The Secret Healer (28 page)

“Where did you say he is?”

“In church. The whole town of Heidelberg is there.”

“You’re here.”

“Then everyone except for me,” the guard responded irritably.

“What is your master doing at the church?”

“He’s in court.”

“So which is it then? Is he in church or in court?”

“You’re making me crazy, wench.”

“Me? Why? I only asked you a simple question.”

The guard was readying his response when his attention was drawn elsewhere.

“Oh, there you are, Mother. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Reni, my dear. I’ve been having such a nice conversation with the guard here.”

“Yes, I can believe that.” Reni looked at the guard. “May I join in?”

“Our pleasure, my child. Or do you have some sort of objection?”

The guard looked from Otilia to Agathe to Elsbeth, and then back at Reni. He seemed completely overwhelmed. “I, uh, well . . . I guess that would be all right.”

“That’s what I thought. You look like a very clever man. Can you tell me, kind sir, when you expect your master to return?” Otilia asked sweetly.

The man’s attention stuck on Reni, who tugged on the neckline of her dress.

“Doesn’t it seem to be terribly warm today?” Reni said, fanning herself as she undid one of the loops on her dress. “I can barely breathe.” She picked up her long hair, cocked her head to the side, and kept on fanning herself, as if desperate to cool down. The bodice of her dress gaped open a little wider. The guard stared at her, spellbound. “I’m going to faint any second. Mother, I need some water.” Reni grabbed at her chest. “I’m so hot. I am so . . .” She laid her hand on her forehead and then tugged violently on the bodice of her dress. “What is happening to me?”

The guard stared blatantly at her breasts.

“Oh my goodness, my dear child. What is the matter?” Otilia supported her, so she wouldn’t fall to the ground. “Water, please, quickly. I beg of you.”

The guard gazed at Reni, who grimaced in pain.

“It’s the heat,” he affirmed. “Let’s bring her into the house. It’ll be much cooler.”

“What a fine man you are.” Otilia nodded thankfully. She grabbed the seemingly semiconscious Reni with Agathe and Elsbeth’s help. The guard wanted to intervene, but Otilia shook her head. “We’ve got her. A chair, my good man, we need a chair.”

He rushed across the hall and brought one back from an adjacent room. The woman picked Reni up and let her settle into the chair. “Water, my good man, we need water.”

To everyone’s surprise, he called out a name, and immediately an old, fat, surly woman came in.

“What’s going on here?”

“She’s not doing well,” the guard explained. “She needs water.”

“It’s the heat,” Otilia explained.

“And why here?” The old hag scrutinized the visitors suspiciously.

“Water, please, if you would be so kind,” Elsbeth pleaded, hoping that the woman would go back into the kitchen as quickly as possible. She hadn’t counted on her.

The old lady eyed them critically but turned around to go get some water.

“We need another chair,” Elsbeth said. “We have to put her legs up. Please, hurry.”

The guard jumped up, then hurried to another room. Elsbeth watched him go. There wasn’t much time. She ran over to the door, opened it, and let Kilian and Irma in. She immediately closed it again and pointed toward an alcove underneath the stairs. She held her breath as she knelt in front of Reni, and the guard came back with another chair.

“I thank you, kind sir.” Elsbeth carefully lifted Reni’s legs onto the chair as Agathe and Otilia unceasingly fanned her face. The cook came back with a jug filled with water, which Agathe took gratefully. She let Reni take small sips of the water as both the guard and the cook looked on. Elsbeth wondered how she could get the two to go away.

Reni moaned a few times, as she seemed to struggle to regain consciousness. “Where am I?” she asked weakly.

“You weren’t well, my dear. The heat outside is simply horrible. You can stay here until you’re feeling better.”

Agathe looked at the guard. “Right?”

He shrugged. “Of course.”

“But you can’t stay too long,” the cook remarked. “My master Matthias doesn’t like it when something goes on in his house when he isn’t here.” She shot the guard an angry look.

“Should I have simply let them stay outside?”

