Secrets of the New World (Infini Calendar) (Volume 2) Read online

  She pulled up her goggles and let them rest on the tip of her forehead. “Satisfied?”

  Salt-and-Pepper examined her closely for a moment. “Brown,” he confirmed to his partner who then nodded and knocked softly on the door of the carriage.

  A young man with dark brown hair and a thin mustache on his upper lip stepped out cautiously. He looked, at least to Farahilde, like a small child brought into the big city for the first time. At least he doesn’t wear a powdered wig, she thought somewhat optimistically. Nor did he wear extravagant robes or any of that sort of thing; like his guardians, he was dressed in dull civilian clothing. He was already distinguishing himself from Louis XVI.

  He approached the steam cycle (which she had not gotten off of) and stared at her. He looked terrified, as if he had no idea what it was he was supposed to do next. “M-M-M-M-M…” He tried to speak, but couldn’t get any words out.

  She, likewise, was at a loss for words. “Um…”

  However, he suddenly bowed and blurted out in German, “My name is Frederick William III! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance!”

  Lord, if you get me out of this now, I will atone for every bad thing I’ve ever done.

  Unfortunately for her, no salvation arrived. Instead, he remained bowed, evidently expecting some sort of response. She gave the only one she could: A sigh. “All right, all right; you can stand up now.” He did so. “I am Farahilde Johanna, as you probably know. We are to be wedded at some point in the coming months.”

  He nodded nervously. “It…will be a pleasure getting to know you.”

  She said to his aides, “I can take it from here. I’ll get him to the Hofburg in one piece.”

  They exchanged dubious glances. “We were expecting the prince to ride in something…a little larger,” Salt-and-Pepper said.

  “It’ll be fine.” She then addressed Frederick. “Hop in.”

  He looked at the side car attached to the steam cycle. “I-In that?”

  She furrowed her brow. “Don’t get any funny ideas. You’re not riding behind me on this thing. The side car.”

  He haphazardly maneuvered himself into the metal attachment. His aides both gave defeated shrugs, and then handed Frederick two suitcases she assumed were his. There wasn’t quite enough room in the side car for both, so Frederick simply stacked them on his lap and held the top one with both hands.

  When she was satisfied that he was as ready as he was going to be, she said to the aides, “Farewell, then.” Without another word, she brought down her goggles and started up the steam cycle. It rumbled and chugged to life, and Farahilde swiftly turned the whole thing around one hundred and eighty degrees. The steam cycle took off in the direction she had come from, back to the Hofburg.

  On the return trip, she decided she needed to know something about Frederick William III if she was going to marry him. “So,” she yelled over the wind and the rumbling of the bike, trying to come up with something. “You are younger than me, yes?”

  “Twenty-two years old,” he replied.

  Well, the age difference wasn’t so bad, she supposed. “And your father has sent you down here so we can get acquainted?”

  “Yes. As he explained it, this is to be a sort of grace period for us. If there are obstacles to our compatibility, hopefully we can address them before the wedding.”

  She could think of a few issues off the top of her head. “What have you heard about me?”

  He seemed reluctant to answer. “Well…”

  “Out with it.”

  She couldn’t hear him sigh with the noise around them, but she was pretty sure he did. “They say…that you are…” He seemed to choke back a lump of fear in his throat. “Undisciplined, rebellious, lacking in social graces. One rumor even has it you nearly started a war with France by murdering its last king.”

  There was really only one thing she could say to that. “That’s mostly true. But let’s get one thing straight: I didn’t murder him. I killed him with the OK of the provincial government that had just taken power. And, I might add, that so-called king had just been convicted of treason.”

  “You have nothing to worry about,” he assured her. “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. This marriage must happen for the good of both our countries.”

  Did he seriously just say that? For that matter, did he really believe his own statement? “Aren’t you worried I’ll end up killing you horribly? I’ve been known to do that.”

  “Well, there is some…trepidation,” he conceded. “But I have served in the Prussian army. That experience provided both the discipline to obey orders without question, and the fighting skills needed for defense.”

  Farahilde was beginning to understand the situation. This boy would eventually ascend the throne of his country, and so he chooses to prepare for that with military service. He does this for several years, and then one day his father, the current king, tells him it’s time to take a break and get married. It was a fairly common occurrence for royalty.

  Still, if he thought that was enough to prepare him for a life with Farahilde Johanna, he was sorely mistaken. She could lunge at him right now and his naïveté would make a poor shield. He definitely had a lot of growing up to do if he ever hoped to become worthy of her.

  Something suddenly occurred to her. Something encouraging. “You know, I just remembered that I’m going with my brother on a trip next week. It’s a shame, but we won’t have a lot of time to spend together.” She hadn’t expected being dragged along to America to actually benefit her, yet it was now doing just that. The less time she was forced to spend with this boy, the better.

  His response, though, wasn’t what she was expecting. “Yes, Father said as much. He has commanded me to accompany you.”

  “What?” she bellowed.

  The scared look returned to his face. “He said visiting unfamiliar countries broadens horizons and is important for one’s growth,” he hastily explained.

