Monday, September 21, 2015

Carriage of Carnage [unfinished]

Two weeks had passed since young Viktor, son of Duke Aleksandr of Belarus, had burst into the great hall of the latter’s estate, shaking violently from his ordeal.  In contrast, the demeanor of the two middle-aged men who now stood before the duke and me was one of complete composure, eerily underscoring the gravity of the situation.  Their menacing ultimatum was delivered politely by the taller of the two, a man called Baltazar.  His head bobbed slightly as he talked, as if he were pointing his sharp black goatee accusingly at us.   

“If upon the 25th of this month the murderers of Prince Bronislaw are not delivered to King Ambrozy, then his majesty shall be forced to take punitive measures against the duchy of Belarus.”

Duke Aleksandr bit his lower lip in frustration.  “This horrid deed was the act of bandits,” he replied.  He waved his right arm in the direction of Viktor, who stood timidly several feet behind his father, his sister Ludmila by his side.  “My own son was in mortal danger.  Surely you do not believe that I am complicit in this.”

“It matters not what I believe, your grace,” Baltazar said.  “His majesty grows impatient.”  Then he added, “He does find it strange that your son was unharmed, while the prince and his entourage were slaughtered.”

Ludmila came to Viktor’s defense, nearly lunging at the Polish envoys.  “That my brother escaped with his life was but by the grace of God,” she snapped.  She blinked back tears.  “And why would my father wish to harm my future husband, and destroy the alliance between Belarus and Poland?”

Baltazar was imperturbable.  “I do not know,” he replied.  “But the king will have justice.”  With that, he and his companion bowed and departed, accompanied by an armed retinue of six Polish soldiers.  

The duke had not been idle in his response to the attack which had left Prince Bronislaw and four of the prince’s countrymen dead.  He had authorized Dmitry Kulik, chief magistrate of Minsk, to take whatever action was necessary, which had precipitated mass interrogations, the ransacking of homes and stores, and torture.  A groom by the name of Vladimir Moroz had even confessed to perpetrating the entire massacre himself, but the likelihood of one man’s carrying out such carnage was nearly impossible.  And the fact that Moroz claimed that he had committed the murders while in the form of a great bear also hurt his credibility.  In another week there would likely be more bloodshed, and Duke Aleksandr looked more flustered than I had ever seen him, so much so that he at first did not respond when I addressed him.

“Your Grace,” I tried again, a little louder.

He started at the sound of my voice, as if jerked back from the precipice of some unfathomable imagining.

“What would you?” he answered in an uncharacteristically harsh tone.

“Your Grace,” I repeated.  “I ask your permission to travel to the court of King Ambrozy with Baltazar and his companions.  If I hurry, I can still catch up to them.”

Looks of astonishment passed across the faces of the duke, Viktor and Ludmila.  Then the duke’s countenance grew stern.  His two bodyguards, standing at attention nearby, straightened their halberds abruptly, as if waiting for the order to seize me.

“Why do you wish to go with the Poles?” he demanded.  All eyes in the room bore down on me, eager for my response.

“To conduct my own investigation,” I explained.  “And perhaps gain us a little more time.” 

At this his grace blushed a deep crimson.  “Dmitry Kulik has been relentless in his search for the killers of Prince Bronislaw,” he stammered.  “And he has had no luck.”

I replied that perhaps Kulik had been searching in the wrong places, and that there could be no harm in requesting the Polish king to allow me to ask a few questions.  Certainly Ambrozy was anxious to find the killers of his son, and I was confident that my diplomatic skills would suffice to buy me a few days to uncover what I could.   Then I delicately reminded him of how last year I had discovered the theft of 5,000 gold coins, which had been embezzled by the assistant to the secretary of the ducal treasury. 

“Yes,” the duke replied, nodding.  “You were most helpful in putting to rest that unpleasant affair, Fyodor Ilyich.  And for the past decade, I could not have wished for a more loyal and trusted advisor than you.”

