The Witches' Covenant (Twin Magic Book 2)

by Michael Dalton

  ERICH WOKE well after dawn, disentangling himself from the nude bodies on either side of him. Tired as they all had been, they had not gone to sleep for quite some time.

  He climbed out from between his wives. Ariel was sound asleep. Astrid mumbled something and rolled over, then was still. He found the chamberpot and emptied his bladder. Astrid’s breasts had come out from underneath the bedclothes, and he spent a few moments admiring their perfect shape and firmness as he dressed.

  Erich was still trying to absorb the previous day’s events. There were things going on here that he did not like, yet could seemingly do nothing about, and this annoyed him no end. These were not problems he could solve with his sword arm, and all things being equal, those were the sorts of problems he preferred.

  He supposed that came from being married to a pair of mages with unique talents. He had gone into this marriage with his eyes open, but clearly this was going to take some adjustment.

  Erich descended to the main room to fetch some bread, cheese, and ham for breakfast. As the innkeeper pulled something together for them, Erich noticed there was a crowd of people milling around in the main square.

  “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know,” the innkeeper replied. “But they’ve been out there since just after dawn. More of them every time I look out there.”

  Erich leaned out the doorway. Whatever it was, the crowd seemed agitated. He noticed the Teutonic knight from the church they had met the previous day, but it was not clear what he was doing.

  He returned to the room to find his wives awake. The pleasant sight of the two of them sitting up together, bare-breasted, was marred by the concern on the their faces when he entered.

  “You gave us a scare,” Astrid said. “After yesterday . . .”

  Erich suddenly remembered they had woken up to find Ariel gone, and a wave of guilt washed over him.

  “I’m sorry. I was hungry.” He handed over the food he had gotten from the innkeeper. “Here, eat.”

  “I WILL BE HAPPY to be out of this town,” Astrid said when the three of them were dressed and fed.

  “The weather seems favorable,” Erich said. “The air is not too cold and the sky is clear. A good day to head into the hills.”

  There was a buzzing noise in the background that Erich gradually realized was the crowd outside, growing louder, whatever was going on. He peered out the small window of their room. Astrid leaned against him, looking over his shoulder.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know. The innkeeper said they’ve been out there since dawn. More of them now than when I went down earlier.”

  Her forehead creased in worry. “They seem upset.”

  “Whatever it is, it’s no concern of ours. We’re getting out of here.”

  The three of them finished packing and descended to the main room. The crowd was now half again as large as he had seen earlier, and Astrid was right: They were agitated about something. Erich stopped.

  “Wait here. I’m going to go around and get the horses. Put your cloaks up.”

  The girls complied, and Erich slipped out the door. A few people looked in his direction, but they seemed to be looking for something else. Around the back of the inn were the stables. The stableboy was nowhere to be seen, so Erich had to saddle the horses himself.

  He had just gotten the last saddle into place when he heard someone screaming—a voice that sounded frighteningly familiar.

  Erich launched himself onto his horse, grabbed the reins of the other two, and charged back around the inn. He had to pull up immediately, because the crowd had surged forward around the building—dozens of people now blocked his way.

  And in the midst of it all were Ariel and Astrid, being dragged toward the center of the square. They were trying to reach each other, but the villagers were holding them apart. Erich dropped the reins of the other horses and drew his war knife.

  “Out of my way! Move or die!”

  The townspeople in front of him fell back, and he pushed his horse forward. But as he did so, other townspeople around his wives closed ranks. Some were carrying farm implements like rakes and scythes, which they held in his direction.

  Erich chopped the end off one long rake, but the others threatened his horse, which could not move forward.

  Now Ariel and Astrid saw him, crying to him. The Teutonic knight stepped in front of them, holding his mace.

  “Hold! Hold, I say!” he shouted.

  “Release them, or you will meet God much sooner than you planned, priest!”

  “Erich, no!” Astrid yelled.

  “Let them go!”

  The knight moved forward. “They are under arrest! If you interfere you will be as well.”

  “Arrest for what? We have done nothing.”

  “Witchcraft. Last night, there was a grave disturbance at the castle, and at least one child is missing. Your wife and her sister stand accused.”

  “By whom? And on what grounds?”

  “Your wife’s sister was seen taking a child yesterday.”

  Erich snarled. “Which was returned to its mother. We discussed this, as you well know!”

  “After last night, every suspicion must be investigated.”

  Erich’s horse started, and he realized the crowd had closed in behind him.

  “Arrest him!” someone yelled. “He must be a witch as well!” another cried.

  Erich held his sword over his head, turning his horse about to drive the crowd back. “I am naught but a swordsman, and I will be happy to demonstrate that fact to any man who attempts to arrest me!”

  “You indict yourself by interfering with this,” the knight replied.

  “Erich, stop!” Astrid cried. “Please! We can surely explain this to them. We have done nothing.”

  Erich ignored her, spurring his horse toward the knight.

  “I say again, release them, or there will be bloodshed here!”

  The knight was not deterred. “They will be released after they prove their innocence and not before.”

