Escape from the Past (20 page)

“Where are
Mutter
and Adela?” Juliana said as she got up.

“Don’t know,” said Bero. “But we can’t risk going home.”

Someone will have to go and find out, I thought, remembering
the terrible mess inside the hut. Yawning I straightened and headed for the stairs.

“Is the water pinching you, that you’re hurrying off like that,” Bero called after me.

“What water?”

“You need to piss?”

I had to grin. I could never get used to the odd German. It sounded like a foreign language most of the time and I had to concentrate on every word. Right now, I just wanted to sleep.

“Going for a nap,” I said. “After I pinch off some water.” I sounded like an imbecile.

I woke from a commotion outside. Struggling to climb out of the straw, I nearly tripped over Bero. Screams and shouts echoed off the castle walls. It was dusk and the first torches had been lit, lending the stables and courtyard a warm glow.

Two dozen riders crowded the courtyard, their horses drenched in sweat, some with bloody gashes and shredded tethers. The men looked worse. Some were dripping blood, their shields broken and their armor dented. Nonetheless, Werner’s knights looked lively, with grim faces and flashing eyes. Werner was the most formidable of them all, his eyes like the North Sea, a dark blue full of unknown danger.

The squires rushed to and fro to serve their masters. As soon as Bero joined me, we jumped in to assist with carrying water and holding the reins of the unruly and tired horses. When Bero turned a shade of green again I sent him back to the stables to rest. After an hour, the mayhem dissolved as warriors and horses found food and drink. The barn was full again and I picked up Bero to follow the men into the main hall.

Maids carried ewers and towels so the men could wash. The tables were covered with the usual Frisbees of dry bread. Pewter mugs made the rounds and soon the knights filled their famished bellies.

I stood next to Bero near the fireplace, unsure what to do. The men ate like starving animals and kept refilling their plates. At last, Werner looked up. He’d been quiet ever since he’d sat down, his face serious and drawn.

He waved for another refill, when his eyes fell on me. “Max Nerds?”

“Yes, My Lord.” I bowed and stepped closer. “We are glad to see you unharmed.”

Werner nodded to the maid who filled his mug but didn’t say
anything.

“I’m sorry about your knight,” I stumbled. “We found him on the battlefield this morning and returned his horse to the castle.”

“A wise deed,” Werner said. “He’s been taken to the chapel.” He crossed himself and took a long draught, wiping away the foam with his sleeve. “I’m saddened to lose one of my bravest men. Enders will hold the night’s watch.” He leaned back. “What were you doing in the forest this morn?”

I bowed again, trying to concentrate. All I thought of was the blood gushing from the man’s stomach.

“Yesterday I found Bero beaten and unconscious at his house. His pigs had been slaughtered. I carried him to Luanda.”

“The witch?” Werner squinted and waved at Bero. “Come here.”

Bero twitched nervously, but approached the knight.

“She helped us,” I said. I could tell the Lord wasn’t listening and instead inspecting Bero’s bruises.

“Who did this?” he asked.

Bero shrugged and bowed at the same time. “I can’t remember. They hit me over the skull.”

“We think it was Ott, Lady Miranda’s son,” I said.

“Could be. Rumor has it he’s Dörnberg’s bastard. And Dörnberg will stop at nothing to enrich himself or put a thorn in my side.”

I tried to remember, but I’d never heard the name. “Who’s Dörnberg?”

“The Duke von Dörnberg is court master with Landgrave Heinrich III. in Marburg. He does what he wants. He might have put Ott up to it.”

“Maybe it was Schwarzburg,” Konrad said.

Werner’s face clouded into a mask of anger. He took another sip, squeezing the mug with his hand as if he wanted to crush it. “You must be famished,” he said. “Make room for Max and Bero. And tell the castellan about the tanner son’s pigs.”

At the end of the bench, the knights slid sideways, creating a gap. Plates and mugs followed and soon, we were eating. As before, the room grew louder while the men drank and recounted today’s events. I listened attentively. I had trouble understanding the various dialects, made worse by the medieval German. Just as I’d thought, Schwarzburg’s men had laid the morning ambush and attacked Werner and his men.

“He’s a gutless cur,” one of the knights said. “I’d like to wring his scrawny neck and hang him by a tree.”

“Upside down,” his neighbor grumbled.

