The Secret Healer(125)
The holy archbishop himself said good-bye to Madlen and Johannes. When he got on his horse, he waved to Johannes to come closer. “I didn’t believe your little charade for one moment.”
Johannes looked up in shock, but the archbishop grinned broadly. Once again, he signaled for Johannes to lean in. “Take a little time with your wife to recover from all this. Have your child and enjoy being together. And then come to Trier with your family. A lawyer like you is exactly what I want by my side.”
“Thank you.” Johannes bowed. “We shall come, Your Grace.”
“Yes, I’ll be expecting you.”
Johannes took a step back as the archbishop mounted his horse. “Take care of yourselves. I’ll see you in Trier.” Then he rode along with his entourage.
“In Trier?” Madlen asked.
“Yes, he would like me to remain in his service as a lawyer.”
“Although, you did lose the trial,” she noted.
“You are quite impudent, wife.” Johannes pulled her close and kissed her tenderly.
“This is unbearable.” Kilian rolled his eyes.
“You’re just envious,” Johannes joked.
Kilian shook his head. “Nope. Not envious,” he asserted. “I have my Irma. Eventually, she will recover from the shock of that cellar and laugh again.”
“Does that mean you want to marry her?” Madlen inquired. “What about distant lands and beautiful women?”
“So much has become clearer to me now.”
“And that would be?”
“In distant lands, I am, after all, a lonely stranger. And Irma is beautiful. Maybe not like the women there, but she’s the one I love, and she loves me. I see the same thing in both of you. This is what’s truly important.”
“How wonderful.” Madlen kissed her brother on the cheek.
“What’s next now for you two?”
Madlen looked questioningly at Johannes. “I don’t know. First, we’ll return to Worms. Elsbeth and Agathe are already fighting over who will be allowed to spoil our child the most. And someday, we’ll move to Trier, so that Johannes can take up his work there.”
“We don’t necessarily have to live in Trier to work for the archbishop.”
“No?”
“No. And Worms is not far. The citizens championed for your freedom so valiantly there. I think it only right to raise our daughter in their midst.”
“Or our son,” Madlen added.
“First a daughter, then a son?” Johannes suggested.
“Why not? If it’s the Lord’s will.”
“Good. And then again, another daughter . . . or no, rather just two. Then again, another son . . .”
Madlen kissed his lips tenderly. “Yes, that would be fine with me,” she whispered.
“I must go,” Kilian said. “Father has work for me, of course.”
Madlen touched his arm. “Have you thought about coming to Worms? Of course, you’d be able to find a place there for you and Irma.”
“No, why should I?”
“He is our father, yes, but believe me, he doesn’t do either of us any good. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”
“I promise.” He tenderly stroked his sister’s cheek and went on his way.
Hours later, it was time for the citizens of Worms to gather at the church and make their way back together. Many Heidelbergers came to say good-bye to their out-of-town guests. The trial seemed to unite the two cities in a unique way.
“Greetings to the people on the Rhine, and come back to visit us any time,” a Heidelberger called out, as the group of Wormsers approached the bridge over the Neckar River. Madlen enjoyed every moment. Johannes led his horse next to her as she walked because she refused to ride. She had ridden here, and it had caused her to bleed. In the meantime, everything seemed to have calmed down again, and the only thing she felt was the kick of a small foot, which didn’t hurt at all; instead, it triggered a feeling of happiness that flowed from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.
“Did you say good-bye to your father?” asked Agathe, walking next to Elsbeth.
“Yes, but only briefly. He seemed indifferent.”
“That sounds like your father,” Agathe stated. “Don’t let it bother you.”
“I won’t,” Madlen affirmed. “The last weeks and months have changed me.”
“How?”
“I’ve resolved to deal only with people who look out for my best interests.”
“A wise decision,” Agathe said.
“Then I should hope that you take up your reading and writing lessons again.”
“Brother Simon?” Madlen looked at him questioningly. “I didn’t know you were here at all. Why didn’t you inform me?”