Page 100 of The Noble Servant

Until he heard Magdalen screaming his name.

He ran back into the room. The guard whom Steffan had originally defeated stood holding Magdalen, a knife to her throat.

The air rushed out of Steffan’s lungs.Don’t take her away, God, please.Magdalen’s face was ashen, her eyes fixed on his.

“Throw down the knife and let her go.” Steffan still gripped his sword.

“You will kill me if I do.” The guard’s voice shook.

“I won’t. Just let her go.”God, please. I can’t lose her. Please don’t let her die.Icy fingers gripped his insides.

Alexander stepped up beside Steffan, breathing hard and using his sleeve to wipe sweat from his face.

“You can’t get away,” Alexander said to the guard. “Lord Thornbeck is here. Lord Hazen will be apprehended and punished. But if you let her go, we’ll make sure your life is spared.”

Steffan took a tentative step toward them. The guard pulled Magdalen closer to him. The hand shook that held the knife to Magdalen’s throat. The blade touched her skin. He could end her life in a moment.

“Swear to me you won’t let them kill me,” the guard said.

“I hereby vow, as the rightful Duke of Wolfberg, that you will not be killed if you do not harm this girl,” Steffan said.

There was scuffling and footsteps behind them in the doorway.

Steffan said quite loudly, never taking his eyes off the guard and Lady Magdalen, “I demand that this guard’s life be spared.”

The guard took the knife away from her throat and let his arms go limp by his side.

Magdalen hurried away from her captor, and Steffan opened his arms and pulled her close.

So many thoughts and emotions went through him as he held her tight, glorying in the way she clung to him and buried her face in his neck.

Magdalen lifted her head, and they both turned around to face several of Lord Thornbeck’s guards.

Lord Thornbeck stepped toward them, his brown eyes focusing on Steffan. “You are the Duke of Wolfberg, are you not?”

“I am, my lord. Thank you for coming to our aid. Did you receive Lady Magdalen’s letter?”

“I did not receive a letter. I am here because the Baroness of Mallin sent for me and asked for my help in rescuing her daughter. It seems her loyal servant, a mute boy named Lenhart, wrote down a very interesting tale explaining what had been happening here in Wolfberg. His description was so detailed, she decided it must be true and sent a messenger with this young man’s explanation.”

That was when Lenhart stepped out from the crowd, looking shyly at Magdalen. She in turn smiled and waved at him, excitement animating her as she still held to Steffan’s arm.

“Thank you, my lord. We owe you a great debt of gratitude.”

“It is my pleasure to lend my assistance to friends who are being wronged. I was in a similar predicament myself two years ago, as you might remember.”

Steffan had nearly forgotten about that, some sort of treachery from the Duke of Geitbart that was resolved in Lord Thornbeck’s favor.

“We have apprehended Lord Hazen, and my men have placed him in the dungeon. Can you point out his son and his son’s wife, Lady Magdalen’s imposter?”

“My lord, as it turns out, my cousin Alexander has been assisting us. In fact, he saved our lives a few minutes ago. If you could spare him, I would be very obliged.”

“Of course.”

Alexander’s gaze met his. Steffan nodded to him, and he nodded back.

They were free. All of them.

Magdalen watched as Lord Thornbeck’s guards began to carry the dead and wounded guards from the room. Lord Thornbeck was barking orders, and Lenhart and Alexander also turned to leave. Probably Magdalen’s mother and Lady Avelina had not been allowed up the stairs where the fighting was happening, as they were nowhere to be seen.