The Bad
The morning sun cast a pale gold over the training grounds, where 15,000 soldiers stood in uneven rows. These were Otto's "chosen" men—conscripts pulled from villages and farms, their uniforms ill-fitting, their faces a mix of fear and resignation. Friedrich surveyed them from atop his horse, his jaw clenched. *Undertrained, underfed, underprepared.* Otto's trap was as transparent as it was cruel.
He dismounted and climbed onto a makeshift platform, his Serpents flanking him like shadows. The soldiers fell silent, their eyes fixed on the man who had defeated Napoleon.
"Men of Bavaria," Friedrich began, his voice cutting through the chill, "today, you are no longer farmers or cobblers. Today, you are soldiers. The British think they can march into Prussia unchallenged. They think we are weak. But they forget—*we* are the ones who broke Napoleon's spine!"
A ripple of murmurs spread through the ranks. Friedrich's tone sharpened. "You may not have polished boots or gleaming rifles, but you have something far stronger: Bavarian blood. Fight for your homes. Fight for your families. And when the dust settles, I will ensure every one of you returns a hero."
The cheer that followed was ragged but earnest. Friedrich's words were a spark, but whether it would ignite courage or desperation, he couldn't yet tell.
---
Back at the estate, Elsa had prepared a lavish midday feast—smoked venison, roasted root vegetables, and dark rye bread still warm from the oven. The two generals Otto had assigned to Friedrich, *Herr Brandt* and *Herr Vogel*, sat at the table, their eyes widening at the spread. Brandt, a grizzled veteran with a scar bisecting his eyebrow, grunted approval. Vogel, younger and sharper-eyed, masked his suspicion behind polite smiles.
"Your wife is as skilled in the kitchen as you are on the battlefield," Brandt said, tearing into a leg of venison.
Elsa smiled demurely, but Friedrich noticed her knuckles whiten around her wineglass. "Thank you, General. It's the least I can do for Bavaria's protectors."
The meal passed with strained small talk. Brandt boasted of past campaigns, while Vogel's questions—*"How many Serpents will accompany us?" "What's your strategy for the British flank?"*—felt like probes. Friedrich answered vaguely, his mind already on the night ahead.
When the generals finally left, Elsa's composure cracked. "They don't trust you," she whispered.
"They're Otto's eyes," Friedrich replied, kissing her temple. "But tonight, we'll blind him."
---
The basement was lit by a single lantern, its flickering light casting jagged shadows on the stone walls. The Serpent captains stood around a map of the castle, while Nova and Louis sat chained in the corner, their faces tense.
"The queen is held in the east dungeon," Friedrich said, tracing a path on the map. "Two guards at the door, four patrolling the outer walls. We strike during the changing of the watch—*here*—when their focus is weakest."
"And if Otto's men raise the alarm?" asked *Captain Rief*, his arms crossed.
Friedrich's smile was cold. "Then we remind them why they fear the Serpents."
Louis leaned forward, chains clinking. "And after you free her? What then?"
"You'll see your mother," Friedrich said, "but she stays under my protection. Attempt to cross me, and Otto will find her head on a spike before dawn."
Nova's voice was a growl. "You're no better than him."
"No," Friedrich agreed, turning to leave. "But I'm smarter."
The Serpents filed out, their boots echoing like drumbeats. Above them, the estate slept, unaware of the storm brewing in its heart.
The castle loomed in the distance, its turrets silhouetted against the night sky. Friedrich and his team approached from the east, using the cover of a dense copse of trees to avoid detection. The bribed jailer had left a side gate unlocked, and the Serpents slipped inside like shadows.
The dungeon was a labyrinth of damp stone and iron bars, its air thick with the stench of mildew and despair. Two guards stood at the queen's cell, their postures slack with boredom. Friedrich signaled to his men, and within moments, the guards were unconscious, their bodies dragged into the shadows.
The queen sat in the corner of her cell, her once-regal gown now tattered and stained. She looked up as Friedrich approached, his face hidden beneath a dark hood. "Who are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"A friend," Friedrich replied, his voice calm but firm. He motioned to one of his men, who stepped forward dressed as a priest. "You're being moved for interrogation. Please, don't resist."
The queen hesitated, but the Serpent's demeanor was convincing. She allowed herself to be blindfolded and led from the cell, her steps faltering as they navigated the narrow corridors. Outside, the wagon waited, its driver a trusted Serpent who had bribed the gatekeepers to look the other way.
As the queen was loaded into the wagon, Friedrich's men planted the forged letter and fabric scrap near the dungeon entrance. The evidence was subtle but damning—enough to cast suspicion on the princes.
---
Back at the estate, the queen was taken to the basement, her blindfold removed only when the door was securely locked. She blinked in the dim light, her gaze falling on Friedrich as he pulled back his hood.
Her eyes widened in recognition. "You," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and something softer, something unspoken. "The boy who once stood guard at my court. Look at you now—a man of power and influence."
Friedrich's expression remained stoic, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—pride, perhaps, or something deeper. "Times change, Your Majesty. As do people."
The queen stepped closer, her gaze lingering on his face. "And yet, some things remain the same." Her hand brushed his arm as she passed, the contact brief but electric. Friedrich's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
---
The door to the adjacent cell creaked open, and Nova and Louis stepped inside. The queen froze, her breath catching in her throat. "My boys," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"Mother!" Louis rushed forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. Nova followed, his usually stoic demeanor crumbling as he wrapped his arms around them both.
"We thought you were dead," Nova said, his voice thick with emotion. "Or exiled. The rumors in the castle..."
The queen cupped their faces in her hands, her eyes shining with tears. "And I thought I'd lost you both. But here you are—alive, thanks to him." She turned to Friedrich, her gratitude evident.
Friedrich shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "I did what needed to be done," he said, his tone gruff. "But don't mistake this for kindness. You're here because it serves my purposes."
The queen's lips curved into a faint smile. "Of course. Still, you have my thanks."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to crackle with unspoken words. Friedrich was the first to look away, his voice sharp as he addressed his Serpents. "Keep them here. No one enters or leaves without my permission."
---
As Friedrich turned to leave, the queen's voice stopped him. "Friedrich."
He paused, his back stiff. "Yes?"
"Be careful," she said, her tone softer now. "The path you're on is dangerous."
Friedrich glanced over his shoulder, his gaze meeting hers once more. "Danger is the only path I know."
Their eyes held for a heartbeat too long, the tension between them palpable. Then Friedrich turned and left, the door closing behind him with a finality that echoed in the silence.
The queen exhaled slowly, her hand brushing against the spot where his arm had been. She glanced at her sons, who were watching her with curious expressions.
"What?" she asked, her tone light but her cheeks faintly flushed.
Nova raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, Mother. It's just... good to see you."