Page 10 of The Noble Servant

“Ja, I met him when I was a boy. He was very kind.”

“He was indeed. Won’t you sit down and let me send the servant for some cool water and a bit of bread and butter?”

“Danke schön. That is very kind of you.”

He would never see Jacob again. How could this be true? He felt so numb he was not sure he could keep his wits about him.

The servant brought a goblet of water for him and a wooden serving tray with bread, butter, and a knife.

“How is it you have not heard of Jacob’s death? Most of the town came to the burial.”

“I have been away.”

Frau Binder’s brow wrinkled. She seemed about to speak, then only stared down at the floor.

“Frau Binder, I know you don’t remember me, but I was very close to Jacob. If something is amiss at the castle, I pray you would tell me.”

She considered his face, as though discerning his character. “You are the duke.”

Steffan sat back. “How did you know?”

“What other young man would be asking for Jacob after being away? Besides that, I remember you as a boy. You have the same brown eyes.”

He rubbed a hand down his beard. “I see my disguise is not as effective as I’d hoped.”

“I think you will be able to fool most people. Just don’t look directly into people’s eyes. That is a sure sign you are not a peasant.”

He nodded at the good advice. He’d rarely been around peasants enough to observe them. Even at the university in Prague he’d spent most of his time with wealthy burghers’ sons. Few people there knew he was a duke, and he’d enjoyed blending in. Everyone assumed he was an ordinary, though wealthy, young man.

“There is another reason I recognized you. My brother told me, not long before he died, that you might come looking for something. He said to give you this note.” She went to the hearth, removed a loose stone from the front, and pulled out a small rolled-up parchment tied with string.

Steffan took it from her hand, then untied and unrolled it.

I hid your portrait in the castle in the place where you used to play as a small child.

Jacob’s last words to him. But where did he mean? Steffan and his sister had played all over the castle. He would have to think more about this later. “Do you have a cook fire?”

Frau Binder led him to the kitchen. Steffan threw the small parchment in the flames and watched it burn until it was nothing but ash.

“Does anyone know you are in Wolfberg?” she asked as she led him back inside the house.

“No. But you must tell me what has been happening here.”

“Lord Hazen came to Wolfberg and sent away all the servants at the castle and replaced them with people from his own town of Arnsbaden. Then Jacob fell down the stairs at the castle and broke his neck and died.” She lowered her voice. “I do not think it was an accident. It is very likely that Lord Hazen had him killed because he was too loyal to you. Jacob must have discovered his evil intentions.”

“My uncle sent two men to have me killed as well.”

“Saints above.” Frau Binder exhaled and made the sign of the cross over her chest. “God shall have His vengeance on the man for killing my poor brother. But to have the lack of natural feeling to kill his own nephew ... And he will try again.”

“Only if he discovers I’m still alive. You must not tell anyone you spoke to me.”

“Nein, of course not.”

“But I will need a way to get into the castle. I could work as a servant or guard perhaps.”

“I don’t know anyone at the castle anymore who could give you work. And wouldn’t that be too dangerous? Lord Hazen could recognize you.”

“I have to get inside the castle. When Lord Hazen tellseveryone that I am dead, that portrait is one of the only things that can prove I am the Duke of Wolfberg.”