Page 44 of The Last Kingdom

“A new republican government was formed after Ludwig III left, headed by a man named Kurt Eisner,” Fenn said. “But in February 1919 Eisner was assassinated. Thinking he might be next, Ludwig fled to Hungary, later moving on to Liechtenstein and Switzerland. He finally returned to Bavaria in 1920 and died in 1921. He was given a state funeral that drew one hundred thousand people and was buried in the Frauenkirche.”

“Why do you think Ludwig III hid his cousin’s body?” he asked.

“I cannot explain all that I know. Suffice it to say that the evidence points to Ludwig III.”

“Why is any of this important?”

“Legend says that something was hidden away with Ludwig II’s body. Something that has now become quite valuable.”

“Which is?”

Fenn tossed him a curious look. “You seem a little short on facts.”

“As you said, I just joined this party, and I was supposed to be briefed in the morning.”

Fenn smiled. “That is all true. And so you shall. For now know that many have searched for Ludwig II’s body. Hitler and the Americans at the end of the last war are two notables. Several of my predecessors as grand master launched efforts. His tomb beneath St. Michael’s has been violated on multiple occasions. Hitler opened it. As did the Allies after the war. Then, earlier tonight, Prince Stefan opened it one more time, learning, as those before him, that it is empty.”

“You know that for a fact?”

“Oh, I do. He was most surprised. He will be even more surprised once he learns that my brothers have retrieved the book he stole from Herrenchiemsee.”

Now he got it. “You have a spy on him?”

Fenn nodded. “A good one.”

“You’ve been busy tonight.”

Fenn chuckled. “That I have. Planning is always the difference between failure and success.”

So true. But he wondered what the book being gone meant for Luke.

“One of the reasons the Guglmänner re-formed in 1886 was to keep King Ludwig II’s memory alive,” Fenn said. “Part of that has long included working for an independent Bavaria. That has proven difficult, to say the least. But opportunities arise. One such has now arisen, which makes finding Ludwig II’s remains vitally important.”

“And what does this opportunity bring?”

“Freedom.”

An odd reply. “For who?”

“Bavaria. Just as Ludwig II and Ludwig III would have wanted.”

Now he was intrigued.

“The prince regent, Luitpold, is noted by historians as a man who transitioned Bavaria away from monarchy and toward a parliamentary government,” Fenn said. “But he was first and foremost Bavarian. In his heart he wanted an independent nation. His son Ludwig III definitely wanted that. Every Duke of Bavaria since has wanted that. We have long believed that Luitpold and his son both may have honored those desires by respecting something known asdas letzte königreich.”

Those words again.

“You know what I mean?” Fenn asked.

“Koger mentioned it.”

“Excellent. There were two things in that desk. A book and the envelope. Prince Stefan von Bayern went after the book—”

“And did not know about the envelope?”

Fenn nodded. “That’s right. Now we have the book and the envelope. With both, I think we can find Ludwig II.”

Chapter 24