The Secret Healer(95)

“What can we do now?” Agathe asked.

“First, I want to know the whole truth,” Johannes demanded.

“What would you like to know?” Kilian looked him right in the eye.

“Agathe is your father’s sister?”

“Yes.”

“And your mother?”

“She died giving birth to Madlen.”

“And your name is Kilian, not Andreas?”

“Yes. I didn’t know whether Madlen had ever mentioned my name. So I told you my name was Andreas.”

“And how did you find out about me?”

“I followed Matthias Trauenstein from Heidelberg to Worms. He announced to everyone in town that he knew where to find Madlen, the one who killed his wife. He wanted to bring her before the court, in order to restore his reputation in the city.”

“Why did his reputation suffer when his wife was murdered?”

“How nice of you to ask, instead of assuming the worst about my sister,” Kilian said. He tried his best to contain himself before continuing. “I’ll tell you what really happened in Heidelberg.”

“Wait, let me get some beer.” Fronicka signaled the maid; she came back shortly with mugs and placed one in front of each person. Fronicka dismissed the maid with a nod and picked up her mug. “We’ll be able to think better with a little bit of brew.”

Kilian began to speak, and little by little, Johannes saw a completely different picture than what had been painted by Matthias Trauenstein. He was able to resolve the many contradictions in the alleged events described by the nobleman. Agathe and Fronicka followed the conversation, nodding silently; they were horrified as Kilian told them what happened when Madlen was first exonerated and stumbled upon Adelhaid Trauenstein’s death.

“So you really believe that this Matthias Trauenstein murdered his own wife just so she could never tell her side of the story? And so that he could be selected as a member of the city council?” Johannes was stunned.

Kilian shook his head. “I know it for a fact. The man is not in his right mind and will do anything to achieve his goals.”

“And Madlen came to Worms to escape him?” Johannes looked to Agathe.

“You can’t imagine how she suffered, as she stood at the door, helpless. I may have broken the law when I took her in and lied for her, but it was the right thing to do. I would do it again.” Agathe lifted her head proudly. Kilian looked at her with admiration.

“When Matthias Trauenstein found out that there was a woman in Worms that fit Madlen’s description, I knew that she was in grave danger. I followed him and took it upon myself to nose around a little in Worms. I found out that Madlen had married you and could piece the rest together when I heard that you were looking for the skipper that sailed with two women down the Rhine.”

“And then you found your way on the same ship and made friends with me?”

“That wasn’t planned. I liked you, that’s all. Even though I knew that you were after my sister, I wanted to get to know the man she married.”

“And with whom she was expecting a baby,” Johannes added thoughtfully.

“I only learned that when my sister and I ran into each other at the harbor.”

“When you hit me, you mean?”

“After you grabbed my sister,” Kilian clarified.

“Don’t start up with that again,” Agathe demanded.

“Well, Matthias must have followed us.” Johannes rubbed his chin.

“We led him directly to her.” Kilian took a big slug of beer.

“It’s simply unbelievable, what Maria, sorry, what Madlen had to do. She was only trying to help.” Fronicka sighed.

“Where do we look for her? Matthias must have hid her somewhere in the city,” Kilian suggested.

“She could be anywhere. But you’re right. We have to do something.” Johannes looked at Fronicka. “He doesn’t know the city, but you do. Where do you think he would take her?”

While Fronicka thought it over, Agathe chimed in. “He won’t keep her here.” She looked at the others. “Think about it. If he wanted to kill her, he would have done so at the harbor. But he didn’t. What does that tell us?”

“That he’s planning on doing something with her.” Fronicka got goose bumps. She didn’t want to imagine what this bastard would do.

Agathe continued. “What did Matthias want to achieve from the very beginning with these false allegations?”

“To keep up the pretense of being a respectable citizen,” Kilian said.

“You’re right.” Johannes drained the rest of his mug. “He caught her to bring her back to Heidelberg and put her on trial. If I had brought her to Trier and given her over to the archbishop, he wouldn’t have been able to use her to improve his reputation.” He hit the palm of his hand against his forehead. “I’m such an idiot. I led him directly to her.”