Then it all came back to her.
Was Valten following them? Or would he go to Ruexner’s castle to fight Ruexner in two more days? God, please help him get his men first, then come and defeat Ruexner and rescue me. She wouldn’t even pray that she would not have to marry Ruexner. She would just believe she would get away.
She trusted that Valten was coming for her. He might even come alone, and she couldn’t let him be killed. She had to find a way to escape her captors herself, to keep Valten from getting recaptured or hurt.
An owl hooted in the darkness, somewhere hidden in the dark forest. It was still night, and the sound of snores and heavy breathing was all around her. As she looked around, her watchman stared back at her, wide awake. No chance that he would fall asleep any time soon. So she let herself drift back to sleep.
The next morning, with the sun spreading the first vestiges of light over the dark forest, Gisela sat up. Ruexner and his men were milling about. A man with a deep scar on his upper lip, which cut a line all the way to the outer corner of his eye, stood propped against a tree, watching her with narrowed eyes.
She’d have to stay alert and wait for a better chance to escape. This oaf wouldn’t let her get away. Perhaps if she pretended to be docile and scared, some guard would get careless and give her an opportunity. But with this many men around, she needed to think of a clever plan.
Ruexner walked over, approaching cautiously.
Gisela purposely held back the defiance she was feeling and stared at him blank-faced. He might not be such an ugly man if he was not always sneering and behaving like a brute. He was not at all handsome compared to Valten, but she was sure the man didn’t have to kidnap a woman to get a bride. He was a baron, with a castle and most likely a great number of vassals and servants in his ancestral town of Bruchen. Perhaps Gisela could reason with him.
While he was eyeing her, she decided to give it a try. “I am sure there are many maidens — very pretty and sweet ones — in Bruchen who would be happy to marry you. Why would you want to force me to marry you? I have no fortune, lands, or title.”
“Don’t you know, my dear? I want to marry you for one simple reason — for revenge.” His smile was cold. “Besides, you remind me of my mother. She had the same shade of hair and eyes as you.”
“So I am only a pawn in your game.”
He did not deny it, and she felt heat creep up the back of her neck as anger rose up within her. “I won’t marry you.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have no choice.”
“You cannot marry me without my consent.”
“Do you think I can’t find a priest who will marry us against your will if I tell him to? It will not be so hard.”
Gisela forced herself to push away her anger and think rationally. “What will your people and your family say when you bring an unwilling bride to your castle? I will not go with you calmly. I will scream and tell everyone that you have taken me against my will.”
“And I will say that you are a peasant, and that I paid for you fairly, which is the truth. No one will question my right to marry you.” He stepped even closer and ran a finger down her cheek. “Besides, my father took my mother against her will and married her. Over time she came to accept her place as his wife. She bore two sons and one daughter before she died. In time you will come to accept your role as the Baroness of Bruchen.”
“I shall never accept you.” Gisela actually felt sorry for this man. Pity and outrage warred inside her as she stared at his weatherworn, battle-scarred face. “I’m sorry your father gave you such a bad example, but I assure you … I love Valten and I cannot love anyone else. I will never accept a life with you.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not.” The sneer came back, curling his lip, but he made no threatening moves.
“Don’t you wish your father had cared about your mother’s happiness?”
“If he’d cared about her happiness, she wouldn’t have been my mother.”
In spite of her efforts to stay calm, Gisela huffed. “Don’t you have any fear of God?”
“Why should I fear someone I’ve never seen?”
“Just because your father didn’t respect God doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. If you want to escape damnation and unhappiness in this life, you’d better start to care.”
Was she talking to Ruexner? Or to herself? If she wanted to escape unhappiness, she’d better start to care. That seemed to be the lesson God wanted to teach her.
