“So what’s your name, then?” blurted Friederich impatiently.
Pieter smiled. “Well, I suppose I should call m’self Pieter, lover of God.’”
The circle wasn’t sure it was such a good name. It was met with a volley of grumbles.
Pieter looked about the disappointed faces and shrugged. “Well, as I said, it is only true in part anyway.”
“A name like that is too heavenly,” grumbled Alwin. “Try again.”
Pieter laughed. “I was not serious! Actually, we followers of the Christ are called by Him as his sons. That is our true selves! Hmm. As I think of it, perhaps we should all be naming ourselves ‘Godson’!”
Alwin nodded. “More truth could not be told. If we could only grasp all that name means, we’d face the world differently.”
The pilgrims murmured for a few moments until Wil stood up. “It seems you’ve found something here, Pieter. It ought to be as God’s sons that we go forward, whether as Travelers or Rettens, Volkers, Angel Singers, Freimanns, or even Nimblefingers! I think we all should add ‘Godson’ to the middle of our names!”
Pieter scratched his head. “Well, if you think so. ‘Tis a bit odd.”
“And so are we!” roared Otto.
“There it is then,” cried Tomas. I am Tomas Godson Retten.”
“And I am Otto Godson Traveler!”
“Friederich Godson Nimblefingers.”
Wil stood. “And we three shall do the same.” He turned to Benedetto. “And you?”
The minstrel beamed. “In my tongue, my name will sound like magic! I am now to be Benedetto Figli di Deo Cantore degli Angeli!”
The company shouted its approval.
“Make a song of it!” cried Wilda.
“Si, donna. In time I surely will!”
Wil turned to Pieter. “And you?”
Pieter smiled broadly. “What a wondrous night. Aye, my beloved, yes, I do have a new name for m’self.” He looked at the faces eagerly awaiting his announcement. “I see you all, and I see amongst you the faces of others. I see Karl and Georg, Gertrude, Anna, and the Jons. I see Heinz and Manfred … and oh, so many others. Dear ones, I loved them as I love you now.” He wiped his eyes and petted Solomon for a quiet moment.
“Yes, I have a new name for myself.” He lifted his face proudly. “I should like to pass to my eternal rest forever known as Pieter Godson von Kinder—Pieter, God’s son, of the children.”
At the bells of prime, Wil assembled his company. “We did not get all the provisions we needed. I want Nimblefingers, Traveler, and the Saved to take some silver into Münden and buy what we need.” The company smiled.
Friederich, Otto, and Tomas eagerly stepped forward. They were handed some coins and given specific instructions as to what to purchase, then sent on their way with a warning. “Do not dally, and do not cause a scene. Have a care in that place,” said Alwin.
The trio nodded solemnly and turned toward the town as the others ate a modest first meal of boiled mush and cheese. Frieda uncorked a clay bottle of red wine and pointed to Heinrich and Katharina. “They’re coming,” she exclaimed happily.
Heinrich and his bride ambled into the camp holding hands like young lovers. Midst a few jibes, they were given a portion of the meal along with a disclosure of the prior night’s namings.
“Freimann?” exclaimed Heinrich. “Wil and Frieda Godson Freimann?” He thought for a moment and then shrugged. “Well, ‘tis new to me, but I think I like it.” He shook Wil’s hand. “So, Herr Freimann, then.”
Maria tugged on the baker’s sleeve. “And I said I would be Maria of Heinrich.”
A large lump filled the man’s throat as he looked down at the girl’s wide, hopeful eyes. He knelt in front of her and took her by the hand. He kissed her on the cheek. “Oh, dear daughter, you are indeed mine, and I shall love you always.”
Maria jumped into his embrace. “I love you, too, Papa.”
Katharina handed the wine to Heinrich. “So drink to your daughter’s long life.”
The baker tilted his head back and poured the warm drink into his throat. “Ah,” he said, wiping his sleeve over his beard. “Tis good!” He handed the bottle to Katharina, who took a more delicate drink, and she, in turn, passed it to the others, who prepared to toast the newlyweds. “Gesundheit und Glück!” shouted Helmut. “Health and happiness!”
When the applauding was done, Frieda asked, “So what of your name?”
Katharina turned toward her new husband. “Are you still Heinrich of Weyer?”