The Golden Braid (35 page)

He would not allow his brother to stir his anger. He couldn't afford to since he did not want any harm to come to Rapunzel, or even Gothel, for that matter. Perhaps he would not have to tell his name and his brother would never know. After all, they had not seen each other since they were both children.

A stable boy took their horse and donkey, and Gerek led Gothel by her rope as she grumbled under her breath. A guard met them at the enormous wooden door.

The guard who had accompanied them told the other one that the
bound woman was a prisoner being taken back to Hagenheim, and he agreed to take her to the dungeon and feed her.

“Be very careful of that one,” Gerek told him. “She is much more dangerous than she looks. But treat her well or Duke Wilhelm will not be pleased.”

The guard grunted, but nodded and took her away.

He might have breathed a small sigh of relief if he didn't know he had to face his brother. “Is Lord Rimmel here?”

The guard nodded. “They are having supper in the Great Hall. I shall take you there now. Knights are always welcome at his table.”

At least Mennek had that much courtesy.

They followed the guard through the dark corridor the short distance to the Great Hall. Rapunzel kept close by his side.

The guard walked in ahead of them and stopped, facing the table on the raised dais. The man at the head of the table looked down at them, then nodded at the guard.

“Lord Rimmel, this is a knight in the service of Duke Wilhelm, who is traveling with this woman and another woman who is his prisoner, now in the dungeon.” The guard bowed.

He stared at Gerek. Mennek's hair was a bit darker and his face had grown quite plump, nearly unrecognizable from the skinny boy of fifteen who had yelled at Gerek, “It is your fault she's dead!” He had then picked up a large pottery pitcher next to him and threw it at Gerek. The pitcher had just missed his head and crashed into pieces on the floor. Had it been in this very room?

“And what might the name be of this knight in Duke Wilhelm's service?” Did Mennek suspect he was his brother?

“I am known as Sir Gerek of Hagenheim.”

Mennek's eyes seemed to draw together. “Gerek?” He continued to stare, then slowly rose from his chair. “Gerek? Not my brother Gerek?”

Gerek bowed slightly. “The same.” Gerek no longer felt small
in his brother's eyes. His brother had grown soft and paunchy while Gerek was battle-ready, muscular, and well trained. Mennek might have a title, but Gerek was strong. He would not feel inferior.

Mennek continued to stand, and now the Great Hall had grown hushed. “What brings you here?”

“I am seeking shelter for the night for my prisoner and this lady.” He said the word smoothly, not wanting Mennek to know she was but a maidservant.

Mennek nodded. “You are very welcome here. Please, come up to my table.” He snapped his fingers at a passing page. “Bring these two guests a trencher and goblet. Quickly.”

Gerek held out his arm to Rapunzel, who took it and walked beside him up the step to join Mennek.

His other guests made a place next to Mennek. Gerek found himself sitting opposite an older couple who looked vaguely familiar.

“Gerek, you may not remember your aunt and uncle, Hinrich and Ursel.”

Gerek nodded politely to them. Ursel smiled and said, “You were such a handsome little boy, and you are still quite handsome.”

His uncle Hinrich said, “You have grown into a fine knight, as we all have heard of your tournament exploits with Lord Hamlin.”

Gerek bowed his head respectfully. He could not remember, but he was fairly certain these were his mother's sister and her husband.

“This is Rapunzel Scheinberg,” he said as formally as possible. He turned to Rapunzel. “And this is my brother, Mennek van Hollan, the Earl of Rimmel.”

Rapunzel inclined her head in the most natural way, as if she had been greeting earls all her life. “Very pleased, Lord Rimmel.”

They had been traveling all day, but Rapunzel still looked beautiful. She wore a very becoming pink gown. Her thick, golden braid lay over her shoulder, as she had nothing to cover it with.

Hinrich and Ursel chatted with them in a most friendly way, with Mennek chiming in occasionally while they ate. But Gerek was very aware of his brother sitting, nearly silent, beside him. Did he still hold a grudge against Gerek?

The food might have tasted good, but he didn't notice. His uncle asked him questions about his life and about Duke Wilhelm and Valten, who would one day be the ruler of Hagenheim. Rapunzel, meanwhile, seemed to make a good impression on his aunt, as Ursel laughed at each of Rapunzel's jests, no matter how slight, and called her “a delightful girl.”

When it was finally time to retire for the night, Mennek said, “I shall show you two to your room.”

Had he said “room” or “rooms”? Gerek wasn't sure, but if his brother dared insult Rapunzel or make lewd insinuations, he would not let him get away with it.

Hinrich and Ursel wanted to walk with them, so they all tramped through the Great Hall and the corridor to the stairs.

“I hope you will not be leaving too early in the morning,” Ursel said. “Perhaps you could even stay a few days.”

Gerek opened his mouth to answer her, but Rapunzel beat him to it.

“I'm afraid we must leave very early. I must get back to Hagenheim. But if you are ever traveling to Hagenheim, I will hope to see you there.”

“Would you like an escort?” Mennek asked. “I can send two of my guards—”

“No, I thank you. But I would ask if you would do something else for me.”

Mennek stopped and stared at him. Strange that Gerek was now taller than him.

“If you could keep my prisoner here until I can get Rapunzel back
to Hagenheim, Duke Wilhelm will send guards to fetch her.” Gerek stared him in the eye, challenging him to say no.

“I can do that. For Duke Wihelm, and for my brother, of course.”

“Will you ask your guards not to mistreat her?” Rapunzel said in a quiet voice.

Mennek seemed a bit startled by her request. “Ach, but of course.”

“She is very devious,” Rapunzel said, “so you mustn't let her escape. But I do not want the guards molesting her in any way.” Rapunzel smiled at him.

Mennek smiled back, obviously charmed. “My dear, I shall see to it.”