Ruexner was staring hard at her as he seemed to be trying to decide what to say. “Your features are so much like my mother’s.” He shook his head. “She didn’t have your spirit, but she had the same look about her. It is too bad you are in love with Valten, because my greatest desire is to make him suffer. My father used to say, ‘In this life, a man must take what he wants. He’s a fool if he doesn’t.’ “
“You don’t have to live your father’s life. You can be your own person. Did your mother ever pray for you?” She asked that last question on a whim. Perhaps if she could remind him of his mother praying for him, he might feel some remorse for trying to force her to become his wife.
He spat on the ground near her foot. “You waste your time.” Turning away from her, he told his men, “Get ready. We’re leaving.”
Chapter
26
As Gisela was hauled into the saddle in front of Ruexner, she told herself she shouldn’t wonder if Valten was following them. She should assume he was not, that she wouldn’t see him until he showed up at Ruexner’s castle in two more days.
Her mind was constantly working to think of a way to escape from Ruexner. After an hour of riding, they drew near a town. Surrounded by his men, Ruexner boldly rode right through the middle of it.
There must be something she could do to escape. But if she jumped down off the horse, Ruexner would only drag her back. If she screamed and begged the townspeople, who were milling about, to save her from this man who had taken her against her will, would they help her? After all, what could they do against Ruexner and his armed men?
She looked around at the faces of the people. None of them made eye contact with her. A few looked curiously at them, but then looked away, and she guessed that Ruexner had glared at them and intimidated them into losing their curiosity. They soon reached a gray stone church on the edge of town, and at the front stood a large, square tower watching over the church and the town like a sentinel. Ruexner rode straight up to the high, circular steps that led up to massive wooden doors, and he dismounted.
“Why are we stopping here?” Gisela demanded.
Without even looking at her, he reached up and grabbed her around the waist and pulled her off the horse. He practically dragged her up the steps of the stone cathedral.
“What are you doing?” Her voice sounded a bit hysterical. “Where are you taking me?” She purposely made her voice loud so anyone nearby could hear her. “I won’t marry you!”
“Quiet,” Ruexner growled, as he opened the door with one hand and dragged her inside.
Valten followed Ruexner and his men as they entered a town. Why would Ruexner be so bold? He was up to something, so Valten closed in, not worrying about being seen, as he could get lost in the milling townspeople on the street.
Valten got closer until he was only a hundred feet behind Ruexner and his men. Gisela looked pale and frightened as Ruexner rode straight up to the town’s cathedral. Valten’s heart contracted in his chest.
Ruexner pulled Gisela off the horse, and by the time he was pulling her up the steps and inside the church, Valten had closed half the distance between them.
If Friar Daniel had to go all the way to Hagenheim to get help, then the soonest he could expect his father’s knights was tomorrow or the next day. But he couldn’t wait for them. He had to do something now.
Gisela blinked, trying to focus her eyes in the dim light. Torches flickered along the two walls that led back to an altar and baptismal font. Candles lit up the altar, but she didn’
t see anyone.
“Where is the priest?” Ruexner shouted, sending an echo through the high-ceilinged nave. “Anyone here?”
They listened, but heard nothing.
“No one is here,” Gisela said, hoping he would leave, afraid she knew too well why he was looking for a priest.
“We shall wait.”
Gisela racked her brain for a way of escape. But Ruexner’s fingers were like iron bands around her arm, and she had no weapon, nothing within reach.
Finally, a dark figure appeared, emerging from the confessional along one wall.
“You there,” Ruexner called. “I require to speak with Bishop Fulco.”
The figure moved slowly, as if unmoved by Ruexner’s urgent shout. He wore a long dark robe with a hood covering his head and shading his entire face. When he reached them, he quietly asked, “May I help you?”
“Where is Bishop Fulco?” Ruexner demanded gruffly. He held Gisela so tight to his side that she could feel his hip bone painfully kneading her side.
“Bishop Fulco is not here,” the unperturbed voice answered. “May I assist you in some way?”
“Where is Bishop Fulco?” Ruexner held tight to her arm while he drew his sword. He held the sword’s point a mere inch from the priest’s face, who kept his head bowed and obscured. “I won’t ask you again, and I am not squeamish of killing priests.”
