Execution [Book 2 of The English Lion]

XV. Alexander

31st August 1939. I didn't get much sleep, as anxiety had taken over me. Little did I know that today is the eve of the beginning of the war that had encapsulated me and Regillus Eques. I would do my usual run, now that Isabelle knows I'm doing so, as I tried to get my mind off the anxiety. It's working, to a certain extent. I made a detour to Regillus Eques, just for the sake of it. The moment I entered the fifth floor and as I headed to my office, I was immediately bombarded by Douglas. A very tired Douglas, that is. I looked at him.

"You haven't been sleeping well, have you?" I asked, sounding concerned.

"No. Ever since the Nazi-Soviet Pact, I haven't. But, you're none the better. You've looked worse, but... you right now seem like you have been summoned from the dead," Douglas replied, "Like a reincarnated Nelson."

I rolled my eyes.

"Any news on our... old dear friend, Nazi Germany?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes," Douglas told me, as he handed me a dossier. I flip it open as I scan through the papers.

"I have reasons to believe that you just save the whole goddamn world because of this," Douglas told me.

"Hm... I doubt that," I muttered, "But nonetheless..."

"What?"

"We are prepared. We have been. Ever since 1933. There will be no other higher honour than serving Regillus Eques in a time like this," I replied. I hand him back the dossier.

"I'm going to take a shower, so make sure Emily and you are in my office in fifteen minutes," I told him as Douglas held onto the dossier, "Oh, and bring that dossier with you too, alongside a notepad and a pen."

"Yes sir," Douglas replied before the both of us headed our separate ways.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm in my office, waiting for Emily and Douglas. Speaking of them, they walked in, with the dossier, notepads and pens in hand. They sat opposite as Douglas handed me the dossier. I took it.

"Now, you must be wondering why I called you both here," I told them, as I twirl a pen in my hand. They nodded.

"That dossier..." I said as I pointed to the dossier with my pen, "...contains the only copy of tomorrow's invasion of Poland."

Douglas and Emily glanced at one another.

"Only?" Emily asked.

"Yes, besides the fact that the only other copy is in Hitler's hands, tucked somewhere in his desk," I replied, "I made sure that the security that surrounds any papers relating to Nazi Germany's military plans have one extra copy that is sent directly to here."

Douglas and Emily looked at me.

"Well, we wouldn't want it to fall in the wrong hands, do we?" I asked and they shook their head, "There's another matter that I must discuss with you."

There was silence as I decided to get myself a drink first. Emily and Douglas just watch me, slightly worried. Once I sat down back at my desk, I cleared my throat.

"It is best... that after October 3rd, you both need to take up the mantle as the acting Director-General and Deputy Director-General, alongside cease making any contacts with Hugo and me," I told them, after a long sip of Scotch. They looked at me as if I had grown an extra head. I get that feeling, so I'm fine with it.

"This has something to do with...the Inner War, right?" Douglas asked quietly.

"Yes," I replied. They both looked at one another.