Eric Flint: Ring of fire II

Denise got up and grabbed the tote bag she used instead of a purse. The one with the severed serpent and the Don't Tread On Me logo that Noelle would have assumed she'd picked up at a patriotic souvenir shop before the Ring of Fire except for what was on the other side. A dragon eating a knight, with the logo" I Love Hard Metal."

"Come on. We're hitting the malls."

Noelle got her purse. "There aren't any malls in Grantville."

"That's the first thing. You gotta stretch your poetic license."

Noelle flatly refused to buy the specific item Denise recommended. No way in God's green earth was she going to send that book to Janos Drugeth. But she did allow that the general category was suitable. Even if the postage would be a little steep.

And she decided the girl's final advice was probably good, too.

"Of course you put on a return address." Denise slapped her forehead. "Jeez, Louise. You don't know anything. He didn't, because he was serving. Ball might have gone out of bounds, so he left you a graceful way to just pretend you didn't know where it came from."

She started more-or-less dragging Noelle toward the postal service. "But you decided to hit it back. So now we got a volley going. Can't do that without return addresses. Face it, girl. The game is afoot!"

Vienna, Austria

February 1635

"Oh, splendid," said Ferdinand, positively beaming. He turned another page of the beautifully bound volume. "I've always been very fond of Father Drexel's writings, myself. So is my sister, Maria Anna."

So was Janos himself, for that matter. But he was still puzzled by the gift.

Seeing the slight frown on his face, the emperor clucked his tongue. "Amazing, really. You're so shrewd on the fields of politics and battle."

He held up the book. "First, it reminds you of your piety. Whatever else, you are both devout Catholics. The most solid foundation there is, no?"

Well, that was certainly true.

The emperor turned the book, so Janos could see the title. "But there's the woman's subtle touch. I will even say, her wisdom. The School of Patience. Which you both will surely need."

Janos nodded. "Yes, now I see. The war, most likely. Then, even afterward, a difficult political situation."

Ferdinand set the book down on the table next to his chair and threw up his hands. "I have allowed a dolt into my chambers! No, Janos. You will need patience for a lifetime." He slapped the book. "And that offer, my friend, that is the gift."

"Oh." After a moment, finally understanding, he smiled. "It's going well, then?"

Ferdinand was actually rubbing his hands. "Yes, indeed. Happy Austria. Again."