  This was not happening. This could not be happening. “So…we’re going to be spending all that time together?” While I’m forced against my will to travel to some backwoods country that hasn’t even had time to develop?

  “We probably won’t share a bedroom or do anything sordid.”

  “Thanks. That helps a lot.” I wonder if we can stop by my old fort in the Austrian Netherlands before we go. Either this boy or my brother—it doesn’t matter which, but I’m dying to leave one of them down in those torture chambers.

  ***

  They returned to the Hofburg where Frederick was introduced to Leopold. The boy bowed respectfully to the Austrian emperor just as he had done with Farahilde, although he didn’t seem to have nearly as much trouble introducing himself. Probably he was just intimidated by her, and rightfully so. “My name is Frederick William III. It is an honor to meet you, your Excellency.”

  “Hold your head up high, young prince,” Leopold said. “You are heir to the Prussian throne, and in a few years we will be on even footing.” There was none of the annoyance he usually displayed when addressing Farahilde. “I would like to establish an amicable relationship with you while we have the time.”

  “So you just want to lick his boots,” Farahilde said casually, without meeting her brother’s gaze.

  “Hold your tongue, sister, or instead of going to America with us, you will spend the trip in a dark cell somewhere.”

  “All right, all right,” she conceded. She still had no desire to go on the voyage, but it was much better than the alternative he had just proposed. She had little doubt he would carry out his threat if she continued to provoke him.

  Leopold returned his attention to Frederick. “I apologize for my younger sister. She is greatly in need of manners. Perhaps you will be the one to tame her.”

  Like hell.

  “Not at all,” Frederick said, surprising her somewhat. “Farahilde’s free spirit is, in fact, refreshing. She is certainly more interesting than myself.”

  She wasn’t
sure if she had just received a compliment or an insult. She supposed it all depended on Frederick’s definition of interesting. Leopold, for his part, had already formed an opinion on the matter, and said, “Being interesting is not necessary for a ruler. To lead a country, you need and discipline and flexibility, both of which my sister completely lacks. But having just met you, Frederick, I can already see that you are well on your way to become a fine ruler.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Farahilde, show the young prince to his room.”

  Frederick bowed again to Leopold, and he left the room with Farahilde. As they walked through the grand hallway, he said, “Your brother has great air about him.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

  “Well, it’s just…he projects authority and years of experience leading his country. I hope to one day be like him.”

  “If you ever become like him, I will kill you.”

  “Do you dislike him that much?” The level of fear and surprise he was showing at her remarks was becoming increasingly low. Was he already getting used to her personality?

  “He treats me like a child. He refuses to acknowledge all I’ve done for this country.”

  He looked at the paintings along the wall. “My father has often said there are right things to do, and right ways to do them. This is just speculation on my part, but perhaps your brother disapproves of the methods you employed to serve Austria.”

  She suddenly stopped and stared him down. “Look, boy,” she said angrily. “Sometimes you don’t have the luxury of knocking at a despot’s front door and politely asking him to not to invade your country or fire lightning bolts at it. You have a decision to make, and you make it quickly. Regardless of what my brother says, that is the most important quality a leader must have.”

  The fear was back in full force, and it showed prominently on his face. “I-I understand.”

  “Do you?” she asked skeptically.

  He nodded slowly. “I wasn’t trying to judge you. As I said, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done. I was simply speculating on how your brother might view your actions. A ruler thinks very differently than his subordinates.”

  “Hmph. Just as long as we’re clear.” She continued walking, with Frederick lagging a few feet behind.”

  She thought about all the time she was going to have to spend with him, and her spirits sank to the bottom of the sea. Welcome to Hell.

  Chapter III: Leaving Home

  The port of Vienna, November 6, 1792 (Infini Calendar), 8:00 a.m.

  Farahilde, Leopold, Frederick, and a full contingent of guards gathered at the port in preparation to leave for America.

  They were to take the royal ship, the Hapsburg Pride. Since they no longer had any airships, they had to sail a conventional ship to America. However, that didn’t mean the Hapsburg Pride was just any old vessel. Although the ship was built of wood, its hull was lined with irodium, a lightweight metal able to shrug off most attacks. Furthermore, while the vessel still possessed traditional masts and sails, it was also equipped with an electric engine based off those that were used in the Austrian airship fleet. A few years ago it wouldn’t have worked on a water-bound ship, but after Farahilde’s airship Blitzkrieg Rache went down as a result of contact with water, the importance of proper insulation became obvious, and so the Hapsburg Pride was now outfitted to carry an electric engine.

  Most of the guards boarded the ship ahead of everyone else. A few remained behind to flank the members of royalty who were present. Not that Farahilde needed protection from anyone.

  Although she was supposed to be getting to know Frederick, she had spent the last several days generally avoiding him. She didn’t want anything to do with him. There were times, though, such as at dinner, when Leopold compelled her into sitting down with him and making small talk. Nevertheless, she failed to learn anything meaningful about her intended husband from those conversations. She revealed even less about herself.

