I RAN DOWN THE road away from Praha as fast as my legs could carry me. Twice I looked behind me to see the castle on the hill growing smaller. Noticing a gnarled tree beside the road, set apart from any others, I took an apple out of my tunic and offered it to the spirit that guarded the tree. Only then did I climb to a high branch where I could watch for Václav without being seen. I was used to living indoors, and did not feel safe around large trees. One tree was bad enough, but a whole forest of them possessed by evil spirits could combine their power and do unspeakable things. My faith was still in its infancy then. Because Václav and I had not yet discussed the old superstitions, I had not discarded the pagan rituals I had practiced from childhood.
As the sun climbed toward midday, my mouth felt dry, and I realized I had had no food or water since the day before. I began to feel a little foolish about giving away my only apple to a spirit I wasn’t even sure existed.
I forced my thoughts away from hunger and thirst and concentrated instead on warning the prince to stay well away from Praha. This time, I intended to convince him to take me with him. I could no longer pretend to serve Dragomíra when my loyalty was with Václav, at least not in a way anyone would believe.
I watched the road so intently that when I saw two riders approaching, I almost didn’t recognize them. I nearly fell in my haste to scramble down the tree.
“Master! Žito!” I cried, running toward them. My joy was mingled with fear, and I’m certain I looked quite insane.
“Poidevin!” Václav halted his horse and jumped down. “What is the matter?”
I fell to my knees. “They are plotting to take you if you go to the castle, my lord,” I managed to say. “The duchess even sent Přibislava and her friend away so they couldn’t warn you.”
Václav knelt in front of me and gripped my shoulders. He waited until I looked up into his gray eyes. Then he stood, raising me up. With a start I realized I had grown almost as tall as my master.
“The time has come, Žito,” he said, without turning to look at his faithful guard.
“Yes, my lord.” Žito wheeled his horse around and rode back the way they’d come.
“I’m coming with you,” I blurted out.
Václav shook his head. “Not this time. It is too dangerous. However,” and he held up a hand to silence my protest, “I have an important task for you.”
“What is it, Master?” I asked, disappointed.
“You must find a way to keep the castle servants out of harm’s way without alerting your mistress.” He placed a hand on my shoulder.
My face must have shown my confusion because Václav grinned. “I know I can entrust their safety to you, Poidevin.”
“You mean, you aren’t going away?”
The prince slowly shook his head. “It is time for change in Bohemia.”
I straightened beneath his hand, trying to project some of the confidence he’d placed in me. “I will do my best, my lord.”
“Then I will see you shortly.” He mounted his horse and galloped away. Though I trusted my master with all my heart, still I felt a stab of fear. Had he found enough loyal Čechs to take the throne? Wresting power from Dragomíra would not be easy.
I found Bora first. She promised to bar the door and stay inside the hut with her husband. Handling the other servants was more of a problem, because I did not know how many were loyal to Dragomíra despite their complaints.
“There’s to be a feast tonight,” I announced to the cook and his scullions.
“I heard no such news.” Cook crossed his arms over his stained apron.
“That’s because my mistress only now decided to have it,” I said.
I ducked the blow that Cook leveled at my head and continued as if nothing had happened.
“My lady desires roast boar and a brace of partridges, fresh bread, and one of your confections.” I chose dishes that would keep the most people in the kitchen for the longest time.
Cook glared at me, but he gestured to one of the bakers. “Well, you heard the boy. Get to work.”
Before he could strike at me again, I fled.
Later that day, Dragomíra, Boleslav, and their loyal voyvodes met in the great hall. My mistress did not seem surprised at the quantity of food. Knowing her as I did, perhaps I’d correctly anticipated that she would want to publicly celebrate Prince Václav’s imminent departure to the monastery. She had certainly dressed to celebrate, wearing a bold red dress and matching veil glittering with jewels.
In contrast to the pleasant music, Boleslav looked murderous. He could scarcely contain his impatience to be rid of Václav. I could not fathom why he hated his brother so much. He must have a heart of stone to despise Václav’s goodness.
