The Lady of the Castle (The Marie Series Book 2) Page 26

There was a glimmer of hope on the afternoon of the sixth day, when the guards announced the approach of a large group of men on horseback riding under the imperial pennant. It wasn’t reinforcements, however, but Falko von Hettenheim’s group, joined by a few of the knights the kaiser had sent out. The men were exhausted and most of them also badly injured, posing a burden for the weeks ahead rather than a blessing, yet they were the lucky ones, as more than a third of Falko’s men had died in the dark Bohemian Forest.

  Falko halted his men near the sutlers’ wagons, staring over at Marie with burning eyes. Then he abruptly swung himself out of the saddle and threw his reins to a servant who had come running. “Walk the horse back and forth a few times and give it a good rub,” he ordered the man as he stomped off toward the kaiser’s imposing tent. Sigismund was waiting for him at the tent’s entrance.

  “You’re finally back, Sir Falko. Just look what a terrible situation you’ve put me in!”

  Falko wiped the sweat and dirt from his eyes and gritted his teeth. “I’ve merely followed your orders, Your Majesty. I expected you to advance faster. I’ve lost a number of men because the Bohemians managed to get in between us, and we had to fight our way back to you.”

  For a moment it looked as if the kaiser would punish Hettenheim for his insubordination, but then his shoulders sagged and he wrung his hands. “Fate isn’t on my side, Sir Falko. Soldiers are constantly deserting, and I can’t rely on those who are still here. They will run like hares at the sight of the first Hussite.”

  “We could deal with one Hussite or a hundred or maybe even a thousand,” Falko von Hettenheim replied grimly. “But their leader, whom they call the Great Prokop, is following us with more than six thousand men and five hundred wagons and will get here in four days’ time at the latest.”

  Panic seized Sigismund. “Six thousand Bohemians? By God, this is the end of us!”

  Falko von Hettenheim crossed his arms and scrutinized the kaiser, scowling. “If we face them in battle, certainly. But there’s still enough time for an organized retreat. We’ll have to hurry, as the Bohemians are moving damned fast.”

  The kaiser threw his hands into the air. “What do you advise?”

  “Your life is too precious to fall into the hands of the Hussites, Your Majesty. I suggest you select a group of brave and loyal knights and leave with them early tomorrow morning, making your way as fast as possible to Nuremberg or another fortified place where you’ll be safe from the Bohemian rabble. The rest of the army should follow you by several hours, dividing up and taking different routes in order to confuse the enemy and lead them away from you. With God’s help, we’ll all make it back to you, and if not, we’ll only lose small numbers of troops, and not the whole army.”

  The kaiser nodded, visibly impressed. “Will you take charge of my escort?”

  “No, Your Majesty. With your permission, I will take charge of the remaining troops. They need a captain who knows the land and the Bohemians and can avoid big losses. You, however, need a brave fighter who can follow orders, and therefore I suggest my cousin Heinrich as the leader of your escort. He’ll defend you well and attack viciously should a Bohemian patrol dare to stand in your way.”

  The kaiser seemed undecided, as he would rather have put his safety in Falko’s hands. But if there was one man who could salvage the sad remnants of his army, he felt it was the knight standing in front of him. He thought of what Falko told him about the rapidly approaching Hussites and shuddered. The so-called Great Prokop would do anything to take him prisoner, and then he would share the fate of the martyred priest in the ravaged village. The Hussites, so he had heard, had made several threats of this kind. With a deep sigh, the kaiser shook his head to clear it of those depressing thoughts and gazed pleadingly at Falko, as though he expected him to come up with the miracle that would save his Bohemian crown.

  “I will follow your advice, Sir Falko. Give your cousin the order to assemble my escort, and allocate him a part of the baggage train.”

  “Oh no, my lord, I beg you not to burden yourself with the baggage train,” Falko declared while concealing a smirk, still plotting to get his hands on Marie. “It would slow you down so much that the Bohemians might catch up with you!”

