Panzerfaust

Chapter 1 - An Invitation

15th of August, 1944, Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary

'A small, informal dinner is the most I can do to greet you, Herr Skorzeny, that's all. Our country is in mourning. We have no reason to celebrate. Neither do we have the resources.' 

Those were pretty much the first words Regent Horthy Miklós had for him after arriving in Budapest. 

Hiding his snicker, Otto diligently thanked him and accepted the invitation. 

The old city of Budapest greeted him kinder, reminding him so much of his beloved Vienna. The cobblestoned streets, the classicist architecture... The shady hills of Ofen with its white villas housing the budapester elites against the rushed cacophy of working class Pest. 

Everyone will be there who matters tonight and the Regent couldn't even send a more direct sign than not inviting Szálasi, the hungarist leader and chosen favourite of Berlin. The message was clear. 

A small, informal dinner hosted at least 50 men and their ladies, all from Horthy's loyalist circle, austrians and hungarians alike, who could tell them apart: their shared history had roots back in the middle ages and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a country he himself was born in, though it ceased to exist before the Anschluss. 

'While other nations do battle, you lucky Austria, you wed.' And wed they did, hungarian ladies were popular among austrian nobles who's line was in a dire need of out-breeding degeneracy. Eugene Skorzeny, Otto's grandfather thought the same when he chose a bride, 50 years ago.

The Sándor place was buzzing with palace guards, but Otto only brought Von Fölkersam. He knew Eichmann and his adjutant will be there, but he knew the officer not well enough to trust him with everything. His mission cannot be compromised.

The menu was grandiouse and impeccable. They started of with foie gras with horseradish and brandy sauce, followed by traditional hungarian goulash soup, rich and savory. The main course was fried trout with hollandaise sauce and a slice of lemon. They finished with Dobos cake and cottage cheese strudel. 

The noble and influental hungarian lords and ladies - like moths around a light  - circled around their Regent. Otto had an honour to be escorting the Regent's wife, this fragile, sad woman who must have been quite a beauty back in her time - but time and sorrow made her withdrawn and cold. No other words but meaningless pleasantries were exchanged between them during the whole dinner - as intended. 

Otto found himself thinking back of his childhood, of a similar woman, with white hair and a quiet voice whispering to him: kicsi unokám, kérsz egy cukorkát? She was whispering because they both know if Vati will hear them, hell will break loose. He could only nod, as the old woman tucked the candy in his tiny hands and kissed his forehead. She smelled like lavenders and what old people smelled like, but Otto loved no one better than her in that moment. 

Adrian cleared his throat behind him and Otto snapped back to reality. 

'If you excuse me, Herr Skorzeny, I wish to retire. I am but an old woman and I have no reason to celebrate.' And with that Magdolna Horthy left his side, not even bothering to wait for his answer.

Her daughter in law was by Otto's side in a minute. The young woman - a widow at 24 - a high society lady at day and a Red Cross nurse at night.

'Please forgive my mother in law.' Edelsheim Ilona said with an apologetic smile. 'She is mourning deeply for her son.'

'Of course, no offense taken. You know better than I do that my visit is not one of a courtesy.' 

And this stupid dinner wasn't my idea either. But your Regent likes to show himself as a hero who even hosts impolite intruding germans in his palace when his family is mourning. What a patriot!