“Oh.” The cook waved him off. “This skinny bag of bones of a girl has nothing in reserve,” she bleated. “I have to get back to my work now. And you”—she tapped a gnarled finger against the guard’s chest—“you make sure that they disappear from here as soon as possible.”

“Of course,” he said sulkily. Then the old woman disappeared.

“So.” He knelt down to make eye contact with Reni. “Are you feeling better?”

“A little.” She smiled at him. “This must all seem quite silly to you. Please forgive me; it was not my intention to cause you any trouble.”

“But it’s no trouble at all,” he said amiably.

“May I ask what your name is, kind sir?”

“Ditz. People call me Ditz.”

“Ditz?” Reni took her legs off the chair and sat straight up. “What a fine-sounding name. And you’re the guard here in this house?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Who else do you work for? A man of your imposing stature must be in great demand as a guard.”

He smiled, somewhat embarrassed. “Oh, well. There are many people like me.”

“What? Surely you jest. I can’t think of anyone who is as tall as you are.”

“Really?”

“No. The men in Worms are so . . .” She realized that she had just told him the name of her city; she gazed at him wide-eyed, hoping he would think nothing of the blunder.

“Worms? You say you’re from Worms?”

“Yes,” Agathe added, as casually as possible. “A wonderful town, situated directly on the Rhine. Have you ever been there?”

“If you’re from Worms, you’re here because of the trial,” the guard realized. “When you were in front of the door earlier, you acted as if you knew nothing about the trial.” He gazed quickly at each of the women. “What kind of game are you playing?”

Before the women could say anything, he grabbed Reni roughly by the arm. “Out with you! Immediately! Out, I say!” He pulled the writhing woman over to the door. Elsbeth, Agathe, and Otilia followed quickly.

“Let her go immediately, or you’ll be sorry!” Otilia roared at him.

“You’ll be sorry if you don’t get out of this house right now.” He opened the door and shoved Reni out. The other three followed and turned around to face him.

“I never want to see you here again,” he roared before slamming and locking the door with a loud bang.

“That was my fault. I’m so sorry,” Reni said.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be all right,” Agathe said, trying to calm her down. She looked at the Trauenstein house, her heart pounding. Kilian and Irma were now locked in there by themselves.

The four women stayed close, but neither Kilian nor Irma came out.

“We have to do something,” Elsbeth said, when she couldn’t bear it any longer. “They’ve already been in there much too long.”

“You’re right,” Agathe agreed. “But we have to be clever about this.”

“What should we do?” Otilia asked.

“Get the constables,” Elsbeth decided.

“The constables? And deliver Kilian and Irma to them, after they illegally gained entry to Matthias Trauenstein’s house?” Agathe’s eyes lit up.

“No. We’re all witnesses. We all heard it, didn’t we?”

“What?”

“The screams. The desperate cries of a woman. Certainly, there must be a woman being held there against her will. It’s our duty to report this.”

Agathe smiled and Reni’s face brightened.

“I’ll go get the constables,” Reni stated as she pointed to her still-untied bodice.

“A good idea,” Otilia agreed. “Go alone, but say your piece very quickly.”

Agathe didn’t like the idea. “No. I’m going with her. I don’t trust anyone, especially around an open bodice like that. I’ll accompany you. Come on.”

For a brief moment, memories long suppressed burst forth into Agathe’s mind. There was no way she would allow a young, innocent woman to fall into the hands of unscrupulous men. She knew all too well the suffering that such an experience could bring.

Chapter Thirty-Six

“How much longer must this go on?” Matthias Trauenstein shook his head. “We’ve heard the same story over and over again from different mouths. Law or no law, it makes no sense to continue this way in a respectable trial.”

“Are you exhausted?” Andreas asked with seeming concern. “Do you need a break? We can do that any time—”

“No,” the sheriff interrupted. “The prosecution is right. We’ve heard enough.”

Andreas didn’t know what to say at this point. “I only wanted justice to be served in such a way so that in the end there would be no open questions.”

