Page 10 of Heart of Snow
She looked at her companion, and I caught the slightest hint of a nod from Hatzfeld before the countess spoke. “I agree. And I thank you.”
I nodded a bow, telling myself the bargain didn’t much matter anyway. The count would need a great deal of persuading to grant me a position, and I doubted the shy countess was much good at being persuasive. “Consider me your new hunting instructor.”
She gave me a broad smile, reaching out as if she would take my hand. I folded my arms across my chest. Her smile faltered, but she soon recovered, dipping her head in farewell andsignaling her lady to follow her as she left the room. Perhaps my snub was too curt. I was in no danger of falling for the countess, and she certainly wouldn’t entertain thoughts of a servant, but something inside warned me to keep my distance. Maybe it was fear that our shared childhood memory might cloud my judgment. Or maybe a healthy dose of self-preservation was warning me away from the count, his daughter, and his whole blasted family. The less to do with them all, the better.
The irony of having just agreed to work fortwoof them did not escape me.
The chamber door squeaked opened, and a young woman—the lady’s maid—came in with a basket perched on her hip. “Alone at last.” She shot me a mischievous smile, closing the door behind her. “It’s good to see you finally awake.” Setting the basket on my bed, she leaned her face toward mine. “And your eyes are even prettier than I’d imagined they’d be.”
I choked out my surprise, and she laughed.
“My name’s Ilsa.” When I didn’t respond, she cocked her head. “Not much for speakin’, are you? That’s fine. I like the quiet ones.”
Gracious, she was forward. And had a pleasant smile. I liked her easy manner but had no interest in encouraging her. My stay in this castle was only temporary. Still, I could be courteous.
She was already walking away, pulling open the door when I finally answered. “I’m Friedrich.”
“Ah, he speaks!” She flashed a bright smile. “Well, Friedrich, if there’s anythin’ else you need, I’m just a summons away.” She gave me a final, saucy wink before letting herself out.
Suppressing a grin, I reached for the basket, rummaging through all I owned in the world: the near-empty coin purse, the small rice-filled leather bag for foot games, and the letter. My touch was careful as I lifted the old paper, unfolding it to study the foreign writing again. The language was just as impossible todecipher as it had been the first time I’d seen it, but the thought of being able to read the words and finally comprehend them made my heart pump harder. I knew exactly what I wanted from the countess, and if she could be relied on to keep her word, I could stand to stay under the count’s roof a little longer.
Chapter 5
Friedrich
The sun was barely up,and already the town square was bustling with merchants and children, chickens and dogs. Sinking against the church steps, I pulled in a breath of cool morning air, ignoring the dull ache at my side. My wound was healing well, but not nearly quick enough to remove me from the count’s charity or the countess’s care. Despite her daily ministrations over the past two weeks, her silent manner told me I was an obligation to her. One she would gladly dispose of if we hadn’t agreed to our little bargain. Why had I ever consented to teach her to hunt? I knew better than to trust a noble. The minute she had all she wanted from me, she’d go back on her word and toss me out of the castle before ever attempting to fill her side of the agreement. Better to not waste my time with her instructions and focus on saving every thaler I could earn, maybe getting enough to buy my way into a bowyer’s apprenticeship and out of Waldeck forever.
A small, spotted dog bumped its wet nose against my hand, and I shooed it back. The dog was undeterred, snuffling around my hose until it found something to lick on the side of my shoe. Flicking my foot scared him a safe distance away, but he sat on his haunches and watched me. I watched him right back. The last thing I needed right now was fleas.
“Mind your head!”
A leather ball flew past my face, slamming into the stone wall beside me. The dog burst into a chorus of furious yapping as I hoisted myself up to retrieve the ball, grasping it just as a little blond boy with bright-green eyes appeared beside me. “Is this yours?” I asked. “That was an impressive throw.”
“Hush, Klumpen,” he commanded, but the dog paid him no heed. “Apologies,Herr. My aim’s never so bad.”
“Did you mean to hit me in the head, then?” I smiled, and he let out a laugh. Pulling a bit of dried meat from his pocket, he drew the now-quiet dog over and lifted him into his arms, running his hand down the dog’s back.
“Your dog is not above taking bribes.”
“Oh, he’s Ulrich’s, not mine. The count lets him stay at the castle with Ulrich because he’s a good ratter.”
“I see.” I held the leather ball out to him.
He took it, setting the dog down and giving me a once-over. “Should ya like to play?”
I hadn’t played ball games for too long now, and a flow of nervous excitement rushed to my limbs at his suggestion. But a gentle stretching to feel out my gash told me I’d better not.
The other boys from the game were coming over now, likely wondering what kept their teammate.
“Did you ask him to play?” I recognized Ulrich from the Walpurgisnacht festival. “Because he ain’t fit for it. He’s injured. And besides”—Ulrich gave me a wry grin—“he’s too old.”
Too old? How old did he think me? I stole the ball back from out of the little boy’s hands. “I might surprise you.”
The boys smiled, talking over each other to explain the rules of the game. It was their own version of the games I’d played as a child, but it didn’t take much to settle into the flow. I hardly noticed my injury, panting quick puffs of cold air as my muscles burned with the effort. After so long being confined to a bed, the movement was exhilarating. Passing the ball back and forth between my feet, I traveled down the cobbled church street, finally kicking the ball to the little blond boy. It was near to sailing over his head, but he jumped and gripped it tight in both hands, then launched it against the other team’s bucket, knocking it over. Our team cheered, the dog jumping and barking as if he’d played a part in the victory.
I set the bucket upright and collected the ball, carrying it to Ulrich with a grin. “Surprised?”
Ulrich didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at me. His eyes were trained behind me, and I turned in time to see a troop of soldiers filing into the town square, some with pikes held aloft, others with hands wrapped around their arquebuses.
