The Warrior Maiden Page 18

  He always imagined he’d wed a girl who relied on him for protection and safety. But Mulan was an equal, a fellow captain in Duke Konrad’s army. That didn’t particularly bother him. And yet . . . it was unusual in the extreme.

  Did he want to wed Mulan? Did he love her? He certainly thought about her a lot. She was the person he wanted to talk to, the person whose face he most welcomed seeing. But as long as his future was so uncertain, he couldn’t allow it. As they had discussed before, it would be unwise to take such a step lightly, to allow himself to fall in love at this time in his life.

  “Wolfgang? Are you ready to hear me read?”

  “Yes. You may begin.”

  She scrunched her face, as if afraid of embarrassing herself.

  Perhaps it was unwise to pass so much time in her company. After all, he could hardly look at her without thinking how fair and pleasing she was, especially now that she wore her hair down and allowed herself to move and speak more naturally. She was incredibly comely. The womanly Mulan contrasted with the soldier Mulan somehow made her even more appealing. And the more he got to know her, the more comfortable he felt with her.

  Sometimes, though, he laughed when he thought about how she used to try to deepen her voice and walk like a man.

  “Are you listening?” Mulan was staring openmouthed at him.

  “Keep reading.”

  Her shoulders slumped and she sighed. “This must be so dull and uninteresting for you. You don’t have to listen.”

  “It’s not dull. I want to hear you read. My thoughts just . . . wandered. Please. Read it again.”

  “What were you thinking about?”

  “Nothing.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “I was only thinking . . . how you used to deepen your voice when you were pretending to be a man.”

  She shook her head and groaned.

  “Come. Read to me.” He sat forward, his knee brushing hers under the table. He moved his leg back and tapped on the parchment. “Read.”

  She rolled her eyes but then complied.

  “That’s very good. You’re an excellent student.”

  She rolled her eyes again. “I never know whether to believe you when you compliment me.”

  “Why do you say that? Have I not always been honest with you?”

  She frowned. “Teach me some more German. How do I say, ‘The weather is beautiful today. Let us go for a picnic.’”

  He spent the next half hour teaching her those phrases and a few other related words. The entire time he kept imagining her saying that to his mother. He didn’t know why, because his mother could speak fluent Polish.

  Mulan had been assigned to patrol with Wolfgang for the third time in only two weeks. She was beginning to suspect someone—probably either Duke Konrad or Duchess Katarzyna—of putting them together for some purpose other than a military one. But far be it from her to accuse a duke or a duchess of matchmaking.

  In her heart she silently blessed them. The more time she passed with Wolfgang, the more she longed to be with him. Foolish or not.

  Wolfgang smiled when he saw her in the stable.

  “I’ll have Boldheart saddled in a moment.”

  They set their horses a brisk pace, riding north past the place where they had gone on their picnic just after the battle defeating the Teutonic Knights. Later, as they settled into a slow walk, they talked of favorite foods and dishes, which led Wolfgang to talk about favorite feasts, which led to a discussion of their favorite holy days and festivals.

  “I never wished for a large family before,” Mulan confessed. “But you make it sound like a wonderful life, growing up with so many people.”

  “I am grateful for my family, that they’re so loving. I do regret not being a better brother when I was a child.”

  “I’m sure no one holds it against you.”

  “I know.” But he looked a bit solemn.

  “Did any of your family call you Wolfie?” She felt herself blushing at the question. But he couldn’t know that she sometimes imagined calling him that, in her weaker moments, especially when she thought about that dream when he kissed her.

  Those weak moments were becoming more and more frequent.

  “My mother sometimes calls me Wolfie. My brothers and friends sometimes call me Wolf.”

  “Do you dislike it?”

  He shrugged. “No. Mostly, everyone calls me Wolfgang. I used to wonder why they didn’t shorten my name more often, since my brother Gabehart is nearly always called Gabe.”

  She felt a longing as she listened to him. It was becoming an ache inside her, to be closer. Close enough to call him Wolfie.