  Again, Astrid cried out at him. “Erich, please, no!”

  The crowd was pulling them away, further behind the knight. Erich could see he was not going to reach them without cutting through the crowd. Which, he realized, could lead to a riot.

  And would confirm their guilt to their accusers.

  He glared down at the knight. “I will not stand to have them tortured. There are better ways of proving their innocence.”

  “They will have a chance to exonerate themselves.”

  Erich was not reassured. He played his last card, a bluff though it was.

  “Unless the Landgrave wishes to start a war with Jülich-Berg, they will not be harmed, do you understand me?”

  The knight’s face darkened. He seemed to have forgotten this part of their conversation.

  “They will be treated fairly.”

  “If they are injured in any way, your head will be taking leave of its neck,” Erich said. “I do not care what the consequences may be.” Then he turned to the crowd of villagers. “And the blood will run through this square like the runoff from a spring thunderstorm!”

  The villagers fell back, keeping their distance, but remained in a circle around him.

  “Your threats are noted, sir,” the knight replied.

  Erich spun around again. “Where are they being taken?”

  “To the castle.”

  “Then I will accompany you.”

  Seeing no further compromise in Erich’s eyes, the knight nodded. “Come if you will.”

  ERICH WAS forced to take the horses back to the stable behind the inn, then he returned to follow the knight up the road to the castle. The crowd kept him apart from Ariel and Astrid, but they did not appear to be in immediate distress.

  When they arrived at the gatehouse, it seemed the knight was expected, and after speaking briefly to the guards, they took the girls inside. The knight attempted to join them but Erich grabbed his arm.<
br />
  “I am coming with you.”

  “They will not allow you inside. I will be back.”

  “If there is any delay, I will be coming in on my own.”

  The knight freed himself from Erich’s grip, then laid his hand on Erich’s shoulder.

  “Peace. Nothing will happen today. I will return for you. I give you my word before God.”

  Erich fumed. “Give me your name. You know mine, and I trust you will relay it to the Landgrave.”

  “I am Peter. The guards know me. It will not be long.”

  In fact, it was nearly an hour, during which the crowd dispersed and Erich glowered at the few who remained and the guards in equal measure. As he waited, he felt something rub against his leg, and he looked down to see that Shadow had rejoined him. As she often did, she had slipped away during the commotion and returned when it was safe to do so.

  He reached down and scratched her head. The appearance of the wolf did not endear him to the villagers watching, but Erich did not care.

  At last, Peter returned.

  “Come. They wish to speak with you.”

  Erich followed the knight into the castle, though he told Shadow to remain behind and wait. At the first doorway, the guards attempted to disarm him, but Erich refused.

  “I am a fellow noble, and I am entitled to bear arms on the Landgrave’s property under the laws of the Empire. I will surrender my sword if he requests it, but not before that.”

  That was enough to stay the guards, who muttered in confusion before letting him pass.

  They led Erich and Peter down several hallways before reaching a large room. Inside were more guards, and a broad man who resembled a bear as much as anything else. He scowled at Erich’s sword briefly.

  “You are truly the brother of Duke von Jülich-Berg?”

  “I am.”

  “What is your business in these lands?”

  “We are passing through on our way to Wittenberg, nothing more.”

  “What is your business there?”

  “It is with Elector Frederick, not you.”

  The man’s face darkened. “There is talk of heresy in Wittenberg. Friar Luther. You have heard of him?”

  “This is not the business I am here for.” Erich returned the scowl. “You know my name, but I do not know yours, sir.”

  “I am Matthias, captain of the Landgrave’s guards.”

  “And where is the Landgrave? Are my—” Erich caught himself just in time to keep from confessing to bigamy. “—my wife and her sister being held on his authority?”

  “They are confined at the moment, accused of witchcraft. Are you aware of what happened in this castle last night?”

  “I am not. Last night, the three of us took a quiet dinner in the inn where we have been staying. The innkeeper can testify to this.”

  Matthias took a deep breath, and if possible, his face darkened even further. “The Landgrave’s ball was interrupted by an outrageous display of devilry last night. And during this outrage, my infant daughter was stolen from her crib and replaced with a changeling.”

  Erich’s resolve weakened. If this was true, the matter was considerably more grave than he had thought.

  “I am sorry about your daughter, but I know nothing of this. Other than that my wife and her sister are not responsible.”

  “I am told they have confessed to being witches.”

  “Mages. Not witches. I would hope a man of your station knows the difference.”

  “Before last night, I would have agreed with you. But an automaton created by the Landgrave’s chief artificer was possessed by demons last night. On that basis, all mages in this town are suspect.”

  “All? My wife and her sister are healers, naturalists. They could not manage such a foul trick even if they wished to. Do you suspect this artificer as well?”

  Matthias glared at him.

  “The Landgrave believes him to be innocent.”

  Erich took a moment to calm himself.

  “What is to be done with my wife and her sister?”

  “That is for the Landgrave to decide.”

  “Then I wish to speak with him.”

