by Andre Norton
“That, Dominde, is a very fine dog. A gentleman of the mountains trained him for the hunting of wolves. He said that these kind of dogs were bred for that in his country. He had a great pack when he died. The dog is very cheap, Dominde. Men of our land do not like them, although a shepherd bought some. They are slow to make friends, these wolfhounds, but they love a man for life. Eh, Alexis, is not that true?”
The hound raised his head at the sound of his name and, ignoring the merchant, looked straight at Michael Karl. Gravely and with a certain dignity he got to his feet and then, walking up to the boy, he pushed his nose into the hand Michael Karl was unconsciously holding out to him. The plume of his tail wagged once.
“Dominde!” there was a touch of excitement in the man’s voice, “never have I seen him do that. All others he has not even seen, but you he woos. Will you take him, Dominde?”
“Your price?” demanded Michael Karl, his eyes still on those of the dog.
“Dominde, he is yours already. I ask five gruden.”
Michael Karl looked at him in amazement. “But that is preposterous, the dog is worth twenty times as much.”
“Dominde, when Alexis has selected you, is it for me to demand the price? For some dogs there is only one master.”
Michael Karl looked at him a minute and then nodded. “I understand. But this is what I pay.” He pulled his heavy purse out of the breast of his tunic and counted out five bills. “That I think is the fair price.”
The merchant’s face paled when he saw the amount. “Dominde, you are a prince!” Michael Karl started. “On this I can live for a year. Here,” he hunted feverishly through his pockets and at last produced an envelope which he thrust into Michael Karl’s hands. “This tells of the ancestors of Alexis. It was found among the papers of the gentleman who bred him.”
“Thank you. And should you come across a mate for Alexis bring this card to Herr Franz Ultmann at Coblen.” Michael Karl scribbled something on the back of a visiting card which must have belonged to the former owner of the sub-lieutenant’s uniform.
“A thousand thanks, Dominde. Alexis will need no leash.” The merchant bent and snapped the chain off the wolfhound’s collar. Shaking himself the dog stepped daintily after Michael Karl, following closely at his heels as the boy threaded his way through the crowded market.
Michael Karl asked directions and made his way to the Sign of the Plowman.
“I wish to see Madame Ultmann,” he told the smiling maid in the inn parlor. Alexis curled up beside his feet, resting his head on Michael Karl’s booted feet.
Michael Karl rose as Marthe came in. “Madame Marthe,” he exclaimed, “I’ve come at last to thank you for those sandwiches.”
She peered uncertainly at him through the gloom and then: “It’s the boy of the roses!” she cried softly.
“Who else would it be, Madame Marthe? Alexis, move over and let the lady sit down. Herr Franz tells me that you’ve been worrying about my unworthy self, Madame Marthe.”
“We did not hear—” said the little lady.
Michael Karl’s mouth straightened. “That there was much to be done is my only excuse.”
As he turned his head Marthe caught sight of the scar on his cheek.
“Ye’ve been hurt!”
“Only a scratch. I was very fortunate. Did you come for the coronation, Madame Marthe?”
“Yes. His Grace allowed us places at the best window in his town house. We saw all but the comin’ of the Crown Prince; we missed that and were so unhappy. Tell me, do ye know the Crown Prince?”
Michael Karl sighed. “I used to think I did, but I’m beginning to wonder. He’s changed—along with others.”
Marthe echoed his sigh. “It’s always so, Laddie. But there’s somethin’ a-troublin’ ye.”
All at once Michael Karl knew the relief of telling some one his doubts and fears. “I’m going away, Madame Marthe, and I don’t think that I want to. I’m not sure of anything any more.”
“But why, Laddie?”
“I wasn’t born in Morvania. I was brought here against my will to take my place and rank. When I came I hated it, I wanted to go back. And then I met him, my kinsman, and, Madame Marthe, I liked it then, but he knows that I didn’t at first. And now he hasn’t asked me to stay, and my reason for coming is gone and so—I am going away.”
