The Piper's Pursuit Page 18

  They arrived in Hagenheim just before sunset, tired, hungry, and thirsty, as they hadn’t taken time to avail themselves of their provisions for the last several hours.

  They rode their horses through the Hagenheim Castle gate. This castle was as broad and spread out as Hohendorf Castle was high. This is where Steffan grew up. Was he nervous about seeing his family for the first time in more than a year? But then . . . she’d also be meeting his family. The duke. The duchess. Would they be able to look at Steffan and her and know that she’d kissed their son?

  She said a quick prayer and kept her eyes straight ahead.

  * * *

  Steffan rode toward his home with Kat and the guard from Hohendorf. Would Father and Mother be angry with him for waiting so long to come home? Father’s guards stared, and he recognized most of them. Then one broke into a smile as they approached. “Steffan? Is that you?”

  A memory flashed in Steffan’s mind of getting drunk with this man and taking all the other guards’ clothes while they were asleep and hiding them in a field. His stomach sank at the remembrance.

  “Yes, and this is Katerina of Hamlin. It is urgent that we speak to Father.”

  One guard hurried inside the castle while another called for a groomsman to take their horses to the stable.

  Steffan dismounted and then assisted Kat down from her horse. Two of the guards opened the doors, and he escorted her inside.

  He’d never noticed before how high the ceilings were as they walked past the Great Hall to Father’s library door, where he suddenly appeared.

  A lump formed in Steffan’s throat as Father started toward him.

  “Son. Steffan.” He grasped him in a tight embrace. Steffan had to clear his throat to chase away a sob.

  “Father.” He hugged his father back, but a wave of shame crashed over him, of all the bad things he’d done, of the way he’d left over a year ago, practically sneering in his father’s face. But this prolonged embrace . . . His father had forgiven him, even though he didn’t deserve it, hadn’t even asked for forgiveness yet.

  He cleared his throat again. “Father?”

  Finally the duke loosened his hold and stood back, looking at Steffan’s face. “It is good to see you, son. We’ve missed you.”

  “It is good to see you too.” He coughed. “Father, this is Katerina of Hamlin, the stepdaughter of Bürgermeister Hennek Grymmelin.”

  Father gave Katerina a serious smile. “I am pleased to meet you, Fräulein Katerina. I pray all is well in Hamlin.”

  “No, Your Grace, I am sorry to say all is not well. We need your help.”

  Katerina looked grim and serious . . . and beautiful.

  “Please, come into my library so you can speak freely.”

  They went into the place where his father wrote letters and met with various people who had business with him. They all sat, but on the edges of their seats.

  “Go ahead. What is the trouble?” He looked from Steffan to Katerina.

  Katerina began the story while Steffan’s mind flitted from Katerina to the rest of his family. Soon he would be able to see his mother again. Would his shame outweigh his joy? But he attuned his mind to the present moment and listened to his Katerina speak in a clear voice about why they were there.

  * * *

  When they had entered the castle, Katerina had tried to walk as regally as she could, but since she knew nothing about being regal, she decided to remember that she’d killed the Beast of Hamlin and rescued fifty-two children, and that helped her hold her head up high.

  Duke Wilhelm was tall and broad-shouldered, very much like Steffan, but with gray hair mixed with dark brown. Though he must have been over fifty years old, he was quite handsome, and there was a strong resemblance between him and Steffan.

  She had watched as the two men embraced. Tears pricked her eyes at the way they held on to each other. This was how good fathers treated their sons. And the way Steffan kept clearing his throat told her more than words could.

  Then the duke had led them into a room full of books and shelves, chairs and a desk, and he had asked them to tell him why they were there. Katerina was explaining, “The mayor of Hamlin has kidnapped fifty-two children and trapped them in a mine underneath the town of Hamlin, where he has been working them as his slaves.”

  “He has kidnapped fifty-two children? When did this happen?”

  “Over the course of the past year.”

  “Why have I not heard about this?” Anger hardened the duke’s expression.

