The Mice in the Kitchen

Chapter 29

'What's taking him so long?'

The diligence would not wait for them and there would not be another one until the afternoon. Adalberht had gone back to the reception desk of the inn after being informed by one of the porters that he was required there. Flora helped Detlef get into the carriage while Herta waited for her husband outside.

She had asked her question aloud, but not loud enough for the others to hear. It was more of a thought; an intuitive feeling that something had happened which might prevent their trip. They had finally decided to go to the palace. Adalberht and Flora needed to know what had actually happened to Kasimir ─especially since the credibility of Oda, their source of information, was in doubt.

The fact was that Herta and Detlef did not share that urgency at all. They weren't even curious enough for the trip back to be worth their while. But, of course, neither of them wanted to become an unnecessary obstacle for their beloved's will.

Herta was right. Something ─someone─ was keeping Adalberht in Sonlagarb further beyond the time set to leave. After a while, the other three had to take their bags from the diligence and watch it leave. They then returned once again to the hall which they'd thought they had left for good.

And there they saw him, surrounded by a group of men who were perhaps hostile. They couldn't be sure. Of course, the Enbojups first came to their minds; but it wasn't them.

Detlef was the first one to get closer.

From a distance, the two girls watched the scene. To their surprise, several men seemed to know Detlef. Adalberht was surprised too, but his face mostly showed concern.

Only a few minutes went by. Adalberht was uncomfortable having left Herta alone and uninformed. He soon went to meet her and Flora, while Detlef remained with the group of men near the reception desk.

'Problems?' his wife asked him.

'A lot more serious than I could have imagined. Nevertheless, we must still be thankful for the way things are.'

'I don't understand...'

'They represent a group of people... a large group of people, it seems, who intend to rise up against the king.'

'Which one?' Flora asked, with a hint of irony.

'They don't really care,' he answered, understanding. 'They've been planning this for a long time.'

'And they're telling you?' Flora asked, suspiciously.

'They are aware of my stance. They know my whole history. They don't want any bloodshed, but they do want to achieve their goal. They want to know how I feel about that and whether I am willing to help them.'

'Are you?' Herta inquired, worried.

'Yes, to a certain extent. So long as their cause sounds fair to me and I am only required to assist them.'

'You'll become involved in their fight,' Herta deduced, gradually becoming convinced that their newly attained happiness would not last very long.

'No!' Adalberht replied, as if it was an order he was giving himself. 'I just feel obliged to collaborate with the miracle I think this is: the fact that these people want to prevent deaths. I've heard of a lot of revolutions by peasants in other places, in other kingdoms, which did not start having that principle in mind; and I know how they ended. In a certain way, I'm even proud that things can be done differently here.'

'You trust people too much,' Flora stated. 'It's your worst habit.'

The other two looked at her, but they said nothing. Flora now focused her attention on Detlef and on how at ease he seemed to be with those strangers.