by Paige Elwood
It was a necessity in these troubled times. A cruel dictator from another kingdom had decided ten years earlier that he wanted to grow his empire by taking over the neighboring kingdoms. He ruled his people with an iron fist, inspiring in them only fear. Unfortunately for the kingdoms beside his own, fear was a very effective motivator for the people that he ruled. They fought for him with an animalistic ferocity that was difficult to match. As his kingdom grew in size, swallowing other kingdoms whole, so did his army.
In ten short years he had conquered all the kingdoms that had flanked his borders and was now the most powerful ruler on this continent. This was a very great threat to Max’s kingdom, as the last kingdom that the cruel King had taken over shared a small border with his own. It was almost inevitable that the King would soon set his sights on Prague. The threat of their own kingdom being annihilated was ever present, and Max’s time was devoted between honing his skills in fighting and his knowledge of political and military matters. It was becoming more and more difficult to find time to create his inventions, but he managed it with Henry’s help.
He spotted the parcel that Henry had carried for him yesterday, nestled between a pile of timber and his tool case. The items were still concealed in the now broken satchel. He removed the items carefully from the bag, holding each one up to inspect it. They were only a fifth of the size he’d need to build the real thing, but for his prototype they would be perfect.
He’d been working on his prototype for a while, so engrossed that he didn’t even hear Henry enter the workshop. When he leaned in and spoke next to his ear, Max almost hit his thumb with the hammer he was using.
“I’m going to have to get you to wear bells, Henry,” he said, putting the hammer down before he could do himself any damage.
“Sorry, sire,” Henry said. “Your father is requesting you meet him in the throne room.”
Max sighed, rolling his sleeves back down and running his hands through his hair to try and tame it somewhat. “Do you know what he wants?”
“I believe he’s called all his generals there too, so I assume it’s a military task,” Henry said. His eyes roved over the prototype Max was working on. “Is that…”
Max nodded, beaming proudly. “It’s the Onager.”
Henry ran his hand along the side of the prototype. “It’s a little smaller than I expected.”
“It’s just a prototype. Once I’ve tested it we can build it to scale.”
Henry looked around the workshop. “Will it fit in here?”
“No. I’ll either need my father’s approval by then to build them in the castle courtyard, or somewhere secret but bigger to work.”
“Best run along and find your father now,” Henry said. “Keep in his good books for when you need to ask him.”
Max agreed, grabbing one of the candles and using it to find his way through the passages. He came out of the door just beside the throne room, hidden by a large tapestry. He blew out the candle and left it just inside the doorway before checking the coast was clear and stepping out from behind the tapestry.
He entered the throne room to find his father there with his six top generals, all seated at the large table that ran along one side of the room.
“Finally decided to join us?” his father said, looking Max over. He resisted the urge to smooth his hair down again.
“I was studying,” Max said, taking his seat at his father’s side. “War strategy,” he added, at his father’s pained look.
“General Cseska was just explaining how he plans to organize our troops in the event of an invasion,” his father said, waving a hand at the general to encourage him to speak.
“Are we expecting an invasion soon?” Max asked the general.
“Not yet, but it is better to be prepared,” the general said. The other generals nodded in unison, a murmur of agreement rippling through them.
“We will each take a company of men and occupy one of the watchtowers,” the general began. “We expect an invasion is most likely from the south-west side, so we will concentrate our efforts there. It will leave two watchtowers on the north side empty, but I don’t believe those will be needed.”
“What if they invade from the north?” Max asked.
“That would be highly unlikely,” the general said, frowning at the idea.
“Why?” Max asked.
“Because the north has a large woodland area that would be difficult to march through,” his father said, glaring at Max as though he were an irritating infant.
“But I’ve read that the best strategy is flexible, and we shouldn’t underestimate the enemy resources.”
“I’m not interested in your book-learning, boy,” his father said. “These men have years of experience on the battlefield. Who do you think is more qualified?”
Max clamped his mouth shut and nodded to the general to continue. He was seething internally, but he knew from experience that it wasn’t worth the argument. Besides, he needed to convince his father to let him build the Onager if the prototype was successful. If it worked, it would take care of the potential blind side of the northern territories anyway, and then these would all be moot points.
With the ever-growing threat to his kingdom, Max’s father had become obsessed with building alliances, building armies, and putting whatever he could into place to protect his kingdom. His intentions were good, and his aim was to protect his people as any ruler would, but his father had a way of not wishing to explain his actions to the people. He believed that the people should see the king as an absolute ruler and trust his judgment in all matters with no questions asked. Unfortunately, raising the armies and building defenses cost money. In order to get that money, the King had raised taxes. The people were becoming restless as bandits roamed the streets and the woods in the evenings.
Max hoped that his new invention would reduce their need for hundreds of men, and therefore the cost of protecting the kingdom. It would keep them safer from the risks both inside and outside of the kingdom.