“Do ye know that he doesn’t want ye?” questioned Marthe gently not asking who the mysterious “he” might be.
“He has said—nothing. And I have given him chances. So this is probably good-by, Madame Marthe.”
“And ye would stay gladly if he asked it of ye?”
Michael Karl smiled wistfully down at her. “Need you ask, Madame Marthe? And now let us talk of something else. Herr Franz tells me that he is selling some of the horses. I wish I might buy a sister of Lady Spitfire. The Lady is dead. She was killed in the fighting.”
Marthe nodded. “His Grace told us. Franz was that glad she might serve.”
And so they talked until Franz came to join them, chuckling over a good bargain.
“Still here, Lad. Now that is good. We shall have dinner together.”
“I’m sorry, Herr Ultmann, but I must be going. This is good-by, Madame Marthe,” for the second time he kissed her hand. “Good-by, Herr Ultmann, and may your roses find the sun very nourishing. Come, Alexis,” and with a smile and a wave of the hand he left them.
He crossed the Cathedral Square and turned into the Pala Horn. The house where he had lived with Ericson was still there, of course, but there was a change, and a new footman was standing at the door to take the letters from the postman. It wasn’t home any more. He passed Duke Johann’s town house and then turned back. For the first time it occurred to him that his absence might have caused some worry at the palace.
Slowly, very slowly, he went back to the water gate. The single sentry opened it at his repeating the password and he stood in the outer courtyard. From the central tower the Royal Standard whipped and tore in the stiff breeze. Alexis pressed close to his knee and whined softly.
Michael Karl passed almost unnoticed into the inner courtyard and the tiny garden beyond, made of earth brought up the hill by the wagon load. Alexis showed some interest and would have liked to stay, but Michael Karl opened a door in the wall almost hidden behind a thick stock of ivy. This had been his own discovery, even Urich had no knowledge of it. There was a flight of stairs inside which led to his own apartments.
Up he went with Alexis sniffing behind him and then he was in his own bedroom. His pajamas still lay across the foot of the bed as the valet had placed them hours before. He stepped into the dressing room and sat down on the lounge to pull off his boots, there was no need of ringing for aide-de-camp or valet. His head seemed made of lead it was so heavy, perhaps if he rested for just a second or two— Michael Karl curled up with a sigh. Alexis watched him intently, then he too lay down.
Alexis’ barking awakened Michael Karl. He sat up rubbing his eyes somewhat stupidly. Urich stood by the door unable to advance because of Alexis who was snarling before him.
“Alexis, this is a friend, a friend,” Michael Karl assured him. The dog looked from Urich to Michael Karl and then without noise he returned to sit by the lounge.
“May I ask where Your Highness has been?” There was cold anger mingled with the relief in Urich’s voice.
“I went away,” said Michael Karl slowly. He doubted if he could ever make Urich understand why he had to get away from the palace that morning.
“We have been searching for Your Highness for hours. His Majesty has been very much alarmed. He sent for Your Highness and we were unable to locate you.”
“I am sorry. I had to do it. I will go to His Majesty immediately,” answered Michael Karl wearily.
He got up stiffly and walked over to the mirror to smooth his hair. “I’m sorry, Urich,” he said again.
Urich bowed formally. He was still angry. Michael Karl leaned wearily against the edge of
the dressing table. He wished he had time for a bath and a change. Urich moved forward, it was almost as if he had read Michael Karl’s thoughts.
“His Majesty is in conference with some repre- sentative of the Merchants’ Bank. You will have time to change, I think.” He moved about softly, laying out an undress uniform, ringing for the valet. “I informed His Majesty before the dog awakened you that you had returned,” he added.
Michael Karl changed quickly. The King might send for him at any moment. Alexis accepted the valet and Urich. They were there to wait upon his master, therefore they were to be tolerated.
The valet went to answer a rap at the door. He admitted an officer of the King’s suite.
“His Majesty desires His Highness’s presence in the Council Chamber at once.”
Michael Karl went out with Urich and Alexis behind him. His riddle was going to be solved. Either Urlich Karl would ask him to stay or— But Michael Karl refused to think of that “or.”
