Escape from the Past (28 page)

“I have something that will do what you ask,” she finally said. Her eyes found mine, deep gray pools that showed no judgment. “If he gets too much he’ll die.”

I forgot to swallow and nodded.

Luanda began opening and closing several pots until she found the right one. She fashioned a pouch from a piece of cloth and counted something into it. Then she placed it on the table next to me.

“What is it?”

Luanda tapped the packet with her wrinkly hand. “I make a tincture to help women with their monthly problems.”

How is that making Ott miserable I thought as I carefully unwrapped the fabric. “Blueberries?”

Luanda cackled. “They do look like them, even taste sweet.
Belladonna
induces hallucinations and headaches. He’ll have a dry mouth and throat, trouble speaking. He’ll be confused and delirious.”

“All that from ten berries?” I said. The shriveled fruit looked benign.

“No more than five or six or he’ll die.” Luanda rewrapped the cloth and patted it with something like awe. “We must respect nature. She is a powerful ally and a terrifying enemy.”

I nodded, washing down the last of the tea. I thought with dread of hiking back to Hanstein on bare feet. At least it’d give me time to think. Ott wasn’t as important right now. I had to warn everyone at the castle.

Abruptly straightening I said, “I better go.”

Luanda nodded. “May your journey be safe and may you find what you seek.”

In my fist I carried the berries, but my attention was on the path and the bushes and trees beyond. Fallen leaves sprinkled the landscape and I was thankful they were mostly wet to conceal my steps. I rushed uphill, my heart beating fast, the hair on my neck raised. Around every bend, I expected an attack, someone yelling and charging me. I’d decided to sprint as hard as I could because even if I’d had a weapon, I was no match for men raised with swords.

Despite my worries I heard and saw nothing suspicious. Schwarzburg was cunning. He’d be laying in wait somewhere during the day so the visitors, peasants and vendors frequenting the village and the castle wouldn’t see them close to Hanstein, connecting the dots or by chance commenting to its residents.

I sighed with relief when I arrived at the castle gate. I was still no further with a plan, having been too distracted watching for signs of Schwarzburg’s troops. The guards waved me in and I raced past. They whistled and pointed at my frock. I didn’t care. They’d have to be warned but I had no time to spare right now.

How did you communicate to people in this giant place? How easy a mass e-mail would’ve been? I could’ve called Werner on his cell phone or simply texted a warning. No such luck in the year 1471. What time was it anyway?

When I entered the barn, Bero stopped brushing the horse and stared at me. “You look like maggot vomit. What happened?”

“Get Enders and Juliana. We’ll meet in Lady Clara’s chambers. Hurry.”

Bero glanced at me in surprise, but for once didn’t argue. Instead he threw down his brush and disappeared into the depth of the barn. Apparently, I had looked sufficiently alarming.

I bounded up the stairs of the living quarters to the third floor. “My lady?” I yelled, knocking on the door of her room. Without
waiting for an answer I rushed inside. The place was empty. I proceeded to the next door.

“Lady Clara, I must see you at once,” I shouted pounding at the door. I didn’t exactly want to find her in bed or worse in some state of undress.

Before I could knock again, the door opened and I found myself face-to-face with Juliana.

“What’s all that shouting?” she scolded. “Max?”

“I need to see you and Lady Clara. Where is she?” I peeked over Juliana’s shoulder into the room, dominated by a four-poster bed draped in wine-red curtains.

“She isn’t feeling well,” Juliana said, reducing her voice to a whisper.

“It’s an emerg—it’s important. Duke von Schwarzburg is near…”

“Max?” Lady Clara sounded feeble.

Juliana rushed back into the room, but I was faster. “My Lady, I’m sorry to disturb you,” I said at the curtain. “Hanstein will be attacked tonight.”

“Please wait for me in the other room,” the Lady said. “Juliana, help me dress.”

I retreated and paced along the hearth. To give myself something to do, I added logs and coaxed the fire to life. The outer door was yanked open and Bero and Enders entered.

Bero looked anxious. “I can’t find Juliana.”

“She’s with Lady Clara next door,” I said.

“What’s going on?” Enders asked.

I was thankful he didn’t comment on the nightgown. “I’ll explain everything as soon as the women join us.”

No such luck from Bero. “Why are you dressed like a girl?” he sniggered. “Didn’t you just get new clothes?”

