Seventh session, "Mystery of the Dying Clockwork"

Casting a shadow

Excerpts from the diary of Princess Siegfrieda Julianna Griselda von Sponheim

Monday, 13 September, 1875

Mother never ceases to amaze me. Unlike her usual performances, this evening she displayed an extraordinary clarity of perception followed immediately by an equally unusual decisive action. That the action was so effective is even more astounding. Which is not to say that her more usual astonishing lack of good judgement didn't lead her into the circumstances, first.

I am telling my story front to back, something Herr Professor Estreicher would never forgive.

The adventure began for me at about a quarter past eight in the evening, when my dear brother, Stefan, arrived at the front gates with more than one regiment in tow. The seeds of the escapade had been sown earlier in the day. While attending Her Majesty's garden reception (not long after one in the afternoon), we had all been assaulted from the heavens by rockets fired by Anarchists from a pair of dirigible balloons. Most of us were sent scurrying for cover in a most undignified manner.

The palace guards were ill-equipped to counter such an unusual attack. Fortunately, some of the guests were not so unprepared. The British and French delegations to the wedding include a number of their respective nations more unusual and clever citizens. Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite and his Lady, along with their ward, Miss Moriarty, fortuitously were each armed with weapons capable of disabling the aerial gunships.

One (or possibly two -- I missed much of this action as Mother was making quite a fuss at this point) of their footman, along with the French Lieutenant Berri, contrived somehow to invade the gondolas of the gunships, even while their allies were firing deadly weapons at the same. Miraculously, they escaped just as the dirigibles exploded, managing to capture three crewmen of the vehicles.

None of the other Anarchists survived.

The rockets, alas, caused more than mere property damage. Our cousin, Count Lisowski, along with his Countess and several servants, were killed when one of the explosive rockets struck their coach. General Kuhnster was seriously injured, along with number of other members of the First Royal Regiment. My uncle, the Crown Prince, was also among the wounded, though he insisted his wounds were insignificant, and refused to be relieved of duty. Also during the confusion, Miss Moriarty and her governess were abducted.

The wreckage from the gunships was identified by Margraft von Klink and Duke Wolfenbuttel as experimental Prussian vessels which had been ordered dismantled. The crewmen, meanwhile, under questioning from Lady Cowperthwaite, admitted that they had been recruited to the Anarchist cause by someone known only as the Crooked Man for the mission of killing as many royals as possible. Their mission had originally been timed for later in the afternoon, when most attendees had been expected to be impaired through over indulgence, and thus easy targets.

My first reaction, upon hearing this, was to feel quite embarrassed because, yet again, people have been paying too much attention to Mother and Patrizia and their set. Upon further reflection, I realized these Anarchist couldn't possibly have been observing them that closey, because even in their worst stupors, Mother and Patrizia have a singular ability to survive almost anything.

The Queen was quite upset, and very nearly lost her composure. Mother did lose hers, of course. I think, perhaps, this is the first time that she realized that all this talk about Anarachists and strange weapons meant that people were trying to kill Grandfather.

Speaking of my grandfather, the King, he was significantly more composed, though I doubt anyone who did not know him as well as family would have realized that he was practically on a rampage. He temporarily drafted Stefan's regiment into the Carpanian Army (when our Imperial Cousin granted Stefan leave to attend the wedding, he had sent Stefan's cavalry regiment along, with a note placing the entire regiment at His Majesty's disposal). Grandfather also promoted Stefan temporarily to the rank of General Lieutenant and placed him in operational command of the Army until General Kuhnster recovers.

It was determined that either a faerie or a sorcerer had spirited away Miss Moriarty and her governess. It was also determined that the Anarchists had been tricked into attacking earlier than originally planned by these very same fae or sorcerous forces. While two ground regiments were sent to investigate an old brick works from which the gunships had been launched, Stefan, his regiment, and various agents of our allies, went off in the French aerofrigate and Austrian aerocorvette to rescue Miss Moriarty and capture the abductors.