Ordering Alexis to stay with Urich outside the door Michael Karl turned and stepped into the room he had once examined from the peephole of the secret passage. The great table still occupied the center of the room but now only one of the conspirator’s chairs was filled. Urlich Karl sat at the head of the table where Kafner had sat and tried to make peace between the quarreling factions of his party.
Michael Karl bowed. “Good morning, sire.”
“I suppose that there is no use in my asking the reason for your disappearance this morning?” The voice was chillingly remote.
“I had something to think over, I cannot think here, so I went into Rein. I don’t think I was recognized.” Michael Karl’s explanation sounded flat in his ears. Why had Urlich Karl changed? Since the coronation he had been so different.
The King got up slowly and walked to the window. He stood with his back to Michael Karl.
“Do you think that you were altogether wise?” he asked coldly.
“Perhaps not,” Michael Karl was stung into speech by his cousin’s tone. “But I’m not used to this—this”—he motioned vaguely about him. “I want to be free sometimes.”
The King turned. “You want to be free. That is why I summoned you.” He crossed to the table and picked up a sheet of heavy looking paper. “Your signature is needed on this.”
Michael Karl went over and took it from his hand to read. Suddenly he looked up. “This is an abdication of my rights to the throne?”
The King nodded. “I have arranged for your return to America. I had hoped—but no matter now. You can leave by the end of the week.”
Ignoring etiquette, Michael Karl sat down. What he feared was only too true, his cousin didn’t want him. For him there would be no journey to the Summer Palace, no more days like those on the Pala Horn, and somehow he had always hoped—Michael Karl picked up the pen.
The “Michael” was firm and clear but the “Karl” sheered off shakily. He was glad he was able to blot it firmly. He pushed the paper across the table.
“I thank Your Majesty for all your kindnesses. Perhaps—perhaps I have enjoyed the past few months more than you know. I shall await your further commands.”
He went to the door but with his hand on the knob he turned. Urlich Karl was standing there holding the paper and—his hand was trembling. Michael Karl spoke before he thought.
“I wish it might have ended differently.”
“It is just as well. Kings are always lonely,” Urlich Karl was staring down at the paper.
Michael Karl started. “Did you wish it different too?” he asked.
“It doesn’t matter now what I wished. You may go.”
But Michael Karl knew—knew that under the King was Ericson. He didn’t know how he got back to the table, floated probably, he seemed light and happy enough to. Was it he, Michael Karl, who twitched that silly paper out of his cousin’s hands and tore it with such eager satisfaction?
“Whether you like it or not, Urlich Karl,” he said with a little gasp of delight as he flung the pieces on the table. “I’m here to stay.”
“Do you mean that?” there was a sharp note in the King’s voice. The mask he had worn was breaking.
“Of course, you can’t ship me out of here without my consent. If you try it I’ll—I’ll start a revolution! And then where would you be?”
Urlich Karl laughed joyously. “Right in the front line trench helping you run it, because you’re never going to get away from me again, Michael Karl.”
Michael Karl gathered the scraps of paper up from the table and stepped solemnly to the window.
“What are you doing?” demanded his cousin.
“Watching one perfectly good abdication go where it belongs.”
“And good riddance to it,” added Urlich Karl leaning out beside him to watch the pieces go fluttering down.
“You had me scared,” he admitted a moment later. “When you signed that, my heart slid right down to my boot soles and stayed there.”
“One would never have known it to see your face. I was clearing out because I thought you didn’t want me.”
“Didn’t want you!” and the way Urlich Karl said it settled all his cousin’s doubts forever.
They looked at each other for a moment and then Urlich Karl laughed.
“Now that that’s over, and we’re through playing at cross purposes how about planning our vacation?”
“Wait until you sec what I bought this morning,” Michael Karl went to the door and called Alexis.
“Good grief,” was Urlich Karl’s comment. “Where did you get him?”
“In the animal market. What do you think of him?”
“He’s a beauty. And I suppose he’s going to share our seat when we go driving?”
