The Piper's Pursuit

by Melanie Dickerson

  Katerina stared hard at the man holding Mother at knifepoint. She had to think. She could not let anger and fear muddy her thoughts. She gripped her sword tightly, the point resting on the step she was standing on.

  “Come on down, Hennek,” she said, “and tell me what it is you want.”

  “It is simple.” He started down the first step, forcing Mother to come with him. “I want my silver.”

  “Your silver?” Katerina matched him step for step as she went back down, holding tightly to her sword handle.

  “The silver from my mine.” Hennek’s hair seemed whiter than she remembered and was all askew and sticking straight up in places. “It belongs to me and you’ve taken it.”

  “Silver that you enslaved children to mine? A mine that did not belong to you?”

  “I discovered it. I mined it. And you’ve stolen it from me.”

  Mother looked pale and frightened, but she did not make a sound as Hennek dragged her along with him slowly down the stairs one step at a time, his hand wrapped around her throat.

  “I suppose it must still be in the mine. Where did you last see it? Perhaps you mislaid it.”

  “You mock me. You always were a rebellious girl. You have a demonic, rebellious spirit! You never would submit to those in authority over you. God shall smite you for being rebellious and controlling. You always did want to be in control, and now you’ve bewitched Duke Wilhelm into believing all your lies about me.”

  “Was it a lie that you enslaved children after stealing them off the streets?”

  “Could I help it if they heard my music and decided to follow me? They liked the music. They came willingly.”

  “Your mind is sick.”

  “No, you are the one who is sick!” Hennek’s jaw was clenched, his eyes wild as he pointed his dagger at Katerina now.

  Kat was nearly to the bottom of the stairs.

  “You’re not entitled to whatever you want, Hennek. You don’t deserve the silver in that mine just because you desire it.”

  “Silence! You unsubmissive, unrepentant girl! I shall kill both you and your mother. Throw down your sword,” Hennek shouted, “or I will kill her this moment.”

  Katerina threw down her sword and it clattered on the floor.

  “Hennek.”

  Kat glanced over her shoulder to see Hans standing there. Thank God. But why did he not have his sword drawn?

  “Hans.” Her voice squeaked. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Hennek has escaped.”

  “Get what you want and get out.”

  Was Hans speaking to Hennek? He must be trying to make Hennek think he was helping him so that he wouldn’t hurt Mother.

  “Yes,” Kat added, “take whatever you want, but leave my mother alone. She has nothing to do with this.”

  “Katerina, just tell him where to find the silver and he will let you both go.”

  Kat turned to look at Hans. “What?”

  “Just give him what he wants so he can leave.”

  Hans must have a plan to recapture Hennek. But would Hennek let her mother go if she told him where the silver was?

  “Very well. The silver that was taken from the mine is now in the strong box in the Rathous undercroft.”

  “Give me the key to the strong box,” Hennek said in a raspy voice, his expression dark. “I know you have it.”

  “Give it to him, Katerina.”

  Katerina went into the study and toward the desk that used to belong to Hennek but was now where she worked.

  “Is it in the desk? Step aside and let Hans get it.” Hennek motioned to Hans, who immediately strode over to the desk.

  “Where is it, Katerina?”

  Something was wrong. She stared hard at Hans.

  “Hans, how did Hennek escape?”

  “Hans took the key and opened the cell door,” Hennek crowed.

  Hans’s face told her what she feared was true. He stared back at her, his cheek pale. He looked down and started shuffling through the desk.

  “Hans, why?” She felt hollow inside. She had trusted him. He’d been the only man she’d trusted. “Did you do it for money? Silver coins?”

  “Grete married someone else because she didn’t want to marry a poor soldier in the Hamlin town guard. Do you know how humiliating that was?”

  “He doesn’t have to explain it to you,” Hennek said, contempt dripping from his voice. “You are no better than him. You probably only saved the children to get the silver.”

  The accusation was too ludicrous to acknowledge.