Ignoring him, I turned my back. The guy was impossible.

But the waiting was worse. As the minutes ticked away, I grew more uneasy. It had to be afternoon already. Time was
running out.

“What is so urgent?” Lady Clara said as she entered and sank into a chair by the fire. She was paler than I remembered and had shadows under her eyes. Juliana brought a blanket and wrapped it around her mistress’s legs.

“I’m sorry to disturb. Duke von Schwarzburg is planning to attack Hanstein tonight while Lord Werner is away. The Duke’s working with Miranda and they—”

“How do you know this?” Enders interrupted.

Lady Clara lifted an arm. “Let Max finish.”

“I went swimming and overheard Schwarzburg’s men. They took my clothes, thinking I’d drowned myself. Luanda helped me. That’s why I look like a scarecrow.” I grimaced.

Lady Clara rubbed her forehead. “I expect Lord von Hanstein back later tonight.”

“Miranda will put something in his drink to make him sleep. He’s visiting with all his men. They’ll sleep through the assault. When they return tomorrow, it will be too late.”

Silence. The piney wood settled in the coals. It was the only sound.

Enders crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at me. “Are you sure? What did Schwarzburg’s men look like?” he said. “Besides, why would the Duke attack Hanstein?”

Lady Clara sighed. “I suppose he wants me back. I’m not surprised he’d do this. He’s used to getting his way. And he detests Knight Werner…that I didn’t…”

My toes felt numb standing still, so I stepped closer to the fire. The straw didn’t insulate from the icy stone floor and I wrapped the free-flowing cloth tighter around my knees.

“I took a swim.” I looked at Juliana suddenly remembering why I’d gone there in the first place. Schwarzburg had a way of ruining my plans. “When I was finished I heard something and hid in the reeds. Two men were talking about the Duke and Miranda.”

Enders slowly nodded. But his eyes remained suspicious. “Did they say when the attack would happen?”

“They didn’t. I’d expect during the night when everyone sleeps.” When do attacks usually happen, I wanted to add.

“We must warn the Lord,” Bero shouted.

“We have to hide,” Juliana said at the same time.

I nodded. “Maybe both. If this goes badly, Castle Hanstein would be in Schwarzburg’s hands by morning.”

“What are we going to do?” Lady Clara threw up a trembling hand. “Other than the few guards, we have no protection. All the knights left.”

“Can we get help?” I asked.

“Like what?” Enders said.

I thought of the police, Special Forces or some other government protection. There was no such thing in the Middle Ages. “What about that Landgrave, the Lord is friends with?”

“Heinrich III. von Hessen?” Lady Clara said.

I nodded. “I heard Lord Werner talk to his sons. The Landgrave sounds like a powerful man.”

Lady Clara shook her head. “The Landgrave lives in Marburg, ten hours by horse and at least three days on foot.”

“Then one of us must travel to Miranda’s,” I said.

“Oh, no,” Juliana cried. “He’ll murder you…and Bero.”

“Nay, he doesn’t know Enders,” Bero said.

Enders shook his head. “I’m a squire. It’ll look suspicious if I show up alone.”

“What are we going to do?” Juliana said. She sounded close to tears.

I glanced at my friends one by one. “What about the church here in Rimbach? It’s practically a few hundred feet away. Let us hide there.”

“And then what?” Enders hissed. “We’ll hand the castle to the Duke? Even if all of us seek shelter in the church, we have no food and no place to go back to. Our lives are at Hanstein.
Schwarzburg will take over the castle and Lord Werner will lose his home. We all lose our home.”

“What about Lame Hans, the Lord’s brother?” I asked. I wasn’t exactly keen on talking to the grump, but he was second master of Hanstein.

“He went along to Miranda’s,” Enders said. “At first, he wanted to stay, but Lord Werner convinced him to go and partake in their merriment. With his bad leg, Lord Hans doesn’t get out much.”

Again the room fell silent.

“What about a disguise?” Juliana said.

“You want to dress like a lady?” Bero mocked his sister. “Of course, Max here makes a pretty good girl.”

“Very funny,” I said. My throat was getting tight, a sure sign that panic was setting in. Finding out about the attack had been total luck. Now luck was running out. I’d made no progress other than get everyone into a tizzy.

“I may have a scheme,” Enders said suddenly. “It may work if…” He looked at me. Then he walked over and put one arm on my shoulder and nodded. “It might just work.”