  “Hennek did not wish you to hear of it. He warned the people not to speak of it to outsiders, and people who had heard about it thought it was a myth or fairy tale. The Bürgermeister and his men were using two large wolves that they had captured and held in cages to attack anyone who came near the entrance to the mine. He made everyone think it was the Beast of Hamlin that had taken the children and killed and eaten them. But actually, he and his men had been stealing children off the streets of Hamlin and putting them to work in an underground silver mine.”

  Duke Wilhelm was gazing at her very intensely.

  “Steffan and I were captured by Hennek’s men and placed in the mine, but we escaped with the children.”

  “And where are the children now?”

  “We left the children at Keiterhafen with some kind women who took them in and promised to keep them safe.”

  “And what do you believe Hennek will do if he finds the children?”

  Kat turned to Steffan and let him answer.

  “He will kill them.”

  Duke Wilhelm said, “We must go at first light to Keiterhafen and then on to Hamlin. I will have my men prepare for the journey.”

  Kat breathed a sigh. She was eager to get the children back together with their families, and now she had a powerful ally in the Duke of Hagenheim. But Hennek would not back down without a fight. For him, everything was at stake.

  * * *

  Steffan had not seen his mother yet. His sister Adela, who was now grown up and quite pretty, took charge of Katerina and they went off to get her a change of clothes. Then, while Father discussed the trip with the captain of his guard and what they were going to do to rescue the children, Steffan went in search of his mother.

  As he reached the top of the steps and the corridor that led to his mother’s bedchamber and solar, there she was, coming toward him.

  “Steffan!” She ran the rest of the way to him, and he caught her in his arms.

  “Mother. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Mother was crying and laughing at the same time. She clasped his head in her hands and looked into his face. “I’m so happy to see you, Steffan, my son.”

  He hugged her close and buried his face in her long hair. She must have been getting ready for bed, because her hair was hanging loose.

  “They told me you were home and I could hardly believe it. I’m so pleased. Are you hungry?”

  “Always feeding us.” Steffan gazed down at his mother. As a child he’d thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was still quite beautiful, but now with wrinkles around her eyes and a crease on either side of her mouth. Her hair had a lot more gray than he remembered.

  “How are you, Mother?”

  “I am well. You look well and strong. Are you?”

  “I am quite well, Mother. I want to tell you that I’m sorry for all the bad things I did.”

  She touched his cheek. “You are forgiven, my son. I love you.”

  “I want you to know that I’ve changed. I don’t want to do foolish things anymore.”

  “I want to hear about these changes. Will you tell me? Or do you want to wait to talk to both your father and me?”

  “I am here.” Father ascended the final step and stood only a few feet away.

  Steffan swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. “I want to say that I am sorry I defied you, Father, and I regret I was so wild and unrestrainable when I was a boy. I led Wolfgang to do many bad
things. But I mostly regret . . .” He clenched his teeth to stop the tears. “That I joined with the Teutonic Knights against your wishes, and that I killed innocent people and fought against my brother.”

  Mother put her arms around him, and Father came closer. He clenched his teeth harder.

  “I’m so proud of you, son.” Father put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Steffan cleared his throat and brushed away some wetness that had pooled in the corner of his eye. How could Father say he was proud of him? His other brothers had done noble things. Even his sisters were noble and brave. What had Steffan ever done that was noble and brave? Even killing the beasts and rescuing the children had been as much Katerina’s doing as his.

  “It takes a brave man to admit he was wrong.” Father’s voice was quiet. “I have never been prouder of anyone than I am of you now.”

  Steffan coughed and cleared his throat again. “There’s one more thing. When Wolfie and I were children, something very bad happened, and it was my fault. Do you recall Heinlin, the boy who was beaten to death by his father? I was the one who convinced him to chase the sheep. He didn’t want to, but I persuaded him and Wolfgang to do it. It was my fault the sheep fell over the cliff. And it was my fault we didn’t tell you about it, Father. Wolfie tried to talk me into it. He told me we should tell you how upset Heinlin was and that he was afraid of his father. It’s all my fault. And I’m sorry.”

