The Golden Braid (6 page)

“
Ach!
What are you doing?”

“Your leg is swollen too much. The boot must come off.” Soon she had split it all the way down, and she slipped it off his foot. “The hose has to come off too. Rapunzel, go take the donkey and ox to the side of the road where the grass is green. Sir Gerek has to take off his clothes.”

“Yes, Mother.” Rapunzel moved quickly, not wishing to embarrass either Sir Gerek or herself. No one could say no to Mother when she was in this mood, not even a strong and powerful knight like Sir Gerek. Besides, he needed their help, and he finally seemed ready to admit it.

Rapunzel heard a few grunts and growls behind her, followed by Mother's sharp voice giving orders. Even though it might cause him pain and a bit of embarrassment, at least he would be dry and more comfortable.

Rapunzel unhitched the donkey and led him and the ox to a patch of lush, green grass off the road. She quickly hid herself deeper among the trees to take care of her own needs, then stood, speaking soothingly to the donkey and ox.

She supposed she would have to name the donkey since Sir Gerek said they could keep him. They would also keep whatever was in the cart he was pulling, and she wondered again what might be hidden underneath all the burlap.

“Rapunzel, hitch the donkey back up and bring the cart over here. Sir Gerek is going to ride on the cart.”

A deep grumbling came from their direction. No doubt Sir Gerek was protesting such a decision. But even he had been doubtful that he would be able to mount his horse again once he was down. It would surely be better for his broken bones to ride in a cart than on a horse.

She grasped the donkey's bridle and tugged until she was able to turn him around and lead him toward Sir Gerek.

He had risen to his feet and was leaning on the stick Rapunzel had brought him. His hair was dark and wavy with rain, but at least he looked dry everywhere else, and he was no longer shivering.

She hurried the donkey along and finally drew the cart up beside him. Mother had gone into the woods, perhaps to relieve herself, so Rapunzel stood waiting to see if she could help him.

He leaned heavily on the stick as he hop-stepped to the back of the cart. Instead of sitting down or climbing onto the back, he looked down into her face.

Her heart thudded against her chest as she stared up into his brown eyes. He was tall and powerful looking, yet his smooth skin and absence of wrinkles around his eyes told her that he was barely older than she was. His hair looked soft and clean, which in itself set him apart from most other men.

But looking into his eyes was a bit like looking into the sun. It was impossible to do for more than a few seconds.

She looked down at the cart. The piles of burlap were still wet. “Let me put something down for you, something dry.” She hurried to pull out her own blanket from underneath the oiled tarp. She quickly spread it out.

He sat on the piles of burlap, where she'd lain herself the day before after her head injury. He gradually pushed himself up with his good leg until he could stretch out his broken leg on the hemp cloth sacks. He lay back and closed his eyes, his face once again tense, his jaw twitching as he clenched his teeth.

No doubt all the movement made his injuries more painful, and her stomach writhed in sympathy.

“I'm tying your horse to the back of the cart,” she called to him. Fortunately, the horse did not seem to object to her doing so. “Is there anything else I can do?”

He said nothing for a moment, then, in a gruff voice, “No.”

Oddly relieved that he was being terse, she hurried back to the donkey, her shoes slipping and sliding in the mud. She tugged again on the animal's bridle.

Mother was waiting for her on the road ahead with their ox.

Rapunzel braved her mother's wrath by walking close beside the cart and saying to him, “Is Hagenheim where you live?”

“Yes, on the castle grounds.”

“I have never had a broken bone. It must hurt immensely.”

“I have had broken bones before,” he said, his voice low. He lay on his side, his right arm lying against his stomach. He was no longer cringing in pain. “It doesn't hurt so much if you can lie still.” He lifted his brows. “But that's hardly possible when riding in a donkey cart, is it?”

“I suppose not, with all the jostling. I will try not to let him pull the cart over too many holes.”

