Twilight Between: Day 2

Word Count: 12,255

Summary of Events:

Following his sale, Adler was placed in a cell with other slaves who had — he guessed — been bought by the same man, and all cowered away from him when they learned his sentence. The following morning Adler was woken by the tolling of bells in a mournful tune, which the oldest slave declared meant that someone important had died. Torben, along with his oldest and youngest sons, was going on his daily tour of his estate when he heard the bells tolling and recognised from them that König Baldrich was dead, which meant all inessential work was to cease for the rest of the day. After changing into black clothes — as everyone was also required to do — while listening to the bells, Emma went downstairs to look at the portrait of the late König and his wife, musing about what changes would come now that he had died as a servant draped the portrait with a black sash before making a comment that prompted a question in Emma that she was sure only her father could answer . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

Turning away from the portrait without saying anything, Emma went to the Wohnzimmer, where she found Papa standing in the window, his black clothes making his hair look black although it wasn’t.

Before she reached his side, Papa turned to her and brought his arm around her back, drawing her to stand beside him, looking out at the lush and well-sunlit lawn. It seemed like far too fine a day for one to die on, but, at the same time, she could see it being a pleasant thing to die on a fine day.

“Papa,” she said.

“Ja Emma?” he asked, looking at her.

“One of the servants draped König Baldrich’s portrait with a black cloth, and before leaving the room, said ‘long live the König’,” Emma replied. “Since König Baldrich is dead, is that in reference to Kronprinz Theoderich?”

“Ja,” Papa replied. “When people are told the news of the König’s death they reply with ‘long live the König’ as a mark of acceptance of the late König’s son as an appropriate replacement.”

“So if people don’t like the Kronprinz they won’t say it?” Emma asked.

“For the most part replying with ‘long live the König’ is habit,” Papa replied. “But there are some who are aware that it is a statement of acceptance, and who will, because of dislike for the new König, actually say something else.”

“Oh,” Emma said. “How do people not know that it’s a statement of acceptance of the new König?”

“Because it’s been said at the death of a König for centuries, thus its origin has long been forgotten,” Papa replied.

“But how do you know that’s what it is?” Emma asked.

“Because your Opa told me,” Papa replied. “In fact, I was exactly your age when König Athanarich the eleventh died.”

“Really?” Emma asked.

“Ja,” Papa replied. “Well, actually, I was officially fourteen, not almost fourteen.”

“What all happened then?” Emma asked.

“The apple doesn't fall far from the tree,” Papa replied, the faintest of smiles on his lips. “Even if you are a daughter.”

“Why do you say that?” Emma asked.

“Because you have so many questions,” Papa replied. “Just like I did back then.”

“Oh,” Emma said. “Did Opa answer them for you?”

The smile on Papa’s face grew. “Ja, my little Emma, he did.”

“And are you going to tell me what his answers were?” Emma asked.

“I don’t think I’ll get a moment’s peace until I do,” Papa replied. “Will I?”

“I do want to know Papa,” Emma replied. “A König has never died in my lifetime.”

Papa nodded. “I just have to remember it all from long, long ago.”

“Why shouldn’t you?” Emma asked. “You have a good memory Papa.”

“There are many more important things to remember than what happens when a König dies Emma,” Papa replied.

Emma nodded. It was true, but still, she really wanted to know what happened next.

Pronunciations:

Wohnzimmer: vontzihmmer

Ja: yah

Opa: ohpah

Athanarich: ahthahnahrihk