Page 54 of The Last Kingdom

“My name is Jason Rife,” the man called out from below in English.

“Am I supposed to know who you are?” Fenn asked.

“Not at all. I understand we’re searching for the same thing. I’ve come to make sure that we don’t get in each other’s way.”

“And you require six armed men to have such a conversation?” Fenn said, his breath evaporating around his face in bursts of a gauzy haze.

Rife chuckled. “I wanted to make sure you understood the seriousness of the situation.”

Considering the firepower, that was an understatement.

“There is the matter of the stone walls before you. Those guns will do little damage to them. And—” Fenn motioned with his left arm. Four men farther down the battlements assumed positions between the crenellations, their own automatic rifles aimed down. “There is this.”

“Interesting how the private ownership of firearms in Germany is severely limited,” Rife said. “Yet we have all these weapons.”

“A fortunate twist of fate for us both,” Fenn said. “What is it I need to understand?”

“I’m after the deed.Das letzte königreich.And I intend to get it. Please do not interfere.”

“I was not aware I was.”

Fenn was playing it close, trying to receive more than he gave. Smart.

“Are we going to be coy with one another?” Rife said. “I thought perhaps a frank, honest, face-to-face conversation might be productive. I’ve always preferred the direct approach.”

“As do I.”

“Then this should be easy. I’m asking, with all due respect”—and Rife bowed a little for emphasis—“that the Guglmänner not involve itself in this matter.”

“It is a Bavarian issue.”

“Itwasa Bavarian issue. Now it is an international issue.”

Cotton stood silent behind Fenn, out of sight from below. He now knew that Ludwig II had acquired a deed in 1881 to the sovereign kingdom of Hawaii, a deed that would still carry legal significance thanks to a 1993 resolution of Congress. A resolution, though, is not a law. It’s just a statement of legislative intent. But to ignore or contradict that resolution would make the US a hypocrite. Even worse, if the king of Hawaii had deeded away his land, that deed would have other legal consequences outside of the congressional resolution, ones that could vest regardless of any revolution, annexation, or statehood that may have come after.

His legal mind went to work, thinking like the lawyer he’d once been, prior to joining the Magellan Billet.

It would be like a man who secretly deeds away five acres to his brother. Then, years later, after he dies, his heirs go to claim those same five acres. The brother produces his deed, records it in the public records, and assumes ownership. The heirs challenge that. But they lose. The deed, properly executed and recorded, takes precedence regardless of the fact that no one knew about it. Same thing here. Only a bit different. Here an absolute monarch conveyed away his entire kingdom. Which was his right at the time. Any subsequent deeding away of portions of that kingdom by others would be invalid, as the grantor to those deeds would own nothing. Once the deed had been executed, the kingdom was gone. And, clearly, the German government would be the valid successor in interest to anything that Ludwig II, as grantee, had acquired. Even if that were in question, as Fenn had noted, the direct descendants of Ludwig would definitely be in the chain of title. Hence why Prince Stefan von Bayern was involved.

All of that made sense.

But who was the guy below with his mini-militia?

And what did he have to do with anything?

“Find out more about him,” he whispered to Fenn, who did not flinch, keeping an impressive poker face.

“Who exactly are you?” Fenn asked. “You seem to know a great deal about my business.”

“In my former profession it was vital that I knew everything about the people I dealt with,” Rife called out. “I am intent on finding that deed. It is important to me. I am asking, gentleman to gentleman, please do not interfere.”

“I am this order’s grand master,” Fenn said. “It was created to protect the memory and legacy of Ludwig II. That deed is part of both. You are asking me to disregard my duty.”

“If you don’t, some of your brothers will die. We will take whatever measures necessary to accomplish our mission. I assure you, we are not afraid to kill. Can you say the same?”

Fenn stood silent.

Cotton glanced left and watched the four brothers with their weapons aimed below. Not one of them moved. All stood ready.