  On a purely intellectual level, she knew she needed to find out all she could about him. But she just couldn’t bring herself to commit to anything at this point. She found absolutely nothing appealing about Frederick William III, so there was very little motivation to get to know him.

  While she was reflecting on this, Maria Luisa, Leopold’s wife, came up to her husband and embraced him. “Do take care on your voyage, my love.” The forty-seven-year-old Grand Duchess had aged gracefully; she still possessed beautiful, smooth alabaster skin. On this day she was wearing a lime-green dress which complemented her eyes.

  “Rest assured, I will return without fail. And when I do, we will have entered into an alliance with America that shall sow the seeds of Austria’s future prosperity,” Leopold said.

  Apparently content with her husband’s assurances, Maria Luisa then turned her attention to Farahilde. “My dear Fara, please look after Leopold for me.”

  Farahilde never liked that pet name Maria Luisa had given her, but she generally got along with her brother’s wife (at least, more so than Leopold himself). “He’ll be all right,” she said apathetically. She had no intention of letting any harm come to him, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing her say so.

  Maria Luisa hugged her tight. Farahilde remembered hearing a proverb somewhere that basically said love was strength. With her sister-in-law, she didn’t doubt it. Maria Luisa put everything she had into her embraces. “You’re such a good sister.”

  Farahilde thought she heard her brother scoff, but she chose to ignore it. “Thank you, Maria,” she replied. “Would you mind letting go now, while I can still breathe?”

  Maria Luisa laughed and ended the embrace. She turned to bow to her husband. “Very well then; I will manage the affairs of the state until you return. Rest assured you will be fondly thought of every day.”

  Leopold nodded. “As I will equally think of you.”

  Farahilde noted the warmth in his voice. She couldn’t remember the last time he had spoken to her with such affection. He must really have loved Maria Luisa. Yet with his youngest sister there was always anger in his disposition. Couldn’t he be nice to her at least once?

  Deep down inside, she knew the answer to that question. They didn’t get along because Farahilde made no attempt towards that end. She secretly resented her brother because she believed he had failed Antonia. When he learned she had been taken prisoner in France by her own subjects, he was furious and made no secret his determination to save her. Both he and Farahilde believed their burgeoning airship fleet would enable them to achieve that in no time.

  However, one of those airships ended up being shot down by its French counterpart over the Austrian Netherlands, and the rest were destroyed by those same Frenchmen in a later battle. The Austrian air fleet was annihilated, and with it Leopold’s resolve to save Antonia. This was due in large part to the fact that it had taken a coalition with Prussia to pool the resources necessary to build the fleet in the first place. The coalition fell apart shortly after the battle of Mt. Erfunden, and so Austria could no longer manufacture air ships. Leopold argued that without the massive advantage they would have given their country, a prolonged war with France would be too costly.

  “Just like that—you’re giving up on our sister?” Farahilde had asked, incredulous.

  He replied, “The coalition is no more. We can’t produce airships. If we continue this war, many of our people will die. We can’t risk so many lives for one person.”

  “One person!” she roared. “This is Antonia we’re talking about! I would give the world to save her, and it would be a fair bargain!”

  But he would not be swayed, and as a result of his cowardice Antonia was killed in the violence of the French Revolution. Farahilde could not forget that. She tried to bury her anger for the good of Austria, but it continued to smolder in her heart.

  While she was looking back on this, she suddenly noticed two guards coming forward, carrying an iron chest. They proceeded to
carry it onto the ship. “That chest looks familiar,” she said to Leopold. “What’s in it?”

  Without even looking at her, he said off-handedly, “Something which will secure our alliance with the Americans. That’s all you need to know for now.”

  She muttered under her breath, “Condescending bastard.”

  “What was that?” he said sharply.

  “Nothing.”

  “I thought so.” He finished saying goodbye to his wife and boarded the ship.

  Frederick, who had been standing next to her, leaned in to offer advice. “It’s probably not a good idea to risk upsetting him. Don’t forget what he threatened to do last time you, ah, criticized him.”

  She whirled around and grabbed him by the collar. “If you want that tongue to remain in your mouth, you’ll keep it in check. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, of course,” he replied just as fast as he could get the words out.

  Satisfied, she turned around to look up the boarding ramp of the ship and momentarily forgot about Frederick. “I know I’ve seen that chest before. But where?”

  “I didn’t see it in my time at the Hofburg,” Frederick offered.

  “I get the feeling it’s been a long time since I’ve seen it,” she said.

  She was unable to come up with the answer, so she shrugged and boarded the ship with Frederick right behind her. She soon found her cabin and was thankful she wouldn’t have to share it with Frederick since he had his own.

  ***

  When everyone was aboard, the Hapsburg Pride set sail and was on its way. They would sail southeast down the Danube, travelling across Europe. They would eventually have to head northeast until they exited into the Black Sea. From there they would travel south through the Istanbul Strait into the Sea of Marmara, where they would travel southwest until they reached the strait of the Dardanelles, which would lead them into the Aegean Sea. At this point they would be between Turkey and Greece. All they would have to do then would be to head south into the Mediterranean, navigating around the various islands of the Aegean Sea, and travel west out of Europe.