Gwynna returned to the forest the next day to look for the bag, but couldn't find it anywhere. If HE had found it ? Gwynna shivered at the thought that the count would now know that there was a new healer. All too well she remembered his penetrating gaze at her first encounter. For the time being she would rather stay away from the forest and follow Brother Erlands advice. She went back to the village with unjust things. Here, Brother Erland, who had just come from a visit to the sick, ran into her. He looked at her blamefully. "You weren't in the woods, were you, my child? Didn't I tell you that was dangerous? Do you want to end up like your uncle?"
"No, I'm sorry. I'm not going alone anymore." Gwynna bowed her head guiltily. She preferred to keep the encounter with the count to herself.
"Oh yes, did I actually tell you that the village has to pay taxes to the count ? Next week he will appear here with the tax collector and everyone should have something ready for it. Finally he protects us from marauding gangs, robber barons and other dangerous rabble.
Gwynna looked at Brother Erland and said, "But I don't have anything. What am I supposed to give?"
"No coins?" "No." "Hmmmm... well, then maybe the carpets you woven? That might do it. Or you could do one more."
"If that works, I'll have to ask Absildis for yarn."
"Do that, she'll probably give you something."
"And where does all this take place? Do I have to appear in person?" Gwynna was anything but enthusiastic about the idea of facing the count.
"In our fairground. It's a little out north. You don't know it yet, but that's where we celebrate our parties and weddings. There'll be a feast after the presentation of goods. And unfortunately, you must appear in person. But don't worry. Nothing's gonna happen to you. I'm a sidekick and I monitor everything."
"Well, then I must hurry to finish the carpet, Brother Erland. Good day!"
So she spent the next few days making a carpet in the rickety loom as best as she could. She was not with the thing, she thought nevertheless constantly of the giant, which she had met in the forest. And she was supposed to face him eye to eye? And should she really believe Brother Erland that nothing would happen to her? Maybe not in the square, but in a dark corner?
The villagers decorated the fairground, the ground of which was covered with stones. Around the square there was a wooden area for which the women and girls had woven a garland of flowers. On the right side there was a wooden grandstand where the count, his tax collector and Brother Erland would sit. When the day of the donation arrived, a large chair upholstered with velvet was brought from Konrad's house as well as two simpler wooden chairs for the assessors.
A few metres next to the fairground there was a fireplace where the butcher roasted two suckling pigs on a spit. Besides there was a stand from the baker with fresh bread and fine white flour cakes. In addition, numerous beer barrels were rolled up and set up by the innkeeper. Around noon all villagers were gathered when a loud horn signal announced the approaching count.
Kurgan rode his horse, all dressed in black, his hair tied to a ponytail, behind him the two northmen and two empty wooden carts, which were later to be filled with goods. Kurgan wore black leather trousers, knee-high riding boots, a black shirt and a fur throw over it. On his belt, instead of the broadsword, there hung a large dagger with a silver sheath and precious gems on the knob.
In front of the fairground he got off his horse and walked towards the grandstand. There he sat on the throne-like chair. Einar and Aegir lined up behind him. Then Rantgar, Kurgan's tax collector, a small scrawny male with thinning grey hair, swelling eyes and furry teeth also appeared. Brother Erland joined the band as third. When everyone had taken their seats, a few women came and prepared a cloth in front of the tribune on which the objects were to be placed. Konrad was the first as village elder. He greeted Kurgan, who boredly let his eyes wander and had his taxes brought in. A bag of silver coins, several bales of fine cloth, four large barrels of wine and a thin gold chain landed on the cloth and were entered into a parchment roll by Rantgar.
Little by little it was the turn of all the inhabitants. First always those who had to pay more and then those who could contribute little. The blacksmith brought three new swords and a hunting spike and the baker four sacks of finely sifted flour and large loaf of rye bread. The mountain on the cloth grew and grew. Large cheese wheels, sausages, clay jugs and cups, cages with chickens and geese, larger animals such as pigs and sheep were immediately taken away and it was Gwynna's turn to watch the events off the beaten track.