“You already said that,” the sheriff shot back.

Johannes stood up. “I also think that enough of my witnesses have been heard. For me, the defendant’s guilt is quite clear.”

“The guilt of bringing the sick back to life, yes,” Andreas agreed.

“No, no, no.” The sheriff struck the palm of his hand on the table. “Not that same argument again. You two have been disputing this same issue for hours now.”

Johannes and Andreas looked at each other, amazed by the sheriff’s violent reaction.

“Please excuse me,” Johannes said apologetically. “You’re right. And I agree with the other prosecutor, Lord Trauenstein. The trial has exhausted me quite thoroughly; I would ask now to be allowed to collect my thoughts for a short while.”

“The defense agrees,” Andreas added immediately.

“Well, there seems to be agreement about this. How wonderful,” the sheriff replied cynically. “We’ll gather here again in one hour and will then immediately”—he raised his finger—“continue the trial without ever hearing from another witness for either side. We will move forward to the next charge: the murder of Adelhaid Trauenstein.”

All parties nodded.

“In one hour. For now, I need a cold beer.” With that, the sheriff left without another word.

“Where are Agathe and Kilian?” Andreas asked Madlen as softly as possible.

“I don’t know. Elsbeth and Otilia aren’t there, either. Did something happen? What did Otilia say to you before the trial resumed this afternoon?”

“I’m trying to buy us some more time. They have an idea that could prove your innocence.”

“But now they’re not here.” Madlen’s heartbeat quickened.

“Stay calm,” Andreas said, trying to reassure her as he put his hand on Madlen’s shoulder.

“Follow me, please.” The guard bent over Madlen.

“Of course.” She stood up right away. “But,” she said before she left, “I’m worried. Please. Find them.” She let the guard lead her away.

Andreas asked everywhere, but he could locate neither the women nor Kilian. Finally, it was time to return to the church and resume the trial. But the seats in the front row were still empty. Madlen was led over to the defendant’s table; she immediately took her seat, then looked at Andreas. “What’s happening?”

Andreas shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. I didn’t find them.”

Madlen chewed on her lower lip nervously. “I couldn’t bear it if . . .” She broke off her sentence.

“Don’t think of it,” Andreas warned.

Madlen nodded mutely.

Johannes came in and noted the depressed atmosphere at the defense table. He wanted to ask them about it. After all, he could easily invent an excuse. But he held back. Everything depended on him convincingly taking on the role of the angry, embittered husband who worked tirelessly to obtain a conviction. A brief moment of doubt by any one of the parties involved could invalidate all their efforts. He sat down and waited to make eye contact with Andreas. When he finally looked over at him, he lifted up his eyebrow questioningly. Andreas checked to make sure no one was watching him. Then he pointed his chin in the direction of the empty seats once occupied by Elsbeth, Agathe, and Otilia. Johannes looked at him helplessly. Andreas shook his head in frustration.

Matthias Trauenstein came back in and let himself fall into his chair. The man reeked of alcohol, the smell wafting over to where Johannes was sitting.

“Well, now, have you taken care to prepare your case?” Johannes asked.

“I was sitting with the honorable citizens of Heidelberg in our wonderful tavern. And what can I tell you: they asked me whether I want to be a member of the council. What do you think about that?”

“I congratulate you. Indeed, a high position.”

“It’s the highest position!” He stabbed the air with his index finger.

“Well, you must be quite satisfied then.”

“Indeed I am, my good man. Indeed I am.”

Johannes noted that Matthias slurred his words.

“And as soon as that one over there is dangling from the gallows, I can take my place among Heidelberg’s most revered citizens. And I”—he pointed at himself—“will be at the very head of the council.”

“Congratulations once more. You will have reached the pinnacle of success.”

“Yes,” Matthias said, a wide grin across his face. “Finally.”

The sheriff entered the church along with the members of the jury; shortly afterward, the archbishop entered, assured of the veneration of all those present. He glided over to his place gracefully, not, however, without Johannes nodding at him deferentially.

