Page 17 of The Last Kingdom

“I don’t recall any of them asserting any claims to it either.”

“No, they haven’t, and the Bamberg Constitution of 1919 created the Free State of Bavaria within the new Weimar Republic. After World War II, the Free State chose not to sign the founding treaty that formed the Federal Republic of Germany. The Bavarian parliament didn’t sign on to the Basic Law of Germany either. So the new German nation was created without Bavaria’s approval.”

Malone seemed intrigued. “You’re saying Bavaria is part of Germany, but not necessarily happy about it.”

“It never has been. People here consider themselves Bavarians first and Germans second. A recent opinion poll showed that seventy-four percent of them want to be away from Germany.”

“Secession?”

He nodded. “Exactly. The current Duke of Bavaria, Albert, is seventy years old. Of course he has no kingdom, but he’s been head of the House of Wittelsbach for the past twenty years. His great-grandfather was King Ludwig III, the one who was deposed in 1918. He currently lives at the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich and is not married.”

“No heirs?”

“Only a brother. Prince Stefan von Bayern.”

“Who’s a problem?”

“You could say that. Luke has infiltrated a group that works directly for Stefan, and he’s managed to get close to the prince.”

“And the purpose of that?”

“Stefan suffers from second child syndrome. He’s twenty years younger than his sibling and is meaningless—unless his brother is dead. But, thankfully for him, nature has taken its course there. Duke Albert is dying from cancer.”

Malone seemed puzzled. “That’s too bad. But the Wittelsbachs are nothing but a historical curiosity.”

“Unless they manage to regain their kingdom.”

“How’s that possible?”

“That’s the whole point. It might actually be possible.” And he explained how the German courts had repeatedly held that no state could legally secede from the federal republic. “But the Bundestag could change that. The national parliament can amend the constitution and allow a referendum in Bavaria, for secession, which it would respect. I know it sounds crazy, but we’re headed right for that.”

It did sound crazy, but Germany was currently in a state of political turmoil thanks to the sudden death of its longtime chancellor, Marie Eisenhuth. She’d died right in the middle of a hotly contested race with an opponent who likewise perished, throwing the national elections into chaos. Derrick knew that Malone had somehow been involved with that. To what extent? That he did not know. But it had been enough to attract the wrath of the president of the United States. Eventually, replacement candidates were selected by their respective parties. But no one achieved a majority vote, so a weak coalition government was formed, and Germany had been in confusion ever since.

“Why would the Bundestag even consider such a thing?” Malone asked. “Like you said, Bavaria is Germany’s largest state.”

He raised his index finger in protest. “Now that would be classified.”

Malone shook his head. “Which is my cue to leave. Good luck with all this.”

“I wasn’t kidding when I said I can save Stephanie Nelle.”

“Then do it.”

He shrugged. “It’s not my fight. But it could be yours.”

He was gambling that Malone owed Stephanie Nelle more than could ever be repaid. She’d changed his life. Taken him from a nobody Navy JAG lawyer to a respected intelligence officer. He knew Malone had been one of her first recruits for the Magellan Billet. He also knew that many of Malone’s assignments had changed the world. Along the way Malone had gotten divorced, retired out, and moved to Denmark to own a bookshop. Some sort of midlife crisis? Who knows? Now Malone’s former boss was in big trouble and he was banking on this guy wanting to do whatever he could to help. No matter how he might feel about the guy offering that help.

“What’s in it for you?” Malone asked.

He decided to be honest. “Opportunity.”

“To get out of the field?”

“There is that.”

Everything hinged on Malone feeling helpless regarding Stephanie Nelle. He knew that he and Stephanie had poked the bear in Poland, and the bear had scratched back. So offering a second chance to make things right seemed the perfect bait. But he also realized Malone’s quandary. Was this empty opportunism? An enticing deception? Or the jackpot?

“All right,” Malone said. “I’m in.”