"Next comes the healer Gwendolyn!" Rantgar shouted out loud. Gwynna took her three carpets and made her way through the crowd. She was still wearing her wide cape, which largely covered her body, but had turned the hood back. Her long blonde hair fell open over her back. Since she wasn't married, she didn't have to wear a hood.
Gwynna stepped in front of the grandstand, curtseyed briefly with her eyes lowered and laid the carpets on the cloth with the other things. Then she looked up and froze when she saw Kurgan's gaze. He, who had hardly listened before, now faced the young woman he had seen in the forest from afar. His gaze became more intense and the corners of his mouth rose to a slight smile as he looked at her from top to bottom.
Gwynna turned fiery red when Kurgan took his eyes off her. She looked helplessly over to Brother Erland, who had also observed Kurgan's gaze. He looked at Rantgar - this one nodded and wrote Gwynnas charge into the role. So she was released and left as soon as possible. Kurgan looked after her and then made a gesture towards Einar, who bent over to his master.
"That one, the healer. I want her in my bed tonight. Make sure she is brought to the castle later, he said quietly."
"Yes, sir. I bring her to you," Einar whispered back, straightened up with a broad grin on his face and thought to himself, "My little dove, you are still being fucked today! "Maybe he could take her if Kurgan got fed up with her. Even at that thought he got an erection. He had to visit one of the whores later.
Gwynna felt Kurgan's gaze resting on her for a long time when she was already back in her hut. Therefore she did not notice that Konrad filled wine into a silver cup at the beginning of the feast and presented it to Kurgan. Only when he had made a deep gulp out of it could the celebration begin. People flocked to the finished suckling pigs, which smelled appetising. The baker cut the loaf of bread apart and distributed the pieces. The beer was generously served. Kurgan stood up, nodded to Einar and left the party together with Aegir.
Konrad stood at the edge of the square and watched the goings-on as his wife, son and stepdaughter approached him. The innkeeper had organized a few musicians who now played to the dance and some young men went with their loved ones on the square and waved them enthusiastically around in circles. One of the boys approached Jakomina and asked her to dance. Konrad sent him away harshly. As if one of the rascals was worthy enough to dance with his stepdaughter! He would get her a wealthy merchant from the city to be her husband. Jakomina sulked until Gebhard pulled her onto the dance floor.
Einar approached Konrad. He had thought of something and needed the village elder to do it.
"Konrad, the Lord wants the healer in his bed. The best thing to do is invite her to you, then I can catch her."
"You can also just go into her hut and take her with you. What do I have to do with this?"
"You want to please the Lord, don't you? And if you're okay with that as a village elder, there won't be any problems. Do what I tell you!"
"Konrad nodded. "All right, then. I'll get her and you take her with you."
Einar nodded and disappeared into the turmoil.
"Absildis had stood silently beside her husband the whole time. Now she could no longer hold on to herself. "Are you insane? How can you do that? Surrender an innocent girl to this beast?"
Konrad looked at her angrily: "Shut your mouth, woman. You don't have to doubt my decisions. Innocent! This wanderer! She may be honored if the Count wants her in his bed. And now I don't want to hear any more about it,' he hissed at her and turned away to scare Gebhard and Jakomina off the dance floor.
Absildis looked stunned after her husband. She would in any case prevent Einar from getting Gwendolyn. So she set off for Gwynna's hut.
There she found Gwynna sitting at the table with Brother Erland. Both were engrossed in conversation when Absildis entered.
"Gwendolyn, you must leave. Einar is going to take you to the count. He told my husband to invite Gwynna,so can can catch her easily."
Gwynna jumped up. "What? For Christ's sake!"
Brother Erland looked at Absildis in shock. "Konrad has agreed to lure Gwendolyn into a trap?"
"Absildis bowed his head. "Yes, I'm sorry. He couldn't be dissuaded. He's way too scared of the Viking. And he sees Gwendolyn as a threat because Gebhard wants to court her."
