The Prince Commands: Being Sundry Adventures of Michael Karl, Sometime Crown Prince & Pretender to the Thrown of Morvania Read Online Free PDF

snatched from his hands and his tunic literally torn from his shoulders. They were rougher than they need be, he thought, as his shirt ripped under their clumsy hands until he was afraid it would follow his tunic.
    An unwilling button snapped off, and the white silk pulled open on his breast, allowing the diamond cross with its icy fire to dangle through. At the sight of it they drew back, and the Werewolf leaned forward with a little cry.
    “So,” he said quietly, “we are honored in entertaining His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?”
    “Yes,” said Michael Karl simply.
    The man on the dais bowed mockingly. “Forgive us for not receiving you with the honor due Your Royal Highness, but it has been so long since one of your illustrious rank has paid us a visit. The last one,” Black Stefan shook his head sadly, “the last one departed somewhat suddenly. You have perhaps heard of Ulrich Karl?”
    Michael Karl caught his breath sharply. “The Crown Prince who was killed in the mountains.”
    “Just so. He was unfortunate. I have a feeling that all of your family will be unfortunate in the mountains. Your Royal Highness. The mountain air seems very unhealthy for one of your name.”
    “Then you killed him?” demanded Michael Karl. He had been told nothing about his cousin except that he had died in a mountain accident.
    Black Stefan's mouth smiled under the wolf muzzle. It wasn't a nice smile. “Shall we say that he became displeasing to certain mountaineers who settle their own quarrels? There is bad blood in you, princeling.”
    “At least,” Michael Karl faced him, “at least I am not a murderer.”
    “No? Then what, my Prince, of the men who have disappeared in your Lion Tower?”
    Michael Karl was honestly bewildered. “I don't know what you mean.”
    “Erich, tell what you know,” ordered Black Stefan.
    The wolfman who had captured Michael Karl mounted the lower step of the dais and turned to face them.
    “There was in the bodyguard of the king a certain young man who dared to speak aloud what other men whispered. He disappeared into the Lion Tower two months ago, nor has he returned.”
    Through Erich's mask his eyes red with hate bored down upon Michael Karl. His broad hands were playing with a hunting knife.
    “Not yet, my friend,” purred Black Stefan. “And now, my Prince, what have you to say?”
    “I am not responsible for what the late king did,” said Michael Karl firmly. “I have not even been in Morvania before.”
    The green eyes of the Werewolf were burning straight into his. “Morvania has not changed since the feudal days,” said the Werewolf. “The king is responsible to no one, but he is held responsible for the deeds of his ancestors. You are the last of the Karloffs, a mad, bad race. What is there to prevent me making an end to you and your horrors to-night? The country would worship me for it.”
    Michael Karl felt an icy curtain of terror slip down upon him. This man was mad. He would do just what he was proposing and smile at the deed. The Werewolf was waiting for something. Perhaps he wanted Michael Karl to beg for his life; well, that he would never do.
    “If that is how you feel, well, I'm fairly helpless. am I not? And you have a crew of assistant murderers, if you don't care to soil your own hands.”
    Some one caught his skinned wrists, and Erich openly drew his knife. Through all his fear Michael Karl had an insane desire to laugh. It was too impossible, they must be doing it for the movies. Things like this didn't happen in this year of grace even in the most feudal of Balkan states. He couldn't keep from laughing any longer.
    Looking straight into the Werewolf's mask he demanded, “How much do you pay your extras a day?”
    The Werewolf hesitated. “So you think this is a cinema?”
    “Well, really, things like this don't happen nowadays.”
    Black Stefan smiled. “I will say this for your kind, they have courage. But a night in the West Room usually brings