Page 11 of The Piper's Pursuit

The only sound for a moment was of Hennek’s knife scraping his plate. He shoved a huge bite of pheasant and gravy-soaked bread into his big mouth as the brown sauce dripped from his lip.

“Dear,” he said, addressing his wife, “why don’t you tell Steffan about Hamlin’s history, how much more prosperous we have been since I took over.”

Frau Grymmelin sat up straighter and cleared her throat before looking up and smiling as she began to tell how much money had been taken in taxes, the industries that were flourishing, and how many new homes and warehouses had been built since her husband had been appointed mayor. But her eyes never quite met his.

“I never boast myself, but the town has done very well.” Hennek actually stuck out his chest.

Katerina’s lip curled as she stared down at her plate. “Please excuse me. I must go to my room now.”

“We haven’t finished our meal. The cooks are working on a special dessert. You are too thin. You’ll waste away if you keep refusing to eat the special dishes they make for us. Besides, don’t you want to hear how Lord Steffan plans to kill the beast? He may reveal his secrets if you stay and listen. I might even ply him with strong drink. Eh? Lord Steffan, what is your weakness?” He raised his brows high, then laughed.

He was guffawing so loudly no one could have heard anyone’s reply, even if they’d made one. The longer his raucous laughter went on, the more set Katerina’s jawline became.

Finally, when the annoying sound dissipated, she said quietly, “I have eaten sufficiently and would like to go to my chamber. Enjoy yourselves.” She stood without receiving his permission and slipped away.

“She is quite a beauty, would you not agree, Lord Steffan?” Hennek winked.

“She is a lovely young lady, Herr Hennek.”

And true to his word, after the sweetmeats arrived, Hennek plied him with strong drink. Steffan refused it, however, remembering his promise to himself. He had not let himself get drunk since he and Wolfgang had been at Malbork Castle, since he’d left Poland.

He couldn’t quite decide what, but something about Mayor Hennek was not right. He seemed jolly and eager to please one minute, insulting the next, and then laughing as though he was in jest. But the reactions of his wife and stepdaughter to his bluster stuck in Steffan’s mind. If anyone would know the intentions of this man, it would be his family members who lived with him.

Even so, when Hennek urged him to stay the night in his home, Steffan had no better options, so he accepted. Besides, he wanted to kill the beast, get the reward money, and stay long enough to make certain that the beautiful and spirited Katerina was safe, because, in spite of her confident defiance, she was too much at the mercy of this man Hennek for Steffan’s liking.

Four

“I see you are an early riser.”

Katerina startled and spun around at the voice behind her.Ack.It was that Steffan fellow. Why wouldn’t he leave?

Katerina didn’t reply to his statement, but he didn’t seem to mind. He followed her down the stairs.

“Your mother is quite lovely. I might almost have mistaken her for your sister.”

“She was young when I was born. What of it?” Was he interested in her mother? Katerina went toward the kitchen and he kept following her.

“I have already broken my fast and thought I would ask you where the best place was to hunt the beast.”

“You should ask my stepfather.”

“He didn’t seem as knowledgeable about the animal’s habits as someone who had experience hunting it. Someone like you.”

Katerina entered the kitchen. Hilde and Grette smiled and greeted her, then started gathering her usual breakfast into a cloth.

“Oh, may I have one of those?” Steffan leaned over her shoulder.

“Of course, Lord Steffan.” The cooks smiled and hurried to wrap up an identical bundle of bread, cheese, and cold pork, and they gave it to Lord Steffan at the same time they gave Katerina hers. Grette and Hilde were glancing from Katerina to Steffan and back again.

“Thank you.” Katerina bolted from the room as Steffan thanked each of them. Why was he fawning over the servants? No doubt he wanted something from them, or he just enjoyed the way they were smiling and blushing at his attention. But she wasn’t waiting to see any more. She had to get rid of him before he followed her to little Bridda’s home.

Out on the street, she took up a brisk pace. Almost immediately, heavy footfalls sounded behind her. She clenched her teeth, preparing herself to tell him to get away from her.

A woman and two children were walking down the other side of the street. The woman was holding a small child on her hip while a slightly older child held her hand.

“Mama, look at this!” The older child let go of her hand and darted ahead.

“Caspar, no!” The woman fairly screamed.