The Master of Medicine (The Secret Healer Series Book 2) Read online

  ALSO BY ELLIN CARSTA

  The Secret Healer

  The Draper’s Daughter

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Text copyright © 2016 Ellin Carsta

  Translation copyright © 2017 Terry Laster

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Previously published as Die heimliche Heilerin und der Medicus by Amazon Publishing in Germany in 2016. Translated from German by Terry Laster. First published in English by AmazonCrossing in 2017.

  Published by AmazonCrossing, Seattle

  www.apub.com

  Amazon, the Amazon logo, and AmazonCrossing are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.

  ISBN-13: 9781503943988

  ISBN-10: 1503943984

  Cover design by Faceout Studio

  I dedicate this book to Lianne Kolf, to whom I give my heartfelt thanks and a great big hug.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  About the Author

  About the Translator

  Prologue

  Everything had to change . . . and he would make sure it did. Of course, there would be casualties. It was unfortunate but unavoidable. The time had come to do what was required. But still one thing bothered him: he wasn’t sure whom to trust or who might betray him. He turned the vial between his fingers. He had to be absolutely certain before using it as the poison would take effect quickly. Brooding, he gazed at the small glass vessel. He heard a knock on the door.

  “I’m coming,” he called out. He hid the vial in his desk’s secret compartment, undetectable unless one knew exactly where to look. He stood up and then leaned heavily on the table, weighed down by the responsibility of the decisions he’d had to make. A hard road ahead, but once it was all over, he’d lead the life that Almighty God had preordained for him. He felt it with every fiber of his being. Together, he and his Creator would restore the natural God-given order. After straightening his spine, he shuffled slowly toward the front door, squared his shoulders, and pulled it open. He was ready.

  Chapter One

  Cologne, 1395

  “Mother, I’m going to be a barber-surgeon—the head of my guild!” Veit jutted out his chin proudly.

  Madlen smiled as she tenderly patted her son’s dark, curly locks. “Is that so? And here I’d thought you’d be a lawyer like your father.”

  The six-year-old shook his head resolutely. “No.”

  “So you want to learn the healing arts?” She felt a sense of pride that her son seemed to share her passion for healing.

  He shook his head again, this time even harder. “No, I don’t want to heal people. I want to cut hair.”

  “You want to do what?”

  He held up a finger. “I’m very talented.” He ran over to the staircase. “Come down, Cecilia.”

  Madlen looked up to see her daughter, almost five years old now, standing on the staircase landing. “Oh, my heavens!” She picked up her skirts and ran upstairs. “What happened to you?” Madlen squatted in front of her little girl and touched the dark stubble that only a few hours ago had been long, lush curls.

  Cecilia shrugged. “Veit said I look much prettier now, much more grown-up.”

  “You don’t like it?” Veit had stepped behind Madlen and now gazed at his mother with disappointment. “You never like anything I do.”

  “You can’t cut your sister’s hair!”

  “But I worked so hard on it,” Veit moaned.

  Madlen sighed, then looked in bewilderment at the few pathetic strands hanging listlessly from her daughter’s freshly shorn head. “Really, Veit, look at this!” She gave her son a withering look, her blue eyes burning with rage. “I can’t take Cecilia anywhere now. This is simply horrible.”

  “You’re mean.”

  “I don’t want to hear one more word from you. How could you do this to your sister? Go to your bedchamber.” Madlen’s tone of voice was harsher than she’d intended.

  “I look ugly now,” Cecilia whined. As Veit stomped away, she broke out in tears.

  Madlen took a deep, calming breath, then forced herself to smile. “Not at all. What are you talking about? You have such a beautiful face, you couldn’t be ugly if you tried.” She lightly touched the stubble on her daughter’s head again, trying her best to disguise her despair. “We’ll have to sew up a nice little bonnet for you to wear for a while.”

  “I want my curls back!” Cecilia’s whole body shook as she sobbed.

  Madlen put her arm around her daughter and pulled her close. “I know, little one.” She stroked her daughter’s back. “Promise me one thing: if your brother comes up with another one of his foolish ideas, do not let him do it. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, Mother.” Cecilia continued to sniffle. “I still have the hair. Can’t we just sew it back on like we do when we make clothes?”

  Madlen shook her head. “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to do that, little one.” She got up. “Come on, let’s look for some nice fabric that we can use for a bonnet. What do you say?”

  Cecilia frowned but wiped away her tears and grabbed her mother’s hand as they headed to the sewing room. Madlen stopped in front of Veit’s bedchamber. “Please wait a moment.”

  She opened the door and saw Veit standing in front of the window, kicking at the wall.

  “Come here, please.”

  Veit looked at his mother, then reluctantly obeyed her command.

  “Do you understand why I’m so angry with you?”

  He shook his head.

  She knelt in front of him, looking at his face. “Really?” she asked softly.

  He sighed.

  “What?”

  He looked at her teary-eyed but remained stubbornly mute.

  “You have to ask me before you can use the scissors.”