  “Hans, please don’t do this.”

  “Shut your mouth and stop talking to him!”

  Mother cried out. Hennek must have been squeezing her throat. Katerina whipped around, panic rising when she saw her mother’s lips were turning purple.

  “Hans, make haste.” He curled his lip at Katerina. “I should kill your mother just to make you watch. You always were a thorn in my side. I fed you and clothed you and educated you and you never appreciated it. You never appreciated what I did for you.” He dragged Mother closer.

  If Kat could knock the dagger from his hand, she could kill Hennek before he could hurt Mother. But if she struck at Hennek and missed . . . he was ruthless enough to kill Mother, and it would only take a moment.

  “Run,” Mother said, looking at Katerina.

  “Be quiet.” Hennek began choking her. “You know you still love me.” He spoke the words in her ear while looking at Kat.

  Mother pulled at his hand, but he did not loosen his hold.

  “Stop it. Hans, make him stop!”

  “Hennek, you said you wouldn’t kill them.”

  “Shut up. I will only kill them if they force me to. Disobedient women!” He finally loosened his grip and Mother gasped. “Your haughty, lying spirit, Katerina, is what is causing your mother so much pain. You destroyed your mother’s and my marriage. You did this, and it is sad that you were able to bewitch Duke Wilhelm with your hypocritical ways and turn him against me too.”

  “You are insane, Hennek. The only hypocrite here is you.”

  He pressed the knife point into Mother’s neck. She barely flinched. “Kill me, Hennek. I no longer care. Katerina is all that matters.”

  Would Hans truly not help them? How could he stand there and watch this and do nothing?

  “God will not be pleased with what you are doing, Hennek.” She spoke in a calm, even voice. “God does not like what you are doing.”

  “You dare to speak for God? I am the head of this household. You answer to me. You have a rebellious spirit, and rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. You are the one who is not pleasing God.”

  “Murder is a grave sin, Hennek.”

  “Quiet! I will not listen to another word out of your perverse mouth. Hans, what are you doing? Why have you not found the key?”

  “I don’t know where it is. I’ve looked everywhere. Tell her to come and find it.”

  Katerina went over to the desk. She clenched her fists. Hennek was besting her, after all that he had done to harm her. The man was so wicked and yet would accept no blame or responsibility. But for the moment, she had little choice but to give Hennek the key. She could not allow him to kill Mother.

  Katerina reached under the desk and took the key from where she had hidden it. She threw it at Hennek and it landed on the floor at his feet.

  “Get the key, Hans.”

  Hans obediently went over and picked up the key.

  “Give it to me,” Hennek demanded, a satisfied sneer on his face.

  Hans handed it over. Finally Hennek let go of Mother, giving her a push, and took the key, closing it into his fist. “Hans, you know what to do. Get rid of our new mayor, and her mother.”

  Hennek strode out of the house, and Hans turned toward her.

  “Wait.” Katerina stared hard at Hans.

  He stopped and stared back at her while Mother sobbed softly on the stairs.

  “I won’t kill you,” he said quietly, “i
f you will take your mother and go. Get out of town.”

  “I thought you were my friend, Hans. I never, ever expected something like this from you.” As she talked, she moved closer to Hans.

  “You and your mother need to go before I change my mind.” He stared at her, no signs of relenting in his eyes.

  “Very well.” Katerina moved to walk past him toward her mother. “Come, Mother.”

  But as she moved past Hans, she reached out and snatched his sword from its sheath across his back. Then she stabbed him in the leg just above his knee.

  Hans cried out and she stabbed him again, this time in the arm.

  Katerina, still clutching the sword, grabbed Mother’s arm with her other hand, and they ran out of the house and down the street toward the town gate in the opposite direction from the Rathous.

  Twenty-Nine

  Katerina dry-heaved, then let out a sob as she ran, still holding on to Mother’s arm.

  But there was Hennek, and he had spotted her. And one of Hennek’s guards was with him.

