Page 33 of The Piper's Pursuit

“Yes, that’s true. Well, I shall tell you something else because I already prophesied you would learn more about me and I about you, and I am hoping since I was right about the first thing, I shall also be right about the second one.”

His usual jocular tone and expression almost returned, but was clouded over again when he continued speaking. “I foolishly disregarded my father’s words and went to fight with the Teutonic Knights against my father’s allies. I was angry and harsh with my brother Wolfgang. But I really decided not to join the order when I saw how their leader persecuted women and innocent people because of his own ambition. And then, when I was asked to fight against my brother and risk killing him, I realized I’d rather die than kill Wolfgang.”

She remembered how he’d stepped in front of the beast for her, taking the brunt of the attack to protect her. Perhaps it was true. If he could care about her, a stranger, enough to sacrifice himself for her, he would surely love his brother that much. But then again, she also knew there were people in the world, people like Hennek, who loved the praise of men, who would do something generous or sacrificial for others in order to look like a good person, but who would treat their family with contempt and cruelty.

Was Steffan like Hennek? She didn’t have a knife in her hand, and they were alone together. In fact, at this moment they were quite close to each other. He could grab her and try to harm her if he wanted to.

Steffan stood looking down at her. He was glancing all around every few seconds. Was he looking for danger, checking for the second beast they’d seen run away? Or perhaps he was making sure no one was around.

She felt herself stiffen, mentally calculating how long it would take to grab her knife. But instead of looking menacing or suspicious, Steffan had a kind and gentle expression on his face. He wasn’t leaning toward her in that disgusting, aggressive way Hennek had. Instead, he was glancing down at his own hands.

“Thankfully,” he went on, “I didn’t hurt my brother, at least not much.”

“Is that where you got your scars? Did your brother do that?” She pointed to her own face, to the corresponding places where Steffan’s cheek and brow were scarred.

“Only this one.” He pointed to the pale scar just above his left eyebrow. One side of his mouth crooked up in a half smile while his eyelids drooped, giving him almost a sleepy, brooding sort of look. “We were jousting. Injuries happen.”

“And your other scar? The one on your cheek?”

Why did she ask him that? She never asked men personal questions. Until now.

“I got that one fighting in Poland with the Teutonic Knights. I was attacking one of Duke Konrad’s soldiers and he slammed his sword into my cheek. At the last moment I was able to deflect the blow so that it was mostly the flat side of his blade that struck me.”

“That’s very fortunate.” She didn’t like to think what might have happened if the man had struck him with the sharp edge of his sword.

“Now you know more about me. But I won’t ask any questions about you until I know you trust me.”

“Why do you want me to trust you?”

“I don’t think you trust anyone. Do you?”

“Not many people.” She couldn’t help smiling at the way he accepted her distrust. “Perhaps I’m not the most trusting person.”

“I should say you are not.”

“I have my reasons. It’s safer.”

Steffan twisted one side of his mouth into a frown. After a few moments, he said, “Are you sure about that? I think it’s safer if you do trust people, as long as they’re the right people.”

“How do you know who is safe to trust and who is not?”

“Therein lies the problem, I suppose.”

Their gazes met and held. It was as if he truly understood her. She wasn’t sure she’d ever felt anyone understood her. For the first time in her life, she wanted someone to know her. And she wanted it to be this handsome young man. Her heart fluttered, and she looked away. Was she being ridiculous?

“Some people are not trustworthy.” He stared intently back at her.

He understood. Her heart thumped against her chest. What would it be like to sink into his chest and feel his arms around her?

“Shall we go?” She turned away from him, taking a big step closer to the rocks that she suspected were on the map, abruptly ending their conversation.

Steffan came along beside her. He said nothing as they both moved cautiously. This was the spot where the second beast had run away. There were no trees here, almost as if they’d been cleared right around the rocks. She headed toward the rocks and Steffan followed.

Peering around the side of one of the largest rocks, she heard a sound like metal scraping against metal. She froze, listened, but when she didn’t hear anything, she continued toward the rocks.

Just then, a hole appeared in the ground in front of her. She stopped short, drawing her foot back so as not to fall in.

The open space was well worn on the edges, the dirt and moss and grass rubbed away. Someone, or something, had been going in and out of this hole.