  But she shouldn’t long for that. And in her stronger moments, she didn’t want to long for it, as it wasn’t likely to happen. She couldn’t imagine he would ever marry her.

  She also longed for friends. She missed Agafia, prayed for her brother, and wished she was with her so they could talk, giggle, and Mulan could tell her all that had happened, and especially about her secret feelings about Wolfgang. And she missed her mother even more.

  Thinking about Mother made tears sting her eyes. At least she managed to talk with Andrei every day. And now she talked with Wolfgang more than with anyone else.

  She longed for a woman friend, someone who could relate to her in a way a man could not. She looked forward to the few words she was able to speak with Duchess Katarzyna and the servants who came to her chamber.

  “You have a faraway look.” Wolfgang was gazing at her. “What are you thinking?”

  “I wish I knew your sisters,” she blurted out. “I would have liked to have known them, since I never had any sisters. Because of the stories you told me about them.”

  “I hope you can meet them someday. That is . . . it would be good if you could.”

  He meant, of course, that she probably never would meet them, but she would like them if she did.

  Pain stabbed her heart. He couldn’t wed her. Of course he couldn’t. But she knew that already. So why did it hurt so much to hear him acknowledge it? She hadn’t realized until this moment how much she had hoped he would.

  See how foolish you are? Thinking a duke’s son would marry you. You are not fine or feminine enough. He needs a wife who can dance the intricate dances and say the appropriate, fancy words, and know what to do around other noblemen and women.

  She knew nothing about those things.

  Mulan leaned forward, nearly gasping. She had to stop this before Wolfgang asked her what was amiss. Remember how much the other soldiers admired you for your fighting skills, how they hoisted you onto their shoulders? Remember how Duke Konrad lauded and honored you at his feasts? You are a soldier, not a wife. And you should be content with that.

  She simply would not look at Wolfgang anymore. That should help rid her of this fascination with him. After all, she’d had her chance at marrying someone of her own station, and she had not wanted it. Instead, she’d chosen to be strong and independent and to help her mother. She’d set out to make sure her mother kept her house and she’d accomplished that goal—she, a woman, had done what only sons were supposed to be able to do.

  Mother would be proud of her if she could see her now, could see that she’d been promoted to a captain in Duke Konrad’s guard. Mulan would dwell on that.

  “You heard the reports,” Wolfgang called back to her over his shoulder, “that there are stragglers from Rusdorf’s army.”

  “The ones who are raiding the farmers’ fields and livestock?” She barely glanced his way and utterly refused to look at his face. He was just another soldier, was he not? No better and no different than she was.

  “One was spotted near here. I think we should search these woods. They might be making camp there.”

  “Very well.” She shrugged as if she didn’t consider his idea particularly brilliant. She turned her horse to follow his toward the section of forest to the west.

  Just as they were about to enter the woods, Mu
lan heard hoofbeats. Two riders were coming their way.

  She and Wolfgang reined in their horses and waited. Soon she recognized two of their company, Petrus and Johannes. When they were still a hundred feet away, Johannes seemed to say something to Petrus. Mulan didn’t like the look on their faces, though she couldn’t say exactly why.

  They greeted each other, then Petrus said, “We’ve just come from the eastern fields where there was a report of a man stealing chickens. Then we saw his fire and where he’d been bedding down.”

  Petrus moved his horse between hers and Wolfgang’s and talked to him about what they’d seen and heard on their patrol. Johannes moved his horse quite close to hers, so close she began to think about where her long knife was and how she could get her hand on it. But perhaps she was being overly suspicious.

  “You seem to go patrolling with Wolfgang a lot.” Johannes’s voice was too low for Wolfgang to hear. “Are you and he . . . ?” He raised his brows and inclined his head toward Wolfgang.

  “Are we . . . ?” She glared at him, daring him to insinuate—

  “Are you his love? Because if you’re not . . .” He moved his horse even closer, until his knee was pressed against hers. His lips curled in a disgusting smile. “I was thinking you should meet me somewhere and we could . . .”

