Page 37 of The Piper's Pursuit

Steffan kept looking at her too. Did he have a plan? But the two guards who stood by the doorway to the hall had been joined by two more, who stood by the door to the kitchen. How could she and Steffan get away from the four huge men guarding the exits? They had no weapons, as Hennek had taken Steffan’s sword and her crossbow. They’d just have to wait for a better chance to escape.

When Hennek finally allowed them to retire to their beds, the guards and Hennek followed them up to their rooms, which were side by side. Then, in the narrow corridor, Hennek motioned with his hand, and one of the guards grabbed Steffan by the shoulder and slammed him against the wall. Steffan tried to fight back, but the guard grabbed him by the throat with one hand and pulled out a knife with the other.

“Stop!” Katerina yelled and took a step toward the guard, but one of the other guards caught her shoulders and pushed her against the wall as well, capturing her arms and pressing them into her sides while Hennek held his hand over her mouth.

Fury ignited inside her. She kicked and struggled, but she couldn’t loosen their hold.

“Get off her!” Steffan’s voice was low and gravelly as the third guard came over and leaned on one of his shoulders, pinning him.

“All is well,” Hennek said, directing his nasty smile at Katerina. “I only want my map and other important papers back. One of you has them, and I am guessing it is you.” Then he removed his hand from her mouth.

She spat on the floor at his feet. She could scream, but what could her mother or any of the servants do to help them? She’d only be putting them in danger if they tried to come to her aid.

“You can torment me all you want, but I will not give you anything. I never have and I never will.” She gave him her own version of a nasty smile.

“I will have my guards search you.” Hennek gave her a menacing look.

“You said you were a godly man, Hennek,” Steffan said, his tone cold. “A godly man would not allow these men to search Katerina.”

Hennek puffed out his chest and fairly shouted, “Iama godly man. The whole town will tell you. They know of my good deeds.”

“If you are so good, then why are you harassing this young maiden?” Steffan’s eyes bore into Hennek’s.

“Very well.” Hennek abruptly took a step back, his jaw flexing as if he was clenching his teeth. “But you will each have a guard to watch over you. That map belongs to me, and if either of you has stolen it, you will not go unpunished.”

As strange as it was, Steffan had hit upon the thing that Hennek cared about, the only thing that could be used against him, to manipulate him, and that was his love of praise, his desire to believe he was a good, godly man. Hennek was truly delusional.

Steffan regarded him coolly. The biggest guard pushed him toward the bedchamber door and Steffan did not fight him. Instead, he stepped toward the door and gazed at Katerina. A flash of conflicting emotions flickered over his face, his cheek twitching. But what could either of them do? They both went into their rooms as they were told.

***

Steffan lay awake, the biggest and meanest-looking guard standing against his door. Hennek knew they had the map, and probably suspected they’d been in the mine and seen the missing children. He was surely planning some way to kill them.

“Aren’t you going to take off your clothes to sleep?” the guard asked.

Steffan’s mind went to the dagger in the sheath strapped to his thigh, hidden by his long tunic.

“No, I prefer to sleep with my clothes on.”

The guard barely raised a brow and remained unmoving with his back against the door.

Was Katerina being similarly guarded? Steffan would kill that guard if he put one finger on her. He wanted to kill him just for being in her room. And Hennek... Stealing children and putting them to work in a mine! No wonder Katerina was so defensive and mistrustful. She no doubt had had to survive much abuse and oppression from the loudmouthed mayor with the fake laugh.

What would Father say when he found out the man he put in charge of Hamlin was actually capable of this much wickedness?

He and Katerina had to escape. But how?

Steffan pretended to fall asleep. He made his breathing deep and harsh—difficult to do when he wasn’t actually asleep. After perhaps half an hour, he slipped his hand up to the sheath that held his dagger. He clasped the handle.

He knew the guard had a sword, not to mention his hands were like two giant clubs, capable of beating him senseless. But he’d fought in battles, hadn’t he? He’d faced death before. And he was facing death anyway, whether he tried to escape or not, for Hennek could not let them leave this house. He’d probably guessed that they’d hidden the map.

As silently as possible, he turned onto his side and opened his eyes just enough to see the guard in the candlelight. He was leaning into the corner of the room, half his body against the door. His eyes were closed, and it looked as if he might be asleep.

Steffan clutched his dagger tightly. He had to kill him, even though this guard was in great need of repentance, confession, and absolution. Steffan had no choice. It was a matter of kill or be killed.

He leapt to his feet and lunged at the guard.

***