The Orphan's Wish

by Melanie Dickerson

  “Ah.” Herr Goteken narrowed his eyes again. “Not a lot of silks, gold, ivory, and jade?”

  “We imported those goods too, but most of our inventory was more practical and not brought from so far away as the Orient or the Holy Land.”

  Herr Goteken stared at him as if trying to decide something.

  The children and Goteken’s wife excused themselves from the table. Aladdin also rose. “I should be getting to the shop.”

  Herr Goteken waved his hand to dismiss him.

  Aladdin put on his warmest cloak and headed out into the cold day. As he walked he thought about how he’d almost solved the mystery of the discrepancies in the ledger. But he didn’t want to reveal anything until he was certain of his findings.

  He was nearly to the shop when someone called, “Aladdin!”

  Hereford, a buyer for Herr Kaufmann, came hurrying toward him. “I thought that was you!” He slapped him on the shoulder. “What are you doing in Hagenheim?”

  “I opened my own shop.” He smiled at the jovial man who had always been friendly to him. “How are things in Lüneburg?” He hadn’t realized how much he longed to hear from the man he had loved as a father, and from the household he had lived with for a year and a half.

  “Things are good. Except that Herr Kaufmann seems to believe in the reform of that evil imp of a son of his. He’s even been visiting him in the Rathous gaol.” Hereford frowned and shook his head. “How he can believe a word that man says is beyond my understanding. The love of a father, I suppose. But I was heartily sorry that he sent you away, Aladdin. No one believes the man’s lies about you.”

  Some did, but Aladdin decided not to point that out. “Thank you for your confidence in me.”

  “Oh, and something else is afoot.”

  Aladdin raised his brows to encourage him to go on.

  “Johann has come back from Florence.”

  “Johann?”

  “You were not in Lüneburg when he left, were you? Well, it was generally known that he was in love with Grethel Kaufmann, but Herr Kaufmann disapproved of him since he was an artist with no interest in business. Grethel was brought very low by his leaving. It was thought she might marry you, Aladdin, but . . .” He frowned again, obviously not wanting to voice the rest of his thoughts. “But now Johann is returned, and he has asked Herr Kaufmann to allow him to marry her.”

  “How did he answer?”

  “No one is entirely sure, but it seems he has not said yes or no. Johann comes to the house but is not allowed to be alone with Grethel. I believe Herr Kaufmann will soften and let her marry him, especially since she was . . . well, she was disappointed, as you know, when you told her you couldn’t marry her because you were in love with Lady Kirstyn of Hagenheim.”

  “So everyone knows that?”

  “Well . . .” He shrugged. “Those who are acquainted with the family, certainly. But it’s not my intention to cause you any pain.”

  “No, it’s all right. I am very glad to hear that Grethel’s first love has returned. I’m happy for her.”

  Hereford smiled. “It is good to see you, Aladdin. Very good to see you. How is Herr Goteken treating you? He’s not always the kindest employer or landlord, I hear.”

  “He treats me well enough. I cannot complain.”

  “When I come back to Hagenheim, shall I look for you?”

  “I hope you do.”

  They parted ways, and Aladdin felt a lightness of heart at hearing that Grethel’s old love had returned. But not hearing from Kirstyn had weighed him down over the last several days. She must be angry with him. If she wanted to see him, wouldn’t she send for him as he had asked? He’d inquired of one of the knights if she was well and he’d said yes.

  The longer he waited, the harder it was to actually go to the castle and request to see her.

  A week went by. Aladdin had been sitting on the unfortunate information about the extra goods in Herr Goteken’s warehouse that were not listed in his books. He had prayed many times but still was unsure what to do. But his conscience wouldn’t let him go on any longer. He had sent word to Herr Goteken to meet him at the end of the workday.

  Aladdin had hired a young man to watch his shop and wait on customers while he set up a second shop near the Marktplatz. Upon his return, he worked on the numbers from Herr Goteken’s ledgers while he waited for his landlord to arrive. At least it was not so cold today. He couldn’t even see his breath and had stopped having to blow on his fingers to unfreeze them.

