“I shall speak to them about that,” Father said.
“But Aladdin would never treat me in an untoward manner.”
“I am glad to hear that.” Mother smiled.
But Kirstyn remembered wondering why she and Aladdin couldn’t stay children forever. She didn’t want her friendship with him ever to change. But . . . she’d been having different feelings for Aladdin, especially since he left and she had kissed him on the cheek, but she had not wanted to admit them. Did Aladdin feel the same way?
When she was feeling sad after Aladdin left, Father had told her, “A man wants to make his own way. Aladdin wants to be his own man and prove himself.”
Of course, her father didn’t suspect she loved Aladdin. He just thought she was missing her best friend, and she was. But she was really annoyed when Valten told her, “Men are repulsed by women who make it too clear that they love them.”
But perhaps it was time to admit that the way she felt about Aladdin was no longer the same way she felt when she was twelve. But it was still annoying to think that people had assumed they were sweethearts.
Kirstyn and Anna were nearly to the building when Kirstyn realized she hadn’t been listening to Anna. But now she forced herself to pay attention.
“I don’t like mathematics or reading very much. What I really would like to do is serve inside Hagenheim Castle. Do you think you might mention to your mother that I would be a good worker, that I can clean and cook and do any kind of work they might wish me to? Would you please ask her?”
Anna’s green eyes were wide and hopeful as she tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear.
“Of course I can ask her. But she might think you a bit young to enter full-time service.”
“Oh, I would work as much or as little as she needed me. I could work only one day a week, or I could work a few hours every evening after our studies are finished. Truly, I would love to leave the orphanage now and work for your family. Please? Just ask her. Will you?”
The look on Anna’s face seemed desperate.
“Is someone mistreating you at the orphanage, Anna? Is something wrong?”
“Oh no, nothing like that.” She took a step away and shook her head. “I only want to serve and do something important. I like being active, not sitting around with books all day. Thank you, Lady Kirstyn. You are so kind.” Anna clasped Kirstyn’s hand and smiled, that desperate light still shining in her eyes. Then she turned and followed after the rest of the orphans entering the dining hall to have their midday meal.
Winter had been quite cold at Hagenheim Castle. The stone walls kept out the wind, but the cold itself seemed undeterred as the old year ended and a new year began. Snow made everything white, clinging even to the steep roofs on the castle’s five towers. Kirstyn spent a lot of her time wrapped in a wool blanket while sitting in her favorite window seat in the castle solar.
But spring had begun to brighten the view from her window. Bright-green new leaves were bursting out everywhere, and today was a sunny, warm April day. Kirstyn sat at the window staring out after reading one of Aladdin’s letters. She bent to read it again.
My dearest friend Kirstyn,
I was glad to receive your letter. A letter from you is more welcome to me than anything else except actually being in your presence.
I am well here in Lüneburg and thankful God has provided me with work. The weather has finally warmed, but it was so cold that even Abu didn’t venture out in February and March. I wonder if it was as cold in Hagenheim. I know how much you love the snow. I imagine you looking out the window at the way it covers the trees and roofs. You once said, “The snow is God’s blanket when He gets tired of the brown grass and dead leaves.” I always think about that when it snows.
Kirstyn pressed the letter to her chest and closed her eyes. No one else had ever quoted her words back to her.
A memory swept over her, of a time when she had suggested they find a stork nest.
“That’s pretty far,” Aladdin said. “Are you up for such a long walk?”
“Of course!” She turned and hurried through the thick leaves, then stepped over a dead moss-covered tree.
Kirstyn soon slowed her pace, and they trekked through the brush and trees, crossed a stream, and headed toward the rocky hill where the stork built her nest every year. They hoped her eggs might have hatched.
Finally they reached the rocky outcropping where the huge nest of sticks sat on top.
Kirstyn began climbing the giant rock. Aladdin was right behind her.
“Be careful,” he said softly. “The mama bird won’t like us getting too close.”
Kirstyn climbed to a higher part of the rocky slope, having to hitch up her skirt and tie it with her belt to keep herself from stepping on it. She looked down on the nest from behind a bush, and Aladdin crouched beside her.
The nest, with twigs poking out in all directions, was four feet wide and very deep, and inside four chicks huddled together.
As they watched them, Sir Conrad signaled with his hand, then pointed several feet away where the trees and bushes were thick, probably intending to go relieve himself. Aladdin nodded, and Sir Conrad headed for the trees.
“Aren’t the baby birds beautiful?” Kirstyn whispered.
“They are.”
“Storks are always faithful to their mates, or so the stories all say.” Kirstyn turned and sat down so she was no longer looking at the birds but facing Aladdin. “Did you know that Father forgot it was my birthday? He came very late to my birthday feast.”
It was her fifteenth birthday. She’d felt so hurt but didn’t want to tell her father so. While she waited for Aladdin to speak, she started picking at a tuft of grass that had sprouted through a crack in the rock.
“Are you angry with him?” Aladdin asked.
“He said he was sorry, that he got caught a long way from home trying to settle a dispute between two landowners. I couldn’t be angry with him, but . . . it hurt.”