After a short silence, he said, “There is a healer in Hagenheim at the castle, Frau Lena. If we can reach the castle, she will be able to set the bones.”

“Set the bones?” She was not so much interested in how to treat a broken bone as she was with hearing him speak. His voice was warm and low, and his speech more refined than the men in the villages.

“She makes sure the bones are in place so they will grow straight. Then she splints them with sticks or blocks of wood.”

“How do you know the bone is broken? Can you feel it move?” She shivered at the imagined sensation.

“Sometimes. Frau Lena says if it swells a lot, it's probably broken.”

“I know your leg is badly swollen. Is your arm swollen?”

Instead of answering her, he looked down at his arm. He pulled up the sleeve of his loose tunic. The sunbrowned skin of his arm was bruised and the middle of his forearm was swollen.

“Why did your horse rear up like that? Do horses often fall backward on their riders?”

“No, not often.” He made a wry frown. “He is new. My last horse broke a leg. This one is still more skittish than I would like. He was nervous from the lightning strike. But he reared because a hare ran out in front of him. Now I have a useless arm and a leg that won't bear my weight. And all because of one small hare and a skittish horse.”

She nodded.

“Not to mention that the man who attacked you and your mother is now free.” He closed his eyes and his jaw twitched again.

“How long do you think it will take your broken bones to heal?”

“Six weeks at least.”

Mother was tugging on the donkey's rope as it had decided to stop in the middle of the road. Seeing Rapunzel looking at her, she shook her head no. Rapunzel sent her mother a slight shrug and smiled.

After Mother persuaded the donkey to move, Rapunzel continued to walk alongside the injured knight in the cart. After all, what harm could the man do with a broken arm and leg?

He was looking at her. “How did you ever learn to throw a knife like that?”

“From some boys in my village when I was a young girl. I like to learn things, and growing up, I rather enjoyed learning boyish things, like archery and knife throwing.” Perhaps she was talking too much, but he looked interested. She had never had the opportunity of speaking with a knight before. She may as well make the most of it and learn all she could.

“You saved my life today, with your boyish skills.” He gave her another one of his wry half smiles that made her insides flutter. “Will you tell me your name?”

“Rapunzel.”

“Is your head better after your fall yesterday, Rapunzel? Sometimes head injuries can take a long time to heal.”

“I am feeling well today, I thank you.”

“Rapunzel.” He grunted, whether as a reaction to her name or in response to the jostling of the cart, she did not know. “I have not heard of anyone named that.”

“It is unusual, I know. My mother named me after the plant. She once told me she found me in the rapunzel patch in her garden when I was a baby. I am not certain that was true, but someone did leave me with her when I was a baby. They must have known she and her grandmother were midwives.”

Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, “Have you ever been in any battles or traveled to distant lands?”

“I have participated in many mock battles, but never a real one. And yes, I have traveled to distant lands.”

“Are the people very strange in other places? Do they have colored skin, and do they speak in strange tongues?”

He smiled. It was brief and slight, but it was a smile. “I have only traveled around the Continent, and most of the people speak French, which I have learned. The people have fair skin, like ours. But I have met some Saracens who have very dark skin.”

“Forgive my questions. My mother says a curious man is a dangerous man.”

“I'm sure your mother is right, in some cases. But I have always thought a curious man was a knowledgeable man.”

Those in the villages where she had lived had sometimes laughed at her curiosity and desire to learn. Perhaps it was not something to be ashamed of at all.

“How exciting to know another language besides German. Is French very difficult to learn?”

“Not so difficult, if you are forced to speak it in order to communicate with people.”

The breath stilled in her throat. “Do you know how to read and write? In German?”

“I do.”

Her heart beat faster. Did she dare ask him to teach her? Could she be so bold?

Her mother's sharp eyes were on them. She would get a thorough scolding when the knight was gone. Asking him to teach her to read would anger her mother even more. Mother would surely prevent his teaching her anything. How could she ever spend time learning from him without Mother knowing about it? No, she had better wait and find someone else in Hagenheim to teach her.