This time it was I who blushed.  “Your grace is too kind,” I said.

“But what of your own personal safety?” the duke asked.   “The men who robbed and killed Prince Bronislaw and his companions are still roaming free.”

“Something tells me that the attack on Bronislaw’s carriage was not the act of highwaymen,” I confessed.  “If robbery was the motive, why did they not steal the huge topaz ring on the prince’s hand?” 

“They took all of the gold.”

At this everyone turned around in surprise to look at Viktor, who had been so quiet and unobtrusive that we had forgotten that he was there.

“Yes,” I replied softly, feeling great pity for the boy.  “That they did.”

“I thank God that my son escaped,” the duke said.  “When I lost my wife five years ago, I thought that I would die of sorrow.  I could not bear losing a son.  Nevertheless, this does cast suspicion upon us.”

“Do not worry, your grace,” I assured him.  “As you have faith in God for sparing your son, so too have faith that He will spare your country.”  With these words and with Duke Aleksandr ’s permission I took my leave of the court, and within a quarter hour was upon my mare, who was sufficiently caparisoned for the three-day journey to the Polish king’s castle.  Riding at a canter for about an hour, I came upon Baltazar and his company on the ------ road.  The group was moving at a surprisingly sluggish pace, with Baltazar and his colleague in the center, and three knights both in front and at the rear.  I slowed Imelda down to a trot as I drew closer.

Before the other five men were aware of my presence, the three knights at the rear wheeled their horses around nearly simultaneously, and held their pikes aloft.  A short cry from the knight at their center alerted the rest of the company, who in turn halted and faced in my direction.  Impressed at their vigilance, I nodded.

Baltazar spoke, the diplomatic tone in his voice gone.  “Why do you follow us?” he demanded.

“To find answers,” I replied.  “Duke Aleksandr  and his family are as anxious as your king to find the killers of Prince Bronislaw.”

“We have no answers,” one of the knights cut in.  “Why don’t you ask the boy?”

  At this Baltazar made a quick lateral gesture with his hand, signaling silence.      

“You are wasting your time,” he said resignedly.



“Perhaps you are right,” I conceded.  “But what harm would come of my spending a few days in Poland and asking some questions?  My powers of investigation are not inconsiderable, and since you have given us seven days in which to work, why not let us spend them as we see fit?”

Baltazar conferred quietly with his fellow envoy, whose name was Jakub, at times alternately nodding, then shaking his head.  He returned at last to me.

“As you wish,” he agreed.  “But of course, the decision lies with his majesty.  If he is opposed, home you will return the very day that you arrive, and without an escort.”

“I understand.”

Excepting the initial awkwardness of our second meeting, Baltazar and his companions were mostly civil towards me during the next three days.  Even if they did not trust me completely, they at least deemed me harmless.  While laboriously munching on rations of dried, salted beef and rock-hard biscuits one evening, Jakub and I spoke of the events leading up to the attack on Bronislaw’s carriage, and the aftermath.

“Of course, the king was grieved,” Jakub said.  “And the prince’s younger brother, Jozef.  But no one took the news worse than Queen Leokadia.”

Evidently overhearing Jakub’s remark, the knight who had caustically suggested earlier that I “ask the boy” shot Jakub an irritated glance, but said nothing.  Jakub did not notice.

“Two of the bodies were utterly savaged,” I mused aloud.  “Hacked and stabbed nearly beyond recognition.  But the other three bore only the wounds that killed them.  That perplexes me.”
“What perplexes me is what the boy -Viktor?- was doing there,” Jakub replied.

“He came out to meet them,” I explained.  “He begged his father to allow him, and the duke agreed.  It seemed safe enough, being only a few hours’ ride from the castle.”