The sheriff waited until the archbishop had settled into his seat. “After listening to several witnesses at length”—he threw a brief sideways glance at Andreas—“we can very well put together a picture of what occurred. Now, we shall focus on the charges brought against the defendant for the treacherous murder of the noblewoman, Adelhaid Trauenstein. The prosecutor for this charge will call himself as witness.” He nodded at Matthias, who stood, grinning smugly.

“My good citizens of Heidelberg. You all know me. Whether this woman there”—he pointed to Madlen—“healed the sick or not makes no difference to me. The last time she did so in Heidelberg, as everybody here knows, was when she ripped my son out of my wife’s womb.” He slurred again.

“Not only that, but she committed an even more heinous act, for which she will hang from the gallows. With malice, she plunged her knife into my wife’s already frail body, mortally stabbing her again and again.” He clung to the table so as not to lose his balance.

“Tell me, are you feeling ill?” the sheriff asked.

“I’ve never been better,” he replied exuberantly; Matthias realized immediately how inappropriate his last words were, so he added hastily, “Finally, my poor wife will be avenged, her murderer punished so that I can finally find peace of mind.”

“I think we’ve understood what charges you’re referring to here,” the sheriff reminded Trauenstein.

“Fine,” he replied and plopped down with a thump onto the chair.

“If you’re not feeling well, we can continue the trial tomorrow.”

“No!” Matthias shouted. “Thanks,” he added quickly. “I’m fine.”

“I’ll ask you, counsel for the defense, how does the defendant plead?”

Madlen got up immediately, exactly as Andreas had taught her to do. “Not guilty,” she said, her voice loud and confident. These were the first words she had said to the jury all day.

The spectators became restless again, murmuring and whispering to one another.

“Order in the court,” the sheriff thundered, immediately silencing the voices.

“Good. Thank you. You can sit down now.”

Madlen took her seat again.

“Now, Matthias Trauenstein, I ask you to call your first witness.”

“You have the document. I’ve forgotten the name.”

Some people laughed; the sheriff gave the spectators a stern look.

“Well.” He scanned the document and called the first witness. The guard opened the door and passed on the witness’s name. A young man entered the church; Andreas had seen him often in various taverns in Heidelberg.

“Tell us your name, young fellow,” the sheriff ordered.

“They call me Jasper,” he answered. “I work for Siegmund, the barrel maker.”

“Good. Your witness, Prosecutor.”

“Thank you.” Matthias Trauenstein got up, and Johannes watched him closely. He was not as drunk as he’d appeared to be earlier. Was he playing some sort of game? Johannes doubted that. After all, the Heidelberger had no reason to distrust Johannes.

“What exactly did you see the day my wife was murdered?”

“I was in the tavern on the other side of the street,” Jasper began. “Kilian, Madlen’s brother, was sitting with me at a table. All of a sudden, we heard loud yelling and screaming coming from outside.”

“What was being shouted?” Matthias asked as he gestured impatiently.

“That someone had been killed.”

“And what happened then?”

“We all ran out of the tavern to take a look.”

“And what did you and the others see?”

“The Trauensteins’ front door opened up suddenly . . .” He looked over at Madlen briefly.

“And?” Matthias made another impatient hand movement.

“The defendant came out and ran by us.”

“Where was she running to?”

“Where? I don’t know that.”

“And what did she look like?”

“She was bloody.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Her dress. It was covered in blood.”

“What happened next?”

“You came out and shouted that she had murdered your wife.”

Matthias nodded approvingly.

“I have no more questions.”

“If it so pleases the court, I would like to question the witness.” The sheriff nodded as Andreas walked over to the young man. “Tell me, Jasper, kind sir, were you talking with my client’s brother before you heard yelling outside?” He addressed the simple lad formally.

“Yes, my lord.”

“And what, sir, were you talking about?”

“Kilian said that his sister was at the Trauensteins’; he wanted to drink a beer with us while he waited for her.”