  “You’re right, Sir Falko. Wagons would unnecessarily slow my retreat.” The kaiser inhaled sharply and beckoned János over. “Call for my servants and tell them to take only what we absolutely need. We’re leaving tomorrow at dawn, but they’ll need to load the baggage onto packhorses as we won’t be bringing wagons.”

  The Hungarian silently nodded and left the tent. Rubbing his dirty chin with his hand, Falko tried not to look cheerful. “If you allow, Your Majesty, I would like to eat something and take care of my men. Like me, they haven’t had any food for two days.”

  The kaiser lifted his hand in agreement. “Do that, Sir Falko, but don’t forget about my escort.”

  “It will be ready first thing in the morning, Your Majesty.” Falko turned and walked outside. Rather than heading straight for the food wagons, however, he wandered through the rows of tents until he found Gunter von Losen’s coat of arms. His Frankish friend awaited him impatiently, but before he could ask any questions, Falko ordered him to organize a good meal.

  Gunter von Losen sent his squire to fetch food and eyed Falko curiously. “You look like you’ve had a tough campaign.”

  “No worse than usual,” Falko said, waving dismissively. “The last few days were somewhat critical, as a larger patrol was blocking our return. We suffered some losses, but the Bohemians surely regretted the encounter far more than we did.”

  Gunter von Losen nodded, impressed. “Those must have been the same fellows who destroyed a village last week, only hours before we got there. The kaiser will be grateful you scattered those pigs.”

  “The kaiser is trembling with fear that the Bohemians might catch him and have their way with him,” Falko mocked. “He is too old to lead an army into battle, maybe even too old for the crowns he wears. I advised him to retreat to Nuremberg tomorrow morning with sufficient cover.”

  “And you will command this escort,” Gunter von Losen interrupted with a laugh.

  Falko grinned broadly. “Do you think I’m a fool? That’s a thankless task, better suited to my cousin. I’m taking charge of the remaining troops.”

  “Troops? They are a bunch of idlers, not an army!”

  “Then my glory will be all the greater when I bring the majority of them home unscathed.” He was about to say more, but at that moment Losen’s squire stormed into the tent with a huge sausage, a loaf of bread, and an impressive ham.

  “I’ll be right back with water for washing and a jug of wine,” he promised breathlessly, and ran back outside. Falko drew his dagger, cut a thick slice of ham, and put it in his mouth. Then he looked at his friend with a raised eyebrow.

  “You’ve kept an eye on Marie Adler, haven’t you?”

  Losen snorted. “Are you still thinking of that woman, despite the danger we’re all in?”

  “I thought of nothing else the whole time I was away,” said Falko with a malicious sneer.

  “I want her, too!” Losen replied with a greedy sparkle in his eyes. “By the way, I learned a lot from that urchin traveling with her. It’s not easy getting anything out of him, but I do know that she’s carrying a fair bit of gold that we could put to good use.”

  Sir Falko shrugged. “You can take the gold and the woman, too, but only when I’m done with her. By God, I swear I’ll make her pay for the way she laughed and jeered at me at the tournament in Nuremberg!”

  His expression became so vengeful that Losen hoped never to incur his friend’s wrath.

  8.

  The order to escort the kaiser came as a complete surprise to Heinrich von Hettenheim, hardly leaving him any time to say good-bye to Marie and the other sutler women. Heribert von Seibelstorff was
also part of the kaiser’s escort, and he was beside himself at having to leave Marie behind. Since the two squires had to accompany their masters, there would be no one left to protect the merchant women, and the thought of being in the rear guard, which would probably be the first to be attacked by the Hussites, made Marie’s heart pound with fear.

  The next morning, the women watched the kaiser and his escort depart, leaving the army in enemy lands. As soon as the group was out of sight, Eva spat contemptuously. “There he goes, the mighty lord, saving his imperial hide. He doesn’t give a damn what happens to the likes of us.”

  Marie looked searchingly at the old woman. “Do you also have the feeling he’s running from the enemy?”

  “What else do you want to call it?” Eva scoffed.

  Theres pushed her way between them and put her arms around their shoulders. “I heard that Falko von Hettenheim, who arrived yesterday, is in charge here now.”