But Jakub shook his head, unconvinced.  That the rogues had attacked so soon after Viktor’s appearance was quite suspicious, almost as if the boy had led the bandits to their quarry.  And the duke’s son had escaped unscathed.  To this I responded that Viktor was far from “unscathed.”  The terror in his eyes and the shaking in his voice when he recounted his tale could not possibly have been feigned.  That day would haunt him the rest of his life.  Five horsed bandits, wearing masks, had appeared over the crest of a hill.  First they launched a volley of arrows, picking off one of the two mounted knights escorting the prince, and killing the driver, as well.  Then they rushed in to continue their assault, with swords and axes.  The remaining three men -the second mounted knight, Prince Bronislaw, and the prince’s friend, Filip- were butchered.  Two of the bandits chased Viktor, but after a while broke off the pursuit.

“And what about the arrows?” Jakub said.  “Why were none found in or near the bodies?”

Jakub had a point.  Although I did not doubt Viktor’s story, this was an inconsistency which I could not explain.  

If accosting Baltazar and his companions on their departure from Minsk was awkward, this was nothing compared to what I felt upon meeting the grieving parents of Prince Bronislaw, who both stood in the courtyard as the nine of us rode up to the castle.  The queen was flanked by two ladies-in-waiting, dressed in flowing pink gowns, while the king was talking to a short, chubby gentleman wearing a leather jerkin and carrying an oaken walking stick.  The warmth of that June day was quickly tempered by the icy stares fixed upon me.

I thought that Queen Leokadia would interrogate me directly, but she turned toward Baltazar first.  “And who is this man?”

“I am Fyodor Ilyich Litwin,” I answered, bowing my head first toward the queen, then her husband.  “personal advisor to Duke Aleksandr of Belarus.”

“Then I should advise him to find the killers of our son,” Leokadia replied curtly.  “Apparently you have already been advised of our warning.”

“That is why I am here, your majesty,” I said.

The king spoke.  “So Duke Aleksandr  has sent you to plead for more time?  The answer is no!  And as the crime occurred on Belarusan soil, I shall hold Belarus accountable.”  Then he added, “Perhaps Duke Aleksandr  balked at the 10,000-gold piece dowry.”

Clearing my throat, I replied, “I assure your majesties that the duke had nothing to do with the murder of good Prince Bronislaw, and would gladly pay twice as much to apprehend those responsible.  As for his sending me, I came of my own accord, but with his permission.  I humbly request that your majesties permit me to stay a few days, and make inquiries.  I do possess a certain propensity for unraveling mysteries.”  

The king shrugged.  “You may do so,” he agreed.        

Without looking at me, the king’s corpulent companion told him, “He wishes to find out what sort of action your majesty plans to take against Belarus, so that he can warn his duke.”

At once I opened my mouth to protest, but was stayed by the king’s raised hand.  “Julian may have a point,” he conceded.  “So I will take no chances.  Wherever you go, Jakub and one of my soldiers will go with you.  And you will remain as my guest until you either find the culprits, or until after the 25th of the month has passed.”

I sighed.  “Very well, your majesty.  Today is June 21st.  That gives me four days.”         

        “We can count,” the queen snapped.  She turned to her husband.  “Shall it be Otto, then?”


Ambrozy nodded.  “Yes,” he replied thoughtfully.  “Otto.”

At a gesture from the queen, one of her ladies-in-waiting dashed into the castle, to return several minutes later with an enormous fellow clad in a chain mail tunic, visored helmet and brandishing a gleaming spear.  A short sword in a leather sheath was strapped to his belt.  The king deferred to Jakub, who briefed the huge soldier.  Otto listened patiently, never speaking a word.