I noticed that Count Drachefegteberg slipped quietly aboard the aerofrigate, though he is neither an active military officer nor an official of any of the interested governments. I almost wish I had had an opportunity to tell Stefan, because it proved to be an important clue. Though I am not sure if the knowledge would have changed the outcome.

I was not allowed to go. I must admit that I'm not entirely certain how I could have helped, but I felt somewhat responsible. I had been talking with Miss Moriarty only moments before all the trouble began.

The rest of my afternoon consisted of assisting with the medical treatment of the wounded -- Mother could hardly object, since my dress was already torn and stained. Then we retired to the lakehouse, where Mother and Patrizia drank themselves into unconsciousness.

It was a pleasant surprise when Stefan and his regiment arrived at the gate. Miss Moriarty had been rescued. The abductor had been Count Drachefegteberg's mother, the almost mythical Nitūriax. As a dragon of more than twenty-five centuries age, she is a powerful sorceress in her own right, and had been assisted by some faeries, one of whom had a grudge against Miss Moriarty and Sir Cosmo.

The rescue had been quite a battle, I still haven't gotten all the details, because there simply hasn't been enough time. Though I am given to understand that if not for Count Drachefegteberg throwing himself in his Mother's path while attempting to talk her into surrendering, the aerofrigate and all aboard likely would have been destroyed. Admiral Whemple was also somehow involved with one of his contraptions.

After defeating the dragon, they had returned to Potsdorf, and using information gleaned from several sources, located and arrested the Anarchist leader known as the Crooked Man. A number of Anarchists were captured, and one, astonishingly enough, was Prince Heinrich's aide!

Prince Heinrich has been financing the Anarchist's efforts, apparently intending to murder his way to the throne. Stefan needed to go arrest him, but worried that Maria Henrietta, Heinrich's daughter (and, of course, our cousin), might come to harm if Heinrich put up a fight.

Which is why they had come to see me. Konrad and Miss Moriarty thought that if I and Konrad showed up to visit our cousin, that Heinrich would not think it amiss. Stefan had agreed, if I were willing. Miss Moriarty would pretend to by my maid, while Miss Moriarty's governess (who is a Colonel in the British Marines -- I did not realize the British allowed women to be officers! Why hadn't anyone told me?) would accompany us as our chaperone. The extraordinary footmen would accompany us, as well, and Mr O'Flaherty, the world-famous boxer, would disguise himself as our coachman. Once inside, if we could not persuade Maria Henrietta to leave, we would at least been in a position to protect her.

It was an outlandish plan, but also quite brilliant. I don't believe that Konrad nor Miss Moriarty knew just how brilliant the plan was. Several of Heinrich's Prussian relatives have been dropping hints that a bethrothal between Konrad and Maria Henrietta would be most welcome. So none would be surprised if Konrad were to escort one of his female relatives for a visit. Even if Heinrich is plotting against his relatives closer to the throne, it could hardly hurt his prospects if it appeared to outside observers that he was pursuing a traditional alliance.

I could tell by that I'm-so-clever twinkle in his eyes that Stefan was well aware of these implications.

It took a few minutes to get everyone properly attired. Two small parties, including Sir Spencer Cuthbert and Lieutenant Wooster, went ahead as scouts. We took Mother's coach, while some of Stefan's men followed a distance behind, and others took another road to come at Heinrich's manor from the other side.

Before we had quite arrived, Mother came rushing up behind us in Patrizia's coach. She insisted on coming with us. She hadn't realized until we had gone that we were going to Heinrich's home. She also hadn't heard any of the talk about Heinrich being a traitor. Heinrich is one of the men she's been making half-hearted attempts to ensnare, since her dower doesn't quite provide enough money to live the debauched lifestyle to which she and her hanger-on have become accustomed.

Since she's simply dreadful at dissembling, we decided not to tell her our true reasons for going to the manor.

