This novel is dedicated to the memory of my mother who taught me to judge men by their behaviour, not by how others defined them. She was the first to teach me that a man has a duty to his fellow man, a responsibility, that overrides even what his society and its components may tell him. I learnt from her that a man defined himself by doing what he knows is right, regardless of what others think or how blind they are. She was the first person, other than myself, who fell in love with Karl, Fürst von Maribor.
It is also dedicated to Barbara Myers and Maxine Molloy who love Prince Karl almost as much as I do. Their suggestions, their proddings, and (finally) their threats of whips and chains forced me through those moments of despair when I doubted that I'd ever be able to write the Prince's story properly.
It is also dedicated to Mike Spires who forced me to re-learn much of my German in order to give the Prince his unique voice. In addition, Dr. Spires' command of the minutae of central European history held me enthralled, in addition to making the Prince's background far more authentic than I alone could. He has been especially kind in allowing me to use his poem “The New Day Belongs To Me”—this poem is copyrighted by him. I have been permitted to use it freely in this book.
And to Margaret and Les Carter—she understood the Prince even when I didn't and Les had me spending hours trying to put his cryptic comments into words that conveyed the assassination scene, while hopefully holding the reader's attention.
Finally, I dedicate Dark Prince to a talent so great that it made me weep at my own inadequacy.David James Richards died before that talent could be developed to its potential. Scotland truly lost a bright flame when Jamie left this world Christmas of 2000.
~ Dave MacMillan
(The Ostmark's border with Yugoslavia—1940/The Austrian border with Slovenia—2004)