Mennek slowed at one door. “Here is your chamber.” He looked at Rapunzel.
“Gute nacht.”

“Gute nacht.”

“I shall show her around and make sure she is comfortable,” Ursel said and followed her into the room.

Hinrich clasped arms with Gerek. “You are an honorable man, Sir Gerek, and have brought honor to your family name.”

His words actually made Gerek's eyes sting. He didn't trust himself to speak, so he simply nodded.

“I hope I see you again someday. Fare well, Sir Gerek.”

“Thank you. Fare well.”

Hinrich continued down the corridor.

Mennek had stopped at the door nearest to Rapunzel's. “Here is your room. I thought you might like the one adjoining the lady's.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Gerek looked him in the eye.

“I don't mean any disrespect, but the way you both looked at each other, I simply thought . . . You are human, are you not?”

“Whatever you think being human is, she is a virtuous maiden. But I thank you for putting me near enough to her that I can protect her should anyone in your household impose on her. I shall have her bolt her door just in case.”

Mennek glared back at him. “No one in my household is allowed to do such things. But that is probably wise, no matter whose household you are in.”

The tension gradually left his face and he said in a milder tone, “Gerek, I don't know if you remember, but I said some things to you, after what Father did . . . after Mother died. I hope you do not begrudge me my foolish accusations. You were only a child and what I said was . . . unjust.”

Whatever Gerek had expected him to say, it was not that. Gerek cleared his throat.

“And if you ever need anything, you can depend upon me. You are always welcome here, and I hope you will visit often, whenever you are able.”

Gerek thought of all the pain he had carried around because of what his brother had said to him. What Mennek had said
was
unjust. Truly unjust. But Gerek didn't want to hold that against him anymore. Besides, Jesus commanded forgiveness.

“I forgive you, Mennek, and I shall try to come more often.” He wouldn't promise him Christmas, however.

“I have a child now,” Mennek said. “He is almost one year old. Would you like to see him?”

Gerek actually took a step back. “I didn't know you were married.”

“I am not. The child's mother . . . I did not marry her. She was a girl from the village. When she was dying, I promised her the child would be my heir.” Mennek shrugged. “I don't think I will ever marry, especially now.”

Gerek stared at his brother a moment, then said, “I would like to see the child.”

Mennek smiled, the first time he had smiled all evening. “He's probably asleep, but you can see him.”

Gerek followed him down the corridor and up another flight of
stairs. He halted in front of a door, then opened it. Inside a candle burned beside a baby bed, and a woman slept on a cot next to it. The woman awakened and sat up as they walked inside.

Mennek ignored her and went straight to the side of the baby's bed. He whispered, “What do you think? Does he look like me?”

The child was sleeping on his back, his curled hands by the side of his chubby cheek. Delicate wisps of brown hair covered his head. “I think there might be some resemblance in the cheeks,” Gerek answered.

Mennek elbowed Gerek but kept smiling.

Once they were back out in the corridor, Gerek said, “He is a fine boy, Mennek. I'm glad you're taking good care of him.” But what his brother had said about not ever getting married . . . Mennek had witnessed more of their parents' fights, more of his father's anger and violence. For the first time, Gerek realized
he
was the fortunate one. He'd resented Mennek for being the oldest, for spending more time with their mother, for inheriting the castle and the title, for not being sent away to train as a knight. And yet Gerek was the one who had escaped some of the violence, had missed the horrible night when his mother was killed and his father jumped from the upper window. Gerek had grown up with Valten, a good and kind man, seeing the example of Duke Wilhelm, a truly noble man, and Lady Rose, a wonderful lady who had mothered him and shown him kindness.

Gerek had much to be grateful for.

They were both silent as they neared Gerek's bedchamber door. Finally, Mennek said, “Hinrich and Ursel have been very good to me, like parents, especially when I was younger. I hope you also had someone like them, Gerek.”

“I did.”

Mennek nodded, clapped Gerek on the shoulder. Mennek turned to leave and Gerek went into his bedchamber.

He barely glanced at the bed, but went to the door that adjoined his room to Rapunzel's. He knocked on the door, then opened it a crack. “Rapunzel?”

“Yes, I am here.”

“I am here too,” Ursel called. “You can come in, if you like.”

“I only wanted to make sure Rapunzel was safe.” Gerek closed the door, then waited, listening for Ursel to leave. A minute or two later, he heard their muffled voices, then the sound of the door closing. He knocked again. When he opened it, Rapunzel was directly on the other side.

“I like your aunt. She made me feel so . . . lovable.” She was smiling, as if amused at herself.

Lovable? Oh yes. She was lovable.

“Do you need anything?”

“No, Ursel is sending a servant to bring me some things.”

“As soon as the servant leaves, will you knock on the door?”

She gave him a quizzical frown but nodded.

A few minutes later the door opened, then moments later, shut. Then came the gentle knock on the door between them.

He opened the door. “Did you put down the crossbar on your door?”

“Yes.” She stared up at him, her feet bare, and her hair was just as bare and hung around her shoulders like a curtain of gold in the dim light.

“Please leave this door unbarred in case something happens, so I can come in and help you.”

“Very well.”

“If you need me, just scream.”

“I will.” She gave him an amused smile.

“So you trust me, then?”

She looked him in the eye, her face only a foot away from his. “I do.”

“You trust me not to do all those things your mother said—”

“Not my mother. She is Gothel.”

“You trust me not to do all those things Gothel warned you about?”

“I do. I trust you.”

Was he the only person in the world who knew how precious her trust was, who knew how difficult it was for her to give it? “Thank you.” He yearned to caress her cheek, to enfold her in his arms. But that could chase away her trust.

“Gute nacht, Sir Gerek.”

“Gute nacht, Rapunzel.”