Page 52 of Songs and Spun Gold
He set a hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair like he used to when she was little. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I was out of the castle last night, and I left again shortly after I returned. I didn’t hear word of the Flussendorf Spinner until I went looking for it.”
“Looking for it?” Katy asked, her forehead wrinkling. “If you didn’t know that I was here, how did you know to look for me?”
Stepping to the side, he answered, “Because someone asked me to.”
Katy gasped when she saw the two familiar figures in the hallway behind him. She hadn’t expected to see them in the castle.
“Oh, Katy, we’ve been so worried!” Angelika declared as she rushed forward. Fritz followed more slowly. “I couldn’t believe it when Fritz told me that you had been hauled away by royal guards. What happened?”
“What are you two doing here?” Katy asked in disbelief. “How did—”
“We followed in my father’s carriage, of course,” Angelika said as she threw her arms around her friend. “It took a bit of convincing, and he wouldn’t let us leave until morning so we wouldn’t be on the road after dark, but I wasn’t going to take ‘No’ for an answer.”
Katy felt tears stinging her eyes. How did she deserve Angelika as a friend? A blush crept across her cheeks as well, thanks to Fritz’s presence. After watching him stand silently while she was taken, she hadn’t been sure what to expect from him. And now here he was in Himmelsburg.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “It means a lot that you came.” As soon as she said it, she straightened up and glared at the three of them. “But I have half a mind to be angry with all of you! What if the king decides to lump the three of you into this insanity when he discovers that you’re connected with me?”
Angelika rolled her eyes. “Calm down, Katy. The king can’t arrest us for being concerned about a friend. And it’s not like we snuck in.”
Turning her glare on her cousin, Katy accused, “You let them through your gate? Won’t you get in trouble for that?”
“I brought them in through the main gate,” he corrected calmly. “I was out looking for someone, and Fritz and Angelika found me. After they filled me in, I invited them into the castle and made some inquiries.”
“I still say it won’t stop him,” Katy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “But since you’re here, come on in – no sense leaving you standing in the hall.”
She stepped back as they filed in, then closed the door gently behind them. They looked around at the tray sitting on the bed, the spinning wheel, and the candle on the floor. Otto frowned and Angelika shook her head, but none of them commented on her accommodations.
“Why did they take you, Katy?” Angelika asked abruptly. “After what happened, I expected Otto to tell us that you were in the dungeon.” She gulped. “If not worse.”
Katy lowered herself onto the spinning wheel seat. “My father made some unwise comments in the tavern a few weeks ago.” Her mouth twisted; she saw a frown on Fritz’s face as hewandered over to lean against the wall. “Some version of them reached the king, and he decided the appropriate reaction was to—” She swallowed, no longer able to avoid the admission. “Father borrowed money from the crown to buy our sheep and spinning wheel,” she said quietly, eyes on the floor. “The king decided that if Father claimed he could be rich from my spinning, then he could pay back the money immediately.”
“But why take you?” Angelika protested. “It isn’t your debt, and you wouldn’t have money with you. Wait. He isn’t holding you against it being paid, is he?”
Fritz stiffened from his position against the wall. “No, nothing like that,” Katy assured. “King Steffan knows we don’t have the money. He’s demanding I spend three nights spinning wool, flax, and straw into gold to prove Father’s claim. If I do, he’ll clear the debt.”
“But that’s impossible!” Angelika cried.
“You need to leave, Kat,” Otto said in a worried voice. “I’ll find a way. Everyone knows he’s been unpredictable since Princess Helena died; what happens when you fail?”
“He’s right,” Angelika chimed in. “And once Otto frees you from the castle, Fritz and I can smuggle you out of the city. You can hide until this blows over.”
“Why are you so sure that I’ll fail?” Katy cut in, attempting nonchalance. “I’ve already passed the first night.”
Three pairs of eyes turned to stare at her.
“But that’s—”
“Impossible?” Katy shrugged. “I suppose. But the royal guards carried out multiple bobbins of gold yarn a few hours ago.”
Her cousin gave her a hard stare. “How, Kat?”
Squirming as she brushed her loose hair from her face, she replied, “I can’t say.”
“I still think you should leave, Katy,” Angelika said after afew moments. “You can’t count on whatever miracle occurred last night to happen two more times.”
Katy dropped her head. “I can’t run away, Angelika.”
“Why not? The king hasn’t put any guards on you.”