  Matthias glanced at Peter, then back at him. Finally, he replied.

  “Remain here. I will relay this to him.”

  28.

  MATTHIAS RETURNED in about a quarter of an hour.

  “The Landgrave will see you. But I must insist you leave your sword here.”

  Erich nodded. He was making some progress. He removed his sword belt and handed it to Matthias.

  The guard captain set Erich’s weapons behind his table, and led Erich and Peter out of the guardroom. Erich followed him up several flights of stairs and into a broad hall. At the far end was a tall wooden chair with a young man sitting in it. Around him were several others, including an older woman in great distress.

  “Erich von Jülich-Berg,” Matthias announced. Erich bowed as the others looked over to him. The older woman immediately charged forward.

  “Where is my daughter?” she shrieked. “Where is she?!”

  Matthias stepped over to intercept her, catching her in his arms.

  “Erika, be still.”

  “They took her! They took Ulrike!”

  “Ma’am, we took no babe from this castle,” Erich said loudly. “I am sorry for your misfortune, but my wife and sister are not responsible.”

  “They are witches! They took her!”

  “Silence! Be still!” the young man shouted, though his thin voice was not quite equal to the task. Erich finally realized this tall but slight youth was the Landgrave. Meanwhile, Matthias had succeeded in restraining the older woman, which Erich also now understood must be his wife.

  Landgrave Philip stood and walked over to them. He glared particularly at Erich.

  “I demand an explanation. Why did you not present yourself to my court when you arrived in Marburg?”

  This was not the question Erich expected to face first. He took a moment to compose himself.

  “Because, your Grace, I am not the Duke of Jülich-Berg, and we were merely passing through your lands. We did not wish to waste your very valuable time with pointless court functions. For that, you have my profound apologies.”

  Erich bowed again. When he looked up, Philip appeared mollified enough.

  “Where were you going?”

  “To Wittenberg, your Grace.”

  “Why? Do you have business with Friar Luther?”

  Erich fumed. Why were they so obsessed with this?

  “With Elector Frederick, your Grace.”

  “Who is Luther’s patron. What do you know of Luther?”

  “Little other than that the Pope has denounced him.”

  “If you are proceeding on to Wittenberg, will you deliver a letter to him from me?”

  Erich’s jaw dropped slightly. This discussion had rapidly taken a turn into unfamiliar territory. But he recovered quickly.

  “I would be happy to perform such a favor for a fellow noble, your Grace.”

  Philip nodded.

  “Thank you. Now, as to this matter with the witches. Did Matthias tell you how my ball was disrupted last night?”

  “Yes.”

  “And they took my babe!” Erika cried. But Philip held up his hand.

  “And that as well. Have you heard the story of the witches of Marburg, and how they have plagued this land?”

  “I have, if only briefly. But I thought it no more than a bedtime tale.”

  “So did I, until recently. But now we know the truth.” He turned to the attendants in the rear of the room. “Bring the changeling here.”

  One of the men approached, carrying a babe in a rough blanket.

  “This foul thing was left in place of Matthias and Erika’s daughter. Note how it has the mark of the devil upon its head.”

  To Erich it appeared to be a perfectly normal child, save for the birthmark on its forehead. It fussed and squirmed against the grip of the man holdin
g it.

  “I have been told the best solution is beat this thing with a switch until its cries bring forth the witches to return to the babe.”

  Erich gritted his teeth.

  “I have heard that tale as well, your Grace. But perhaps there is a less cruel way to do this. Perhaps my wife and sister could assist.”

  “We should beat the thing in their presence and see how they react,” the man holding the child said. “If they do not produce the child, then perhaps they are innocent.”

  “No!” Erika cried. “They took my child!”

  Erich could stand no more of this. “My wife and her sister are good and honest women who would never do such a thing,” he snapped at her. “I was in their presence all of last night, and nothing of the sort happened.”

  “He lies!”

  Again, Matthias had to drag his wife backwards. Erich struggled to retain control of his temper.

  “I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to resolve this matter and free my wife and her sister.”

  “I do not recommend releasing them unless the child has been returned,” the man with the babe said.

  Philip nodded. “If you can find and return the child, that would speak well of their innocence.”

  Erich struggled with himself for several moments. He knew very well where the babe had likely been taken. But he saw no way he could convince the witch to return the child, not after what she had apparently done to take her.

  “How am I to do this?”

  “Beat this thing, as I said. Take it to the fields outside the town, and beat it. The stories say that will bring the witches forth with the child they took.”

  The man holding the child nodded. “Just so.”

  “I do not trust him,” Erika said. “Send a guard with him. Several of them.”

  The others looked around at each other. “Do you object?” Matthias asked.

  Erich could see no way out of this for now. But perhaps he could think of something. He sighed.

  “No.”

  ERICH AND MATTHIAS returned to the guardroom. Matthias handed back Erich’s weapons, then told him to wait.

  It was perhaps half an hour later before Matthias returned. Behind him was a single guard, and it took a moment or two before Erich realized with a start that he recognized him—it was Hans Bergdahl.