Before setting out with Jakub and the prodigious Otto, I asked Ambrozy and Leokadia to recount for me everything that they could relating to the tragedy.  At first I encountered some resistance, particularly from the queen, but at last she relented, telling her tale in a faltering voice.  On the 1st of June, Bronislaw departed Warsaw to meet his betrothed, reassured by his father’s promise that if he did not like her, he was free to refuse.  With him were his longtime friend, Filip, two of the king’s guardsmen, and a driver for the carriage.  Five days later, an exhausted messenger on a half-dead steed galloped into the city, bearing the evil tidings: the prince and his company had been slain.  This messenger I knew to be Boris Czyz, Duke Aleksandr’s nephew.  King Ambrozy confirmed his wife story; they had been together when the messenger had arrived.  

“Who knew in advance of the prince’s journey?” I asked.

The king regarded me suspiciously.  “No one outside of this household,” he replied.  He became pensive.  “There were myself, the queen, our son, Jozef, and Baltasar.  And who besides Duke Aleksandr knew?” he asked.

“I, Ludmila, the captain of the guard, and Viktor,” I told him.

“Yes. Viktor,” the king growled.

“Henryk also knew,” the queen told him.

“Henryk?” I repeated.

“Our chamberlain,” the king explained.

“Perhaps one of the servants overheard something,” I suggested.  “and carelessly mentioned it to the wrong person or persons.”

“We thought of that,” the queen admitted.  “One of the servers, Gustav, has a bad habit of listening to what he should not, and of gossiping.  But if he had anything to do with it, willingly or not, he would have told us.”

“You questioned him?” I said.

There followed a long, uncomfortable silence.

“Yes,” said Ambrozy. 

The prince’s brother, Jozef, I found to be very personable and well-mannered, and quite composed in light of what must have been an unimaginable tragedy.  He seemed very trusting of me, and willing to answer whatever inquiries that I put forth.  Jozef was 16, three years younger than Bronislaw, and said that he could not imagine anyone wanting to harm his brother, or poor Filip.  

“Father actually told Bronislaw that if he did not find the young Ludmila pretty, that he was free not to marry her,” Jozef said.  “Had he but seen her, all of his doubts would have been removed.”

I was curious.  “Have you met her?” I asked Jozef.



“Once.  At an archery contest held last year in Gdansk.  Duke Aleksandr came with six of his knights, and his daughter.  What a glorious day that was for the red and white.”

“The red and white?”  I repeated uncomprehendingly.  

“Yes,” Jozef replied.  “The colors of the Polish standard.  One of my father’s soldiers, Barnabas, took first prize, but not without a dispute.  His and another’s arrow were nearly dead-center, in the bulls-eye of course.  Barnabas won by a hair, but without the red and white feathers to determine which arrow was whose, they might still be disputing it!”

“I see,” I replied.

Jozef suddenly grew somber.  “I mourn for Bronislaw, but what a shame that the actions of a few evil-doers should destroy the alliance between Belarus and Poland.  For what it is worth, I do not believe that Duke Aleksandr nor anyone connected with him is to blame.  Bandits, plain and simple.”

“How can you be sure?” I asked.

Jozef shrugged.  “What would your duke stand to gain by killing my brother and the others?”

“Absolutely nothing,” I replied.    

After a brief introduction from Jakub, I finally spoke with Henryk, the chamberlain.  He was a short, stocky, broad-shouldered man of 50, with a bald head and a bushy white mustache.  His wife and daughter stood timidly in the background, half-concealed by the shadows cast from the two lanterns that illuminated their quarters.  From the corner of my eye I caught what might have been a pleading look on the wife’s face, as if she desperately wanted to communicate something.  But the moment passed, and with a step backwards, she faded into the darkness like a vanishing phantom.

I asked Henryk which two guardsmen had accompanied the prince’s carriage on that ill-fated journey.  He shook his head.  “I do not recall their names,” he said.

Much to my surprise, the huge Otto volunteered the information.  It was the first time in the several hours that I had been with him and Jakub that I had heard him talk, and I was beginning to wonder whether or not he was capable of speech.

“Gabriel and Konrad,” the burly man said.

“Did you know them?” I asked.