Kirstyn’s chin trembled, and she pressed her lips together to try to stop it. “He always spends time with Valten.” A tear dripped from one eye, then the other. Her voice hitched as she continued to pick at the grass, her face turned down. She hoped Aladdin couldn’t see her tears. “He and Valten go places together all the time. They talk about things they don’t share with the rest of us. And Father teaches Wolfgang and Steffan things like sword fighting and archery. I know my father loves me, but sometimes I just feel so unextraordinary. It’s as if no one even sees me.”
Aladdin laid his hand on her shoulder. “I see you.”
She lifted her face and stared at him with watery eyes. “You never ignore me or tease me. You make me feel as if you care about me, as if I’m the only person in the room.”
She couldn’t remember exactly what happened after that, but she was sure Aladdin had made her smile and forget all about her father nearly missing her birthday.
If she disappeared, she didn’t think her brothers would even notice, but Aladdin wrote her long letters and remembered her exact words. Aladdin soothed an ache in her heart, and she longed for him so much.
His letter went on to describe Lüneburg and all the friends he had made there, as Kirstyn had asked him to, and she could hear his voice as she read the words.
The door opened and Anna entered the solar wearing her servant’s garb—a blue kirtle, white underdress, and white kerchief. She’d finally gotten what she wanted—a job at the castle working three afternoons out of seven.
Kirstyn folded her letter and greeted Anna.
Anna’s eyes were wide and alert, her lips parted.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“No, something good. I have just heard that Duke Wilhelm is having some Meistersingers and traveling minstrels play in the Marktplatz tomorrow. Will you come? There will be dancing and food.”
“That sounds delightful.”
“You will be there, then?”
“Of course.”
“I shall have to speak with my parents.”
It seemed a bit strange that Anna knew about the May Day celebration before she did.
Later as they sat in the Great Hall having their evening meal, Kirstyn managed to get her parents’ attention.
“Anna says a group of Meistersingers will be playing in the Marktplatz tomorrow.”
Father nodded. “They were in town and asked if I’d like them to play and sing for May Day, so I agreed.” He winked at Mother. “Your mother and I enjoy dancing together.”
Mother smiled back at Father. “The children from the orphanage are all attending. Would you like to help watch them?”
“Of course. It’s strange that Anna knew about the Meistersingers and the May Day celebration.”
“Anna? How did she know?” Mother looked confused, but then Adela was pulling on Mother’s sleeve, and Mother turned her full attention on her little sister.
“She must have heard me speaking to them when they came to the castle,” Father said.
“It will be fun to have music and dancing tomorrow. I only hope—”
“Father!” Steffan yelled. “Wolfgang is throwing food on the floor.”
“Wolfgang, I told you that only makes the dogs try to force their way in.”
While Father lectured her immature brothers, Kirstyn finished her sentence, even though no one was listening. “I only hope it doesn’t rain.”
The sun was shining brightly the next morning, and though everyone was dressed warmly, those dancing in the open space of the town center soon found themselves peeling off their outer clothing.
Kirstyn held one of the youngest orphans on her hip, bouncing her up and down and making her laugh as the music lightened her spirits. Everywhere people were smiling and laughing.
Guards were nearby and interspersed among the crowd. Kirstyn never quite got used to them watching her during festivals and celebrations. But they were enjoying themselves as well. In fact, several of them had gone to buy food from some of the vendors.
One of the orphanage workers, Heike, came and took the little girl from Kirstyn’s arms.
“It’s time for her nap. I’ll take her back to the orphanage with the other little ones.”
Kirstyn kissed the child’s rosy cheek as her eyes began to droop.
Shouting came from the other end of the cobblestone square. It grew louder, swelling until several voices had joined in, but the commotion was too far away for Kirstyn to see what was happening. The guards began to make their way in that direction.
“Lady Kirstyn.” Anna ran up to her. “Come and help me get Hanns.”
“Hanns?”
“Yes. Come.” Anna motioned with her hand. “He went down an alley following a dog, and now I’m afraid he will get lost. It should only take a few moments.”
Kirstyn followed Anna, who moved quite fast, obviously worried about the little boy who had only come to the orphanage in the last few days.
Anna turned down a narrow street between two buildings. Kirstyn followed her and soon found herself barely able to see where she was going. The two buildings on either side of them blocked out the sun.
She stopped. Something was not right.
“Anna, I’m going back. I’ll fetch a guard.” Kirstyn backed up a few steps, then turned and started hurrying. She was still several feet from the open street when a cart rolled up and blocked her way. A man jumped down from the cart and approached her.
Fear seeped into every part of her body. Her hands tingled. “Get out of the way.”
The man did not answer her but froze in place. The look on his face made her breath quicken. Should she turn around and run? Or should she scream for help?
Kirstyn spun around. Anna was nowhere in sight, but another man was just behind her. He lunged and grabbed her arm. Something slammed into the back of her head and the world went black.
Kirstyn opened her eyes, an intense pain radiating from the back of her skull. Where was she?