Grandfather, meanwhile, had shown up on horseback with some cavalrymen. Stefan had been sending progress reports back to the palace, and the King decided he should be there in case Heinrich was not willing to surrender. The Queen would not have approved of how His Majesty chose to put this plan into action. He climbed up into the same tree where Sir Spencer was watching the house with a rifle, and had one of his men hand his own rifle up to him.

We were welcomed at the manor and sent off to see Maria Henrietta and her chaperone, the Countess von Winterhalter. A rather dreadful little footman, only recently in Heinrich's employ, led us to the withdrawing room, and locked us inside. This was not a terrible obstacle, since the French doors leading to the veranda were not locked. Unfortunately, Mother had slipped away just before we reached the room, so she was on the other side of the door. I had to simply hope that when trouble started her self-preservation instincts would prove as strong as earlier in the day. Konrad suggested a walk in the garden, offering Henrietta his arm. We all accompanied them outside.

Except the awful little footman appeared, as if by magic, barring our path through the garden. It probably was by magic, as he was a goblin, though we didn't discover that for a few more moments. Konrad knew something was amiss, and turned Henrietta away, so that he was between her and the footman. In the course of the maneuver, he knocked the silver serving tray from the goblin's hands into the goblin's face.

It seems that a weapon had been observed in the goblin's hands. At least two of the riflemen on our side fired upon the footman. His body rather gruesomely exploded.

Gunshots were coming from the front of the house, and shortly thereafter from inside, as well. Lt Wooster and the Prussian Captain Schneider appeared from the bushes on one side of us, while the Witch of Darlston, several of the other British agents, and one of the Prussian werewolves came from the other. Neither Henrietta nor the Countess knew that they were on our side, and it took a few moments for Konrad and I to convince them that running back to the house was not a good idea.

I heard Mother's voice, obviously having some sort of discussion with Prince Heinrich in a room on one of the upper floors. There was the sound of breaking glass and a surprised cry. Miss Moriarty, one of the footmen, and Col. Wooster all ran toward the house. Miss Moriarty called out that she was going to rescue Mother.

Konrad and I already had a mission, so we proceeded to lead Henrietta and her chaperone to safety. Just outside the grounds, we found the Lady Sofia, Duchess of Wolfenbuttel, along with a group of Carpanian soldiers. Lady Sofia is one of Henrietta's godmothers. The Duke of Wolfenbuttel, as head of the Prussian Royal Police, had independently deduced Prince Heinrich's involvement in the conspiracy. He intended to confront Heinrich, after assuring that Henrietta was safely out of danger. Except we had beaten them to it. Lady Sofia indicated the Duke was assisting Stefan.

Henrietta was understandably upset to learn that her father was in the process of being arrested. Lady Sofia did an admirable job comforting her and explaining without being condescending.

I was rather anxious to go back in search of Mother. While I was confident she would survive whatever was happening, I was not at all sure that she wouldn't cause someone considerable trouble in the process. Most likely someone who was trying to assist her. Except, of course, that Henrietta was my responsibility.

And Konrad's, of course. I could tell he was feeling guilty that he was not with his comrades in arms, literally storming the manor. But he also seemed quite genuinely concerned about Henrietta--not just her safety, but also her feelings. It is not an easy thing to learn one's parent is not a paragon of virtue. His kindness was quite touching, even the awkward parts. He is such a boy.

I know one isn't supposed to think these things about one's uncle, particularly when that uncle is a Crown Prince. But then, it is not often that one finds oneself older than one's uncle. And, afterall, I am a Princess, myself.

The gunfire died down, and most of the shouting from inside the manor. But there was still a great deal of shouting coming from somewhere behind the manor. And just before one last gunshot sounded, I heard a very familiar shriek of outrage.

Mother.

So, I had to go see what had happened.

People were flying through the air, with those amazing rocket machines strapped to their bodies. One of them seemed to be a small child, giggling with glee the whole way.

