Page 81 of The Piper's Pursuit

She opened her door and stuck her head out. Had they gone to bed already? A line of light streamed out from the crack of their door, which was not completely closed. She heard low voices, and then she heard her name.

Katerina held her breath and stepped out into the corridor. She crept closer to their door, trying to listen in.

“You can win her over,” Duke Wilhelm was saying, his voice barely discernible.

Her heart tripped and thumped wildly in her chest. She couldn’t let them catch her eavesdropping, but she desperately wanted to know if they were speaking about her.

Steffan made an undecipherable sound. “...didn’t trust me...”

Duke Wilhelm mumbled something, his voice too low to hear. “...one never knows...” Then he cleared his throat. “...that I will need to appoint a new mayor of Hamlin. And since you have shown yourself to be brave and responsible, and I see so much more maturity in you, I have decided to appoint you, Steffan, the new Bürgermeister.”

Katerina’s heart jumped to her throat. Her first thought was how happy this would make Steffan, to know he had won his father’s respect enough to be granted such a position. But the very next moment she felt a pang... of jealousy? Resentment? Envy? She would be a better mayor than Steffan, but a woman would never be granted such a position. Yet truly, Steffan couldn’t know as much about the duties of a Bürgermeister as she did.

Her heart thudded heavily. She didn’t like these ugly thoughts. She moved as noiselessly as she could over the smooth floor of the corridor back into her room and closed the door.

She didn’t want to think these things about Steffan, didn’t want to be envious or resentful. Steffan would make a good mayor. He would never take a bribe, never cheat the town or steal money. And it must mean so much to him that his father had so much confidence in him.

She had to be at peace with this, had to get her feelings under control, had to be pleased for Steffan. He would be living in Hamlin. That was good, was it not? She would be able to see him often. That was what she wanted, wasn’t it? And if Steffan had any tender feelings for her... But perhaps everything would be different when he was the Bürgermeister.

***

Steffan couldn’t speak for a moment. All the breath left him. Finally, when the air came rushing back, he said, “Father, I’m so honored that you would think of me as the new Bürgermeister.”

“You will be a very good one. You are honest and good-hearted.”

He’d never imagined himself as a mayor. Could he do it? He had always rather imagined himself as a knight—though that was not likely to ever happen now. Or the captain of a guard, perhaps even the captain of his father’s guard, though that might be a bit strange, since most of his father’s men knew him as a mischievous, immature boy.

Also, how would Katerina feel about him being mayor? Would she be pleased? Proud of him?

“Father...”

“Yes, son?”

“I’m not sure I am the best person to be mayor of Hamlin.”

“Do you not wish to have the position? Is there a reason why you don’t want to be Hamlin’s mayor?”

Steffan thought about it a moment. “I have never desired such a position. I don’t think I would like writing proclamations and having meetings with the town council. I’m a soldier.” He didn’t enjoy killing people either, but... “I enjoy protecting people.”Especially Katerina.

“I will give this some more thought. And we should both pray and see if God will show us what His will is.” A slow smile sneaked onto Father’s face. “Don’t give up on Katerina. If you want her, fight for her.”

Almost as soon as they lay on their beds, Father was asleep. But Steffan lay awake thinking about Katerina, of her kiss, and how long it would be before he could talk with her again.

Twenty-Five

Katerina was glad to have the sun shining on her face the next morning, and even more pleased to be heading home to Hamlin with the children. The anticipation of seeing them reunited with their families thrummed in her veins. All but the ten orphans, who chose to stay in Keiterhafen with Frau Gruber and her husband. The woman seemed more than happy to have such a large number of children so suddenly. And her husband was smiling as they waved fare well.

Katerina rode her horse close to the children, who were riding on carts pulled by mules. She looked after them and even let them take turns riding in the saddle in front of her. Meanwhile, Duke Wilhelm’s guards rode in a circle surrounding Hennek, whose hands were tied together and to his horse’s pommel.

“I am innocent of these accusations,” Hennek said several times. “It is a misunderstanding. I have been wronged, and I demand to be freed.” But no one paid any attention to him.

They had been on the road only a few minutes when Steffan steered his horse to ride by her side.

“How are you feeling?” she asked him before he could say anything.

“I am well.”

“Your wounds are not paining you?”