1635_ The Eastern Front - Eric Flint [170]
Four and a half years had gone by. Today, Gustav Adolf was still king of Sweden—and a considerably richer Sweden. He was also the emperor of the United States of Europe, a position which, despite the many republican absurdities and aggravations attendant upon it, still gave Gustav Adolf unmatched military power. Power which he'd used, among other things, to resurrect the Union of Kalmar—on a Swedish foundation this time, not a Danish one—and reunite Scandinavia for the first time since the middle ages.
All well and good. But as time went on—it was obvious, even if the king himself had been blind to it—the American elixir had become a poison. The higher the king rose, the weaker became the foundations of his rule. Before much longer, if this went on, it would all be swept away.
Axel thought the hand of God had been at work, that day on the shores of Lake Bledno. A king's life had been saved, yes, by a valiant hero. But perhaps just as important—here lay the subtlety of the Lord's work—was that the king fell into a swoon. A swoon that now looked to last for quite some time. Months, almost certainly. Possibly years. (Possibly forever, too; but the chancellor's mind shied away from that.)
Oxenstierna knew well the workings of his friend's mind. Gustav Adolf would remain loyal to a fault. He'd made his agreements with Michael Stearns, and would keep to them, even if those agreements were draining the lifeblood out of his realms.
So, Axel thought, God's hand. Let the king sleep while his faithful servitors did what had to be done.
He'd reached the door to the reception hall. Quickly, two servants opened it for him.
He stepped through. Wilhelm Wettin was waiting there.
A weak and slender reed, Wettin. A decent man, yes. Too decent, perhaps, for what had to be done. But between Oxenstierna's pressure from above and the pressure brought by his many followers from below, he'd finally acquiesced.
Again, God's hand at work. Had Gustav Adolf still been in full command of his senses, the chancellor would not have been able to bring the prime minister to this point. He was quite sure of it.
Wettin was looking pale; his face drawn; close to haggard, even.
Oxenstierna took him by the shoulder and swung him to face the crowd that was packed into the great reception hall.
"Have faith, Wilhelm," he said.
The crowd roared. Oxenstierna released his grip from the prime minister's shoulder and took two steps forward. Then, raised his hands high.
"It is time to end the anarchy! Are you with us?"
The roar was deafening.
Cast of Characters
Ableidinger, Constantin Member of USE Parliament; leader of the Ram movement.
Abrabanel, Rebecca Leader of the Fourth of July Party; wife of Mike Stearns.
Achterhof, Gunther Leader of the Committees of Correspondence.
Adamczyk, Lubomir Polish hussar.
Ancelin, Gui French Huguenot fanatic; part of Delerue-Ducos organization.
Báner, Johan Gustafsson Swedish general.
Bartley, David Supply officer in Third Division; also a financier.
Beasley, Denise Teenage girl employed as an agent by Francisco Nasi; informally betrothed to Eddie Junker.
Bose, Carl Colonel in the Saxon army.
Brillard, Mathurin French Huguenot fanatic; part of Delerue-Ducos organization.
Brunswick-Lüneburg, Major general in command of the 1st
George, duke of Division, USE Army.
Christian IV King of Denmark.
Christoph, Georg, Brigadier, 3rd Division, USE Army.
von Taupadel
Delerue, Antoine French Huguenot fanatic; part of Delerue-Ducos organization.
Derfflinger, George Brigadier, 3rd Division, USE Army.
Donner, Agathe "Tata" Daughter of Reichard Donner, leader of the Mainz CoC; now a CoC organizer in Dresden.
Dreeson, Henry Former mayor of Grantville; assassinated by Huguenot fanatics.
Drugeth, Janos Hungarian nobleman; friend and adviser of Ferdinand III.
Ducos, Michel Assassin; leader of Huguenot fanatic organization.
Duerr, Ulbrecht Officer, USE Army; aide to Mike Stearns.
Engler, Thorsten Captain in USE Army; fiancé of Caroline Platzer; also the imperial count of Narnia.
Ferdinand III Emperor of Austria.