We were just cresting a hillock in the garden (past an area of lawn which was incongruously covered in soap suds) when the boathouse exploded. It was an enormous pillar of fire. Not at all how one would expect a fire to look. It was as if something were shaping it into an inverted cone. None of the flame or blast force came toward us. The fire had a distinctive green, though I can hardly credit it.

The grounds between the manor and the boat house were littered with crates and racks, filled with rather odd looking brass guns. Many of the British agents and our soldiers were busy moving the crates and guns up the hill.

There was no sign of Mother anywhere.

When I asked one of the Cowperthwaite's footmen, he told me that she was in a small boat out on the lake. Captain Hart had thought this was the quickest way to get her away from the explosion. I felt rather a tinge of worry for Captain Hart. My worry was borne out as the boat was slowly rowed ashore, though it was clear the Captain was trying with all his might the shorten the trip as much as possible.

Mother was in the boat, along with Prince Heinrich and the Captain. Heinrich was unconscious--very nearly dead. As I eventually heard the story from Stefan, Heinrich had been holding a gun to Mother's head by the time Lady Cowperthwaite arrived at the boathouse. Captain Hart was sneaking up behind the Prince, and somehow Miss Moriarty, her governess, and one of the footmen were all sliding down this cable from the manor. Lt. Wooster was sneaking up on the Prince from another direction.

Heinrich, with the gun to Mother's head, told them all to back away and let him leave, or Mother would pay the price. Somehow, Mother finally realized that Heinrich was behind the various attempts on the lives of the Royal Family--specifically Grandfather--and she completely lost her temper. Taking advantage of her proximity, she attacked him where he was most vulnerable. While he was distracted, Lady Cowperthwaite fired at the arm he was holding the gun in, while everyone else moved in and attacked each in there own way.

Captain Hart thought Heinrich had been killed, which would have been a shame, because Grandfather wanted him captured alive.

The odd guns were etheric guns, manufactured in Prussia under a license from the odd Dr. Fate. The design, I'm given to understand, is faulty, and their power supply is prone to explosions. In the struggle, a large number of these chemical batteries were scattered across the floor, and some fell into the water, which makes them even more unstable than usual.

So everyone had to evaluate rather quickly. One of the footman pushed Heinrich's body into the boat, and attached a pair of those little rockets to the back, while Captain Hart got Mother aboard. They exited onto the lake. Everyone else either ran for cover, or carried as many of the batteries away from the boathouse as they could.

Miss Moriarty decided the quickest way to get young Galen Cowperthwaite out of harm's way was the fly by rocket. Sir Cosmo and Lady Cowperthwaite followed in like fashion.

Some distressing news came to the Cowperthwaite's party shortly thereafter, and they all hurried off toward Sir Spencer's lodge. By this time Grandfather had strongly suggested I accompany Henrietta back to the city, where she would stay, for the time being, at the Prussian Embassy with the Duchess Wolfenbuttel.

I understand that Heinrich had rather elaborate plans, including maps and even scale models of the Royal Train which was to take my Aunt, Princess Arabella, and her Husband to their honeymoon after the ceremony--all in his study, hidden away, but not impossible to find. When he regains consciousness, he will have much to answer for.

I've scarcely had time to update this record since awaking, and there the city is abuzz with gossip of Heinrich's arrest. His Majesty wasted no time in issuing a Royal Edict removing Heinrich from the succession. The Standesherren can overrule that edict with a two-thirds vote, though I very much doubt they would do so once the evidence is presented. His Majesty has also made it known he would not object to an emergency meeting of the upper house. If they ratify the Edict, that doesn't make it completely irrevokable, though I believe it would require amending the Constitution to do so.

Of course, the reason Grandfather has issued the edict is to take away the incentive of any of Heinrich's loyalists who may still be at large to target others in the line of succession. I suspect that the upper house will demand a criminal trial, so that the matter may be settled in a manner which will satisfy Carpanian's allies as well as its people.

This affair does rather cast a shadow on Arabella's nuptuals. I should think we will all have to rally round her to try to keep her spirits up.

Proceed to Unraveled and unmourned

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