“And so you’re not a mercenary,” she said, smiling.
“Certainly not. That would be illegal.” He lifted her hand and brushed his lips over her knuckles. “We’re still warlike as hell, though. Even now, every Swiss bridge and road is built with explosives in the base. The alpine mountain passes aremined. The Alps themselves are Swiss cheese, so to speak. Entire army divisions can shelter inside the caverns we’ve carved. If any country cares to test Switzerland’s defenses in a land war, it would go badly for them. We’re still the defenders of the Alps at heart. We’re still the deadliest warriors in the world.”
She nodded sleepily.
“Sleep now,Durchlauchtig.You have to work tomorrow.”
“You, too,Lieblingwächter.”
Flicka closed her eyes, but she listened.
Within minutes, his breath smoothed into sleep.
It took her a lot longer, almost an hour, but she slept, holding his warm hand.