  Marie clenched her teeth. That was even worse news than the approaching Hussites. Now she was at his mercy, as there was no one left in the camp who would try to stop him if he took her. The only thing she could do was be careful he wouldn’t catch her while washing or fetching water at a spring, as she could at least hope he wouldn’t want to damage his reputation by molesting her in the middle of the camp. She talked to her companions a while longer. They were too worried themselves to notice her nervousness, and she eventually returned to her wagon.

  She found Anni shaking and flailing about, half-conscious on her bed. Marie rearranged her blankets and spoke to her soothingly. “I’ll make you some tea that will help you sleep better.”

  While she was looking after Anni, Trudi climbed down from the wagon unnoticed, toddled toward Eva, and begged her for plums. The old sutler stroked her hair. “Of course, Trudi! I always have something tasty for you. Come with me!” While the little girl happily followed Eva, Marie hung the water kettle over the fire and replaced Anni’s bandages.

  “The wounds are healing very well, my dear, and your head is cool. You should be feeling much better by now instead of lying in your bed trembling. What are you so terribly afraid of? Is your memory coming back?”

  Anni shrugged, shook her head, and stared helplessly at her nurse. Marie couldn’t do anything but give her some soothing herbal tea and watch her protégée drink the brew in small sips. Briefly, Marie thought of Michel, and she wondered what his life was like if he had lost his memory and was just as idle and mute as Anni. Was he sitting on the steps of a church, begging for donations from the wealthy? There was hardly another way to survive for those who had become disabled due to the war. Quickly repressing her imaginings, she dried Anni’s sweaty hair and tried to smile.

  In the meantime, Falko von Hettenheim had divided the remaining troops into three groups, sending the first one on its way about an hour after the kaiser had left. He had made the knight Volker its captain, allocating him a part of the baggage train, several prostitutes, and the sutler Theres. The order came on such short notice that if Eva hadn’t helped her hitch up the oxen, she would have been late.

  When Theres finally sat down on her wagon, she remembered Marie and wanted to jump down to say good-bye, but the bailiffs were pressing so urgently to move on that she could only shout for Eva to give Marie her greetings. “Tell her we’ll see each other at the next stop!”

  She swung her whip and urged her oxen forward. Eva waved and watched her for a while, then picked Trudi up and returned to her wagon to prepare everything for departure.

  Not long after, the next group left, accompanied by most of the baggage train, the remaining harlots, and Oda. When the sutler woman got in line behind the long double row of foot soldiers, she gave Eva a derisive snort as a good-bye.

  Apart from Eva and Marie, there were about two hundred knights and armed horsemen left, a hundred foot soldiers, and as many servants as were needed for the remaining baggage wagons. Marie kept telling herself that she’d be back with Sir Heinrich’s group in a few days’ time. Until then, she had to be extremely careful and couldn’t seek out the company of others under any circumstances. If Falko von Hettenheim had guessed at the fear behind Marie’s smooth face, his feeling of triumph would have been even greater. She was like a trapped sparrow in his hand, and as he walked through the rows of knights and soldiers, ordering them to prepare for departure, he reveled in the anticipation of his revenge.

  Losen nodded at Falko with a grin and hurried to Eva’s cart. “Hey, old girl, hitch up. We’re almost ready to leave. You’ll go in front of the baggage wagons today.”

  Pursing her lips, Eva fetched the first of her two skinny horses to hitch in front of her wagon. She looked over to Marie, who had fallen so behind in her preparations because of caring for Anni that she hardly knew where to start. When Eva finished hitching up her second horse, she tried to go over and help her, but Losen angrily chased her back onto her box.

  “Get moving, you old witch. The baggage wagons are leaving already.”

  “But Marie . . . ,” Eva objected.

  “She’ll just have to go last. Now get your rickety old wagon moving!” When Eva didn’t react right away, the knight ripped the whip from her hand and threatened her with it. Eva pulled back in fright and was about to call to her horses to leave, but then she saw Trudi standing next to her wagon and realized Marie wouldn’t be able to look after the child while hitching her wagon.

