Page 6 of The Noble Servant

The priest shuffled into the box.

Eager to get this done, Steffan blurted out, “I have committed a great sin against God and against humanity.”

“There is no sin the Lord cannot forgive,” the voice said from the other side of the slatted window. “What have you done that you wish to confess?”

“I killed two men.”

The priest made a strangled sound, as if he’d choked on his own tongue. He coughed, drew in a loud breath, and coughed again.

“Shall I go get some water for you?”

The man cleared his throat. “No need. I am well. So you killed two men?” His voice rose higher as he spoke.

“They tried to kill me.”

“Why did they try to kill you, my son?” His voice almost regained the peaceful tone he’d had at the beginning of the confession.

“They said my uncle sent them.”

“Why would your uncle want to kill you?”

“I don’t know. He probably wants my inheritance.”

“So these men attacked you?”

“Yes. They attacked me with swords.”

“And you killed them both?”

“Yes.” Steffan had never had a priest ask so many questions. “Have you had anyone confess to murder before?”

“You are my first murderer. But Jesus says when we hate someone, we have committed murder already in our hearts. You did not hate these men?”

“No, I never saw them before.”

“I see. Since it was in self-defense, your penance shall be light. You must spend today and the next day in prayer for these two men’s families.”

“Very well, I shall.”

“And you may sleep tonight on a cot at the back of the church. Then if you will promise never to kill again, you will be absolved.”

Steffan was silent as he thought about it. “If I am attackedagain by my murderous uncle or his henchmen, I shall be forced to defend myself. I am not sure I can promise that.”

The priest made a clicking sound, as if with his tongue against his teeth. “Well then, you must vow never to kill unless out of necessity to save yourself from being killed. And you must remember, vengeance belongs to the Lord.”

Vengeance? It wasn’t something he’d ever thought much about, but he did want to make sure his uncle was brought to justice if he was found to be guilty. His uncle deserved the greatest punishment for causing Steffan to kill two men.

“I shall do as you have said.”

“Very good. Now seek peace, my son.”

Steffan spent the two days at the little village church, kneeling in prayer. He prayed so much and so long, his mind sometimes wandered. And when the assigned penance was over, he was not sure if the heaviness on his shoulders was any lighter. Had his prayers made a difference? Had he prayed fervently enough to receive God’s forgiveness?

It seemed only right for him to feel guilty for taking two lives. Was praying for two days enough penance for two men who would never have a chance to repent and ask for the remission of their sins?

Regardless, Steffan had had little choice. He had killed the men in self-defense. And now he rode toward the home he had not seen in almost two years.

Erlich and Agnes moved a bit faster now, and they reached Wolfberg before sunset.