Page 72 of The Noble Servant

Upstairs Steffan and Lenhart dragged their mattresses into the maidens’ room, put them in front of the door, and lay down with their bodies between their charges and the world outside.

“They’re heading south.” Hazen’s tracker pointed in the direction of Mallin.

Hazen clenched his teeth. He could not allow them to reach the baroness. If they were able to discern what was happening ... He’d simply have to murder Lady Magdalen and marry her oldest sister. No matter what he had to do, he would not be thwarted.

“How far ahead are they?” Hazen asked as the tracker mounted his horse again.

“Two, maybe three hours.”

Where were all his spies? Why did no one warn him for twohours that they had stolen horses and escaped? They even took the mute boy with them.

Hazen and his men headed out. If they rode after dark they might be able to catch up with them the next day. And when he did, Hazen would not spare any of them. He would silence Steffan and the real Lady Magdalen forever. And the other noblemen and King Karl—the only people powerful enough to object to his plan—would never know.

Steffan awoke and scrambled up. Had he slept all night? He hurried to the window and opened the shutters. Dawn was beginning to lighten the sky. “Get up,” he said softly. “We need to go.”

He never should have slept so late. He’d intended to get going two hours before dawn, in case Lord Hazen was near.

Everyone groggily grabbed their things. They’d slept in their clothes, so it was only moments before they were leaving the little inn and saddling their horses.

He glanced over at Magdalen, who was saddling her own horse and tightening the girth, her hair coming loose from her braid. What baron’s daughter was as full of grit and gumption as Magdalen? And she was so fair. Any man would be fortunate to have her for his wife.

They rode a long time. He didn’t want to push the horses too hard, but when they did stop, he found a horse breeder who agreed to give them fresh mounts, and they left their horses with him.

With fresh horses, they were able to ride a bit faster and longer. The sun was just about to set on the second day of their journey when Magdalen called out, “Mallin is just ahead.”

The area was mountainous, and the road wound around hills and valleys, slowing them down. They halted and Steffan took out the map, walked over to Magdalen, and held it out so she could see it. He pointed to the mine that was marked with anX. “Are we anywhere near here?”

“It’s just over this hill, but we’ll have to leave the road and traverse through the woods.” She pointed toward the east. “Do we want to look in the mine first? To see what Lord Hazen thinks is so valuable? My mother’s home is a bit farther over those hills.” She pointed south.

“Since we are so close, I’d like to look at the mine.”

Clouds had moved in, making it almost dark, even though the sun had not yet set. They moved off the road, and when the trees became too dense, they dismounted and led their horses.

The unusually long summer might just be relenting, as the wind that swept over them was cool. A cold rain right now would be quite unpleasant.

A sound like the beating of horses’ hooves drifted to him from the road behind them. Could his uncle have caught up to them?

Steffan glanced over his shoulder. Lenhart and Katrin were still plodding along behind them. All their lives were at stake. His uncle would show no mercy if he found them. At this point, Lord Hazen needed them dead.

They came to a clearing in the trees at the top of a hill where they could see several rocky hills around them.

“He is here now,” Katrin said suddenly, her eyes wide and wild. “We should turn ourselves over to him. Perhaps he will show us mercy.”

The realization came over him like a bucket of cold water inhis face. “You were the one who betrayed us to Lord Hazen. It was you, wasn’t it?”

Magdalen’s mouth fell open.

Katrin took a step away from them. “I never wanted you to get hurt. If I had not warned you, Lord Hazen would have killed you.”

“Katrin?” Magdalen’s eyes showed confusion and hurt. “Were you Lord Hazen’s spy? Were you telling him about us?”

“I had no choice. Lord Hazen does not accept disloyalty from anyone. He would have killed me if he thought I was withholding information from him. But yes, he sent me to ask you questions, and he asked me if there was anyone around the castle with the name Steffan. But when I realized he meant to kill you, I came and warned you both.”

“Get away from us.” Steffan shooed her with his hand.

“The horses!” Magdalen said. “They’re getting closer.”

Katrin started walking backward. “Forgive me, but if I had not told him, he would only have found someone else to spy on you.”