Page 16 of The Piper's Pursuit

What was behind Katerina’s anger? Steffan was fairly certain he hadn’t done anything worse than be persistent.

A group of rats were chittering as they ran across the cobblestones. The people on the street gave the rodents a wide berth and a wary eye but continued on their way, obviously accustomed to seeing them.

After he killed the beast he’d have to figure out a way to get rid of those rats.

He matched his pace to Katerina’s and watched the way her crossbow bounced ever so slightly against her back. She was dressed as she had been when he first saw her, with a peasant’s rough linen skirt that came just above her ankles to allow for extra movement and thin hose encasing her legs. She was a most unusual girl. Her stepfather was the mayor of a large town, appointed and well-paid by Steffan’s father, and yet she dressed defiantly and went out hunting against her stepfather’s wishes.

Again, she reminded Steffan of himself. The difference was that Katerina had a good reason for defying convention and her annoying stepfather. She wanted to find out what was happening to the children who were going missing, and she wanted to protect her people by killing the beast. He couldn’t help but feel a swell of admiration for this girl. Even if she did seem to hate him.

They were heading out of town, toward one of the town gates. He glanced over his shoulder. The giant was still there, still following after them.

Katerina reached the gate. The guards standing there gave her a slight smile and a quiet greeting. She returned their greeting.

So she wasn’t rude to everyone, or even all men.

She passed through the gate and began to walk faster. Steffan jogged to catch up to her.

“Good day, Fräulein,” he said in his most jovial tone.

She tossed over her shoulder, “I need you to be quiet or go away. I’m going to hunt the beast.”

“As am I.”

“Where are your weapons?”

“I have my longbow here. See?” He tried to get her to look at where he was pointing to his bow and arrows slung over his shoulder, but she barely glanced at him. “And I have my short sword strapped to my belt. I don’t like to go hunting without my weapons.”

She frowned, acknowledging his weak jest whether she wanted to or not.

“Do we notwantto attract the animal’s attention? After all, it’s hunting too, and if it hears us, it’ll come in our direction.” Not entirely a wise plan, but he couldn’t resist trying to goad her into speaking.

She ignored him, heading toward the forest.

“Is this where you found the little girl?” He spoke softly enough that the man following them could not overhear.

She turned toward him and whispered, “No one is supposed to know about that.”

“I cannot imagine you could keep something like that a secret for long.”

She didn’t reply as they continued walking. Soon they entered the brush, ferns, and beech trees of a thick forest at the foot of a large hill, and they started climbing the gradual incline.

“Otto is still following us. Shall I dispatch him for you?”

She made a contemptuous sound of breath rushing through her pursed lips. “I can’t imagine you could.”

“Do you doubt my abilities? I’ll have you know I’m a warrior.”

“Of the German Order of Teutonic Knights, I believe you said.”

“No, not officially a Teutonic Knight, but I did some fighting for them.” He’d rather not go into that.

“Didn’t wish to take your vows and become a monk?” A wry smile twisted her pretty mouth. The Teutonic Knights were a religious order and therefore had to take a vow of celibacy.

“God has other plans for me.”

Her smile widened. “Not surprising.”

“What’s not surprising?”