  “What is it, Aladdin?” Herr Goteken stood in the office doorway, his body half turned toward Aladdin.

  Since no one else was around, Aladdin began. “I’ve noticed some discrepancies in the book of records and the actual inventory of goods in your warehouse.”

  “You can see that just from looking at the ledgers?”

  “Yes, if I also examine the warehouse’s inventory.”

  “Oh, well, I don’t need you to examine the warehouse’s inventory. That is not your job.”

  Aladdin stared at him a moment. “So you are not concerned about there being extra goods that are unaccounted for?”

  “Aladdin, your job is to straighten out my books and help me increase my profits. Why should you be concerned about extra goods? If my warehouse contained less inventory than was listed, then I would be upset.” His face broke into a brittle smile. “It is nothing you need to worry about.”

  “But I have been examining your inventory, and more extra goods appear nearly every day—or perhaps every night.”

  Herr Goteken scrunched his face and pursed his lips as though he was giving it great thought. “I shall have my guards look into it. Thank you, Aladdin.”

  Aladdin was nearly certain now that Herr Goteken’s men were stealing other merchants’ wares and bringing them here. And not only did Herr Goteken know about it, he was ordering them to do it. But how were they getting away with it?

  Herr Goteken began walking away, then turned around. “Just remember, you work for me. I’ll tell you what concerns you and what doesn’t. And if you prove yourself loyal and useful, who knows? There might be a fortune in it for you.” His tone was flat and even.

  Aladdin nodded even as his mind was churning.

  He needed evidence. Facts. He needed to know whom Goteken was stealing from and how. And then . . . what would Aladdin do then?

  Aladdin couldn’t let the thieving go on. It wasn’t right for those Goteken was stealing from. But he would have to trust that God would show him what to do.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Aladdin had decided the only way to find out exactly who was thieving was to spend the night at Herr Goteken’s warehouse.

  On Saturday Aladdin worked at his new shop all day, then went to bed as usual. He sometimes sat and wrote a letter to Kirstyn by candlelight—letters he had yet to send—while Herr Goteken’s other servants drank wine and strong spirits. Aladdin would be asleep well before they were in bed. He’d simply roll over and go back to sleep when they woke him with their noise.

  But tonight Aladdin stuffed his bed with old clothing to look like he was sleeping in it, then he slipped out with a large flask of strong spirits under his cloak and made his way under the cover of night to the warehouse.

  Herr Goteken’s men guarded the warehouse. But Aladdin had heard them talk and knew they liked to drink when they were on duty.

  When he reached the warehouse, he heard quiet voices before he saw the two guards sitting on stools outside the one door to the warehouse.

  He had to get them away from the door.

  He stood behind a nearby building, occasionally peeking around the side to see if they were still there. He watched them, listening to their voices, but was unable to make out their words from his hiding place. Would they eventually get up and walk away? But the longer he waited, the more convinced he was that they would stay right where they were all night.

  Aladdin moved carefully around to the side of the warehouse. The guards d
idn’t see him, so he slipped around the back. Then, when he was at the other end, he listened.

  The men were still talking. A small group of people were walking down the street, approaching Aladdin. He ducked behind the warehouse until they had passed. Then he saw a boy, probably around twelve years old, wandering down the street. He recognized him as one of the boys who sometimes stole food at the market but was too clever to get caught.

  Aladdin covered his face as much as he could with a scarf he wore around his neck and went out to meet the boy. “Would you like to make some money?”

  The boy’s eyes grew wide. He stepped closer to Aladdin.

  “Take this flask over there to those men in front of the warehouse. Tell them you’ll give it to them if they will help you get your little sister out of a hole she fell into.”

  “What hole?”

  “There is no hole. Just get them to walk with you over there.” Aladdin pointed to the other side of the street where the buildings cast a heavy shadow. “Then, when they start to ask you where it is, just tell them she must have gotten free on her own. Then give them the flask and run home.”

