Page 70 of The Noble Servant

Chapter Twenty-Three

The sky was still dark, with only the barest bit of light to usher the night away. Magdalen’s gaze darted all around the castle bailey, but no one was in sight.

She ran into the stables and said softly, “Lenhart? Are you here?”

A rustling sound came from the back, then a dark figure strode toward them. As he got closer ...

“Lenhart! Thank goodness! We need you to saddle four horses.”

He suddenly turned and disappeared into the dark barn and soon came back holding a saddle and smiling broadly.

Magdalen and Katrin helped him saddle the horses, tightening girths and making sure they were ready. Magdalen’s father had shown her how to saddle a horse when she was very young, but now she was actually strong enough to perform the task.

When they were nearly finished, Steffan came running in, breathing hard with a large bundle under one arm and a sword at his hip.

They strapped their belongings onto the saddles, and all four of them took the reins of a horse and walked quietly through thestable yard. Would anyone stop them? Would someone warn Lord Hazen that they were leaving, the same person who had given him enough information about Steffan and Magdalen that he was able to figure out who they were?

God, please let the darkness hide us,Magdalen prayed as they skirted around the edge of the castle bailey toward the gate and bridge that led away from the castle. As they passed the gatehouse, the guard was slumped against the wall on a stool. Magdalen moved as quietly as possible, watching each step she took, even though it was still too dark to see very much.

They had proceeded several steps past the guard, with Lenhart taking up the rear, when a voice called, “You there! Where are you going?”

Katrin, who was beside Magdalen, gasped and whimpered. Steffan was in the lead, and he turned and whispered, “Keep going. Don’t stop.” He quickened his step, and they all followed suit.

The guard grumbled something undiscernible behind them. Magdalen listened hard, afraid to look behind her as they made their way down the castle mount in the semidarkness of early dawn.

“Let’s mount.” Steffan sprang onto his horse with such haste it took her breath.

She grabbed the reins of her own horse and quickly mounted. Lenhart had to help Katrin, but when everyone was safely mounted, Steffan took the lead and galloped his horse the rest of the way down the castle mount and through the still-sleeping town of Wolfberg.

They passed the cathedral where Agnes and Alexander had been married, passed the shops and houses along the main street, then took the southwest fork in the road that would lead them to Mallin.

Katrin did not seem as if she had much experience with riding a horse, but her face was scrunched in a look of determination as she stayed close behind them. Lenhart stayed close to her as well, often glancing over at her.

Thank You, God, for Lenhart. Please help us escape from Lord Hazen.Her heart was pounding, and she could think of nothing else to say. If the man would kill his own nephew for no other reason besides greed, he’d have no scruples killing all four of them if he caught up to them.

They had been riding for about two hours, Magdalen would guess from the position of the sun, when they drew near a village. Steffan slowed and guided his horse off the side of the rutted dirt road into the trees, eventually halting when they were out of sight of the road.

“You three wait here and I’ll go into this village alone to buy us some food. We don’t want anyone to see us together and tell Lord Hazen.” He twisted and reached to the back of his saddle and took his money pouch from his bag. “I’ll also try to find someone to take your letter to Thornbeck while we head for Mallin.”

Their eyes met for a moment before he nodded and moved off toward the village.

They had not exactly discussed what they would do once they reached Mallin. Magdalen was eager to discover the mystery behind why Lord Hazen had taken her father’s mining books and why he had a map of Mallin’s copper mines. But she was not eager to see her mother and let her know what she had been doing for the past few weeks.

Lord Hazen was surely following them, or at least his men were. He might only be a few minutes behind them, and probably no more than an hour or two. But she prayed that somehow God would show them favor and put obstacles in their enemy’s path.

Steffan soon returned with a large bundle of food.

“Did you find any possible couriers?” she asked softly as he passed the food bundle to her.

“Yes.” He gave her the tiniest half smile. “I don’t know how reliable this person is, but I paid him to deliver your letter. It is also possible that he might be intercepted by my uncle’s men, but ... we can pray he makes it to Thornbeck.”

They ate quickly and then packed the rest and remounted their horses.

“How long will it take to get to Mallin?” Steffan’s expression was tight, as if he was focused solely on the task at hand.

“On horseback we should be able to make it in two days, especially if we are able to change horses along the way.”

He nodded once, then urged his horse to speed up to a fast walk.