  Worst of all, Hennek and his guard were between her and the town gate and the two guards she had been running to find.

  Hennek and his guard advanced slowly toward her and Mother.

  Katerina raised her sword—Hans’s sword—and prepared to fight. Hennek’s guard had a sword, but while he was fighting Kat, Hennek would be able to grab Mother and hold her hostage again. However, the gate guards were not close enough to hear her scream.

  “Stay behind me, Mother.”

  Mother started sobbing and calling for God to help them.

  At that moment, a horse and rider became visible as it passed through the gate and galloped in their direction. Were her eyes deceiving her? Was that . . .

  Steffan rode up behind Hennek and his guard. He swung his sword and knocked the guard’s sword out of his hand, sending it flying through the air to land several feet across the cobblestone street.

  Hennek pulled out a long knife and ran toward Katerina, yelling, his eyes wide and crazed.

  Kat raised her sword and prepared to stab Hennek, locking her eyes on his chest. If she could stab Hans, she could surely stab Hennek.

  Just before he reached the end of her sword, Steffan, now on foot, slammed his sword blade in a wide arc down on Hennek’s knife hand. The knife fell to the ground, and Steffan kicked it away.

  Hennek yelled, falling to his knees and clutching his hand.

  Hennek’s guard started running toward Hennek’s dagger, which was lying in the street. A man who had stopped to watch the fight and was standing by the knife picked it up, looked at the guard, then threw the knife behind him. It clattered at the feet of two of Hamlin’s guards who were running toward them.

  Hennek stared at his bloody hand, which was obviously broken, as one of the guards grabbed him from behind and ordered him, “Lie down! On your back, now!” He held his sword to Hennek’s throat as the other guard chased after Hennek’s guard.

  More guards were coming from the other way. Men and women were emerging from the shops and homes and wandering closer.

  Steffan was staring at her. He calmly put his sword back in its scabbard. Katerina realized she was still clutching Hans’s bloody sword, and she dropped it. Steffan stepped toward her and she threw herself against his chest. He enveloped her in his arms, holding her close.

  After a moment he said, “Should I go after Hennek’s guard?”

  “No!” She pulled away enough to look into his eyes. “Please don’t leave me.” She never wanted him to leave her, ever again.

  * * *

  Steffan had never seen that look on Katerina’s face before. “I promise I won’t leave you.” Then he noticed the blood spatters on her dress. “Are you hurt?” His heart lurched.

  “No, but I need someone to go fetch the healer for Hans. He was stabbed . . . in my house. You there!” She called out to a man gawking at Hennek and the soldier who had him on the ground.

  The man looked up. “Yes, Bürgermeister Katerina?”

  “Go and fetch the healer and take her to my house. There is an injured man there. Or if he is not there, find him. His name is Hans Schuster.”

  “Yes, Fräulein.” He hurried away.

  Steffan’s soaring heart sank. “Hans? Your friend?” He swallowed. “He was injured?”

  “I stabbed him.” Her voice was devoid of emotion and her eyes stared blankly at Steffan’s chest.

  “You stabbed him?”

  “He betrayed me. He helped Hennek escape . . . for money.” Her chin trembled.

  He pulled her close. His insides twisted at seeing her pain. Then he felt her shoulders shaking. She was sobbing.

  He caressed her shoulder. “It is all right. I will not let anyone hurt you or your mother ever again.”

  “Mother?” She pulled away and turned around. She held out her hand to her mother, who came to her and they embraced.

  People were still gathering. He heard a few shouts far down the street, and hoped that meant Hennek’s guard had been captured. Hennek was lying on the ground, calling down curses and God’s wrath on everyone around him.

  Steffan wasn’t sure what to do. Katerina was wiping her face with her hands, breathing deeply and no longer crying.

  How dare that Hans betray Katerina? He was the only person she trusted. Steffan was glad Katerina had stabbed him.

  “Should I go and help them find Hans?”