The priest did not in any way indicate fear. He didn’t move. “As I said before, Bishop Fulco is not here.”
As soon as he spoke the last word, the priest jumped behind Ruexner and threw a rope over his head and jerked it tight around his neck, choking him.
Ruexner let go of Gisela’s arm, but was still holding his sword in his other hand. Ruexner clawed at the rope around his neck, his eyes bulging and desperate. Gisela clasped her hands together and brought them down as hard as she could on Ruexner’s wrist, causing him to drop the sword. She picked it up and held it pointed at Ruexner’s chest.
The priest’s hooded cowl had slipped back, revealing Valten’s face.
Gisela’s heart jumped for a moment at seeing him, but then pounded in fear for Valten, her mind on Ruexner’s men just outside the church door.
Valten started dragging Ruexner backward, no doubt to find a place to hide him. Suddenly, the front door of the church burst open and Ruexner’s men began yelling and running toward them.
“Stop, or we’ll kill him!” Gisela screamed, holding the point of Ruexner’s sword against his chest.
Ruexner’s men stopped. Then their expressions changed as they stared at Valten, Ruexner, and Gisela — no, they were staring at someone, or something, behind them.
“Drop that sword, or I will kill the Earl of Hamlin.”
Gisela turned to see one of Ruexner’s men holding a knife to Valten’s throat.
She threw down the sword.
“Now stop choking him,” Ruexner’s man ordered. He stuck the point of the dagger under Valten’s chin.
Valten loosened the rope around Ruexner’s neck, and Ruexner immediately broke free, lifting the rope off his head. He spun around to face Valten, gasping and coughing, as the rest of his men closed in on them, surrounding them.
“Pardon me, but may I be of service?”
A young man dressed in a priestly robe stood near the altar behind them.
Ruexner picked up his sword and grabbed Gisela’s arm, squeezing it painfully. But Gisela’s eyes were trained on Valten and the dagger that was so close to slitting his throat.
No one paid the priest any attention as Ruexner shoved Gisela into one of his men. “Hold on to her.” He took the rope from Valten and started tying his hands behind his back.
“I do not know what you men are doing,” the priest said, walking slowly toward them, “but I will remind you that this is a house of God and sanctuary for the oppressed. You may not do harm or violence here.”
“Where is Bishop Fulco?” Ruexner’s animallike voice reverberated against the ceiling.
“Bishop Fulco will be back tomorrow. He went to visit his mother in Bolbentberg.”
Ruexner let out a strange growl. “Then you will perform the rites and speak the vows for our marriage, while Valten watches.” He jerked the rope taut on Valten’s hands.
“No,” Gisela said stoutly. “I will not marry this man. I am not willing and I refuse to accept his troth.”
Ruexner left Valten and grabbed Gisela’s arm again.
Quietly, the priest asked, “You are Baron Ruexner, are you not?”
“I am.”
“My lord baron,” the priest said, “have you had the banns cried or posted?”
“No, nor will they be.” Ruexner spoke through clenched teeth.
“Will you force this lady to wed you?”
“I will, and you will perform the rites. Otherwise I shall strike you dead where you stand.” Ruexner shoved the sword point at the priest’s chest.
“Very well. If you will follow me.” The priest turned just as calmly and walked toward the front doors of the church.
“No!” Gisela struggled against Ruexner’s hold, but it was no use. He only held her tighter. She let him pull her along, but stayed on her feet to prevent being dragged across the floor. “You cannot force me to speak the vows!”
Ruexner wore his usual sneer. “And why wouldn’t a girl like you want to be a baroness? You are being foolish.”
Ruexner’s men pulled Valten along behind.
The young priest opened the heavy wooden door, letting in the light from outside, bright in spite of the cloudy sky.
“Where are you going?” Ruexner barked.
