Page 71 of The Piper's Pursuit

“And where are the children now?”

“We left the children at Keiterhafen with some kind women who took them in and promised to keep them safe.”

“And what do you believe Hennek will do if he finds the children?”

Kat turned to Steffan and let him answer.

“He will kill them.”

Duke Wilhelm said, “We must go at first light to Keiterhafen and then on to Hamlin. I will have my men prepare for the journey.”

Kat breathed a sigh. She was eager to get the children back together with their families, and now she had a powerful ally in the Duke of Hagenheim. But Hennek would not back down without a fight. For him, everything was at stake.

***

Steffan had not seen his mother yet. His sister Adela, who was now grown up and quite pretty, took charge of Katerina and they went off to get her a change of clothes. Then, while Father discussed the trip with the captain of his guard and what they were going to do to rescue the children, Steffan went in search of his mother.

As he reached the top of the steps and the corridor that led to his mother’s bedchamber and solar, there she was, coming toward him.

“Steffan!” She ran the rest of the way to him, and he caught her in his arms.

“Mother. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Mother was crying and laughing at the same time. She clasped his head in her hands and looked into his face. “I’m so happy to see you, Steffan, my son.”

He hugged her close and buried his face in her long hair. She must have been getting ready for bed, because her hair was hanging loose.

“They told me you were home and I could hardly believe it. I’m so pleased. Are you hungry?”

“Always feeding us.” Steffan gazed down at his mother. As a child he’d thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was still quite beautiful, but now with wrinkles around her eyes and a crease on either side of her mouth. Her hair had a lot more gray than he remembered.

“How are you, Mother?”

“I am well. You look well and strong. Are you?”

“I am quite well, Mother. I want to tell you that I’m sorry for all the bad things I did.”

She touched his cheek. “You are forgiven, my son. I love you.”

“I want you to know that I’ve changed. I don’t want to do foolish things anymore.”

“I want to hear about these changes. Will you tell me? Or do you want to wait to talk to both your father and me?”

“I am here.” Father ascended the final step and stood only a few feet away.

Steffan swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. “I want to say that I am sorry I defied you, Father, and I regret I was so wild and unrestrainable when I was a boy. I led Wolfgang to do many bad things. But I mostly regret...” He clenched his teeth to stop the tears. “That I joined with the Teutonic Knights against your wishes, and that I killed innocent people and fought against my brother.”

Mother put her arms around him, and Father came closer. He clenched his teeth harder.

“I’m so proud of you, son.” Father put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m so proud of you.”

Steffan cleared his throat and brushed away some wetness that had pooled in the corner of his eye. How could Father say he was proud of him? His other brothers had done noble things. Even his sisters were noble and brave. What had Steffan ever done that was noble and brave? Even killing the beasts and rescuing the children had been as much Katerina’s doing as his.

“It takes a brave man to admit he was wrong.” Father’s voice was quiet. “I have never been prouder of anyone than I am of you now.”

Steffan coughed and cleared his throat again. “There’s one more thing. When Wolfie and I were children, something very bad happened, and it was my fault. Do you recall Heinlin, the boy who was beaten to death by his father? I was the one who convinced him to chase the sheep. He didn’t want to, but I persuaded him and Wolfgang to do it. It was my fault the sheep fell over the cliff. And it was my fault we didn’t tell you about it, Father. Wolfie tried to talk me into it. He told me we should tell you how upset Heinlin was and that he was afraid of his father. It’s all my fault. And I’m sorry.”

Steffan’s throat ached. Mother rubbed his shoulder, and her face was downturned, but he knew she was crying.