He stayed silent throughout the rest of the briefing, simply nodding his agreement at the relevant points and providing no more arguments. His acquiescence seemed to placate his father, who was in a more pleasant mood by the end of the meeting. He patted Max on the shoulder as the generals left the throne room.
“Are you prepared for your betrothal ceremony this evening?” he asked.
“Yes, sire,” Max said. He was, now that he had the replica rings.
“I’m very proud of you. You’ll make a fine king one day.” Max’s chest puffed a little with pride, but soon deflated slightly when his father added, “If you can stop burying your head in books.”
“Yes, Father,” he said, bowing to his king and taking his leave. He could fit in an hour’s work on the Onager before he had to attend the betrothal ceremony.
Later that evening, Max waited nervously at the foot of the dais for his fiancée to join him. The priest was waiting patiently to bless their betrothal, and the crowd murmured excitedly as they waited. Max wiped his palms surreptitiously on his tunic. He checked his pocket for the hundredth time, feeling for the replica rings.
The room was decked with flowers and garlands, and the candles flickered and danced in time with the music coming from the lyre that the court musician was playing softly. A hushed awe fell over the gathered crowd as the doors to the throne room opened and Princess Katherine entered dressed in a flowing blue gown that perfectly set off her dark hair and porcelain skin. She looked beautiful as ever, and the members of the Prague Royal Court looked on adoringly. Her parents flanked her on either side, breaking off to join the crowd as she reached the dais.
Max smiled at his young fiancée as she reached the place where he stood and took up her own place beside him. He would need to make an effort to get to know this girl. They were to be married after all. It felt duplicitous to be giving her the fake ring, but he reassured himself with the thought that she probably wouldn’t realize. If at any point his rea
l ring began to react to her, he would find a way to switch the rings so that she’d never know.
Max’s mother insisted that love had grown between her and his father after they were married. It had taken some years to develop, but it was strong and stable for having had that time to mature. Max didn’t doubt that his mother did, in a way, love his father. Perhaps in the same way that many people loved their spouse, but he didn’t believe it was the same as the true love connection that his nanny had told him about all those years ago. Still, he was open to building a partnership with Princess Katherine, but he wasn’t sure if it would ever develop into more than that. She gazed at him through her long dark lashes and gave him a small watery smile.
She looked at him with the same polite, accepting expression that he wore around her. Max got the impression that she didn’t share the same excitement about the betrothal that her parents had. She never seemed fully present, like her mind and her soul were somewhere else. He wasn’t sure that he could spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted someone who spoke to his soul, set his heart alight with joy. She certainly was beautiful to look at, though, with her delicate features and lush lips. He wondered what those lips would feel like pressed to his.
He repeated the priest’s words at the appropriate points and kissed the back of the Princess’s hand at the end of the ceremony, to loud cheers from the onlookers. They had made their engagement official, and in a couple of months they would become man and wife. The Princess admired the glittering band she now wore on her fingers, the tiny red stones twinkling like real rubies in the candlelight that filled the room.
“It’s a beautiful ring,” she said to Max.
“A beautiful ring for a beautiful princess,” he smiled back, ignoring the tiny pang of guilt that streaked across his stomach.
Chapter 7
Sarah got up early, creeping down the stairs with her suitcase, trying not to wake Katie. They’d had a ‘goodbye’ meal the night before, and Katie had drunk a lot of wine, so she was likely to be delicate this morning. Sarah was glad she didn’t drink — she couldn’t imagine having to travel this morning with anything less than a clear head.
She had a quick breakfast of granola and a cup of coffee to set her up for the day. She normally enjoyed breakfast, but she was barely hungry this morning. She ate anyway since she had a long day ahead of her and she’d need the energy to tackle it.
She washed her breakfast dishes and waited for her ride in front of the cottage, comfortably dressed in jeans and her hair tied up in a ponytail. The early morning breeze planted cool kisses against the back of her neck, and she wished a silent farewell to the lush North Carolina landscape. Right on time, her dad pulled up in his silver Honda Civic to collect her. Her mom and dad both climbed out of the car to help her put her luggage in the trunk.
"I can do it myself, I only have two bags!" Sarah said.
“We just want to help," her dad said, taking her battered black suitcase and placing it carefully in the trunk.
Sarah put her amazing Michael Kors flight bag in next to it. It really was a beautiful bag, although she wished that Louise hadn't felt it necessary to buy her a gift. The pristine bag just highlighted the awful condition of the suitcase that was its travel companion. Sarah wondered if maybe she should have bought a new suitcase after all, but she dismissed that thought quickly. The DNA test had been worth it, she thought. Besides, she could buy a new suitcase in Prague if she really wanted one.
Are you excited for your trip?” her mom asked, closing the trunk firmly.
“I’m so excited I could scream,“ Sarah laughed. She got into the back of the car and buckled up. Even at twenty-five years old, she felt like a kid excited to be going on a road trip.
Her mom grinned, buckling her own belt and turning to look at her daughter. “We’re going to miss you.”