For the moment, she was enjoying just looking at his face. With his handsome features, his sword, and his finely stitched clothing, he was like an exotic creature. If he told her he was a prince from a foreign kingdom, she would have believed him.

Finally, she broke the silence by asking, “Do you know how to read in any other languages besides German?”

“I read and write in German, French, English, and Latin.”

“Truly?” She suddenly was painfully aware of her own ignorance. What must it be like to have such learning? She must seem like the most ignorant peasant to him. He was the son of some nobleman, a baron or earl or duke, and only his code of chivalry and courtesy as a knight in the service of the noble Duke of Hagenheim could have induced him to stoop to help her and her mother, to travel and protect them from harm.

But she had saved his life. Perhaps he would be grateful enough to teach her a bit about languages and reading. Now that he would be laid up in bed for six weeks with a broken leg . . . Gratitude and idleness could be the perfect combination.

Her heart beat wildly at the thought of getting what she had wanted for so long. Her greatest hope and wish was to learn to read so she would no longer feel like an ignorant peasant. Would he agree to teach her?

Sir Gerek was staring. She probably looked strange as she shifted from shame at her own ignorance to great joy.

He said softly, “What was that song you were singing last night?”

“Singing? Perhaps it was someone on the road.” She turned away so he couldn't read her face.

“No, it was not.” He sounded irritable. “Do not lie. It was you.”

Rapunzel took a deep breath and huffed it out. “Is it unlawful to sing?”

“Of course not.”

“If you must know, I always sing at night for my mother. But she doesn't like for me to sing in front of other people.” She lowered her voice to make sure her mother couldn't hear her.

“What was the song? I've never heard it before.”

“It is my own song.” Rapunzel felt her face growing warm again. Her mother had made her keep her singing and songs a secret for so long, it was strange to admit to someone.

“I made it up.”

“You wrote it?”

“I have never written it down, but I created the words and the tune.” She wanted to ask him if he liked it.

He didn't say anything for several moments. Then he said, “You do not know how to write?”

She shook her head. “I have always wanted to learn.”

“Then you are not from Hagenheim?”

“No. My mother and I lived in Ottelfelt, and before that, we lived in Frankendorf. We are free women, and my mother doesn't like to stay in one place very long. But she lived in Hagenheim before, when I was a baby.” Then a thought struck her. “Why did you say that I must not be from Hagenheim? Do all Hagenheim townspeople know how to read?”

“Our Lady Rose, the wife of Duke Wilhelm, started a school for
the children of Hagenheim. Anyone who wishes to attend, girls and boys, are taught to read and write in German and Latin.”

“Oh!” Such a thing seemed too wonderful. “This Lady Rose must be a very generous person.”

“She is a great and noble lady.” He said the words quietly but with great feeling.

“This Lady Rose . . . does she have children?”

“She has several children. They are mostly grown now, except for two young boys and a little girl.”

She must be nearly forty. Too old for Sir Gerek to be in love with, surely.

“She is a very motherly woman,” he went on. “She can never turn away a child in need, no matter how dirty or cast away.”

As it should be. Rapunzel was disposed to like this Lady Rose very much.

“Perhaps Lady Rose,” he said, “would find an older child who would be willing to teach you to read.”

Excitement fluttered inside her. “I . . . But I would have nothing to give to them in exchange. My mother and I are very poor.”

He shrugged. “Or you could attend classes with the smaller children.”

That was not a very appealing thought. Still, if it was the only way . . .

The cart wheels suddenly dropped into a particularly deep hole. Sir Gerek let out a cry of pain as the cart jostled violently, tossing him one way and the other as the wheel bumped in and then out of the deep rut.

“Oh no,” Rapunzel said. “I should have been making sure the donkey stays away from the holes.” She checked ahead to see if there were any more holes she might steer him away from.

He groaned. “It's going to be a long day.”

Chapter Six