Erik looked surprised. “Why?”
“Father liked the ladies, and Mother always knew he had been forced into marrying her. From what I gathered, after I was born they were man and wife in name only. It was Mother who ensured we had only male servants or ugly women working in our castle; Father had an eye for pretty young girls. Even with Mother’s precautions, Father found every pretty woman within a day’s ride of the castle. Stefan was a lot like him in that respect. He really thought he’d hurt you if he took your girl and had his way with her.”
“Rosalyn wasn’t my girl,” said Erik. “She was more like a sister.”
“Even better,” said Manfred. “He would have delighted in knowing that. If he could have taken your mother while you watched, he’d have liked that even more.” His voice lowered. “Stefan was an evil bastard, Erik, a mean-spirited pig who delighted in causing pain. I should know, because I was on the receiving end of it most of the time. It was only when I caught up with him in size and could defend myself that he left me alone.” Almost whispering, he said, “When I first saw him dead, I was angry enough to have killed you myself that minute. After the shock wore off, I realized I felt relief that he was gone. You did the world a favor by killing him, but I’m afraid that fact won’t help you at all. Mother’s going to see you hung. I guess I’m here to tell you that at least one of your brothers doesn’t hate you.”
“Brothers?”
“You’re not father’s only bastard, Erik. You may have a score of brothers and sisters out there. But you were the oldest, and your mother made sure the world knew it. I guess that’s really the reason you are going to hang tomorrow.”
Erik tried to muster as much courage as he could. “We’ll still see what the Prince has to say.”
“Of course,” said Manfred. “If you do somehow come out of this without being hung, and after you’ve spent your time on the prison gang, send me a letter.” He turned and walked away, then turned to look back at Erik. “But don’t enter Darkmoor if you wish to stay alive.”
Erik stood alone for a minute after Manfred left, then returned to his place next to the sleeping Roo.
Time dragged on and Erik found himself unable to sleep. Several others fell into fitful dozes, and only Biggo and the Isalani seemed able to sleep comfortably. A couple of the men sat in silent prayer.
At midnight, the door opened and a handful of priests entered, from various orders, and each stood across from the prisoner who wished to take comfort. This continued for an hour or more; then the priests left, and still no word from Lender.
Erik at last fell into a half-sleep, with panic waking him up several times, his heart pounding and his chest constricted, as he fought against the rising terror.
Suddenly a loud clang echoed in the otherwise silent cell block and Erik was on his feet as Sebastian Lender entered the room. Erik lightly kicked Roo awake, and the two hurried to the far end of the cell.
Erik looked at what Lender carried and his chest constricted in terror. A pair of boots, fashioned out of soft leather, with high tops that folded down, were clutched in the old man’s hands. They were a horseman’s boots, well made and artfully crafted, and Erik knew why Lender carried them.
Erik said, “We’re to die?”
Lender said, “Yes. The Prince gave the order less than an hour ago.” Lender handed the boots through the bars to Erik. “I’m sorry. I thought I had built a persuasive brief, but the mother of the man you killed is the daughter of the Duke of Ran and has much influence in this court as well as the King’s. The King himself was consulted, and in the end you were both sentenced to death. There is nothing that can be done.” He pointed to the boots that Erik now clutched before him. “These were your father’s last gift to you; I thought it would be unfitting for you not to have them at least for a few hours before . . .”
“They hang us,” whispered Roo.
Erik pushed the boots back through the bars. “Sell them, Master Lender. You said the gold he left me wouldn’t cover your fees.”
Lender pushed them back toward Erik. “No, I failed and I will give your gold to whoever you instruct me to. There is no fee, Erik.”
Erik said, “Then send the gold to my mother, at Ravensburg. She’s at the Inn of the Pintail and she has no one to care for her. Tell her to use the gold wisely, for it is all I will ever be able to give her.”
Lender nodded and said, “I pray the gods will be gentle with you, Erik, and you as well, Rupert. You have no evil in your hearts, even if you have done this violent thing.”