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she was simply tired, but Sigismund's
eyes as he watched her revealed deep concern.
    Elias and Albrecht also watched, knowing that
with each passing month their chance to go on pilgrimage to
Jerusalem was slipping away.
    As the weakness did not abate and his wife
found it harder and harder to hide that she was in pain, his eyes
grew haunted. He chided himself for his delay in leaving on
crusade. If he had gone early, he might have been at the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher by now, praying fervently for his wife's
recovery. It was thanks to his inexcusable delay that she now lay
dying, moaning in pain, gasping with the agony.
    Left to themselves the twins and their
constant companion guiltily fled the manor to get away from the
moans and cries and the helpless look on their father's face. They
redoubled their practice at arms, and Elias forced the weapon
master to teach his sister what he had taught him. When the man
protested to Sigismund, the distracted lord just waved him away.
"Do what the boy says. Just leave me alone."
    One morning, the three made their way to
Magdalena's isolated cottage, and Elisabeth begged her to come back
to the manor and help her mother. She refused. "Oh my dear one, you
know I cannot. I made a solemn vow never to leave this place."
    Looking quickly at Elias Elisabeth urged,
"Can we not bring Mother here?"
    Her brother, whose eyes showed the weariness
of lack of hope, shook his head. "Do you really want her to go
through the pain of being brought here?"
    Seeing Albrecht reach to put his hand on
Elias's arm, Elisabeth's desperation turned into anger and
resentment. "Oh, you two! Can't you keep your hands off each
other?"
    The shock showing on all three faces brought
Elisabeth back to herself. "Oh, my dears, I am so sorry. I just . .
. I don't know." She stood, covering her mouth with her hand. With
a sob she dashed away.
    "Let her go," the older woman said as Elias
started to go after her.
    He slowly turned and looked at her. "Does she
know? About Albrecht and me?" At the woman's grave nod, he
subsided. "How?" he asked.
    "Does that matter?" the woman asked.
    Elias shrugged. "What . . . how . . . does
she feel? Does she hate me, us?"
    "That is something you should speak with
Elisabeth about, but I do not think so. She is confused. She feels
like she has lost you, Elias."
    He looked up sharply. "My love for Albrecht
does not lessen my love for her!" he said firmly.
    The woman smiled wanly. "You need to tell her
that, show her that. Especially now with your mother dying."
    The tall young man slumped, his face growing
miserable and the tears starting to course down his cheeks.
Albrecht put his arms tight around him. Elias started to sob as
Albrecht held him.
    They found Elisabeth in the practice yard
swinging a sword with all her might.
    "Leave me with her, won't you, my love?"
Elias said quietly to Albrecht, who nodded, squeezed his arm and,
head bowed, walked away.
    Her brother watched her, seeing no let-up in
the ferocity of her swings. "Elli!" he finally called. She did not
stop, so he shouted, "Elli, hold!"
    The young woman slowed her swings until her
arms drooped at her sides, the sword point touching the dirt. She
breathed heavily, the breaths coming out more and more like sobs.
Elias advanced gradually to stand before her. "Is it safe?" he
asked with his joking grin.
    She looked up into his face, her eyes wide.
"Oh you," she spat and shoved him in the chest with the heel of one
hand.
    "Apparently not!" her brother said as he
pretended her shove almost knocked him off his feet. He held out
his arms, and Elisabeth resignedly walked into them.
    Shushing her as he pressed her face into his
shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her. "Elli, what I feel for
Albrecht has nothing to do with how I feel for you. You are my
sister, my twin. We are almost not two different people. You must
know that." He felt her hesitant nod against the side of his neck.
"I love you, Elli, more than I can say."
    Her muffled