“What would work? Tell us, Enders,” Lady Clara said.

“Tell us,” Juliana and Bero shouted.

I said nothing, my eyes glued to Enders face.

“Remember my uncle who perished in battle recently? He’d fought Schwarzburg’s men and they cut him down.” Enders paused. I thought of the blood gurgling from the dying knight’s chest.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Bero said.

“Nothing except he left me a few things. And when you were talking about dress up and about me going to Lady Miranda’s manor, I thought…”

“What?” We all said.

“Max is about my uncle’s height who was a great knight, of course. But Max could go as a knight and I could be his squire.”

“What nonsense is that?” I blurted. “Ott knows me and so does Miranda. They’ll stop me at the gate before I ever make it inside.”

“What if you wear my uncle’s helmet and armor? You’ll keep it on until you get into the halls. All you have to do is find Werner’s men. They’ll all be drinking and it will be easy to join once you’re past the guards.”

I shook my head. “It’ll never work. I’m no knight.” I’m a fifteen-year-old gamer in 11th grade I wanted to scream.

But the others had started talking. “It might work.” Bero folded his arms and throwing me an appraising look as if he were buying pigs at market. “Max will have to walk really straight and look fearsome. And he’ll have to quit talking funny.”

“I think you could do it,” Lady Clara said.

“No!” I shouted. “They’ll see right through it.”

“Why would they?” Enders said. “They’re just looking at the armor and Hanstein’s crest. They’ll think you’re one of Werner’s knights coming late. There’ll be a hundred guests, maybe two hundred.”

“It may be our only chance,” Lady Clara said. “If Max is successful, and he’ll have to be crafty, the Lord will return in time and surprise
dear
Schwarzburg.”

I shook my head and inspected my dust-covered feet. When I looked up they were all staring at me.

“What say you?” Lady Clara’s cornflower blues were pleading. “Will you try to save us from certain doom?”

I swallowed. My stomach heaved and I wanted to dig into the straw to hide. The last time I’d tried to impress Bero and Juliana by visiting their mother, I’d nearly died. Why did I even care?

Because you’re all alone in the world,
the voice in my head whispered.

This time death would be certain. I couldn’t ride well. Getting into Miranda’s manor was like jumping headfirst into a hundred swords. They’d cut me down before I’d raise a blade. My eyes
stopped at Juliana’s face. She hadn’t said much, but her eyes were dark with agony.

“All right,” I finally said. “I’ll do it.”

“You
are
valiant.” Lady Clara nodded at Juliana who helped the Lady out of her chair. “I will return to my chambers.”

I wanted to shout. Wait. What if the plan doesn’t work? Schwarzburg would find Lady Clara sick and helpless in her bed. And Juliana with her.

“May the Lord protect you,” Juliana whispered as she planted a quick kiss on my cheek. “I’ll wait for you.”

I nodded, feeling numb.

“Let’s go,” Enders said. “We’ve got a lot to do to make you into a knight.”

Bero nodded. But this time, he didn’t comment.

I followed Bero and Enders into the bowels of the barn where Enders had set up house in one of the stalls. Spare pants and a Surcot hung on hooks. Next to them dangled his uncle’s robes, leather vest, armored plates, the helmet and Hanstein shield.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I mumbled as Bero handed me items of clothing. Enders had organized an extra pair of linen underpants, tights, socks and shoes. The Surcot was short and tied on the sides. Over it, I fastened the leather vest and arm protection. Then came the armor, front and back breastplates. They were large and hung loose.

“He’s too thin,” Enders mumbled as if I were some mannequin to be dressed. “We need more clothes.”

“Thanks a lot,” I said. “I should’ve gone into bodybuilding instead of soccer,” I mumbled to myself.

“Body what?” Bero said.

“None of your business,” I snapped. I hadn’t really meant to, but I was getting really pissed at everything. A fine plan they had. I had to be completely mad to go through with this.

“Put on another Surcot. It will make you appear bigger.”
Enders grabbed the last garment from the hook. “It better work,” he said. “I have nothing else.”

They reattached the armor and Enders handed me the helmet. “Try it.”

I shoved the piece over my head. It reminded me of a can—a tin can for skulls. I hardly heard anything and my sight was restricted to an inch-wide slit. The metal felt cold and unforgiving against my forehead and ears. How could anyone operate with a thing like that on their head?