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50.
The Guild Hall of the Hunters was hot and smoky, crowded to the rafters with roughly singing men. Fire blazed in the hearth, and the windows were open to let in the sweet damp night wind of the fatherland.
The only two women present were Amy and Tedda. Watka stood by in his black uniform of an imperial horse guard colonel, complete with gold epaulets, short tunic, tight trousers, black boots, black leather belts, pouches, and pistols, and a pillbox hat with a flap to one side from which dangled a gold-braided tassel.
"Hail, hail, hail," the hunters shouted in chorus as they rose and held up their beer mugs. They drank a sip and then swung the mugs left and right. "Hail, hail, hail!"
After all the hails and salutes, Hanno made a speech. He stood before the fire in breeches and loose blouse. His hairy chest gleamed with sweat as orange flames flickered to one side of him. His big forehead glistened with reflected fire, and his dark hair looked damp. His Cheddar Billo mustaches drooped and shook as spoke in a loud voice: "Tonight we will swear renewed allegiance to the House of Watka, and we will add a special oath of allegiance to the House of von Tedda and their hunters, who have joined us tonight. The day of Moss is finished."
"Hail, hail, hai1!" the hunters sang, and the hall smelled of burnt wood, beer, and cigar smoke. It stank of leather, unwashed men, and singed mustaches. It smelled of broken teeth and bad breath and horse manure.
A messenger stepped into the room, and handed a note to Watka, who stepped quickly to Amy's side and whispered in her ear. Tedda stood near them, but could not hear Watka's words.
"I bring you another bit of great news," Amy said. She raised her arms and the men fell silent. "I just have received word that the Moss Syndicate is already abandoning its positions in Central West Gotha."
"Hail, hail, hai1!" sang the hunters.
"There are indications of unrest on the other side, and it appears the East Gotha Air Weapon has begun bombing their central palace. No word on what the Gruen Syndicate is doing, but we understand that the Knights of West Gotha, Moss' praetorian guard, have turned on him and are hunting him down in the streets."
"Hail, hail, hai1!" the hunters sang in deafening chorus as they waved their beer mugs, and the rafters seemed to hum with the force and tension of their determination.
Watka stepped forth. "Best of all, I give you word that Amy and I have joined in a movement to declare a constitutional monarchy. It is almost certain that Amy will become your queen, with myself as her royal consort. This was all already worked out in recent months with the help of Captain Hedrock and other agents from both sides of our poor divided nation. There will be one Gotha again, for the first time in our lifetimes!"
"And forever more," Amy added.
Tedda found herself clapping and cheering along with the rest of them. She put two fingers under her tongue and let out a victory whistle that startled all the men around her.
Hanno came forth and took Tedda by the wrist. "This is the woman who saved our Queen to be."
"Hail, hail, hai1!" sang the hunters.
"I present to you the woman we honor especially tonight. I don't know what the lords and ladies of the high-falootin' government want to do, but I propose to you that we declare Tedda a princess of hunters!"
"Hail, hail, hai1!" sang the hunters. "Yes, yes, yes!"
"It is done," Hanno said. He raised Tedda's arm as if she had won a prize fight. "Princess Tedda Roule, then."
Amy spoke up, seizing the challenge to turn it into an opportunity. "I will be proud, once I am crowned your Queen, to name my sister a national princess. For now, I join you in applauding the great honor you have bestowed on her, for she truly deserves it. We must leave you now, for duty calls us to Fortress von Tedda. Colonel Watka will take charge of the Knights and of the central garrisons tonight. Meanwhile, my sister and I will move as close to the front as we can. I don't mean the front with East Gotha, which we hope will shortly cease to exist as our nation reunites. I mean the front in our final battle against the totalitarian Moss System."
"Hail, hail, hai1!" sang the hunters. "Yes, yes, yes!"
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