  “But you wouldn’t have let me.”

  “If you knew that, then you also knew very well what you did was wrong.”

  Veit felt cornered. “But I wanted to show everybody how well I can cut hair.”

  “And now, because of how she looks, people will talk about her behind her back and other children will laugh at her, which will humiliate your sister to no end.”

  “I’ll punch whoever laughs at her.”

  “You’ll do no such thing.”

  Veit sighed once again. He felt miserable. It was better when his mother had scolded him. But now, as she talked to him in a friendly and loving tone, guilt washed over him. “But I
think she looks lovely.”

  “You do?”

  He shrugged.

  Madlen rose and offered him her hand. “Come on. Let’s look for some pretty fabric so I can sew a nice bonnet for Cecilia.”

  At first he hesitated, but then he took her hand and trotted along next to his mother, well aware that he’d done wrong. When they joined Cecilia, someone knocked loudly on the front door. Madlen walked over to the balustrade to see Gerald opening it. She instantly recognized the visitor. “Agathe,” she gasped. “Gerald, let her in.”

  The guard stepped aside to let the woman enter.

  The visitor looked up, smiling broadly. “My Madlen!”

  Madlen lavished kisses on Veit, then Cecilia, then ran downstairs as quickly as she could manage with her skirts. The women fell into each other’s arms, their embrace lingering for several minutes. When they finally let go, they gazed at each other as Agathe stroked her niece’s cheek tenderly. “It is wonderful to see you.”

  “I’m delighted to see you, too! But why didn’t you send word that you were coming?”

  “I’ve come to bring you some news,” Agathe announced rather ominously. Before Madlen could inquire further, Agathe noticed the children who’d followed their mother downstairs.

  “That can’t possibly be Veit and Cecilia. They’re so big!” Then Agathe paused, and Madlen noticed the perplexed look on her aunt’s face. “What happened to her hair?” Agathe whispered.

  “Later,” Madlen whispered back, shaking her head and gesturing at the children now at her side.

  Agathe crouched down. “Do you two remember me?”

  Veit nodded eagerly, but Cecilia shyly hid behind her mother’s full skirts.

  “Veit, you’re almost all grown. What a big boy! I hardly recognize you.” Agathe tried to catch Cecilia’s eye. “I’m your mother’s aunt. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. You don’t remember me at all?”

  Cecilia took in the visitor’s face. She had only the vaguest memory of her, but because of her mother’s obvious joy over the unexpected guest, she managed a smile. “Oh, I remember you now,” Cecilia said, although she wasn’t sure of it at all.

  “Gerald, tell Ursel that we need her help,” Madlen said as she led Agathe and the children into the large dining room, furnished with a long wooden table and ten chairs, common to most large houses in Cologne. The walls were decorated with tapestries; two silver candleholders rested on the table.

  “Much has changed since I was here last.” Agathe looked around as they sat down at the table. “The time and effort you put into decorating your home is quite evident.”

  “Thank you. We feel so comfortable here. We use this room mainly to entertain guests or when Johannes needs a place to conduct business.”

  Ursel, the housekeeper, appeared and placed a tray on the table. She nodded at the visitor as she set a goblet in front of her, then handed the children two smaller ones. Finally, she set down a large wooden board piled high with ham and fresh bread.

  “Thank you, Ursel.” Madlen gave the housekeeper a warm smile. The maid smiled back, then vanished as quietly as she’d appeared.

  “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’ve come. And I’m sure Johannes will feel the same way.”

  “Unfortunately, I’ve brought bad news,” Agathe said.

  Madlen glanced at her children. “You two, let me have a moment alone with Agathe. We haven’t seen each other for a long time and have some grown-up things to discuss.”

  “But we were going to choose some fabric for my bonnet,” Cecilia complained.

  “We’ll take care of that later.” Madlen paused, mulling over her options. “Or better yet—tell Ursel to show you the fabrics in the sewing room.”

  “It’s all right, Mother.” Cecilia slid off her chair, a look of disappointment on her face. Madlen felt sorry for her daughter, but she had a strong suspicion the news couldn’t wait.

  Veit grabbed his sister by the hand. “Come, Cecilia. We’re going to find some really beautiful fabric for you.”

  Madlen waited until the door closed behind them before looking at Agathe, who picked up her goblet and took a big gulp.

  “What’s happened?”

  Agathe lowered her goblet. “I wish I had better news. You know that your mother-in-law and I have become very close over the last several years, and she sought me out to deliver this message. It’s about Johannes’s father.”

  “What’s the matter with Peter?”

  Agathe reached across the table and took Madlen’s hand. “He’s sick, my love, very sick.”

  A shiver ran down Madlen’s spine. “What kind of illness does he have?”

  “His eyesight . . . it’s getting worse and worse with each passing day. It won’t be long before he’s completely blind.”

  Madlen put her free hand over her mouth, then dropped it to her lap. “That’s horrible. Has he seen a doctor?”

