An Arranged Marriage - 24

     Horses milled in the front courtyard of the castle.  Grooms darted about, scraping cakes of sweat from horse hide and combing burrs and brambles from manes and tails.  Others carried water and food to the horses.  It looked as if every one of them had faced a hard ride.

     Detlef slipped to the ground.  The front door of the castle was open, and he could see men gathered inside.

     Matthias brought his horse alongside and reached for Timothy’s reins.  “Go ahead, little brother.  I’ll see that he’s cared for.”

     Too distracted to marvel over his brother’s unusual kindness, Detlef handed his reins over and jogged toward the castle.

     His eyes adjusted to the darker room.  The king stood by a table moving pawns on a map.  A group of men stood around him, taking part in a discussion.  Others lingered in various positions of repose around the outskirts of the room.

     Detlef pushed his way toward the center.  “Have you found her?”

     The king reached out and patted his shoulder.  “Unfortunately not, son.  Now get some rest.  We’ll need you for the offensive.”  Then he turned his attention back to the map.  “The troops move at daybreak.”

     “Troops?  What troops?  We can’t attack!” Detlef’s eyes ran around the group of men and fell on Emil’s smug face. 

     “We can and we will.”  Emil’s voice sounded irritatingly noble and heroic.  “I stand with the king on this.  We must rescue the princess.”

     Detlef turned to the king.  “Give me more time,” he pleaded.  “I know I can find her.”

     “You’ve had 2 days already.”

     “But I was detained during those two days – I didn’t have a chance to search as I had planned.”

     “And neither did anyone else.  No, lad, they have outsmarted us.  Every man here fell into one of their traps.  It is clear that they do not wish us to find Ilona.  The only option left is to go in and take her by force.”  He turned away, facing the wall.

       Detlef slammed his fist on the king’s map.  “You can’t send troops in.  Who knows the damage you might do?”

     The king spun around to face Detlef.  Anger showed in his features, but his eyes welled with tears.  “My daughter has been missing for two days.  You cannot tell me to do nothing.”

     “Just give me one more day.  Please.”

     “I can’t.”  The king clenched his hands together and returned to his map.  “We cannot wait any longer.  My forces move out at dawn.”

     Emil stepped forward, resting a supportive hand on the king’s shoulder.  “I have sent for my father’s men.  When you ride out at dawn, I will be by your side, your majesty.” 

     No one saw the wink he sent Detlef.