The Amber Knight by Katherine John Read Free Book Online Page A

million dollars to spare. And two, it could be a forgery. Even I know that medieval stone coffins like this,’ Adam tapped the photograph Edmund was holding, ‘are ten a zloty around old monastery sites.’
    ‘Not with those markings.’ Edmund picked up a chair and pulled it close to the desk.
    ‘There are any number of pre-war photographs and sketches of the Amber Knight that could provide a blueprint for a skilled forger,’ Adam argued. ‘Modern methods of distressing are very effective. You should see my sister’s Roman swimming pool in LA.’
    ‘Look at the amber.’
    ‘You can tell whether it’s genuine or not, from the amber?’
    ‘Not exactly. But from the descriptions I’ve read, the colour is right.’
    ‘You’ve never seen a colour photograph of the Amber Knight?’
    ‘Only paintings, I doubt a colour print exists,’ Edmund admitted.
    ‘But you’ve studied the story and the period?’ Adam pressed.
    ‘Every child in Poland has.’
    ‘Enlighten me.’
    ‘You don’t know the legend of the Amber Knight?’ Edmund wondered if Adam was joking.
    ‘Only that he crossed the Vistula from what is now modern Germany with Hermann von Balk in 1231 on a Teutonic Crusade. When he was killed in battle his troops immortalised him by casting his body in amber.’
    ‘Helmut was Lancelot to Hermann’s Arthur.’
    ‘The round table in the East? Come on.’
    ‘Just as Arthur and his knights were the epitome of chivalry in western Europe, so Hermann and Helmut represented heroism and Christianity in the East. There’s even a Guinevere. The pagan princess, Woberg, who changed her name to Maria after Helmut converted her to Christianity.’
    ‘I thought the Teutonic knights were monks?’
    ‘The Teutonic order had three levels. The knights were the highest, but there were also chaplains and menial brothers. All took holy orders.’
    ‘But they weren’t averse to a bit on the side?’
    ‘Helmut and Maria’s love was platonic!’ Edmund protested.
    ‘You expect me to believe that?’
    ‘Not everyone has your failings. Hermann and Helmut captured every pagan stronghold on the Vistula before reaching the last settlement on the Baltic shore which was close to the site of modern Elblag. The pagans had sent for reinforcements from the east and, they outnumbered the Teutonic knights ten to one, but that didn’t stop Helmut from attacking. The knights fought for twelve days and nights losing more and more men in every attack, until on the thirteenth day, Helmut himself was mortally wounded. With his dying breath he made his men promise to strap his body to his horse and send it into the pagan stronghold. When they did, every heretic who looked upon his face died. Struck down by God…’
    ‘Or shock at seeing a maggoty corpse riding among them,’ Adam interposed irreverently.
    ‘Those who didn’t die surrendered.’ Carried away by the legend, Edmund ignored Adam’s scepticism. ‘When Hermann took possession of the stronghold he ordered the town fired. The amber in the treasure house melted and ran down the street in a golden stream. He ordered his knights to gather it and pour it over Helmut’s body, preserving it for posterity.’
    ‘Posterity, or as a warning to the next tribe who stepped out of line?’
    ‘Whatever, it proved effective. That battle marked the end of hostilities on the western side of the Vistula.’
    ‘What did Hermann do to the tribes he conquered?’
    ‘If they converted to Christianity and swore allegiance to the Teutonic knights, nothing.’
    ‘And if they didn’t?’
    ‘He burned them.’
    ‘Alive?’ Adam asked.
    ‘The medieval church believed that burning the corrupt body was the only way to purify a heathen soul,’ Edmund lectured. ‘Maria built a chapel and convent on the site of Helmut’s last battle to house his coffin and commemorate the miracle that had delivered the knights from the barbarians. She devoted the rest of her life to God and guarding Helmut’s