Page 11 of The Noble Servant

“You think he will tell King Karl that you are dead so he can take over Wolfberg?”

“Yes.”

She twisted her mouth and stared at the floor. “I do know one person, the steward in charge of the outdoor servants who take care of the livestock.”

“Whatever it takes to keep me close to the castle.”

Magdalen awoke to her stomach growling. She got dressed and went with Katrin to the servants’ dining hall, where they had barley bread and oat pottage. Both were tasteless, but Magdalen ate them, swallowing the best she could and washing it down with the weak fermented drink that came from a large wooden cask in the corner of the room. The drink smelled bad and tasted worse, but she drank it anyway.

She had slept better than she might have imagined, but she had been exhausted from the tense day and the long trip. Now she turned her mind to getting into the castle and finding the duke.

She walked outside with Katrin, who pointed down the side of the castle mount at the little wooden goose pen.

“The geese are mostly gentle and even like to be petted, but stay away from the one with the black spot on his beak. He bites.”

Magdalen nodded absently. She’d nearly forgotten she was supposed to take care of the geese.

“Now I must go to work in the kitchen, but I shall try to come this afternoon, if the cook allows it, to tell you all of theirnames—the geese, I mean. They are very clever and know when you are calling them. Farewell.” Katrin waved as she hurried back toward the brick building.

No one seemed to be around the back of the castle. She turned and stared up at the huge stone building, with its five towers and multitude of windows. A door caught her eye. She lifted her skirts and ran up the hill.

She reached the door, out of breath and panting. Waiting for her breathing to slow, she put her hand on the iron handle. She pulled down on it, but it did not move. She tried again, using all her strength to open the wooden door, but the handle did not budge.

If she was to save herself, she had to get into this castle. She continued around to the west side of the enormous stone building and found another door, identical to the one on the back. People milled about in the bailey. A few gathered around the well, and some others stood in front of the blacksmith’s little shop.

Magdalen tried to look inconspicuous as she put her hand on the handle. She held her breath as she pulled down. It opened! She pulled the door farther open and stepped inside.

“Who are you?” A guard stood in front of her. “This door is not for servants.”

Magdalen’s cheeks burned. How dare he speak to her like that? She opened her mouth to scold him but then remembered ... she was a servant.

“I ... I need to see Frau Clara.”

“Go through the kitchen.” He seemed to thrust out his chest, as if to push her back out.

“Very well.” She had little choice but to turn around and leave. The soldier slammed the door behind her.

All the people around her—the servants at the well, the men standing about the blacksmith stall—stared at her. She pretended not to notice them and walked back the way she had come.

The brick kitchen building was connected to the main castle by a brick enclosure that provided no outside entry. She’d have to go through the kitchen door.

She walked toward it. “Please don’t let anyone see me or ask me what I’m doing,” she whispered.

Magdalen stepped inside the kitchen. Immediately, eight pairs of eyes focused on her.

“Maggie.” Katrin stood with several other women either chopping vegetables or kneading bread at a table in the center of the room. A fire was burning in the large fireplace.

Katrin came toward her. “Are you well? Are the geese—?”

Magdalen spoke softly. “I need to speak to Frau Clara. I’m just going inside for a moment—” She took a step toward the enclosure that led into the castle.

“Where are you going?” the cook shouted. “You cannot go in there. Who are you?”

“She is the goose girl,” Katrin said. “Her name is Maggie, and she has only just arrived.”

“If she’s the goose girl, then why isn’t she tending the geese?” The middle-aged woman looked askance at Magdalen.

She should try to talk her way in, but what should she say? Every person was staring at her, and two young maidens snickered, hiding their mouths behind their hands.