  “Please hand the girl to me,” she asked Losen. About to turn away in contempt, he then thought better of it, telling himself that Falko wouldn’t want any trouble. Hoisting Trudi like a sack of flour, he shoved her into Eva’s arms. “Here’s the brat. Now get your nags moving, or I’ll make sure you stay behind as Hussite prey!”

  With a click of her tongue, Eva turned her obedient horses onto the road and gave a piercing whistle. As she had hoped, Marie stuck her head out of her wagon and gave her a puzzled look. “Don’t worry about Trudi! I’ll look after her until the next stop!” she shouted to her.

  Marie waved to indicate she had understood, and continued with her work. The army had never broken camp in such haste, which annoyed her just as much as the fact that once again Michi was nowhere to be seen. Cursing his unreliability, she swore she’d send him back to his parents at the next opportunity.

  She couldn’t know that she was being unfair to the boy this time. Michi had run to Gunter von Losen to help his squire saddle the knight’s horse, but as he tightened the girth, he realized Marie needed him more. “You finish on your own, Lutz. I have to help Marie!” he called out, and started to run. But he had only taken a few steps before Losen suddenly hastened toward him, grabbing him by the neck. “And where are you going?”

  Michi tried in vain to squirm out of his grip. “I have to help Marie hitch the wagon!”

  “She’ll manage on her own. You run ahead to the baggage wagons and help the servants there!” the knight snarled at him.

  “I’m sure they’ll be fine, but Marie . . .”

  Letting go of the boy, Losen slapped him across the face, sending him flying to the ground. “Do as I say, you rogue!”

  Holding his hand to his aching cheek, Michi glimpsed blood on his fingers. Frightened, he stared at the knight whom he had considered his friend up until then, and when Losen threatened to strike him with his fist, he jumped up and ran after the baggage wagons.

  Marie was crying in despair. The long rest hadn’t helped the oxen, and they were even more stubborn than usual. She struggled to get the first one under the yoke and tied him to a tree by the reins so he couldn’t bolt with her wagon. The second ox proved even more stubborn. Even though Marie was holding him by the nose ring and beating him with a stick, he dragged her through the camp for several dozen paces before finally letting her hitch him up.

  When Marie was finally ready, she took a quick look around. Apart from the rubbish the army had left behind, only Donata’s pl
undered wagon was left nearby. The group was already on the move, and its end was pulling farther and farther away from her. She was thankful the oxen were rested enough to be able to close the gap, even if she’d have to whip the stubborn animals. But just as she was about to pull out, she realized that Anni had climbed down from the wagon to relieve herself.

  She jumped down to help the girl onto the wagon, when Falko and Losen appeared on horseback beside her. The expression on their faces frightened Marie, and she reached for her whip, but Falko was faster. Grabbing it, he briefly weighed it in his hand. Then he raised it and brought the whistling string down on Marie’s arm.

  Marie groaned as the sharp leather strap stung her skin. There was no point in calling for help, as the end of the group had already disappeared around the first corner, and even if they had heard her, no one would have come back to help. Clenching her teeth, she looked at her oxen. I have to get them moving and jump on the wagon with Anni, she thought. She realized that Falko would probably be faster, but she wanted at least to try. As if he had read her mind, the knight drew his sword and ran it through the first animal. The ox collapsed with a moan, thrashed around, and finally lay still. At the same time, the second animal was beheaded by Losen’s sword.

  Marie walked backward until she could feel the wagon behind her, but Falko drove his horse over to her, grabbed her by the hair, and forcefully shoved her to the ground. Marie jumped to her feet and made to run into the forest, where she might have escaped the horsemen among the close-standing trees, but the knight swung out of the saddle and threw himself on her. “Now you’ll finally get what you deserve,” he shouted, pressing her shoulders on the earth.

  Finding the slit in her skirt, Marie pulled out her knife, but Falko was prepared this time and knocked the blade out of her hand with his fist. Marie kicked her legs as hard as she could to shake him off, but Losen approached them, grabbed her left ankle, and twisted it painfully. Marie screamed in terror.