“The bishop will replace him with another,” someone else said.

“He cares nothing for the people,” a fourth voice said. “We can’t let him take over the land.”

“He won’t,” Werner could be heard. “He may be a coward, but he is no fool. For now we will stay and rest. If Schwarzburg makes a move, my scouts will alert us.”

“Hear, hear,” several men shouted, lifting their beakers.

I raised mine, aware that I better slow down. Where was a good tea when you needed it? I remembered the packages, Luanda had given me. Bero still chomped down, his eyes shiny and his fingers dripping with grease. He looked a lot better than this morning, but his eyes still swiveled unfocused. The wine didn’t help.

I thought about my feet. Even if I put stuff on them, it’d soon rub off. At least, I was warm now, though it felt weird to wear long robes like a dress. I threw a careful glance at Werner who sat brooding. I stilled owed an explanation about where I’d come from and I still didn’t have any idea what to say. Because there was nothing I
could
say, the Lord or anyone else would understand. Heck, I didn’t understand it myself. At the least, they’d declare me a liar or a joker, at the worst I’d go to the dungeon.

“Max Nerds?”

I looked up in surprise. The pregnant maid curtsied. “My lady
has asked for you.”

“Of course.” I jumped from the bench.

Bero looked up from his plate. “Where’re you going?”

“I’ll be right back,” I said. The maid held a ewer and towel and I was thankful to wash hands. My shirt was crusted with dry mud and my jeans weren’t any better.

I followed the young woman who walked quickly despite her heavy middle. Torches flamed inside the entrance of the staircase. I thought of the WWII bunker I’d once seen during a trip. These walls were even thicker, probably seven or eight feet. It felt like the building wanted to swallow me. We climbed to the third floor. The maid knocked and opened a heavy oak door.

“My Lady, Max Nerds is here.” She bowed her head waving me into the room.

I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dimness. A fire burned in the hearth and it was comfortably warm. This had to be the famous
Kemenate,
the women’s living space. A dozen candles threw dancing shadows across the walls. Lady Clara sat by the window, her back straight and regal as a queen. Like a golden crown her blonde hair was braided and woven around her head. She wore a wine-red dress that was tight below her breasts with long sleeves partially covering her hands. A gold cross rested in the cleavage of her chest. To my surprise, she closed a book and put it aside.

Then she smiled at me and wiggled a forefinger. “You may approach.”

“Thank you, My Lady.” I stepped closer while trying to bow at the same time. What did I know about etiquette at a castle? The men in the great hall acted like ruffians but here things seemed much more formal.

“I want to thank you for alerting the Lord. He’s rescued me from an evil man.” The room fell silent.

I remained still. Was I supposed to say something? “Eh, no problem, My Lady.”

“I hope I can repay you for your generosity. Juliana has been most kind to share your adventure.”

I finally looked up. “I’m glad you’re in a safe place.” The lady’s right brow lifted ever so slightly. I probably sounded like an idiot.

“Juliana said your speech is strange. You have traveled from a faraway land?”

I nodded. Here it was again. What should I say—come up with a new country from one of my fantasy games? Somehow I didn’t want to lie to her.

“Pardon, My Lady.” Juliana stood in the backdoor. “I bring fresh wood.”

Lady Clara waved her in, but she was still looking at me while my eyes were drawn to the girl. Juliana ignored me and stepped straight to the fireplace.

“Max here… is a shy lad,” Lady Clara said into the room. “Despite his valiant deeds.”

Who was she talking to and what in the heck did valiant mean? Juliana’s shoulders twitched as if she tried to suppress a giggle. I felt suddenly embarrassed and angry. Were they making fun of me behind my back? I thought of the girls at school, how they whispered in secret.

“He is brave indeed, My Lady.” Juliana had finished her job and curtsied. She looked serious again, only her doe eyes shone a bit too bright. “He saved my brother. And he saved my life and my virtue.” I threw another glance at the girl. Her cheeks had turned pink. “Is there anything else I can do?”

“A glass of wine, perhaps,” Lady Clara said. “And one for brave Max.”

“At once, My Lady.”

The lady turned her cornflower blues back on me. “What is it you want for?”

“What?” I said before I could stop myself. The lady spoke in riddles.

