Page 69 of The Noble Servant

The other maidservants were already in bed. Magdalen undressed quickly and quietly, pulling her loose kirtle over her head. Dressed in her plain gray underdress, she blew out the remaining lit candle and crawled into bed.

“Maggie, Maggie, wake up!”

A loud whisper next to her head forced Magdalen’s eyes open.

Katrin stood there holding a candle and candleholder, illuminating the whites around her eyes. “You’re in trouble, and so is Steffan.”

Magdalen sat up. “What do you mean?”

“Lord Hazen knows Steffan is the duke and you are Lady Magdalen, and he plans to kill Steffan today.”

“How do you know this?”

“I heard him talking. It’s true. You must believe me.”

“Steffan will be safe. He is leaving this morning to seek help.”

Katrin’s eyes widened. “You must warn him now, before it’s too late, and you should go with him unless you want to marry Alexander.”

Magdalen stood, snatched up her overdress, drew it over her head, and grabbed her bag. “How did Lord Hazen discover this? Who told him?”

“I don’t know. But please make haste.” Katrin helped her throw her few possessions into the bag.

Magdalen ran to the door and into the corridor. She pushed open the door to the male servants’ sleeping chamber. All wasquiet except for the faint sounds of men breathing heavily in sleep and Katrin crying and sniffing behind her.

Magdalen stepped inside, her heart pounding. Thankfully she knew which bed was the duke’s.

“Steffan. Wake up.” She touched his shoulder.

He drew in a quick breath and jolted upright. “What?” He grabbed her arm, still half asleep, blinking at her in the dark room.

“Lord Hazen knows everything. He’s planning to kill you.”

“How do you know?” But he was already standing up, then bent and reached for something at the foot of his bed.

“Katrin told me. She overheard him.”

Most people slept without clothing, especially when it was warm, but thanks be to God, Steffan was wearing hose.

He pulled on a shirt, grabbed a bundle out from under the bed, then hurried toward the door.

Katrin stood in the corridor looking small, her shoulders hunched and her head down.

“Come with us.” Magdalen tugged on Katrin’s arm. “If he finds out you warned us, you will be in great danger.”

“Are you sure?” Katrin whispered back.

“Yes,” Steffan said. “Make haste.”

She nodded and followed them down the stairs. At the very bottom Steffan led them to the door that was never guarded but always locked. He started unlocking it with a key. As soon as he got it open, he ushered them out in front of him, then locked the door behind him. He turned to Magdalen. “Go to the stables. Find Lenhart. He will be sleeping with the horses. Get him to saddle three horses for us and a fourth for himself.”

“Where are you going?”

“To my hiding place to dig up your letters and my sword.”

“But we didn’t get my father’s mining books!”

“We can’t go back now.” He took off toward the pasture where they used to graze their geese and sheep, and she and Katrin hurried toward the stables.