Death and the Devil

The man stood facing them with drawn sword. She had seen him before. His name was Daniel Overstolz. He had been a magistrate before Conrad von Hochstaden had broken the power of the patricians and redistributed the offices. Since then Daniel had the reputation in the city of being a philanderer who would chase after any skirt and was too fond of the bottle. He was seen often enough riding through the street with his cronies. The women liked him for his good looks and cheerful disposition, though he was also said to be heartless and not particularly intelligent.

He wasn’t good-looking at the moment. His hair was plastered all over his head and his face oddly puffy and twisted.

“Judas,” he hissed.

Kuno took her arm and stepped back. “Take it easy, Daniel. You’ve got it wrong.”

Daniel Overstolz followed them and they fell back again. “Oh, yes?” sneered Daniel. “I’ve got it wrong, have I? Where were you off to with your little tart, then?”

“Daniel, please, there’s no point in us fighting.”

“Oh. Please, is it? I’m flattered. Not long ago you were at my throat, now you’re dripping with politeness and respect. Who do you think you are, you bastard? You think yourself so superior, don’t you, you sanctimonious prig. Traitor! What gives you the right to destroy our alliance and send us all to the gallows?”

Kuno raised his hands in appeasement. “That’s not it,” he said urgently. “Don’t you see, the alliance is already broken. We’ve done too many things that are wrong. That wasn’t what we agreed. That wasn’t what we were supposed to be fighting for.”

Daniel stared at him, a grim look on his face, then at Richmodis. Without knowing what it was all about, she nodded. “Kuno’s right, we—”

“You’ll keep your mouth shut, you damn whore,” he screamed at her. With a couple of strides he was beside her and pulled her away from Kuno by the hair. She tried to resist, but her aching legs gave way and she fell to the ground. Horrified, Kuno jumped to her aid. The next moment the point of Daniel’s sword was at his chest.

“Not a step closer, rat.”

“Daniel,” said Kuno. His voice was trembling, but he kept himself under control. “We have to talk about this. You were a magistrate yourself—”

“Was a magistrate. Yes.”

“You dispensed justice. Have you forgotten? You were a good judge; people admired and respected you because you weren’t corrupt. You despised violence and sought the truth. You would never have shed the blood of innocent people.”

Richmodis stood up, trembling. Daniel was still holding her hair, but he didn’t move.

Cautiously, Kuno raised his hand and slowly pushed the sword to one side. Then he took a step toward them. His eyes were shining.

“Think back, Daniel. Think how important justice was to you. We all subscribed to a common goal because we believed in a higher justice. I still believe in it. Our goal was good, but it led to evil the moment innocent people were sacrificed for it. Look into your heart, Daniel. You lost your position, but not your self-respect. I know what loss means. I lost my parents and my only friend; in our blindness we sacrificed him. I blame myself as much as the rest of you. I know how you feel; I can understand the fury, the disappointment, the longing for revenge. Revenge is sweet, but forgiveness is sweeter, Daniel, far sweeter. Please help me to put an end to this madness.”

“Don’t move.”

“All right, Daniel, all right.”

Daniel twisted Richmodis’s head around so she was facing him. “A fine speech. What do you think? I’d like to hear your opinion.”

She looked into his eyes, fear tightening her throat. “Yes,” she whispered. “Kuno’s right. You should listen to him. I don’t know what this is all about, but I’m sure you’re not bad. I believe what you really want is peace.”

“Do you hear?” said Kuno, hope in his voice.

Daniel still had not moved. Then he nodded deliberately. “It’s nice that you believe in me. It’s truly wonderful to know.” He grinned. “That means it will be an even greater pleasure to send you both to hell.” He broke out into wild laughter and raised his sword. “Good-bye, fools. For your information, Kuno, I took whatever bribes I could. I wasn’t interested in justice, but I had power, d’you understand, Kuno, power. That’s what it was all about, power. And now I have the power to chop off your head, then rape this whore here before I send her after you and—urrrrgh!”

Like lightning, Richmodis had bent down and slammed her elbow into Daniel’s stomach. He doubled up. Kuno hit him on the back of the neck, sending him tumbling to the ground.

“Run!” Kuno shouted.

Daniel’s sword came up and stabbed Kuno in the leg. He groaned and staggered back, his hand feeling for his dagger.

When Daniel got to his feet, his face was twisted in a mask that had nothing human about it. He growled like a wolf. As his blade came slashing down, Kuno just managed to avoid it, but tripped and fell.

Richmodis looked around in desperation. Her eye fell on the heavy poles by the pillar.