Lady Clara had picked up on it. “Do you have any wishes? Something that will comfort you.”

How about leaving the game, I thought. I’d rather hang with the knights than try to figure out what to say and how to act. But I did need one thing.

“My Lady, thanks for seeing me. There is one thing.”

“Tell me, young Max.”

I bowed again. “Ott stole my shoes and…” I looked down, feeling suddenly embarrassed about my bare toes hidden under a layer of muck and dust. At least they were partially hidden in the ground straw.

“We shall ask a squire to outfit you. Is there anything else you desire?”

I suppressed a grin. Yep, a certain girl, but that was out of the question. As if on cue, Juliana appeared with an earthen carafe and two pewter mugs. She quickly glanced at me and our eyes met. I held my breath, but Juliana had already moved on to pour the wine, offering one to the lady and the other to me.

“To your health.” Lady Clara raised her cup and drank. I hurried to follow. The wine was better than what we’d had downstairs, but maybe I imagined things.

A knock on the door startled me. The pregnant maid appeared. “My Lady, Lord Werner von Hanstein requests permission to enter.”

To my surprise the lady’s cool demeanor was replaced by a flutter of hands patting her hair. Her beautiful lips trembled. “Of course, let him in,” she said.

After bowing his head, Lord Werner rushed to take the Lady’s hand. “My Lady, I trust you have found comfort and solace in the quiet of your chambers.” While Werner pressed his lips to her palm, his eyes never left her face.

Lady Clara leaned forward, her cornflower eyes melted into his storm blues. “I’m indebted, My Lord. You saved my life from certain misery.”

I watched in fascination. These two had the
hots
for each other. Werner lowered his head and instead of letting go of her hand brushed his lips across the Lady’s wrist. I could’ve sworn she shivered in response.

I felt a hand on my arm. Juliana winked at me and gestured to follow. “My Lady, if that is all, Max and I will leave you in peace.”

“That will be all,” Lady Clara said, but her eyes remained glued to the knight’s face.

I scurried after Juliana, my thanks sounding hollow in the silence and remaining unanswered.

“Let’s get your boots,” she said and took his hand. For a second, we stood on the landing, our bodies close enough to touch. I wanted to grab her then, draw her in and kiss her for hours. I thought of what was going on inside the room. I still felt the energy.

“Max?”

I swallowed and the moment passed. I was a complete idiot. Lady Clara and Werner sure didn’t hold back. That much was clear. Why was I so clumsy?

I followed Juliana down the winding stone steps. A terrible smell emanated from one of the doors.

“What
is
that stink?”

Juliana shrugged. “The
garderobe.
”

“What?”

“Where the Lordship goes to…” Juliana pointed at her behind.

“Oh, outhouse,” I said. Disgusting.

In the barn Enders assembled three pairs of black leather boots along with sets of weird-looking socks and black leather strips. The socks were gray and sewn together along the edge of the soles. I wiped down my feet with straw and tried them on. At least I still had my jeans even if they were coated with mud and stunk to high heaven. I didn’t want to be seen dead with the girly tights the men wore under their tunics.

The boots were scuffed with a pointed curly tip. I picked the
ones closest to my size, wondering who’d worn them and if they’d been the burly knight’s. The shoes felt loose and I looked at Enders who wore a similar pair.

“Tie the strips around your ankles,” Enders said.

Juliana giggled as I tried copying the crisscross pattern. First they were tight, then loose. At last Juliana grabbed them from my hand and expertly fastened the leather ribbons. I wiggled my toes and got up. I’d turned into a medieval native. Maybe that was part of the object of the game.

“You look fashionable,” Juliana said. “Your hair is too short, though.” She reached up and touched the stubble on my head.

Enders grumbled something and left. This time I took hold of her hand and pulled her close. My heart beat like hard rain on pavement as I felt her arms warm around my neck. Her doe eyes were close. I shut mine. Her lips were soft and faintly smelled of apples. I’d kissed my fair share but I was unprepared for the explosion inside my body. My legs shook and my lungs heaved, her body hot and pliable against mine.

At last she pulled away, her eyes smiling and soft. “Max,” she whispered. “Where’s Bero?”

My eyes widened. I’d completely forgotten. “Let’s find him,” I said, though I wanted to pull her down into the straw and turn off the lights. Bero always had a way to interrupt things.