Theresa looked toward the cathedral and saw Helga the Black. This time, the recognition was mutual. Theresa tried to signal to her, but Helga hid herself, lowering her head as she made for an entrance to the episcopal palace. Theresa ran after her, but when she arrived at the door Helga entered through, she discovered it bolted.
Perhaps she should wait outside, Theresa thought briefly, but something drove her on so she jumped in through a window. Inside, she heard Helga’s footsteps fading somewhere in the distance. She thought she could catch up with her if she cut across through the choir, so she opened the little door that led to the balcony and scanned the interior. She could see the altar, where a group of clergymen were having a heated argument. Then she saw Lothar and Alcuin, who stood in front of the clergymen. To the left of them Kohl was gagged and bound, looking as if he had been tortured.
She was so shocked that she momentarily forgot about Helga the Black and crawled to a corner where she could listen in. She thought she heard Alcuin defending the miller, when suddenly Lothar stood and angrily interrupted him. “Enough of your lectures! With the king’s permission, with the permission of the vicar of the holy see, with God’s blessing…” He stepped forward until he was directly in front of Alcuin. “The fact is that dozens of people have died from a sickness for which neither our physicians nor our prayers have found a cure. And the remarkable thing about these events is not that the perpetrator of the Plague, who anyone in their right mind would have attributed to the Devil, is in reality an abominable being of flesh and bone.” He stopped and pointed a finger at Kohl. “No. What is truly astounding is that this scum is being is defended by a monk, Alcuin of York, responsible for the safeguarding of our church.”
Astonished murmurs ran through the cathedral.
The bishop continued. “As I have already announced, this morning an official found a batch of cereal hidden on Kohl’s property, which, it would seem, is the cause of the poisoning. Grain that Kohl could not explain until torture cleansed his abominable soul. But now, after he has confessed to his vile crime, I ask myself: How far does the miller’s guilt stretch? A simple man, accustomed to luxury and plenty, with no education other than what he has learned working in the fields. For we might understand how greed could take hold of an ignorant soul like Kohl’s. We might even forgive and exonerate him, given his generosity toward this congregation, and that he will no doubt continue to make. But how can we accept that an educated man, a monk like Alcuin of York, with his influence, his knowledge, and his position, should attempt to contradict what evidence and reason prove to be true?”
Theresa was surprised to hear Lothar attack Alcuin more than Kohl, but she was glad, at least, that someone had revealed the identity of the culprit.
“As I say, venerable brothers,” he went on, “Kohl is a murderer, and Alcuin is his protector. And while it’s true that Kohl has profited from the sale of his poisonous wheat, it is no less true that Alcuin has manipulated, obstructed, and distorted everything he knew about all of these deaths so that now, perhaps in a desperate attempt to cover up his own involvement, he stands as champion of this confessed criminal.”
Alcuin snorted in indignation. “Very good. Now if you have finished with your slander…”
“Slander, you say? Several members of this congregation have heard Kohl confess his guilt.”
Two nearby clerics nodded.
“Are they delirious, too?”
“A confession obtained through torture, if I heard correctly,” remarked Alcuin.
“What would you have recommended? That we offer him cake?”
Alcuin grimaced. “It would not be the first time an innocent man confessed guilt to escape the torturer’s implements,” the monk rebutted.
“And you propose that this is the case?” Lothar seemed to meditate for a moment. “Very well. Let us suppose that someone is convicted of the most heinous misdeeds. Let us suppose he had not committed them, but that to escape torture, the accused admits he has perpetrated these acts, thereby defaming himself. Even if this confession is not made under oath, it is still an act of defamation, and if defaming a fellow human being is a mortal sin, then defaming oneself is even more wicked. And does it not then follow that he who renounces virtue to revel in sin and benefit from it will always stray from the path of righteousness?”
Alcuin shook his head. At that moment Charlemagne stood, making the two opponents look small in the shadow of his great stature. “My dear Lothar. I do not doubt that the miller is guilty, an important fact that will no doubt put an end to these terrible deaths. But do not forget who you are accusing. The accusations you are making against Alcuin are of such gravity that you must either prove that they are true or apologize to him as his rank and position warrant.”
“Beloved cousin,” said Lothar with exaggerated reverence to the king. “Everyone knows of your fondness for this Briton under whose charge you have placed the education of your sons. But it is precisely for this reason that I exhort you to heed my words. That my evidence might open eyes that are presently blinded to the truth.”
Charlemagne took his seat and yielded the floor to Lothar.
“Alcuin of York… Alcuin of York… Until recently, I myself would bow when I heard his name, always preceded by a reputation for wisdom and honor. And yet, look at him: Behind that guarded, impassive, imperturbable face hides an egotistical soul, corrupted by vanity and envy. I ask myself how many others he must have deceived and what other crimes he must have committed.” Charlemagne coughed impatiently and Lothar acquiesced. “You ask for proof? I will provide it. So much proof that you will wonder how you could have placed your trust in this instrument of the Devil. But first, allow my men to take Kohl away.”
Lothar clapped his hands and immediately three servants appeared and led the mill owner out of the church. When they returned they were accompanied by Kohl’s wife, dressed in mourning.
The woman seemed alarmed, but Lothar soothed her. “If you cooperate, nothing bad will happen to you. Now swear on this Bible.”
She obeyed. Then after paying her respects to the king, she sat on the stool Lothar gave her.
From her hiding place, Theresa could see that the woman was trembling with fear. She remembered having seen her at the mill the day she accompanied Alcuin.
“You have sworn on the Holy Bible, so answer truthfully or so God help you. Do you recognize this man?” Lothar asked, pointing at Alcuin.
The woman looked up fearfully, then nodded yes.
“Is it true that he was at the mill a week ago?”
“Yes, Your Excellency, that’s right.” She started crying inconsolably.
“Do you remember the matter that brought him there?”
The woman wiped her tears away. “Not clearly. My husband asked me to prepare something to eat while they spoke business.”
“What kind of business?”