"But where to? In Cedric's cabin in the woods?" Gwynna was running excitedly back and forth.
"No," said Brother Erland. "better the Hermit's Cave. Further away, but the Count doesn't know it. A hundred years ago a hermit lived there, hence the name," he added explaining.
"We will organize a cart and provisions so that Gwendolyn can survive the first few days. And wood for a fire," Absildis said. "Quick, we must hurry!" she shouted. Brother Erland nodded and took Absildis' arm and led her out of the hut.
Two hours later a cart, pulled by a donkey, rumbled along the way towards the mountains. On the coach box sat the monk and Gwynna. In the cart stood a large willow basket with provisions and Gwynna's few belongings.
They were hardly out of sight when Konrad came to Gwynna's cabin and knocked on the door. When no reaction came, he hammered his fist against the door. Nothing again. In Konrad the idea germinated that she had left and that his wife had something to do with it. He hadn't missed her aversion to the plan. Snorting with rage, he ran back home. He found Absildis in her chamber on the ground floor and stormed towards her.
"Where's the girl, woman? Tell me or you'll be in bad shape," he yelled at her and ripped Absildis up her arm.
"Ow! You're hurting me!" Absildis screamed in pain.
"WHERE'S THE HARLOT?" Konrad was beside himself. "Do you know what it means to betray the lord? Do you know that?" Konrad shook her.
"And do you know what it means not to follow your husband?" "You -!" With this Konrad took a swing and hit his wife in the face with full force.
Absildis fell to the ground whimpering. Konrad didn't pay any attention to her.
"Oh God, what am I going to do? What is it? Einar could show up at any moment and if he can't find the girl!"
Loudly lamenting, he ran out of the chamber into his office. There was an iron cassette on the desk. Konrad opened it and took out a small leather bag. He poured the contents onto the table. They were gold coins of different origins and worth a small fortune. He had to buy his way out. Maybe that gave him time to look for Gwendolyn.
"Lord? The Northman is here. He wants to talk to you," Gret's voice sounded behind the heavy wooden door.
"I am coming" called Konrad and hastily collected the gold coins again, sucked in the air once more and set off to greet Einar.
He stood in the now empty chamber. Absildis had retreated to her first floor chambers after her husband's tantrum and cooled her burning cheek with a rag.
Einar waited impatiently when Konrad entered the room. "Well? Where's the girl?"
Konrad swallowed. "She... she's gone. I don't know where to. ... He didn't get any further, for Einar had grabbed him by the throat and pushed him towards the wall, where he lifted him easily and closed the throat of the wheezing man. Einar's face was turned into an evil grimace.
"What do you think, worm? Do you disobey the lords' wishes? Did you help her escape? You want her for you!"
And with that he increased his pressure around Konrad's neck.
"Please Lord, mercy," cawed Konrad. Einar dropped him like a wet sack of potatoes.
"I have something for you. As an apology." With his trembling fingers he pulled out the bag and held it out to Einar.
He took the bag, looked inside and puffed. "Look what treasures you have in the house..." "That's all I've got!"
Just when Konrad wanted to breathe a sigh of relief that Einar obviously accepted the gold, his son Gebhard stormed into the room, followed by his stepdaughter Jakomina. She remained as if rooted when she became aware of the Viking.
"Is it true that Gwendolyn has disappeared?" Gebhard shouted angrily. He fell silent when he saw Einar.
An evil smile spread over Einar's face.
"I see you have more treasures here!"
"W-what do you mean?"
"Well, the girl. She can entertain the lord until we find the healer." And so he came up to Jacomina and grabbed her roughly by the arm. Then he urged the girl, who fiercely defended herself and screamed, out the door and threw her face down on his horse.
Konrad and Gebhard ran after him. Konrad yelled at Einar: "Not her! Not my stepdaughter! Please sir! What do you want for her? Please! Release her!"
But Einar just laughed, swung on his horse and galloped into the night with Jakomina.