Otto shook his head.  “They were new to the guard,” he replied.  “Had been there maybe two months.”  He added, “I think that Konrad had a wife and an infant daughter.”  

“So Gabriel and Konrad volunteered to escort the prince and his friend,” I said.

Again Otto shook his head.  “They did not volunteer.  Adalbert -the captain of the guard- chose them on the morning of Prince Bronislaw’s departure, after being informed an hour earlier by the king himself.  Their first and last assignment,” he said.  I sensed genuine sorrow in his voice as he spoke the final sentence.

I spent the evening in a small, sparsely-furnished chamber in the castle’s north tower.  My accommodations, while not lavish, were not uncomfortable, with the exception that there was a sentry posted outside my door.  But I could not sleep, menaced by the suspicion that the chamberlain’s had wife wanted to tell me something.  She had heard our conversation, my questions to her husband, but she had been reluctant, or afraid.  Somehow, I had to speak with her alone.

I approached the guard, and whispered conspiratorially, “You, there.  I need your help.”

He nearly jumped.  “Who, me?” he asked.  “What is bothering you?”

“I need to see Jakub at once.”

“What the devil for?” he demanded.  “The hour is very late.”

“Please!” I insisted.  “It is urgent.  You know who I am.  And you know why I am here.  If you bring Jakub to me, there is a gold piece for you.”

He seemed offended at first, but quickly countered, “Two gold pieces.”

“Very well,” I agreed.  I walked over to the table where I had set my purse, next to a small beeswax candle, which I had not yet extinguished .  I handed him the coins, and started out the door.  A firm hand on my shoulder stayed me.

“Where do you think you are going?” the sentry asked.  “You do not even know where Jakub is.  I am not supposed to let you out of my sight.  As it is, I am taking a big risk by agreeing to this.”

With the sentry in the lead, we cautiously made our way down the narrow, winding passage, gingerly treading on the stone stairs as we descended.  At last we emerged into a familiar hallway, and turned left, walking about 100 feet before turning right and entering a small antechamber with a door on either side.  The sentry gestured toward the door on the left, but after taking a step forwards, hesitated.

“What is it?” I whispered.

“I think that Jakub’s chambers are on the left,” he replied.  “Or maybe Baltasar’s are on the left, and Jakub’s are on the right.”

“You do not know?” I said.

“Well, I know that it is one of these two doors!” he said, irritated.  He paused several moments longer, then suddenly knocked upon his original choice.  My spine stiffened, but needlessly, for Jakub’s weary face soon appeared in the open doorway.

“Marek!” he said to the sentry, astonished.  Then seeing me, said, “You!  Why are you prowling around at this hour?

I turned to Marek, and indicated with a slight jerk of my head a request for privacy.  He stared blankly at me, even after I repeated the gesture.  Finally I said to him, “Please give us a few moments.”  He grunted, then adjourned to the connecting hallway.  I leaned closer to Jakub.

“Forgive me, friend,” I implored him.  “But this is urgent.  Earlier today when we spoke with the chamberlain, it seemed to me that his wife wanted very much to speak.”

Jakub waited for me to continue.

“I may be wrong, but would be remiss not to investigate further,” I explained.  “I need to speak with her, without her husband present.”

My timing that night was impeccable, Jakub said, for Henryk had departed for [some small town], and was expected to return tomorrow.  Still, Jakub questioned the wisdom of sneaking me to the chamberlain’s quarters late in the evening to awaken and interrogate his wife.  The king and queen would be furious if such subterfuge was discovered.  At this point, Marek lumbered into the antechamber, but seeing that Jakub and I were still conversing, retreated several steps.  

“I do not know,” Jakub stammered.  “What if Doloreta becomes alarmed and informs her husband when he returns?” 

“I will tell you what I do know,” I answered sharply.  “That a war between Belarus and Poland would be disastrous.  That is what is at stake!  Now please, help me!”

