boy raised a small tube to his lips, aimed, and…
“Narzisse!!!” Mittwoch screamed out, as Albrecht took a deep breath.
Narzisse’s eyes were already moving before she was, tracking the angle of the weapon. Mittwoch barely saw the dart leave the blowpipe, and Narzisse had already broken into a roll, coming up in front of Ruprecht, the dart imbedded, dripping, in her open palm.
Narzisse beamed triumphantly, as if to say “Not today!”
Then she turned pale.
Then green.
Collapsing to her feet, she vomited her breakfast over the tiles.
“Narzisse!” Ruprecht screamed, his voice breaking. “Guards!”
In a trice, Marina’s soldiers had surrounded the frail prince, escorting him, in spite of his protests, back to their estate in a storm of steel. Behind them, two pages picked up the wilted body of Narzisse and rushed off with her, ahead of the knights.
Mittwoch stood stock still, his vision distant, all sounds seeming far, far off. Someone seemed to be yelling something. A name?
“Mittwoch!” Mathilde yelled, shaking him by the shoulders.
“Mathilde,” Mittwoch croaked, slowly turning to focus on her. “What…I…how was…”
“Pull yourself together!” Mathilde growled at him, shaking him like a rag doll.
“What do I do, Mathilde?” he asked, tears filling his eyes.
“Get after her, idiot!” She shoved him. “Cry later!”
Mittwoch bit his lip until it bled. She was right. Wordlessly, he took off after the pages, passing the Grossekaiser as he went. Behind him, the Grossekaiser of all Weltland watched him go, an indecipherable expression on his face.
*******
Following the pages as fast as he could run, Mittwoch saw them vanish through an open servant’s entrance in Marina’s mansion, slamming the door behind them. Nearly tripping over the cobblestone path, Mittwoch made a final dash, skidding to a stop in front of the reinforced beechwood door. Throwing caution to the wind, he slammed his fist against the door repeatedly, calling out for entry.
With a clicking of locks, the door opened a foot, and Narzisse slipped out, shutting the door behind her.
“Thanks for worrying Mittwoch, but I’m fine now, honest.” She pointed to her bandaged hand. “They drew out the poison, I just need a little rest, okay?”
Mittwoch stared into her tearstained eyes, deep brown orbs with amber flecks dancing in them.
But Narzisse had hazelnut eyes.
“Let me through.” He pushed her roughly aside. “I’m here to see Narzisse.”
“She’s in there, Mittwoch.” Schwertlilie opened the door for him, her voice cracking.
Inside, Mittwoch found Narzisse lying on a recently cleared table, surrounding by her crying sisters and a white-smocked doctor who was silently packing up his tools.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Mittwoch growled, collaring the doctor. “You have to save her!”
“There’s nothing I can do.” The doctor firmly removed the youth’s hands. “That dart was coated in Kugelgift, from Southern blowfish. She was dead before they got her here.”
The words resounded in Mittwoch’s head, rattling around hollowly. Dead? Narzisse? There was no way, right?
He turned to the body on the table; Narzisse lay there like a wilted daffodil, her skin pale and jaundiced, her hair splayed out messily, her hazel eyes mercifully closed.
Narzisse was dead.
“What…will you do with her?” Mittwoch barely choked the words out, unable to pry his eyes away.
“We’ll bury her in the back, next to Veilchen, Eibisch, and the rest,” Schwertlilie answered from behind him, laying a hand on his shoulder. “She…she visited them often. She would’ve wanted us to.”
“She would have wanted us to?” Mittwoch thought bitterly. “She didn’t want any of this. We could’ve been far away today, all this pointless slaughter behind us.”
It wasn’t until Mittwoch tasted blood that he realized he had bitten through his lip again.
“You should go.” Schwertlilie gently but firmly moved him back towards the door. “Before Marina catches you here.”
Numbly, he let himself be led outside, back into the April sun.
“This isn’t over,” he finally spoke.
Schwertlilie looked up at him. “No matter who you kill, it won’t bring Narzisse back.”
“But maybe I can prevent him from killing Ruprecht or the rest of you. That’s what Narzisse really would have wanted.”
“She would have wanted you to live, too.” Schwertlilie forcibly turned him to face her. “No matter who you kill, it won’t change this pointless fight. All you’ll do is get yourself killed in the process.”
Mittwoch brushed her hand off and started walking.
“Are you trying to die? Is that it?” Schwertlilie yelled after him.
“Maybe,” Mittwoch thought to himself blankly. “Maybe.”
*******
Albrecht, son of the Achtfrauen of Erststaat Dietlinde, lounged despondently on a high-backed chair in front of the fireplace, a book of lepidoptery lying untouched on his lap. His mother had been quite cross with him over this morning. Ruprecht was the ideal target because it was impossible to find a shadow for him. A single dead heir would plunge the palace into chaos, and chaos was exactly where Dietlinde thrived.
But who could have foreseen Pauline taking the shot for her brother? The sisters weren’t supposed to be involved in the war of succession. They were practically a neutral party. This whole incident painted a bad image of Dietlinde, first among the Achtfrauen, and she did not appreciate that.