The priest said patiently, “If you wish to have the blessing of the church on your marriage, you must say your vows in front of the church doors.”
Ruexner grunted, then pulled on Gisela’s arm. “Come.” Gisela stumbled after him until they stood on the top step, which was quite expansive enough to accommodate the priest, with his back to the door, and Ruexner and Gisela facing him.
Would the priest help them escape from Ruexner? He didn’t seem inclined to. Besides, Ruexner would kill him if he tried.
Chapter
27
Gisela caught a glimpse of a small crowd of people gathering around the bottom of the steps, watching her and Ruexner and the priest. The townspeople wore various styles and kinds of clothing, from peasant to middle-class burghers, and they stared at the strangers standing at the top of the massive cathedral steps.
Gisela couldn’t let Ruexner force her into marriage. She could not let anyone bully her again. Her stepmother and stepsisters had required her to do things she didn’t want to do, when Gisela could have run away or even refused. She had not stood up for herself. Now she would do whatever she had to do. If she had to fight to the point of losing her life, she would not let Ruexner force her to marry him.
“Someone, help me!” Gisela cried out, trying to stare down individual townspeople as they glanced up at her. “I am being forced to marry this man! Help me!” She yanked her arm, trying to break free from Ruexner, but he jerked her closer and clamped his hand over her mouth.
“Get on with it,” Ruexner growled at the priest.
“What are your names?” the priest asked, as though nothing seemed amiss.
“Friedric Ruexner and Gisela Mueller.” Ruexner removed his hand from Gisela’s mouth and whispered harshly in her ear, “Stop it now, or I’ll break your neck.”
“And what are your parents’ names?”
Ruexner growled like an angry bear, then answered, “Baron Arnold Tockler Ruexner and Gisela Russdorffer Ruexner.”
Ruexner’s mother’s name was Gisela? How odd. Especially since her own mother’s maiden name was Russdorffer.
“And the lady? What are your parents’ names?”
“Christoff Theodemar Mueller and Fordola Russdorffer Mueller. My father was a knight —”
“Shut up.” Ruexner clamped his hand over her mouth again. He looked at the priest. “Go o
n.”
Gisela bit his hand and screamed. Ruexner clamped his hand over her mouth again and squeezed her face.
“Get on with it,” Ruexner said through clenched teeth. “Speak the marriage vows. Now.”
Where was Valten? She thought she saw him standing in the doorway, with three men holding him, a cloth gag tied around his mouth. She couldn’t let him see her married to Ruexner. But how could she stop him? She couldn’t get away from Ruexner. He was holding her so tightly she couldn’t even wriggle.
The priest said in a loud voice, speaking slowly and pausing every few words, “Does anyone here … know of any reason … why this man, Friedric Ruexner … and this woman, Gisela Mueller … should not be married? If so, speak now.”
Gisela could now only see a few people out of the corner of her eye, but she sensed there were many more behind her.
Someone cleared his throat. Then a woman shouted, “Their mothers were sisters!”
“They can’t marry then,” a man drawled somewhere behind her.
The townspeople were trying to help her!
“Who said that?” Ruexner roared, turning around and facing down the crowd. “It’s a lie!”
Of course it was a lie. None of these people knew her, but if she and Ruexner were cousins, the marriage could not take place. The church would forbid it.
In his rush to see who had spoken, Ruexner had removed his hand from her mouth again. Gisela yelled, “I won’t marry this man! I do not give my consent!”
Ruexner glared at Gisela, then at the priest. “On with it.”
“I’m afraid I cannot.” The priest gave him stare for stare. “Someone has declared the impediment of consanguinity, and this young maiden does not give her consent.” The people must have emboldened him.
Ruexner turned around to face the crowd, pulling Gisela around with him as if she were a rag doll. “If anyone says another word, my men will cut out their hearts and feed them to the vultures! I, Friedric Ruexner, take this woman, Gisela Mueller, to be my wife. And no one, not even the church, can stop me.”