A fire was built and some food distributed. Pieter then summoned all to his side. “The sun should rise in about two hours, me thinks. When it does, we must act and act quickly.” He turned to Alwin. “You must remain as our reserve. You cannot be discovered. If you are, we’ll lose the sword we may need.” He whirled around to Otto and Helmut. “You two must stay with Alwin and protect Frieda and Maria, here, at our camp. Helmut, you’ve been practicing with Wil’s bow. Maybe you can hunt us a stag or a boar?”
Otto protested loudly.
“Nay! Otto, you must now stay away from the village. Tomas can guide me.”
Frieda jutted her jaw forward. “I will not stay behind!”
Pieter narrowed his eyes. “You are a fair damsel in a place I do not know.”
“I will not stay behind. He is my husband.”
Alwin objected. “This is not a woman’s business!”
Frieda spun about and lashed the man with a fiery tongue. “Woman’s business? Is not a husband’s life a woman’s business?” The young woman’s nostrils flared like an angry mare’s, and she stomped her foot defiantly. Before any could speak, she snatched a burning faggot from the fire and reached toward Alwin’s beard. “Say again I may not go, monk, and I’ll set your face afire!”
Alwin did not move. He fixed his eyes on Frieda’s, then tilted them toward Pieter. The old priest shrugged, and Alwin yielded. “Go, then, sister,” he mumbled. “Go with God.”
Frieda flung the faggot back to the fire and stormed away. Pieter raised his brows and smiled at the others. “Well then, here it is. We can do nothing until we know more. We do not know where the two are being held or when they might face their trial.
“So, I shall take Tomas, Friederich, Benedetto, and Frieda with me to the abbey and shall do my best to learn what we may.”
Benedetto nearly swooned when he heard his name. He had done his best to keep from view. “But, Padre, what can I do?” If the sun were up, the others could have seen how very pale the little man had become!
Pieter shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”
“But—”
“But I shall know when I need to know. Trust that.”
“But why are we all going?” the minstrel pleaded.
Now the others began to scowl. “You don’t want to help?” barked Helmut.
Benedetto licked his lips and answered carefully. “I… si, of course I want to help, but I wonder if I can.”
“You can,” snapped Friederich. “Your lute is oft as good a weapon as Pieter’s wit or Alwin’s sword.”
“Enough of this,” interrupted Pieter. “First, we learn what we can. Knowledge is power.”
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice came from the darkness. “I can help you.”
Startled, the group spun around and faced the silhouette of a shape drifting toward them. Maria gasped. To her it was as though a woodland spirit was approaching. “Do not be afraid,” the voice added serenely. “I am here to help you.” It was then that the figure emerged into the firelight of the camp, and all mouths dropped open.
Chapter Nineteen
A JEW, A WITCH, AND A MONK
I am sorry, son,” lamented Heinrich as he awoke. The two had been tossed into the small jail at the abbey’s garrison. The baker’s head was covered with dried blood, and he was dizzy.
“No, it was me. It was me they were after.” Wil took a deep breath. “I was a fool to ever trust that devil Pious. I did not murder Mother, but it was at my hand she died.”
Heinrich sat quietly, listening to the snoring guard sleeping outside the door. Wil changed the subject. “I saw the reeve strike you.”
“Well, I didn’t!” grumbled the baker. “Never saw it coming.”
“No, I suppose not. You know, the townsfolk could hardly believe it was you lying there. One said you looked like a freeman.”
The word sounded good to Heinrich. “And so I am … so we are.” He squirmed in his place. The guards had not released either from their bonds. Straining to see Wil in the darkness, he said, “And so we shall ever be! I want the land of m’fathers to be yours someday. But I’d rather leave you with your freedom than a plot of dirt!”
“Greetings,” said another voice.
Startled, father and son looked blankly into the black. “Who’s there?”
“I am Beniamino.” The man’s voice sounded old but still vigorous.
“Beniamino?” answered Wil. “What kind of name is that?”
“I am from the kingdom of the two Sicilies.”
“You speak our tongue.”