  Steffan’s throat ached. Mother rubbed his shoulder, and her face was downturned, but he knew she was crying.

  “You were a child, Steffan. But I understand how you must feel, that you’ve carried this burden for a long time. And I’m glad you’re laying it down now. Your mother and I have already forgiven you. You just have to believe that God forgives you too.”

  Mother embraced him, hugging him tight, and Father also put an arm around him.

  “We must have a feast,” Father said, “for my son was lost, but now is found.” His voice choked on the last word. And if Steffan’s eyes weren’t exactly dry, then neither were his father’s, so he wasn’t ashamed. Besides, no one saw except Mother.

  * * *

  Katerina glanced over her shoulder at Steffan. He was talking with his father as his younger sister, Adela, took her to her room to find her some clothes to change into.

  “Here is a chemise for you to sleep in tonight,” she said, draping a thin linen underdress over Kat’s arm, “and here is a dress for tomorrow.”

  “I can wear the clothes I have on tomorrow. I’ll be riding back to Keiterhafen in the morning.”

  “Riding out again?”

  “Yes, we left some children there. They were taken from their homes and now the man who took them wants to kill them.”

  “Oh! That is terrible! I am certain that Father will kill that man for you. My father never allows injustice. Is that why you and Steffan came here?”

  “Yes. I—”

  “Oh! Mother will be so happy to see Steffan again! I hope he is not as angry as he used to be.”

  “He used to be angry?”

  “Yes, at Father mostly. He and Father used to get into arguments all the time. And Steffan teased my older sisters and made them cry sometimes.” Adela chewed on her lip.

  “He doesn’t sound like a very good brother. But perhaps he has changed.”

  “Yes, Wolfgang told my mother and father that he had changed. Something happened, I’m not sure exactly what, when they were both soldiers fighting in Poland.”

  Katerina talked with Adela while she picked out one of her own dresses for her to wear and helped her lace it up. It surprised Kat that she and Adela were the same age, as Adela seemed so young and innocent and unburdened. Steffan’s sister was so pretty, with her light-colored hair—the same color as Steffan’s—and her sweet smile and carefree manner. As Katerina listened to her, she wondered how she, Katerina, would have been different if she’d lived a privileged life as a duke’s daughter. Would she have been irritable and demanding, like some of the wealthy burghers’ daughters she knew? Or would she be like this girl—guileless and kind, friendly and open?

  What she said about Steffan made her heart ache. Life must have been painful for him if he was as angry as Adela said. He didn’t seem very angry now. Now he seemed remorseful and eager to prove himself.

  “I hope Steffan is having a good talk with your mother and father.”

  “Oh, I am sure they are. He’s been away so long, I’m sure they will be too happy to argue with each other. Do you think Steffan has changed, like Wolfgang said?”

  “Well, I didn’t know him before, but he doesn’t seem very angry at all.” Not nearly as angry as I have been. In fact, she had goaded him greatly in the beginning, throwing unfair accusations at him, and he had borne it with hardly a single heated word back at her. “I think perhaps he has changed since he went away a year ago, based on his manner to me.”

  “Oh? Have you spent much time with him?”

  “Yes. At least, for the last week or two.”

  Adela finished lacing up the back of Katerina’s dress. “Can I braid your hair? I love braiding other people’s hair.”

  “Of course. Thank you.” Kat sat on a stool while Adela went behind her again and started brushing out Kat’s long brown hair.

  “What do you think of my brother?” Adela asked.

  “Steffan is very brave. He never gives up. He feels remorse for things he’s done wrong, and he’s very protective of people who are in danger. He is kind and strong and determined. He’s also amusing when he wants to be, but not in a cruel way.”

  “I hope he doesn’t drink too much, like he used to.”

  “No, I don’t think he likes to drink anything stronger than wine, and he refused to drink in excess with my stepfather.”

