Page 78 of Veil of Winter

“King Claude’s men seized my brothers from our home, bound them, and put gags in their mouths, even injuring my two oldest brothers who tried to stop them, beating them with their sword hilts. I was out in the fields tending the sheep. They took my youngest brother as a tool to force Princess Elyce to do King Claude’s bidding. King Claude knew she was trying to get support from King Wenceslaus and the other nobles to stop himfrom taking over Montciel. King Claude told the princess he would kill Dimitry and his brothers if she did not stop making trouble.”

A low, angry roar went through the crowd.

“Now I say to the men of Montciel, let’s start making trouble!” He held up his fist. “Who is willing?”

Several of the men yelled and raised their fists as well.

“Your own brothers may be next,” the young man called over the roar of the crowd. “Are you willing to let this foreign king take your freedom, injure your young men, and bully your women?”

Now all the men, and most of the women, were shouting.

Gerard whispered, “Thank You, God,” at the boldness and heart of this young man who was speaking so well before the crowd.

Meanwhile, Bertold made his way through the crowd to the fountain. They helped him up onto the wall, and he motioned for the crowd to quiet down.

“People of Montciel, it is time our two kingdoms were true friends and allies, not one taking advantage of the other. If I am made king, the people of Valkenfeld will work in its mines for a fair wage of their own free will, not as slaves to my brother, Claude. And no man from Montciel shall be forced to leave his home to work in the mines.”

The people cheered.

More guards began swarming into theMarktplatz, both Valkenfeld guards and Montciel guards, with their swords drawn, their bodies tense and ready for a fight. But the Valkenfeld guardsand the Montciel guards who were already in theMarktplatzand had been listening to Gerard, Jacob, Matthias, and Bertold went and spoke to their fellow soldiers.

These guards surely knew of their king’s practice of enslaving men in his mines. Many of them, no doubt, had brothers or other relatives who had been taken and forced to work for Claude.

After a few minutes of heated discussion among the Valkenfeld guards, the guards who had drawn their swords put them away and seemed to be waiting for instruction.

God, thank You that the plan is working.Already they had more men with them than were guarding Montciel Castle. He hadn’t realized how unsure he’d actually been that the plan would work until this moment.

Thank You, God. Now please help me findElyceand keep her safe.

Twenty-Two

Elyce stayed in the chapel praying for what must have been over an hour. Then she heard a commotion of heavy footsteps and loud voices from somewhere in the castle. Over her shoulder she could see that the guards who were watching her had left.

Father Johannes was motioning her forward. “My dear,” he whispered, “men are converging on the castle, many of them with farming tools as weapons, and they have guards with them. They are demanding to see you.”

“To see me?”

“Yes. They are shouting something. Shall I go find out what?”

“Please do.”

Elyce could not imagine what was happening. Could Jacob have been so successful so quickly? Or was it an angry mob stirred up by King Claude’s men?

Several minutes later the guards were back at their posts,watching her, and Father Johannes finally returned. He said softly, “The people are demanding that you and the young man Dimitry and his brothers be freed, and they are demanding you be made their queen in place of your father. They are shouting over and over, ‘Queen Elyce, Queen Elyce.’”

“How can that be?”

“Jacob and some other men—I am not certain who they are—have been telling the people what you were trying to do for them and what your father, the king, has done by making his alliance with King Claude. I believe even King Claude’s guards are siding with the people of Montciel.”

Could it be true? But her father would be furious, as would King Claude.

“What should I do?”

Father Johannes glanced over her shoulder at the guards. “You need to hide, to make sure King Claude and your father cannot find you. And I have the perfect place. Come with me, quickly.”

Father Johannes turned and stepped behind the chancel, Elyce close upon his heels.

“Stop! Halt!” she heard behind her from the guards, but she kept going, following Father Johannes down a dark hallway that was so low she and the priest had to walk with their heads down.