  The boy looked confused, but he shrugged and took the flask. Aladdin pressed the two marks in his other hand and watched him head toward the guards.

  Aladdin waited while the boy spoke to the guards. After they walked away toward the river, Aladdin carefully hurried to the warehouse door, glancing constantly at the boy and the guards. He took the key he had “borrowed” from Herr Goteken’s desk when he was not looking and unlocked the door. The boy and the guards were nearly to the river. Aladdin snuck inside and closed the door almost all the way, spying through the crack until the boy shoved the flask into their hands and ran away.

  Aladdin quietly closed the door, then hurried to a corner where he had already set up a tented pile of blankets to hide in. He crawled inside. All was quiet, and it was too dark to see anything, so, leaving a small opening at eye level, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

  Aladdin was awakened by a light shining in his eyes. Why was his bed so hard? Then he remembered he was sleeping on the floor in the warehouse.

  He tried to focus on whatever was shining the light. Through the gap in his makeshift tent, he saw two men, each carrying a lantern. Soon they put their lanterns down and began bringing in full wooden crates and setting them down. Aladdin concentrated on their faces and recognized two of Herr Goteken’s guards. He listened as they brought in crate after crate. Finally, when they paused to rest, one of the guards laughed.

  “Herr Bingen will never miss those spices.”

  “Yeah, but Herr Schlossmann has already been complaining that someone is stealing his silk cloth. I told Herr Goteken, but he said to keep taking a little at a time. He was going to make it look like one of Schlossmann’s workers was the culprit.”

  “He’s a sly one.”

  “But he pays well.” They both laughed. After they finished bringing in the stolen goods, they left.

  Aladdin lit his own candle and examined the goods—much of them just ordinary items similar to what Herr Goteken sold every day in the shops he owned and distributed to various other markets in the area.

  Aladdin blew out his candle, cleaned up his makeshift bedding, and waited until it was time for the guards to leave for their morning meal. Aladdin would have a minute or two before the next shift of guards came, so he sat by the window and never took his eyes off the guards at the door after dawn began to break. Finally they left, walking off down the street.

  Aladdin hurried out the door, locking it behind him and praying no one saw him, then kept his scarf around the lower part of his face and his hood drawn low as he walked back.

  On Monday Aladdin awoke feeling unsettled and anxious. He sat up and realized he’d slept late. All the servants had arisen and gone. Then he remembered the dream he’d had, of Kirstyn crying and turning away from him. Then the dream shifted to the front steps of the town cathedral. Kirstyn and a richly dressed man were standing in front of the priest saying their marriage vows. She turned and gave Aladdin a baleful look, then went inside the church to take the Holy Eucharist with her new husband.

  Aladdin’s heart seemed to weigh a hundred stones. Why hadn’t Kirstyn sent for him or at least written to him?

  His shops were doing well, and he now had three people working for him. He no longer worried he might be poor enough to steal, but his success was not enough to fill the need inside him for a family. The need for a friend. The need for Kirstyn.

  If Kirstyn would wait for him, he’d travel to Flanders and the Orient, buy goods there, and bring them back to Germany to sell. He might settle somewhere like Lübeck or another Hanseatic town to the north and trade with the Norwegians and Pomeranians. It wouldn’t take that long before he would be wealthy enough to feel worthy of marrying Kirstyn. But he was tired of missing her. And it wasn’t fair to make her wait for him.

  First he needed to clear his conscience, do the right thing by getting to the bottom of Herr Goteken’s nefarious activities.

  Aladdin went down to the warehouse in the hope that the two guards he’d seen moving goods into Herr Goteken’s warehouse would be there. Aladdin milled about the area outside the warehouse, but there was no activity anywhere around it. He was about to give up looking when he spotted the two guards a little way down the street. They were laughing with two other men, who abruptly turned and went in the other direction.

  This was the moment he had come for. Aladdin strode up to the guards. “Good morning.” Aladdin introduced himself.

  “Herr Goteken’s new account keeper, are you? I’m Giese,” the larger one said, “and this is Matthias.”

  “I wonder if I might ask you a question or two.”