  “No,” she said quickly, stepping toward him. She slipped her arms around him. “I need you here. With me.”

  He held her tight and whispered next to her ear, “I wasn’t sure you wanted me.”

  “Of course I want you.” She nestled her head against his shoulder. “You make me feel safe.”

  “I shall guard you night and day, whether you want me to or not.”

  She said softly, “I want you to.”

  His heart beat faster. It was not exactly the reunion he had expected, but it was almost better than the one he’d hoped for.

  She lifted her head, and he pulled away enough to look into her eyes. She placed her hand on his chest, over his heart. “If you don’t mind living in our little town, would you be the captain of the guard? I need someone I trust, someone who is brave and good.”

  “I would be honored to be your captain of the guard.”

  “Thank you.” She was staring at his lips. She reached up and touched his cheek, cupping his jaw in her hand.

  He leaned down and kissed her lips lightly, then more firmly, and she kissed him back.

  Hennek’s voice invaded his thoughts. He broke off the kiss to see the guards leading Hennek away as he spit angry words at everyone around him.

  Steffan gazed down at Katerina. “You aren’t hurt, are you?”

  “No. But I am glad you came when you did.”

  “If you stabbed Hans, you must have been doing well on your own.”

  He immediately regretted his words, as tears filled her eyes.

  “It was—” She stopped and pressed two fingers against her lips. She let out a breath and started again. “It was horrible. I didn’t want to hurt him. He was my friend.” Her voice suddenly took on a harder tone. “Or so I thought. He let Hennek hurt my mother. But it was still very hard to stab him.” She pressed her face against his shirt.

  He rubbed her arm. “I wish I’d been here to protect you. I’m so sorry.”

  “You are a good man.”

  He leaned down and kissed her temple as she hugged him tight.

  * * *

  The next several weeks were a blur. Katerina was still trying to learn all her duties and do them well. Steffan was the new captain of the guard, and he was busy training new guards and managing all the others. But Steffan made time to take Katerina on picnics, go for a ride in the hills, and take a long walk. And he made certain that everyone knew he was there to protect the town, but his first loyalty was to the mayor.

  One day he came to see Katerina at the end of the day, and a man was complainin
g to her, very loudly, because he’d been arrested for assaulting a vegetable vendor in the marketplace. Steffan heard the man berating her as he walked in the door. Kat was trying to reason with him, but Steffan took him by the collar and escorted him out.

  “No one talks to the mayor like that,” Steffan told the man. “You will mind your manners or you will not be allowed the privilege of speaking with her at all.”

  The man picked up his hat, which fell into the street when Steffan ushered him out the door, and hurried away, grumbling as he went, but under his breath.

  “You probably only made him angrier.” Katerina was waiting for him when he came back inside. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him.

  “I had better not hear of his coming in here to you again with his loud complaints.” Steffan hugged her in a gentle squeeze. “No one shouts at my mayor.”

  She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. He kissed her lips, but only briefly, as there always seemed to be someone nearby bringing her a proclamation to sign, or showing her the records of the treasury, or some other thing.

  “Should I give you my report of the day’s activities?” Steffan asked, still holding her in his embrace.

  “Is that why you came? I thought you were here to give me my daily kiss and chase off grumpy men.”

  He kissed her again, this time making her lose her breath. When he pulled away, he said, “I came to inform you that I will be getting rid of our town’s rat population this evening, just at sunset.”

  “Oh! How do you plan to do it?”

  “First I wish to know how much reward money the mayor is offering for ridding Hamlin of its rats.”

  She placed a finger to her chin. “Hmm. Ten silver guilders?”

  “I’ll take it.” He released her, then took her hand in his. “Now come and see.”

  They went out onto the main street of town. Steffan took out his pipe. He took a deep breath, then began to play a lively tune.

  The people on the street looked startled and searched for the source of the pipe playing. No doubt everyone in town now knew how Hennek had lured the children away. They all watched as Steffan stood there playing for a few moments, then started walking.