Valten took off the weapon, which was slung over his back. It was fairly useless anyway while he was on horseback, surrounded by so many of Ruexner’s men. He handed it to Malbert as if he had intended to give it back to him all along.
“Where did all these men come from?” Valten glanced around, hoping he might recognize some of them, that he might sway their loyalty and convince them to come over to his side.
“These are my men.” Ruexner sounded as if he was enjoying every moment of this. “I sent for them before the tournament was over. They are completely loyal to me and are all from Bruchen. My enemy is their enemy.”
Valten suspected they were little more than nominally trained peasants, forced to take up arms whenever Ruexner demanded it. No doubt they and their families had been living on Ruexner’s family’s lands for generations and were, in truth, loyal to him. Valten would get no help from them. Had they been knights of the Holy Roman Empire, sworn to uphold the code of chivalry, then maybe.
“What do you intend to do?” Valten said, trying to buy some time.
Ruexner chuckled. “I don’t have to tell you anything. Put her down and I will let you go. You’re only a few days’ ride from Hagenheim. But if you want the girl, you’ll have to come to my castle and fight for her.” A long pause, then Ruexner said, “I intend for us to settle our score forever, in front of witnesses at my castle in three days. If you win, you may take the lovely maiden and go home. If I win, she shall be my bride and you shall swear never to challenge me.”
“You cannot mean to do this evil thing,” Friar Daniel said.
“Shut up.”
“It is not lawful for you to force this maiden —”
“This does not concern you, friar,” Ruexner growled.
Valten could feel Gisela breathing hard, her hands still gripping his clothing. He buried his lips in her hair next to her ear. “I will come for you,” he whispered. “Trust me.”
Friar Daniel spoke up again. “You are a noble knight, sworn to protect innocent maidens. You must not take this maiden—”
“Quiet, you pathetic lump,” Ruexner ground out. “Or I’ll force you to marry us this moment, on pain of death.”
Friar Daniel fell silent.
“Now, Valten.” Ruexner dismounted and started walking toward them.
For a moment Valten calculated how easy it would be to kick Ruexner in the face and send him sprawling. But it would do no good; he and Gisela couldn’t escape with twenty men surrounding him. Ruexner or one of his men would kill him if he resisted. He must bide his time and defeat Ruexner when the odds were more in his favor. He had to stay alive for Gisela’s sake.
“Trust me.” He whispered this last instruction, then pulled on her arms to loosen her grip. His heart was ripping in two at having to force her away from him and hand her to Ruexner.
He gently removed her arms from around his back and slid her from the saddle. The stricken, horrified look on her face felt like a knife through his gut. Please trust me.
“Very well. Take her,” Valten said loudly, his voice sounding gruff. “But I shall accept your challenge and see you in Bruchen in three days.”
Ruexner grabbed her around the waist and hauled her to his side. Enough light shone on his face to highlight his ugly grin.
Valten hardened his features to show no emotion or concern as he watched Ruexner drag her to his horse. The vile man mounted his horse and then dragged her up in front of him by her arms.
“No!” Gisela screamed, sending another jolt of pain through Valten. Never had he felt so helpless or so enraged. He could kill Ruexner with his bare hands, but Ruexner’s men would immediately kill him, and that wouldn’t help Gisela.
Ruexner pulled on his horse’s reins and turned him around, one arm around Gisela’s torso.
Valten and Friar Daniel were left to stare after them.
He fought back the curses that rose up and threatened to explode from his lips. But he had to stay calm and think.
He had two choices: He could either send Friar Daniel to follow Gisela while he went to Hagenheim to round up a small army, or he could follow Gisela himself and send the friar to Hagenheim and hope his father was there to rally enough soldiers to come rescue Gisela — and Valten too, as he was likely to get captured again.
Since he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Gisela, he decided to go after her and send Friar Daniel to Hagenheim. The friar was so persistent, Father would have to listen.
But this time, Valten would pray his heart out to God to save them — in God’s mighty strength, not his. Another verse jumped into his thoughts. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Valten turned to Friar Daniel. “Do you know the way to Hagenheim?”