  Mulan snatched her dagger from her belt before Johannes could react. She pressed the point against the middle of his chest. “I know you are not suggesting what it sounds like you’re suggesting.” Her face burning, she kept her voice low.

  His eyes widened as he stared down at the knife point.

  “If you ever touch me, this knife will make you rue it.”

  He backed up his horse, his expression turning sulky. His lips that were a few moments before curled in a lascivious smile, now puckered as if tasting something sour.

  Mulan moved her knife down by her thigh, hoping not to attract the attention of Wolfgang and Petrus. But their faces betrayed the fact that they had seen at least a portion of what had passed between her and Johannes. Petrus’s eyes were big and round, his mouth agape, but he soon started laughing.

  Wolfgang’s jaw twitched as if he was clenching his teeth. “What goes on here?” He glared at Johannes.

  Johannes’s horse sidestepped away from Mulan’s. He didn’t answer.

  Wolfgang looked to Mulan.

  “Johannes asked me a question and I gave him my answer.” Her face still burned and her breath was beginning to quicken, as if a delayed reaction to what had happened. She made a show of putting her knife back in its sheath in her belt, taking her time.

  Wolfgang’s face showed his understanding as he glared at Johannes. But that man carefully avoided meeting his eye.

  Petrus made an excuse for going back the way they had come, and they rode away as if a wolf were at their heels.

  “Mulan, what did that man say to you? I’ll go after him.”

  “No. It was nothing.” It was something, but she didn’t want Wolfgang to get involved.

  “Are you all right?” Wolfgang said the words softly.

  “Of course.” She had to swallow hard to get past the lump in her throat. Stop looking at me. The compassion in his eyes made her insides tremble and tears threaten.

  “If he touched you, I’ll kill him.”

  “He didn’t touch me.” He just wanted to. Her stomach churned.

  “I’ll bring him back here and force him to beg your forgiveness.”

  “No. I don’t want to see him again. Besides, if he tries to touch me, I’ll cut him.”

  “If he ever bothers you again or if anyone else ever treats you with anything other than respect, I want you to tell me.”

  “Thank you, but I can take care of myself.” She might not be a fit wife, but she was a soldier, and as such, she intended to defend herself from any and every danger.

  Mulan and Wolfgang strode into the Great Hall where Duke Konrad spent most of his days meeting with people.

  “You wished to speak with us, Your Grace?” Mulan was eager to get back to studying before she had to go on watch for a few hours. But the duke’s expression made her halt midstep.

  “Mulan, I have just received two messages, one from an ally to the north whose land adjoins that claimed by the Teutonic Knights and one from Rusdorf.”

  The duke took a breath and blew it out. Wolfgang’s shoulders stiffened, and he was clenching his jaw, just as he did in battle.

  “What? What is it?” She turned and pointed at Wolfgang. “You know, don’t you?”

  He shook his head. “I only heard a rumor yesterday. I hoped it wasn’t true.”

  Her face burned as fear and dread clouded her thoughts.

  The duke fixed his eyes on Mulan. “Rusdorf has taken your mother from her home and brought her to Malbork Castle.”

  “For what purpose?” Her hand twitched to grab her bow and arrows, moving toward her back. But of course she wasn’t wearing her weapons, having come from studying reading with Wolfgang. She clenched her hands into fists.

  “He says he intends to try her as a heretic, accusing her of witchcraft. But he’s only doing it to seek vengeance on you, perhaps even to trap you.”

  Mulan’s heart was pounding even as her stomach sank. Mother. She did not deserve this. God, please help me save her.

  “I will go and set her free.”

  “No, I’ll go and free her.” Wolfgang’s expression was wild, his eyes wide and dangerous.

  “From Malbork Castle? Impossible.” Duke Konrad shook his head, his brows drawn together.

