Otto shook his head. “No, Frau. It was not. I, too, heard the priest tell Wil. I was doing errands for m’papa. I came by the bakery to see what flour needed grinding. Tomas was working in the attic and saw me come. He was watching Pious and Wil below, through a knothole in the floor. I came up slow and quiet, and I heard it too.”
Anka stood to her feet. “No, it cannot be. Why did you not say it then?”
“We didn’t know it to be poison then, and neither did Wil.”
The woman looked at Pieter. The priest bowed. “Good woman, it is true. I found these poor lads yesterday, hiding in the wood near Limburg. As you know, Otto, here, was put out from his father’s home. He believes it is for some sin in his life. Both he and Tomas then learned of this Wilhelm fellow’s arrest, and they wanted to confess their many sins to save him.
“I listened to their confession and then fell into a deep sleep. It was then that I saw a face of a woman. The face of a woman deceived … like Eve by the serpent. I then saw the serpent crawling about her feet. It was short and fat; it hissed from behind its squinted eyes. It is the Devil that slides about, emboldened by the ambition of mere men. His evil ways sprout in soil watered by the blood of innocents … and he must be stopped.
“I did not know what this meant until I described the woman to these good lads. I said she was aging, but as yet pleasing to the eye, stout as a strong woman should be. And, I said, she had a face that glowed warm and red like a ripe apple.
“Well, I had no sooner said the words when Otto and Tomas both cried out, ‘Frau Anka!’ Now that I see thee in the flesh, I know it is true.”
The woman was utterly flabbergasted. She collapsed on to her stool. “B … but deceived?”
“Frau,” stated Pieter sternly, “thou art in the hands of a devil—a serpent named Pious! He has deceived thee, and worse—he has stolen what would have been rightfully thine.”
“What do you mean, Father?”
“These lads tell me that Wil had foresworn to thee and to a Father named Albert, that thou wouldst be granted one-fourth of his lands if his mother lived until his return. Is this not true?”
“It is. It is why I am so angry at the boy. He deceived me—”
“Woman, canst thou not see? What did he have to gain? The loss of a mother to save some land? Did he hate his mother so?”
Anka shook her head. “He did not love her, but methinks he did not hate her.”
“Look into my eyes, my sister,” continued Pieter. “Under God I do so swear to you that Wilhelm of Weyer did not murder his mother.”
Tomas was pacing. “Listen! Can y’not see? Who got all the land?”
“Father Pious.”
“Aye! Who must Pious fear most?”
“Wil.”
“Aye!”
“But Pious had visions.” Anka was now wringing her hands. “He said he had dreams and visions of Wil grinding the poison.”
“Woman,” said Pieter, “I have told ye the truth of Wilhelm. Do with it as thou wish. But be warned. I have come to set the captives free. I have come to seek God’s almighty justice for those who would deceive. If thou art part of this deceit, if thou art a tool in the serpent’s hand, I shall strike thee down!”
Anka shuddered and began to weep. “I… I saw nothing of this m’self.”
“My dream says thou hast a good recollection of Wil telling thee of Pious’s advice that the herb be given. Is it not so?”
Anka trembled. “It… it may be so. I… I… I cannot think clearly now.”
“Then thou ought not put thy soul in further jeopardy. Do not bear false witness against the lad. Dost thou hear me, woman?” Pieter’s voice was now hard and demanding.
Anka hesitated. She feared Pious’s wrath if she did not attend the trial, yet her confidence had been shaken to its very foundation. She nodded mutely.
Tomas leaned close to her. “Otto and me shall be in that court. We shall gladly bear witness to the truth. When the judge sets Wil free, he will turn against you and against Pious. Consider that!”
Anka was now shaking. She looked at Pieter with imploring eyes.
“Fear not, child,” said Pieter, now gently. “I’ve not come to harm thee but to save thee.” His tone changed again. “But if I see thee in the court, I shall bring the judgment of all heaven down upon thee. Terrors and visits of the dead shall surely greet thee by night. Boils and oozing sores shall rise with every dawn. I shall summon demons to pluck thy hair at eventide and gore thy belly by day with a pain that has no end. And this, my child, shall be only the beginning. The truth shall be surely avenged, so help me, God.”