“Of course!” replied Michael Karl indignantly and fell to pulling Alexis’s long soft ears.
“Of course.” agreed Urlich Karl gravely, but he was smiling at the two of them—smiling like Ericson, and Michael Karl was very content.
“His Grace, the Duke Johann,” Jan was standing inside of the door.
“You may admit him at once, and, Jan, see that His Highness’s things are packed for removal to the Summer Palace. Well, Johann, we’ve spoiled a bit of your work.”
“And what was that, sire?” asked Johann lazily as he entered.
“Michael Karl has thrown a certain paper through the window after tearing it into small bits. He used to lecture me on being wasteful and untidy, and now here’s hours of your work gone to naught.”
Johann smiled sleepily. “Not my work, sire. I have secretaries, and they must earn their salt. But I am glad that they had their work for nothing this time. So I will have the pleasure of teaching Your Highness tennis after all?”
“Yes,” answered Michael Karl and his eyes were shining.
Chapter XVIII
— And So Puts An End To This Tale
Marthe Ultmann was culling dead blossoms from the hollyhocks by her door when the gate latch clicked. She looked up in some surprise. Visitors were few at the Duke’s stock farm.
There was a boy coming up the path. A boy in a white shirt which lacked a button, whose black riding breeches were the worse for long hard wear. But the dog who followed at his heels was an aristocrat of his kind, and the horse whose reins were looped over a picket of the gate was a thoroughbred. The boy was whistling but he stopped as he caught sight of Marthe.
“Madame Marthe!”
She made a stiff little curtsey. “Your Highness is welcome, very welcome,” she said with a little gasp.
“So you’ve found me out, Madame Marthe?” the boy asked.
“But yes.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter,” cried the boy happily. “To you I’m always just Laddie. So forget it, Madame Marthe. I’ve come to tell you that I’m going to stay, and I love it!”
“I thought you would, Laddie,” said Marthe.
Table of Contents
Cover
Also By Andre Norton
Ti
tle
Copyright
Author’s Note
Chapter I Michael Karl Learns What He Has Wanted To Know
Chapter II The Border and — Morvania
Chapter III A Prince Meets A Werewolf
Chapter IV In And Out Of The Crown Inn
Chapter V Michael Karl Enters His Capital
Chapter VI Of A Chance Discovery And A Passage Underground
Chapter VII The Council At Work
Chapter VIII Michael Karl Hears What Was Not Meant For His Ears
Chapter IX In Which Two Plot And One Acts
Chapter X Into The Mountains At Once
Chapter XI Michael Karl Meets His King For The First Time
Chapter XII The Battle Of The Cathedral Steps
Chapter XIII Who Holds Rein Holds Morvania
Chapter XIV The Last Of Cobentz And Co.
Chapter XV The Last Of Cobentz And Co. (Continued)
Chapter XVI Michael Karl Attends A Coronation
Chapter XVII Michael Karl Destroys A Certain Paper
Chapter XVIII And So Puts An End To This Tale
Table of Contents
Cover
Also By Andre Norton
Title
Copyright
Author’s Note
Chapter I Michael Karl Learns What He Has Wanted To Know
Chapter II The Border and — Morvania
Chapter III A Prince Meets A Werewolf
Chapter IV In And Out Of The Crown Inn
Chapter V Michael Karl Enters His Capital
Chapter VI Of A Chance Discovery And A Passage Underground
Chapter VII The Council At Work
Chapter VIII Michael Karl Hears What Was Not Meant For His Ears
Chapter IX In Which Two Plot And One Acts
Chapter X Into The Mountains At Once
Chapter XI Michael Karl Meets His King For The First Time
Chapter XII The Battle Of The Cathedral Steps
Chapter XIII Who Holds Rein Holds Morvania
Chapter XIV The Last Of Cobentz And Co.
Chapter XV The Last Of Cobentz And Co. (Continued)
Chapter XVI Michael Karl Attends A Coronation
Chapter XVII Michael Karl Destroys A Certain Paper