Page 95 of The Piper's Pursuit

“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.