“He told everyone at the table that Madlen was at the Trauensteins’?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Hmm,” Andreas said. “That seems rather strange. The brother of the accused, whom he had accompanied to the house in which she wanted to commit murder. Her brother tells you about it, casually drinks a beer, and waits calmly until she’s ready to go?” He looked at the row of spectators. “Does that seem incredible only to me?”

“Are you trying to say that my witness is lying?” Matthias asked.

“No, not at all. I’m just saying the defendant’s brother acted the exact opposite of what would be expected under the circumstances. Doesn’t it seem that way to you, my good man?”

“Yes,” Jasper said tersely.

“The man who initially called out that a murder had just occurred. Did you ever see him?”

“No, my lord. Or maybe. I think I did.”

“Yes?”

“He was a very big man. Kilian told me he was one of Adelhaid Trauenstein’s guards, who had come to his cottage to bring Madlen and her brother back to the Trauensteins’.”

“A guard tried to convince the siblings to go to the Trauensteins’ home?”

Matthias snorted in disgust. “Just because this Kilian told him that doesn’t mean that’s what actually happened.”

“The witness is telling us about that evening. Not more, not less,” Andreas shot back, then turned back to Jasper. “Please continue. You said that Kilian had been waiting for his sister?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And Kilian explained to you why my client decided she had to go to Adelhaid Trauenstein’s house?”

“
Allegedly
said she had to go,” Matthias threw in.

“Would it please the court to instruct the prosecutor to refrain from interrupting my examination of his witness?” Andreas requested as he looked at the sheriff.

“Defense counsel is correct. Please hold your questions until it is your turn to speak.”

“Thank you.” Andreas nodded at the sheriff. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes, I had just asked you whether Kilian told you why my client had come to see Adelhaid Trauenstein.”

“Yes, he said that the guard had come on behalf of his mistress because she wanted to apologize.”

“Apologize for what?”

“For having put her through the trial; for the baby. Kilian told us that Adelhaid most likely hadn’t even been aware of it till that day.”

“Sheriff, you must allow me to intervene here,” Matthias demanded.

“Why, if I may ask?” The sheriff cocked his head to the side.

“Well, because these are all lies. Lies, lies, nothing but lies.”

“You’re accusing your own witness of lying?”

Matthias clenched his hands into fists. “The defendant was covered in my wife’s blood. There is nothing more to know.”

“Oh, I see!” Andreas looked at Matthias, then the sheriff, then each member of the jury. “So the nobleman Lord Trauenstein would like that.” His tone was mocking, derisive. “He wants witnesses to say what he wants and conceal what he wants concealed. And then my client can be convicted. Am I understanding this correctly?”

“Shut your trap, you pompous ass!” Matthias snapped.

“I beg your pardon,” the sheriff exclaimed indignantly. “What are you thinking? Do you really believe that this kind of behavior is acceptable in a court of law?”

“Yes, I do, Sheriff. And if you want to keep your position in the future, then you should be very nice to me.”

The spectators erupted, their voices abuzz as they whispered and murmured.

“Well, this is just getting better and better,” Johannes jumped in. “Without wanting to offend you, Sheriff, everyone here has heard the complainant not only try to influence the witness but, you, too, who must make the final verdict along with the members of the jury.”

“I agree. I’ve never come across such insolence before.”

Matthias Trauenstein muttered underneath his breath. At this moment, the church door opened and a guard hurried up the aisle, passing Andreas and the witness, and went directly to the sheriff, who leaned forward.

“We need to interrupt the trial,” the sheriff announced after a moment. “There has been an incident at your home, Matthias Trauenstein.”

“What?” he asked as he stood up. “What happened?”

The sheriff glanced over at Madlen, who wasn’t sure how to interpret his look. “Come with me,” he said to Matthias.

“If it has something to do with the case, I should come, too,” Andreas said.

“I’m not sure yet whether it has something to do with it or not,” the sheriff said, thinking aloud. “But yes, I think you should come, Master von Balge.”