“You’re visiting me soon, aren't you? Besides, you’re both always so busy that you won’t have time to miss me.”
“Not so busy that we don’t make time to spend with you," her mom chastised lightly.
“I know,” Sarah said. “I wasn’t suggesting that you don’t make enough time for me. Just reassuring you that you probably won’t miss me all that much. At least not in the six weeks before your visit.”
“I’m looking forward to visiting you almost as much as I am seeing Melk Abbey,” her dad said.
“Take no notice, honey,” her mom said, “Seeing you will be the best part of our trip.”
Sarah laughed. She knew her dad was only teasing, and she was looking forward to being able to introduce them to Prague.
Her dad switched on the radio to their favorite country music station, and they sang along in the car to old Rascal Flatts and Dixie Chicks tunes all the way to the airport. Sarah, despite her words, would miss both of them dearly. As an only child, she had always had a very close bond with her parents, and as fellow academics, she respected their professional achievements as much as she loved them for the amazing and supportive parents they had always been.
Still, she was going to be so busy in Prague that hopefully she wouldn’t have time to miss them either. She’d planned out a particularly busy itinerary. Most days would be filled with her research work, and to be honest, the research itself excited her just as much as the chance to visit the beautiful European city. The fact that she got to do both of those things together was just an absolute dream come true.
She was pleased to be visiting in the summer, but she'd heard the city was beautiful in the winter, and if she enjoyed the trip as much as she expected, she’d already begun to look at prices to return in the winter to see it in the snow. North Carolina didn’t get much snow outside of the mountains, so a white winter visit would be perfect.
“Which airports are your connecting flights from?” Sarah’s mom asked.
“I get to O’Hare first, and then fly to Stockholm.”
“Do you have much time waiting at the airport in-between?”
“A little. An hour and a half at O’Hare and then another hour at Stockholm.”
“That’s not so bad,” her dad said. “We once waited five hours for a connecting flight, didn’t we, Jenna?”
“Yes. It was too short to justify the cost of a hotel for the night, but in hindsight way too long to be hanging around an airport!”
“I should be fine with my layovers,” Sarah said. “Just enough time for a coffee and a snack, and to stretch my legs before I get back on a plane.”
An overnight stay in Stockholm might have been nice, although she supposed after such a long day traveling she wouldn’t have been in any fit state to see the city anyway. By the time she arrived in Prague she was bound to be tired, so she’d kept her arrival evening and the following morning free of any itinerary stops.
As they approached the enormous glass structure of Charlotte Douglas Airport, Sarah's stomach began to churn excitedly. This was it! She had a long 18 hours ahead of her traveling and taking connecting flights, but it would be worth it once she arrived.
Her dad pulled up outside departures, the enormous glass structure reflecting the sun that was already beginning to feel hot. He hopped out of the driver’s seat and helped Sarah get her case out of the trunk. They walked with her alongside a stream of fellow travelers to the sliding doors of the airport. She paused at the entrance and gave her parents a huge hug. A few tears sprung to her eyes at the thought that she wasn’t going to see them for at least six weeks now.
She blinked the tears back and kissed her mom on the cheek. Her mother’s own eyes were shining as she squeezed Sarah tightly. The comforting scent of her mom's Amarige perfume calmed her anxious butterflies somewhat.
Her father gave her a warm hug too, and she kissed him on the cheek. His eyes also shone with unshed tears.
"Have a great time,” her mom said, squeezing Sarah’s shoulder.
"I will. I promise I’ll know all of the best coffee shops and restaurants by the time you come to visit me so I can give you
a whistle-stop tour of Prague,” Sarah said.
"That would be lovely.” Her mom beamed. “Go on then. You don’t want to miss your flight. Not that you’d ever allow that to happen, Little Miss Organized!”
Sarah entered the airport with her parents still standing at the enormous glass doors. When she turned around, they waved to her, and she returned it silently. She spotted the check-in desk and joined the queue. Now for the tedious part of travel. The girl behind the check-in desk weighed her suitcase and labeled it before waving Sarah through to the line for airport security.
The airport bustled with people, and she browsed the terminal’s bookstore to pass the time. She discovered a couple of tourist guides about Prague that she hadn’t already purchased and decided that a couple more wouldn’t hurt just in case there was a hidden gem in one of them that wasn’t in the others.
She wanted to make sure she got every ounce of culture and experience out of Prague that she could. Her plan was to spend each weekday doing her research going through the manuscript and codices. Then, during the evenings and weekends, she would do her best to get around the city and see everything else. She’d planned to see all of the tourist areas first and then all of the hidden parts of the city that the average tourist would never see.
She took a seat in the coffee shop and enjoyed a mocha while she flicked through the tourist guides, looking for information that she didn’t already have about the best and most interesting places to visit. She found a section on boutique shopping in Prague that she found quite interesting. If she had time, perhaps she could squeeze in a few shopping trips. Although her mom would love visiting all the quirky stores in the guide, so maybe it was something to save for when her parents visited.