I had heard nothing from either my master or Žito, so my imagination toyed with all manner of disaster. My carelessness proved nearly fatal when I jarred Boleslav’s elbow, causing him to splash the contents of his goblet all over his red and black tunic.
“Cursed slave!” he shouted, backhanding me with such force that I fell to the rushes. “I’ve suffered enough of your clumsiness.”
He leaped from his seat, drawing his dagger and raising it over my head.
“Boleslav, hold!” There was anger in Dragomíra’s voice, but I don’t believe it came from concern for my fate.
The music stopped. We heard shouting and the clash of swords just outside the hall.
Dragomíra stood up. “What is going on?” she demanded.
Before anyone could answer, the doors slammed back. I gasped when I saw my master, with Žito beside him, leading scores of armed warriors. Václav cut a princely figure wearing his father’s red ducal robe and a circlet of gold on his brow. He had drawn his sword. Blood dulled the blade. I shivered, not from cold but from fear. Boleslav’s knife was inches away, poised to strike me. What would happen to me if I grabbed his wrist and turned the blade?
My master walked calmly toward Dragomíra’s table, his eyes never leaving her face. The duchess puffed up like a toad trying to bluff a cat that has cornered it.
“How dare you shed the blood of your countrymen in my castle?”
“I only shed blood in self-defense, Mother,” Václav said. “You, on the other hand, murder innocent old women at their prayers and plot to rid yourself of your own son and lawful heir.”
Gasps and whispers filled the silence as Václav and Dragomíra stared at one another. Finally the duchess broke the impasse with a nervous laugh.
“All your sleepless nights have made you mad, Václav. How can you fail to see the folly of your religion? You can no longer tell the difference between what is real and what exists only in your own mind.”
“Enough, Mother!” At his command, Dragomíra stopped her raving. I felt Boleslav tense his body beside me, although what he thought he might accomplish against a room full of armed soldiers, I did not know. “I cannot allow you to continue to rule Bohemia. You make laws injurious to her loyal subjects and plot assassinations with your nobles. The time has come for you to step down. I now claim my inherited right to rule over this land.”
I refrained from cheering. Boleslav still stood over me, gripping the knife.
For several moments no one moved or spoke. I began to fear that Dragomíra would resist.
“Well, Mother,” my master said at last, “will you step down graciously, or must I use force against you and your voyvodes?”
Dragomíra turned her head and looked at the men beside her. Each inclined his head, bowing to her decision. All, of course, except Boleslav.
“Don’t let this weakling induce you to step down,” he snarled. “He lacks the will to use force against anyone.”
Václav shook his head and took a step closer, turning his attention to Boleslav for the first time. “How little you understand me, brother. My strength comes from the Lord, and he has given me victory over my enemies. Don’t make yourself one of them, unless you believe you can fight against God.”
Boleslav shifted the knife in his hand and hurled it at Václav. Žito threw himself in front of our master, deflecting the knife with his shield.
“Seize them,” Václav said.
“Wait!” Dragomíra reached out to grip Boleslav’s wrist. She turned to her younger son and spoke in a voice that only he and I could hear. “We have lost this day, my son,” she whispered. “You must wait and watch. Another day will come, one on which Bohemia will belong to you.”
Boleslav jerked his head, but he would not look at her eyes.
“Today, I concede to you, Václav,” Dragomíra held her head high, full of pride to the end.
My master stepped up to the table. His glance included each of Dragomíra’s loyal voyvodes standing beside her. “Now I am Duke of Bohemia and Prince of all Čechs,” he said. “Let it be known to all that Duke Václav will no longer tolerate the pagan policies of Dragomíra’s regency.”
He looked at his mother and brother. “Let no one ever again be found guilty of the crime of murder. If the fear of God does not keep you from transgressing the law, know that my wrath will come down upon such evildoers.”
After a pause to let his words echo in the ears of all present, Václav turned to include his faithful soldiers. “May the love of peace at home and abroad rule our land. Let justice reign to the glory of God!”
The men erupted in a cheer as I slipped under the table to stand beside my master. Dragomíra’s shoulders sagged, but Boleslav scowled. What could Václav do with him?