  “She is my mother. I must save her.” Everyone knew what would happen to a woman found guilty of witchcraft. She’d be burned alive. “How much time do I have? No matter, I’ll leave immediately.”

  Mulan took two steps before Wolfgang touched her arm and halted her. “You must not go alone. I shall come with you.”

  “I suspect it is a trap.” The duke inclined his head at her.

  “I’ll not let him murder my mother. I ask you, Your Grace, to allow me to go and champion my mother however I can, and then, if I live, I shall return here and serve you. But I’ll not concede defeat to Rusdorf and his tyranny, not when my mother’s life is in danger, and not without a fight.”

  “I understand, but take Wolfgang, and I shall send two more guards with you.”

  Mulan nodded at Wolfgang. “Very well.”

  “I wish I could do more, but the treaty we signed . . . If I send my army, he will see it as a sign that I’m breaking our agreement.”

  “I understand.”

  “All I can do is send a letter threatening him. If he should harm your mother in any way, he will answer to me.”

  They both knew that meant very little, but she thanked him anyway. Blood was flowing through her limbs, and she wanted to be on her horse and galloping toward her mother and the Teutonic Knights’ Malbork Castle.

  CHAPTER 21

  As he followed Mulan out of the Great Hall to prepare for the journey to Malbork Castle, Wolfgang’s blood boiled at what Rusdorf was doing—nothing but revenge for his wounded pride at being bested by a woman. Cruel, inhuman . . .

  “Thank you for coming with me.” Mulan turned around and halted on the step above him. “But I don’t want anything to happen to you. This is my fight.” She pressed a fingertip to her own chest.

  “Perhaps God wants you to be humble enough to accept my help.” Why was she being so stubborn? “I am coming with you no matter what you say.”

  She glared, squinting at him. Then she turned and flew up the stairs to her chamber and closed the door.

  Did she not trust him, after all they’d been through? Did she have some fear of accepting help? Was it pride? Was she unable to accept that he wanted to help her, without any agenda of his own?

  No time for arguing now, but the way she didn’t answer him, only left him in silence . . . He had better make haste, lest she leave him behind.

  He threw some clothing in a bag and sent Gerke scrambl
ing to gather his weapons. Then he went out and found Mulan departing her chamber at the same time. They rushed down the steps together.

  He imagined how he would feel if his mother were in danger and was being used as bait to deliver him into the hands of a sinister foe. The resulting emotions kept him silent.

  Their horses were saddled and waiting for them—they had saddled Boldheart for her—along with an escort of two other guards, their friends Simon and Gregorius.

  Andrei ran up to them. “I’m going with you!” He had his bag under his arm and he ran to the stall. “It won’t take long to saddle Aksoma.”

  Mulan’s expression was troubled but she said nothing.

  Gerke followed Andrei and saddled his horse as well. Soon the six of them were ready and set off. Would they succeed in rescuing her mother from Rusdorf and the Teutonic Knights? There were many uncertainties, but he would never let Mulan take this journey or face this danger alone.

  Mulan had never prayed as hard as she did that night when they stopped to make camp. Mother must be so frightened. Were they mistreating her? If only she could arrive faster, but she’d been told it would take three days. God, send Your angel armies to surround my mother and keep her safe, and send Your power to save, that we might rescue the innocent from the unjust ruler who has imprisoned her.

  “I thought I saw someone following us,” Wolfgang said as they sat around the cook fire.

  “Where? I thought I saw a rider too.” Simon leaned forward.

  “Do you think he was following us?” Gregorius asked. “I only saw him once.”

  They soon concluded that they would keep an eye out for the lone rider and waylay him if he appeared again.

  Mulan prayed while lying in her tent, which she no longer shared with Andrei, now that everyone knew she was a woman. Her friends surrounded her, bedded down nearby, and their presence gave her a measure of comfort. She received much more as she whispered, “God, I know You are with me. You will never let the righteous fall. You are my mother’s strong tower, her deliverer, and nothing can hinder You from saving, whether by many or by few.”