Albrecht was so engrossed in thought, he didn’t notice Mittwoch until he felt the dagger pressed against his neck.
“Move and you’re dead,” Mittwoch threatened, yanking him out of the chair.
“Oh, bloody lovely,” the heir spat out. “Since you came all this way, I…ow!...assume you’ll kill me regardless,” he commented as Mittwoch threw him roughly against the ground.
“You know why I’m here, don’t you?” Mittwoch growled, planting a knee on the boy’s back.
“Well, if it’s to kill me, you’re right bad at it.” Albrecht chuckled dryly, noting the commotion coming from the floor below. “Sounds like you alerted the household.
“Plenty of time to kill you.”
“If you’re going to do it, just get it over with, why don’t you?” Albrecht sighed, as the sound of armoured footsteps drew closer. “Still, before you kill me, I want to properly introduce myself, okay?” He twisted his head to look Mittwoch in the eye, grinning crookedly. “As one Shadow to another.”
Mittwoch inhaled sharply.
“The name’s Siebenundvierzig-Elf, but you can just call me Elf.” He smiled as the door slammed open.
“You’re lying!” Mittwoch dug the knife into his neck, drawing a thin line of blood.
“Don’t I wish!” Elf laughed. “The real Albrecht died of liver failure a couple years back, not that you care. Check the scars behind my ears. Those are from the operation.”
Sure enough, dull, ridged scars stretched from one side of his head to the other, hidden behind the Shadow’s well-kept hair.
“Notburga may have her Kinderhändlers,” Elf explained as guards flooded the room, “But old Dietlinde has her surgeons. So go ahead, use that knife. Pawn takes pawn, I guess.”
“This does not seem to be your day, now does it, Elf?” An articulate, elegant voice came from the hallway behind the wall of soldiers, cutting off any response Mittwoch could make.
“I’ve certainly had better,” he admitted as Dietlinde, the first Achtfrauen emerged, parting the ranks of guards before her. “I don’t suppose you’re here to save me are you, “Mother”?”
“As it should happen, we were endeavouring to devise a suitable punishment for your failure today.” She pursed her lips. “We do believe this shall suffice.”
“Figured as much.” Elf cursed.
“So you really were a Shadow.” Mittwoch sighed, raising the dagger from his neck.
“Unfortunately so.”
“I expected as much, honestly,” Mittwoch replied, looking at the small blade in his palm. “That’s why I wasn’t really after you.”
“What?” Elf looked up confused at Mittwoch, and the dagger in his hand.
Only, it was no longer in his hand.
It was in Dietlinde’s throat.
“You fool!” Elf yelled, throwing Mittwoch off him as the knights rushed to the aid of the dying Achtfrauen.
“Pawn takes queen.” Mittwoch smirked, as the guard behind him raised his sword…
*******
The next day was an ordinary Thursday like any other. All the family assembled for the Morgengruss and, starting with Dietlinde and her son Albrecht, wished the Grossekaiser a glorious morning, and that he should live and rule forever.
“I heard Dietlinde is down a Shadow,” Donnerstag remarked to Schwertlilie from the back of the hall after the ceremony. “Do you think Mittwoch…?”
“I tried to stop him,” she replied bitterly. “But in the end he…”
“Good morning, children!” The Grossekaiser beamed at them as he walked by.
“And a good morning to you, exalted father!” the two returned in unison, bowing low as he passed.
Continuing on past them, the Grossekaiser Von Adel made a beeline for the royal estate, skipping his usual scenic route through the garden. Somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to appreciate the beauty of nature today.
Entering his mansion through the main doors, no sooner had he passed the lintel than a maid emerged from the shadows, quickly taking his mantel and crown from him as he entered his study, settling forlornly into a waiting chair.
“We lost another three yesterday, didn’t we Lina?” he addressed the maid in a tired voice, passing a hand over his face.
“Two children Shadows, one adult," she affirmed. “Things will likely calm down for a while, they tend to after every death.”
“Tell me Lina, what is the point of all this?”
The Grossekaiser turned to look at her, tears in his eyes. “Is all this;” he gestured around him expansively, “Worth the price? Is there no better way?”
“Now your majesty,” the maid reprimanded him gently, pouring him a glass of brandy, “You know as well as I do that with all the attention focused on the war of succession, we have peace within our nation, among all the states and colonies. Everyone is vying to ally with whoever is most likely to ascend the throne, or trying to find a way to influence the process itself. Not a single soul wants to start anything before the heir is decided. For the price of a handful of Shadows, we have peace in our time.” She patted his hand. “You know this better than anyone, don’t you?”
“I…” He quaffed the brandy with a shudder. “You’re right of course. You always are. I don’t know what came over me.” He sighed. “Sometimes, I just wish…” He trailed off in silence.
“What you need is a vacation, your majesty,” she suggested. “Take a month or two off and recharge. Drittstaat is lovely this time of year, as I recall.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Yes, I think I might.” He turned to the maid. “Thank you as always, Lina. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
She smiled in response. “You’re most welcome, April.”
The End.
ns216.73.217.1da2
and then Add to home screen.