Something was tied around her eyes and her mouth. She could only breathe through her nose. The floor underneath her was cold and hard, and it was lurching and swaying like a cart being pulled down the road.
She tried to remove the blindfold, but her hands were tied behind her back. Her heart pounded in time with her head. Who had struck her and tied her up? Where were they taking her? Would they kill her? Her father and one of his knights had taught Kirstyn and her sisters how to fight in the happenstance of someone trying to attack or kidnap them, but he’d never told her what to do if she actually was kidnapped. He’d only said they should stay alive and wait for him to rescue them. Most likely anyone who captured them would want a ransom and would not seriously harm them. But these men had already struck her.
Had they taken Anna too? Kirstyn tried to remember where Anna had been just before the men abducted her. There were two of them. Hopefully Anna was able to escape and tell Kirstyn’s father that she had been taken. Or if she’d not seen the two men, she could at least tell her father where she had last seen Kirstyn.
She prayed for a quick deliverance and pushed back against her terror and panic. God would help her father find her and all would be well. Her father would never let anyone get away with harming her.
But as the cart rattled on and on, despair hung over her like a dark thundercloud, threatening to descend as she waited and waited but heard no voices. The only sounds were horses’ bridles, the creak of the cart, and the clopping of horse hooves.
She faded in and out of consciousness a few times, probably because of the blow to her head and the exhaustion of terror. She tried moving around to see if she could get someone’s attention, but she was wedged in between something so she could move no more than an inch or two to each side. She was also covered with a blanket, which must have kept her hidden.
Finally the cart came to a halt. She felt the covering being lifted from her body, then she was pulled slowly until someone’s fingers untied the rag around her eyes and tugged it off.
Kirstyn blinked but could see nothing. It must be night. A candle came into view, along with three figures surrounding her.
Kirstyn wanted to demand they tell her where she was, but the binding around her mouth prevented her from speaking. Perhaps she should negotiate with them instead, if she was ever given the opportunity, should tell them her father would pay their ransom if they would return her to Hagenheim.
She did her best to focus on the three figures, but she could only see the man holding the candle, and he did not look familiar.
“We’ll stand you up,” one man said, “and you will walk. There is no use trying to get away, you should know. No one is nearby. We’re in the middle of the forest.”
They slid her body the rest of the way down the cart, pulled her up to a sitting position, and her feet touched the ground. The man took her arm and walked her around the side of the cart.
Two men came into focus. She tried to memorize their faces so she could describe them to her father. The two brown-haired men seemed rather nondescript, but the larger one had a crooked nose and the smaller one had a long red scar, rather fresh looking, on his forehead.
“If you do what we say,” said the smaller one, a cold, hard expression on his face, “we won’t hurt you. Cooperate and you can go home.”
Kirstyn tried to think. Perhaps they were telling her the truth, and perhaps not, but what good would it do to try to fight them? She had no weapon. She would have to watch for a chance to escape.
They entered a small structure of some sort. It was so dark.
The smaller man pulled the gag around her mouth down to her neck, then untied it.
“What do you want?” she asked, her voice croaking because her throat was so dry.
“We have written a letter to your father. If he fills this box with gold and silver coins, we will let you go home. But you must write something at the bottom letting him know you are alive. I
t must be in your handwriting.”
“Very well.”
The smaller man left and returned with a stool. He set it down a couple of feet from her, while the larger man worked at cutting the rope around her wrists. When her bonds fell off, she rubbed her wrists, tears pricking her eyes at the indignities these evil men had inflicted on her.
“Here is the paper.” The leader took a rolled-up piece of paper and a small bottle of ink from his pocket. Then he handed her a flat wooden board. “Sit down, Lady Kirstyn.”
Slowly she moved to the stool and sat down. She accepted the paper on the piece of wood, then the quill he dipped in ink.
“Down at the bottom of the paper.” He told her what to write.
A chill snaked over her shoulders. She took the pen and wrote, Father, I am well, but these men will kill me if you do not pay them what they ask. Your loving daughter, Kirstyn.
She handed the pen and paper back to the man. He held the candle close to the paper, examining it, then a smile spread over his face. “Very good.”
“What will you do with me?” Kirstyn stood.
The smaller man tied a new rope around her wrists and then tied the other end to a large beam in the middle of the room.
“You will stay here. We will deliver the letter to Hagenheim Castle. Now you have only to pray that your father will give us what we ask. If all goes well, we won’t kill you.”
What if all did not go well? Icicles stabbed her stomach. What would happen to her poor mother? She’d be devastated, struck down with grief. She did not deserve that. And her father would be crushed if anything happened to her. She could not bear to think of their anguish and pain.
The two men closed the door, leaving her in darkness, and yet she was fairly certain the third person was there, somewhere in the dark.
“Is someone here?” Kirstyn asked.
No one spoke for a moment, then a woman said, “Lie down. There are some blankets on the floor beside you. No more talking.”
Kirstyn pulled on the rope around her wrists. It was fastened tightly, giving her just enough length so when she sat on the floor, her hand could touch the dirt beneath her.
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