Chapter 7: How Joerg Isebrand Learns About Witches and Wizards

With gold and silver in his pocket, Jœrg could afford to rent a room for Ilka and himself. It was temporary, and he had to ask Bodo for permission to sleep outside the castle, but it was money well spent. The Golden Cask was a small inn, with only two tables in the common room. The three bedchambers on the second floor were furnished sparsely, but at least the beds had comfortable straw-filled mattresses.

On that first evening, Jœrg and Ilka ate a supper in the common room, talking in low voices. Ilka was unlike any woman Jœrg had ever met. She had grown up in Prague, one of the centres of civilisation. Her childhood had been spent in a large burgher’s home, as the daughter of the cook, and she knew all about fine cooking. Jœrg let her order food for their supper, and she spent time to explain the merits of different foods. Once the food arrived, she corrected his table manners good-naturedly.

He put up with it in a mixture of comical annoyance and eagerness. He was eager to learn about such matters. To fit in with the noble people and the wealthy would help him in his desire for advancement. He knew already that uncouthness was a barrier to that desire. Yet, there was a touch of superiority in Ilka’s demeanour that he did not quite like. Yet, once their supper was finished, he took Ilka upstairs and into their chamber, leaving both of them thoroughly exhausted by the next morning.

The landlord made a few choice comments when they showed for their badly needed breakfast, making the kitchen maid blush and giggle. The two lovers were too tired, though, to take offence. Jœrg attacked the food on the table with all his attention, and Ilka, for the slip of a girl she was, tucked away three large slices of bread, with butter and cold cuts.

With the start of the ninth hour, Jœrg’s shift of duty began. He watched over His Grace during his breakfast, and then accompanied him to the Council chamber. Here, Reinhardt met his chief advisers and informed them of the findings. The Captain of the Guard, Grumm, was most saddened, it seemed, but he concurred in the necessity to keep the Countess under arrest until a better solution could be found.

Talk turned to other matters, and Jœrg kept his eyes and ears open, trying to learn as much as possible. Having learned the workings of a Hanse city while in Lubeck, he understood some of the issues discussed. Although here, in Merseburg, the guilds of the craftsmen were but petitioners and did not hold the powerful positions they had in free cities. Nevertheless, the Count listened to their complaints and grievances and tried to balance the interests of all involved, most of all, of course, his own.

His Grace, having performed his duties all morning, was of a good appetite at noon meal which he took with a few choice advisers and followers. Jœrg was not one of those allowed to partake of the venison and poultry, as he was standing to His Grace’s left side all the time.

After the noon meal, he was relieved of his duty, to eat and take to care of his bodily necessities. Meanwhile his Grace took a brief nap after the opulent noon meal. Come the third hour, however, Jœrg was back on duty, watching over the Count, trying to lean on his halberd unobtrusively.

Jœrg learned another lesson that afternoon. An old woman was brought before the Count, having been accused of witchcraft by a neighbour. The accuser, together with the preacher of the village and the büttel stood before the dais, too, to deliver the complaint. The Count smirked briefly towards his scribe who stood and brought a large, nasty-looking needle.