  “Yes, of course. Elsbeth said he told her that there’s nothing he can do. Soon Peter won’t be able to see anything at all, not even light.”

  Madlen’s thoughts whirled around in her brain. Her father-in-law, with whom she’d never had a close relationship, was anything but delighted when Johannes chose her, of all people, to be his wife. Johannes had defied all convention to marry her. Unlike Elsbeth, Peter had never respected Johannes’s decision but over time had begrudgingly accepted the fact that his son was marrying for love, not to improve his social standing, as was the custom of the day. Her father-in-law’s attitude toward her hurt Madlen deeply. Despite his faults, he’d always taken care of his own. As far as Madlen knew, he had always been independent, a good provider, and careful to protect his family’s reputation.

  Her stomach felt like it was tied up in knots when she realized that things would be quite different from now on. “What did Elsbeth want you to tell us?”

  Agathe looked down and sighed, then looked Madlen directly in the eyes. “Exactly what you’ve probably already guessed. Peter is in no condition to manage the office. Johannes will have to take over from here on out.”

  Madlen gasped, then pressed her lips together. Her blood ran cold at the thought of moving to Worms. She felt her throat constrict and her breathing become labored as bolts of fear shot through her. Agathe squeezed her hand sympathetically. “I know this must be hard for you. Your life is here in Cologne.”

  “We feel so at home here, you know?” Madlen said, her voice quivering.

  “I understand that very well, but it is a son’s duty to take over his father’s business when he’s unable to take care of it himself.”

  Madlen nodded. “We always knew this day would come. I’m so sorry that I—”

  “Hush now,” Agathe said. “I know how you feel. You don’t need to apologize.”

  Madlen smiled gratefully. From the very beginning, Agathe had been there for her. Madlen had been forced to flee her hometown of Heidelberg because a vile man had accused her of a murder she didn’t commit. Without hesitation, Agathe had taken her in when she had materialized at her doorstep in Worms, scared, starving, and penniless. Knowingly harboring a fugitive had put her warmhearted aunt in grave danger. And now here she sat, bringing her niece bad news with every bit of sympathy and understanding she could muster. When Madlen compared her own reaction to her aunt’s unflinching expressions of kindness, she felt ashamed.

  “I’ll speak with Johannes as soon as he comes home. We’ll make all the necessary arrangements.”

  Agathe nodded. “You’re doing the right thing. Who knows why the Lord imposes these burdens upon us? But I’m quite certain there’s always a reason.”

  As much as she loved her aunt, Madlen couldn’t fathom a deeper meaning behind her father-in-law’s illness. “Everything’s going to be all right,” she said after a pause. “Despite the terrible news, I’m always so happy to have you here.” She stood. “Come. Let’s go see what the children are up to. They finally have an opportunity to get to know you bette
r. Where are your things?”

  Agathe stood, too. “I just brought a small bundle. I have to go back to Worms tomorrow.”

  Madlen was disappointed. “I don’t think we will be able to prepare so quickly for an extended stay in Worms. If we ever do get to return here.” She straightened up as she tried to push away her feelings of dread. “Wouldn’t it be better to wait so that we can travel together?”

  Agathe looked doubtful. “I don’t rightly know. I have to take care of my own obligations.”

  Madlen grasped her aunt’s hands. “Oh, please. It would do me so much good. Just a couple of days, Agathe. I’ve missed you so.”

  Her aunt smiled. “With such a heartfelt request from my darling niece, I can’t very well say no.” The women embraced, and Madlen’s anxiousness lessened considerably.

  “Thank you so much. Come on, let’s go see the children. Who knows what they’re up to?” Madlen shook her head. “You’ve seen Cecilia’s hair.”

  “Yes. What in the world happened?”

  “Veit decided that he wants to be a barber-surgeon. The leader of his guild!” she said, dismay clearly evident in her voice. “He wanted to show off his talent by cutting Cecilia’s hair.”

  “I see,” Agathe said. She couldn’t help but grin. “Now, in my opinion, he would do much better to follow in his father’s footsteps or take over his grandfather’s office. I would definitely advise against the profession of haircutting.”

  The women burst out laughing, and the tension eased a bit. After spending a little time with the children, Madlen’s heart felt lighter, and she wasted no more time thinking about the move to Cologne or Peter’s unfortunate illness. She was just happy to be with her aunt again.

  Chapter Two

  Madlen knew her husband was a master organizer, but she was still surprised at how quickly they prepared for their trip to Worms. Within a day, he’d made all the necessary arrangements for their departure, which would be less than two days after Agathe had arrived in Cologne.

  It was hard on Johannes. As the archbishopric’s only lawyer, he worked on official business for Friedrich III, the archbishop of Cologne, virtually nonstop. These were uncertain times, and Friedrich had a habit of offending high-ranking nobles. Rumors of a conspiracy against him abounded, though Johannes hadn’t discovered anything concrete. Of course, the peace treaty with the House of von der Marck had been adhered to for three years now. But it was well known that many influential people accused the count from Cleves of making too many concessions.