Simon Hawke - The Zenda Vendetta

“You would have to take that chance,” said Hentzau. “I will not insult you by asking you to trust me, but consider where my greatest benefit would lie.”

“Nevertheless, I would like it better if I could be there to encourage you,” said Finn. “Suppose that you could arrange to get me inside the castle. Then, at a given signal, I could have Sapt and von Tarlenheim start the attack. We could arrange to have the drawbridge lowered at the precise instant. Then, in all the confusion, you and I could strike and they would be beset upon both sides.”

Hentzau threw back his head and laughed. “By God, I like the way you think! We are cut from the same cloth, you and I. We understand each other.”

“And neither of us is a very trusting sort,” said Finn, smiling at him.

“I can see that,” Hentzau said. “You have not put down your pistol the whole time. Still, we can share a common ground. I stand to gain a great deal by throwing in with you and you will surely reap much more reward than whatever they have promised you for taking Rudolf’s place. You will have to trust me to get you into Zenda Castle without turning you over to the others and I, in turn, will have to trust to your good faith to keep our bargain once you are king in earnest. I think that once I have helped you gain entry to the castle, mine will be the greater risk. Still, I will chance it. With a kingdom to gain, I do not think that you would begrudge me my small fee.”

Finn put down his pistol. “I have decided to accept your offer.”

Hentzau held out his hand. “Somehow, I thought you might. I suggest that we act soon.”

“Tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Why not?”

“Why not, indeed? What will you tell Sapt and von Tarlenheim?”

“I’ll think of something,” Finn said. “I could say that there has been dissension in the ranks, that you and Michael have clashed over Sophia and in revenge, and also for a fee, you have agreed to turn on him.”

“It’s near enough to the truth,” said Hentzau. “I like that. They will believe it. You have a devious turn of mind, my friend. It should stand you in good stead as king.”

“Let’s not waste anymore time, then,” Finn said. “How will you get me inside the castle?”

“Let me think a moment. Ah, I have it! Listen carefully, here is what you must do…”

Sapt crouched behind the urn, his revolver ready, cocked and positioned between the two tiny firing stakes that he had earlier improvised. Whoever Rassendyll was meeting, he was taking a long time in there. He wished that he could hear what was being said. Just as he was starting to think that he could not bear it one moment longer, he saw a dark shape exit the summerhouse, heading towards the garden wall. It had to be Rassendyll. He prepared to fire. Half expecting a shot to ring out and shatter the stillness of the night, he heard instead a jaunty whistling coming towards him and moments later, Rupert Hentzau came striding past him, up the stairs and into the house.

He had almost put a bullet into him and now that the opportunity was past, he cursed himself for wasting it. He wanted nothing quite so much as to kill the cocky young blackguard, but an assassin’s shot was not his way. Hentzau had given him no reason to shoot. That, in itself, puzzled Sapt. He was convinced there would be treachery. What had they discussed? What rapprochement could the two men possibly achieve?

The moment Hentzau went inside, Sapt hurried after Rassendyll, taking care not to close the distance between them for fear that Rassendyll would think that he was being pursued and fire at him. Rassendyll had already rejoined von Tarlenheim by the time Sapt came out of the garden and ran across the street.

“Sapt, damn you!” Finn said, furiously. “You were supposed to remain behind!”

“Forgive me for disobeying your orders, Sire,” Sapt said. “It seems to me that sometimes you believe you really are the king. I was concerned for your safety, but apparently my worries were ill-founded. Did you have a pleasant chat with young Hentzau?”

“Hentzau!” said Fritz.

“You didn’t kill him, did you?” Finn said.

“No, though I regret it. I could not bring myself to shoot from ambush like a common highwayman. Curse me, though, I should have done it!”

“It’s well that you did not,” said Finn. “You would have killed our best chance to save the king. Hentzau has changed sides, agreeing to betray Michael for a price.”

“Surely you do not trust him?” said Fritz.

“No, but I think I can trust his greed and his ambition,” Finn said and he quickly recounted the details of the meeting. Sapt swore savagely when he had heard the story.

“The man is thoroughly corrupt!” he said. “I would not have thought that even he could sink so low!”

“And he believes you will betray us?” said Fritz.

“Of course,” said Finn. “I’ve met his sort before. His ethics are defined by expediency. It’s simple enough, if a little dangerous, to deal with such a man, once you understand his motives. The fact that I did not react with outraged shock at his suggestion predisposed him to believe that I would give it serious consideration. After that, it was a fait accompli. Were he in my place, he would leap at such an opportunity. He believes that I am doing this because the two of you have promised me a reward.”

“So he judges you by his own standards,” Sapt said, nodding. “How fitting that it shall be his downfall. Well, we have no time to lose. I will assemble my men at once and tell them that we strike tonight to free the prisoner of Zenda.”

“I’ll ride to the castle directly from here,” said Finn.

“I’ll go with you,” said von Tarlenheim. “Two will be safer on the road than one.”

“All right, then,” Finn said. “Make speed, Sapt. It all depends on you now.”

“Your part is no less significant,” said Sapt. “Remember, above all else, the king must be protected.”

“If any harm comes to Rudolf,” Finn said, “it will be over my dead body.”

Sapt held out his hand. “You are the most gallant gentleman I’ve ever known, Rassendyll. God go with you.”

He mounted his horse and galloped off at top speed through the streets.

“Heaven help us,” said von Tarlenheim. “It all rests with a mercenary, an imposter, a group of aging soldiers, and a young nobleman who’s quaking in his boots. Shamed as I am to admit it, I’m afraid.”

“There’s no shame in that,” said Finn.”You’re not afraid, though, are you?”

“Me? Fritz, my boy, I’m scared spitless. More than you will ever know.”

“Have… have you any loved ones?” Fritz said.

“No,” said Finn. “No one who would miss me very much.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” said Fritz.

Finn clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s ride.” They mounted their horses and galloped off into the night.

Andre came to in a small, cold, drafty room. She was tied down to a cot, her hands at her sides, her feet stretched out straight. Instinctively, she tested her bonds and found that she could barely move, only enough to keep the circulation going. The knots that she was tied with were seaman’s knots and they were quite secure. She could move her head to look around and when she did so, she saw him. He was seated some fifteen feet away from her, on the cot on the opposite side of the room, against the wall. He was tall and muscular, dressed in surplus black base fatigues that were standard base uniform issue to the Temporal Army Corps. He had thick, curly black hair and a handsome face that would have been almost Byronic except for the fact that it was striking rather than pretty, the effect heightened by the long scar upon his cheek. His brilliant green eyes watched her steadily, their gaze uncomfortably direct.