Chapter 22
ANTON AND THE SERVANTS, as well as some people Johanna didn’t recognise who might be neighbours, stood in the hallway, staring into the room. Several people gasped and uttered exclamations of surprise.
“What in the Triune’s name is going on here?”
“Look at the tree.”
“Oh, the poor shepherd.”
“It’s the Queen!”
Johanna heaved herself up, brushing dust off her dress.
Her fall didn’t seem to have had any effect on her child. Women always said that you shouldn’t fall when with child, but like so many of these warnings that old women loved to give people, that was probably a fable. Maybe she should try to ride a horse next.
The shepherd groaned, pushing himself into a sitting position. His shirt was soaked through with blood and stuck to his back. His hair hung down in dirty s
