The Price of Conviction (short story)

After landing in Worms, Germany, in the sixteenth century, the Doctor and Susan find that the city is filled by visitors who have come to witness the trial of Martin Luther. Susan gets lost in an alleyway where she overhears two assassins discussing their plans to murder Luther. They discover her and assault her but she is rescued by a man who turns out to be the chief magistrate, Rudolf von Slesinger. He questions Susan in an inn before offering her and the Doctor his hospitality and a welcome at his home. They refuse but he has them arrested and taken to his residence. There they are introduced to Luther and his inquisitor at the trail, Johann Eck. Between them they concoct a plan which involves taking Luther to the trial through underground passages that run from the magistrate’s castle to the trial in the Diet. Later, however, the Doctor and Susan discuss their suspicions: the assassins discussing their plans in a public place as if they were meant to be overheard; the ease with which Rudolf rescued Susan; the coincidence that her rescuer was the chief magistrate; their inclusion in the discussion of Luther’s predicament. They fear that the whole matter is a ploy to dispose of Luther in secret and they have been used as a means to faci litate this. Susan disguises herself as a servant and escapes from the castle at night. She makes her way to warn Eck of their fears. The next morning the Doctor, Susan and Rudolf make their way through the tunnels with Luther. Sure enough, on their journey, the two assassins appear and kill Luther’s two bodyguards. Rudolf confesses to being the author of the plot but before his men can kill Luther (and the two time travellers) Eck arrives with his men. Rudolf is arrested and Luther goes on to his trial. The Doctor and Susan decide to stay in the city to watch the proceedings develop.

Characters

 * First Doctor
 * Susan Foreman
 * Martin Luther

Continuity
to be added