“Oh, my sweet Madlen.” Agathe hugged her niece tightly and kissed her tenderly on her forehead. “Everything’s going to be all right, my child. It’s all right.”
Tears poured down Madlen’s cheeks; she sobbed as her legs gave way. Agathe managed to catch her and bring her over to the bed before she crumpled all the way to the floor.
“You’re all right,” Madlen whispered as she put her head on her aunt’s shoulder.
“Kilian is doing well, and so is Johannes.”
Madlen sat up. “Johannes?”
“Yes. He knows the whole story. He asked me to let you know that he will do all he can to get you out of here. And”—she held Madlen’s chin—“that he loves you.”
Madlen broke out in tears again. “He loves me? Did he say that?”
“Yes, he said that.”
“But what about Worms? And the healing?”
“He wants to try to convince the archbishop of your innocence.”
“The archbishop? But what about the sheriff? I’m here on murder charges.”
“Johannes is going to talk to Andreas to find out exactly what happened.”
“It will come to nothing.” Madlen sighed. “I saw the sheriff’s face. To him, I’m guilty no matter who represents me.”
“You must have faith.” Agathe tenderly stroked Madlen’s back. She took a deep breath to prepare herself for the next question. “Did Matthias do anything to you?”
Madlen shook her head slowly. “He didn’t touch a hair on my head.”
“Thank God!” Agathe sighed with relief.
A guard walked past the cell, glanced at the women, and disappeared from sight.
“I’m afraid for my child.” Madlen laid her hand on her stomach. “There won’t be much time until the court passes judgment. My child will never breathe, laugh, or cry. It will die, without ever having done anything wrong.”
“You also haven’t done anything wrong,” Agathe reminded her. “And you shouldn’t give up hope. Johannes loves you more than anything, and he’s a lawyer. Working with Andreas, he’ll think of something.”
“Time’s up,” a deep voice said outside the cell door. The women flinched.
The guard held the key in his hand, unlocked the door, and pointed at Agathe to come with him. She nodded.
“Never give up hope, my child. We’re doing what we can to prove your innocence. Stay strong.” She hugged her niece, and Madlen clung desperately to her aunt.
“That’s enough now,” the guard called out harshly.
Agathe let go and stood up. “I’ll be back.” She bent over and kissed Madlen on the forehead. “We’re all going through this together.” She straightened up, fixed her dress, and walked to the cell door. She heard Madlen whimpering softly, but she didn’t turn around. She knew that the sight of her niece crying would break her heart.
“What made the sheriff and the members of the jury believe you?” Johannes looked at Andreas von Balge intently.
“It was the maid, this Barbara,” the advocate explained. “Everyone could see that she said exactly what her master ordered her to say. The web of deceit became more and more tangled until she was backed into a corner.”
The two legal experts sat with Kilian at a table in the tavern. Johannes had Andreas tell him everything. Every little detail counted, including every word of each witness’s testimony. Thoughtfully, Johannes stroked his chin. “I think that might be the key to everything.”
“I don’t follow, my lord,” Andreas said.
“Call me Johannes.” He stroked his chin again.
“And please call me Andreas.”
Johannes nodded absentmindedly; he was completely lost in thought. “You will take over her defense by yourself.” He looked at Andreas, a smile playing on his lips.
“But why?”
“You just answered the question yourself. The court wasn’t convinced by intercession on your part or Madlen’s testimony, but by the witness’s contradictions.”
“Yes, that’s right. But why can’t you represent Madlen?”
“Because I will act as a prosecutor on behalf of the archbishop.” He smirked. “And you, my dear Andreas, will bring me to my knees.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Johannes waited a full day before he went to the sheriff and introduced himself as the Church’s lawyer, sent by the archbishop. The sheriff was shocked, unaware of the archbishop’s investigation. Johannes enlightened him about her crimes as a secret healer.
“Would you consider having the case transferred to Trier?” Johannes noticed the sheriff’s interest.