  “We’re not busy at the moment.”

  “Very good. I only wished to ask you about the cargo I saw you bringing into Herr Goteken’s warehouse two nights ago.”

  Giese drew back, while Matthias seemed to choke on his own saliva and began coughing.

  “What are you speaking of?” Giese demanded.

  “I watched you and Matthias bring in the crates. I know Herr Goteken didn’t pay money for those goods. I want to know where you got them.”

  “Who are you to ask us that?” Matthias suddenly stepped forward, his nose only a handsbreadth from Aladdin’s.

  The man was no taller than Aladdin, but he was much wider. He could break Aladdin’s face with one blow of his fist.

  Aladdin’s heart skipped a few beats, but he stood his ground. “I only ask because Goteken suspects you of cheating him, but I can help you fool him. You know Goteken would sell you to a slaver for half your worth if he thought he could get away with it.”

  Apprehension flickered over the guard’s face, but then he nodded. “Has Herr Goteken told you he suspects we are cheating him? Well, he would cheat his mother to make half a mark. And if you’ll help us keep our secret, we will cut you in. There’s a shipment of pearls, jade, and ivory stored in a warehouse not far from here. If you keep your mouth shut, I’ll give you a share of it—enough to make you a wealthy man.” Giese stepped forward and tapped Aladdin’s chest and winked.

  Aladdin’s mind churned. Did these men just offer him the chance to have everything he’d wanted, or at least get closer to it? “How much are you offering in exchange for helping you fool Herr Goteken?”

  “Come back tonight after dark. We’ll show you.”

  “So Goteken knows nothing about this shipment? But he knows about all the other shipments you’ve been thieving from?”

  “He sends us to take a small amount from each of the warehouses on Saturday night, when all the guards are drinking.”

  “How do you get away with it? Are you bribing all those guards?”

  “A few of them. You are a curious one.”

  “I want to know if I’m a man among many—easily discarded by Herr Goteken.”

  “You? No, Herr Goteken values you, even if it’s only because you are well k
nown as the Golden Boy of Lüneburg and a friend of the Duke of Hagenheim and his daughter. But Goteken doesn’t pay you what you’re worth, and now you can get your revenge on him.” He leaned closer to Aladdin. “Wouldn’t you like to be rich? Rich enough to marry the duke’s daughter? Who deserves it more than you, eh?”

  A sick feeling in Aladdin’s stomach reminded him how he would feel if anyone found out he had profited from stolen property. But the sick feeling was also there because . . . he actually was tempted to do it. Aladdin could buy a house for Kirstyn. He could finally marry her and have the family he’d always wanted.

  But it wouldn’t be honestly gained. He would not be able to respect himself if he did it. And self-respect and peace of mind were two things he wasn’t willing to give up.

  Besides, God would not bless a lack of integrity.

  However, if he flatly refused Giese’s offer, they might kill him to keep him from telling the authorities—or Herr Goteken.

  “Perhaps I will come tonight,” Aladdin said.

  A smile overspread Giese’s weather-beaten face. “I thought you would come around to my thinking.”

  “But whether or not I do, you can be certain I will not tell Herr Goteken. There is no love between us.”

  “I thought as much.”

  When Aladdin arrived back at his sleeping quarters in Herr Goteken’s home, he packed up his few belongings, placing Kirstyn’s letters in the leather pouch that hung close to his side. Without speaking to anyone, he simply walked out of the house, not knowing where he would sleep.

  Aladdin saddled his horse and rode toward Hagenheim Castle. He already knew what he would say to her brother Valten, Lord Hamlin.

  His thoughts were of Kirstyn as he guided his horse toward the gray stone castle whose five towers were visible over rooftops at the other end of town.

  He longed to see her. His breath hitched at the prospect. But he couldn’t marry her now, and she had not answered his letter. She must surely be angry. It had been weeks. He had half hoped, half feared she would come and visit him in his little shop. What would she think of him, now just a lowly shopkeeper? Seeing her would only make him feel the full weight of his failure.