At last Jakub conceded, but Marek refused to go any further unless I doubled his bribe.  When he threatened to awaken the king and queen I called his bluff, saying that Marek himself would incur the worst of their wrath.  So grumbling and swearing softly, he accompanied me and Jakub to Henryk’s quarters.

Upon arriving at the chamberlain’s door, I asked Marek to once again duck out of sight lest Doloreta become even more uncomfortable than she undoubtedly would be.  Mustering his nerve, Jakub knocked.  The portal opened almost instantly, and a sliver of light crept onto the dark stone floor of the corridor.  

Jakub fumbled, unable for the moment to speak.  So I did.

“I beg your pardon, my lady.  You doubtless remember me from earlier today.  I spoke with your husband about the prince’s-”

She interrupted me.  “My husband is not here.  Please go away.”  She started to close the door. 

“Please,” I told her.  “This is very important.  Today I felt that there was something that you wanted to tell me.  If you have information that will assist me, then you must let me know.  I assure you that I will not reveal that it came from you.”

She first looked at Jakub for assurance, and when he nodded, she spoke in a soft, trembling voice.  

“I heard them quarreling.  A week after the attack on the prince’s carriage.”

“You heard who quarreling?” I asked.

“Jozef and Adalbert,” she said.  “But I know not about what.  I hurried about my business, not heeding the words.  But the prince, he was. . .”

“He was what?” I pressed.

“He was very angry,” Doloreta said.  

“No doubt,” Jakub interjected.  “He probably blames the captain of the guard for his brother’s death, sending two inexperienced men to escort him.”

“Jozef hated his brother!” Doloreta sobbed.  “He coveted him in every way.  He even offered to take Bronislaw’s place at the altar, not three days after his death.  The king would not hear of it.”

“You are sure that you do not recall any of the words between Jozef and Adalbert?” I asked.  

“I am sure,” she replied.  “Now please go before you awaken my daughter.  And remember your promise,” she said, closing the door quietly.

Jakub and I exchanged troubled glances.  Any accusation at this point would be premature, and dangerous even if bolstered by evidence.  Of the latter we had none, only snatches of incoherent quarreling supposedly overheard by a passerby.  And I would not endanger her by betraying that confidence.  

“Why did you not tell me of the hatred that Jozef  had for his brother?” I asked.

Jakub reddened.  Clearly I had overstepped my bounds.  “I knew of no hatred,” he replied defensively.  “And it was not my place to say so.  Yes, Jozef was envious of his brother.  But to suggest that. . .” 

“I am not suggesting anything yet,” I said. 

“So what is next, Fyodor Ilyich?”

“I would like to speak with Adalbert tomorrow,” I replied. 

 “There is nothing more to be done tonight.”  

After Marek escorted me back to my chambers I fell into a deep, yet troubled slumber.  The following morning, as I shared a breakfast of ale and cold mutton with several of the pages, I recalled dark, wavering snatches of bad dreams -images which threatened to coalesce but never did.

Mounted on our steeds, Jakub and I followed the stout Otto the next morning as he led us to the home of Adalbert.  Squawking and fluttering in terror, a wayward chicken lost a feather or two as she happened too close to Imelda’s hocks.  My mare gave the careless fowl no thought.  

Adalbert admitted us cordially, even offering us wine, which we politely refused.  He was about 35, of medium height and build, with cold gray eyes, light red hair, closely-cropped beard and large, powerful hands.  His wife, Elzbieta, a short, plump girl of about 17, hovered nearby, smiling strangely at us.  I learned that he and several other guardsmen had departed Warsaw on the same morning as Prince Bronislaw and the others.  Adalbert and his four companions had headed south, towards Radom, on business which he claimed that he was not at liberty to disclose to me.  But none of this was news, Adalbert added.

Unsure what sort of response I would elicit, I asked him, “Why did you quarrel with Prince Jozef?”