  “I am glad to hear that.” Adela was gently tugging on her hair as she braided it. She said softly, “You haven’t met my mother yet, have you? I have a feeling we are all going to love you. All done.”

  Adela came around and grinned as she took Kat’s hand. “Come. I want you to meet Mother.”

  They walked out into the corridor just as a woman was emerging from another room down the hall.

  “Mother! You must meet Katerina. Have you seen Steffan yet?”

  “Yes, we were just talking, Father and Steffan and I.”

  The woman had a softness about her that reminded Kat of her own mother. She smiled at Katerina and came toward them. “Katerina, I am Rose, Steffan’s mother.”

  Kat dropped a curtsy. “Your Grace, it is my pleasure.”

  “I’ve been talking too much,” Adela said with an apologetic smile. “But I’m sure Mother and I would love to hear, Katerina, how you came to be riding all the way from Hamlin with my mischievous brother.”

  “Oh, well, it is a rather lengthy tale. Lady Rose will want to spend time with Lord Steffan.”

  “He is changing his clothes now,” Steffan’s mother said. “He will be downstairs soon. But come into the solar where we can sit and be comfortable. I would very much enjoy hearing this tale.”

  They all walked up the stone staircase to a large room with rugs on the floor and chairs with cushions. When Adela and Lady Rose were seated and looking expectantly at her, Kat considered for a moment how she might shorten the tale.

  She told them briefly how Steffan had come to town offering to help kill the Beast of Hamlin, explaining how they had killed not one but two beasts, then said, “Lord Steffan and I were captured by a dangerous and wicked man—my stepfather. Lord Steffan was very brave and helped us escape—he and I and fifty-two children whom the mayor of Hamlin was holding as slaves.”

  Lady Rose shook her head, her eyes wide. “You have been through quite an ordeal, my dear. Are you all right?”

  “Yes. But you would be very proud of Lord Steffan. He stayed awake for two days and nights to make sure we all made it to safety. And now the children are with some families in Keiterhafen who are guarding them until we
can get back there and take them home. But we must hurry, because my stepfather is looking for them.”

  “Do you mean Steffan did all that?” Adela’s eyes were big and her mouth hung open. “I can hardly imagine. You are both so brave.”

  “Yes, you certainly were,” Lady Rose said, taking Katerina’s hand. “My dear, thank you for coming here so that the duke can help you save those children. I am sure I have much to thank you for.” Her eyes were watery as she spoke, then she hugged Kat. Kat returned Steffan’s mother’s embrace, imagining that the gentle woman somehow knew that Katerina had kissed her son. But of course she couldn’t know. It was not as if it were written across her face. But did she know Kat had fallen in love with him?

  When Lady Rose pulled away, she held on to Kat’s shoulders and gazed intently into her eyes. “You are very brave and very beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Kat had to blink back the tears, suddenly missing her own mother.

  “And now the servants are preparing a feast, and I believe the Minnesingers will be playing downstairs soon. Katerina, wouldn’t you like to rest for an hour or so?”

  She was perhaps more tired than she’d realized. “That sounds lovely, actually.”

  Adela tugged on her arm again. “Let me take you to my room. You can sleep on my bed and then you will feel like dancing!”

  Katerina laughed. She couldn’t imagine dancing in front of Steffan’s parents, but she didn’t want to contradict Steffan’s sweet and lovely sister.

  * * *

  The evening was enjoyable, though she did not dance. Instead, she sat at the table with Steffan and his mother and father, Adela, and Steffan’s brother Valten and his beautiful wife, Gisela. The Minnesingers did play and sing, and when it was getting late, Steffan reached for her hand under the table. She let him enfold her fingers in his, enjoying the thought that he wanted to hold her hand as much as the actual holding.

  He looked sad when Adela motioned to Kat and said, “Time for bed,” and Kat let go of his hand before anyone could see.

  The next morning at dawn they were all saddling up—Katerina, Steffan, Duke Wilhelm, and twenty of his soldiers. The duke had decided that Valten would stay and help protect Hagenheim.