Both Otto and Jakub were taken aback, but not Adalbert.  He was neither perturbed, nor curious to learn who had told me this.  He calmly replied,  “The prince was very distraught over the loss of his brother.  My king blames your duke for the death of Prince Bronislaw.  Jozef blames me.  When the king dies, which will likely be soon, I have no doubt that Jozef shall replace me with a new captain of the guard.  Most likely his friend, Cyryl.”

The shock upon my face must have been evident.  “When the king dies?” I asked.

“His majesty is not well,” Jakub informed me.  “This is why he was anxious to secure the alliance with Belarus by having Prince Bronislaw wed Duke Aleksandr’s daughter.”

“Why was I not informed that the king was dying?” I asked Jakub.

“I was not aware that his majesty’s health was your affair,” he responded coolly.

  Perhaps my irritation with Jakub prompted me to try an even blunter approach with Adalbert.  “Why did you choose two inexperienced guardsmen to protect the prince and his friend on their journey?” I asked him.

Immediately Elzbieta’s curious smile inverted.  But again, Adalbert manifested no outward signs of indignation.

“There comes a time when every man must be tested,” he replied.  “They were trained soldiers, and they died doing their duty.”  

“So you departed for Radom on June 1st, after selecting Gabriel and Konrad for what was to be their last mission,” I said.

“Yes,” Adalbert said.

“And when did you return?” I prodded.

“The evening of third.” 

 The three of us were soon on our mounts again, trotting through the streets of Warsaw, headed where I was not sure.  

“Adalbert did return on the evening of the third,” Jakub said matter-of-factly.  “Your Viktor claims that the attack occurred the next day.  This exonerates Adalbert.”

“This means that he was not present, yes,” I agreed.  “Yet Prince Jozef blames him, by Adalbert’s own admission.”

Otto answered this time.  “The prince faults him for assigning two new guardsmen to go with Bronislaw.  He does not suspect him of willfully harming him.  Nor do I.”

“Who is this Cyryl that Adalbert spoke of?” I asked.

“A friend of Prince Jozef, as Adalbert said,” Jakub answered. 

 “He is a cavalry sergeant.”  He added as an afterthought, “I saw his niece, Zenaida, a few days ago.  She was on foot, leading three horses through the street.  Wearing a shawl she was, and in such warm weather.”

There are times when Providence illuminates the darkest of places, if only we have the wisdom to observe.  I sensed that now was such a time.

“His niece!” I blurted.  Both Jakub and Otto stared at me, wondering about my almost jubilant outburst.  Following my momentum, I asked the pair, “Does Cyryl have any friends?  Good friends, I mean?  Whom he trusts completely?”

“I do not know,” Jakub replied, annoyed.  “What sort of question is that?”

But Otto supplied a more helpful response.  “Edmund, Jan and Wicenty,” he said.  “Comrades-in-arms.  They are almost inseparable.”

“How do you know this?” I asked.

The thin smile seemed out of place on Otto’s stony countenance.  “I know some things,” he replied cryptically.

“Like the way to Zenaida’s home?” I asked.

Otto nodded.

Standing in an isolated patch of woods on the outskirts of the city, the small stone cottage with its thatched roof projected a palpable despair.  Our three horses trod over the muddied hoof prints of several other recent visitors, of whom these depressions in the soft earth were now the only traces.  Jakub, Otto and I dismounted and walked about 20 feet to the door, whereupon Jakub knocked.

The sight of Otto alone would have been enough to unnerve the most stalwart of men, so upon seeing him accompanied by two other strangers, Cyryl’s young niece was truly shaken.  Jakub quickly assured the girl that she was in no danger, and only needed to tell us the truth.  Frightened, she nodded.  At her uncle’s behest she had purchased the three stallions earlier that week, to be sold for twice the cost to a Tartar horse trader who was an acquaintance of Cyryl’s.  She had paid 15 gold pieces each for the horses.  Her uncle had given her the money.

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