Chapter 16
The Road to Adventure

Angela bolted down Castle Hill. Ahead the open road beckoned to the great forest and the snow-capped mountains beyond. In no time she’d be plotting the rescue of her parents with Peter the Hermit. Angela had no idea how she and a raggedy hermit could penetrate the palace, but stranger things had happened, at least in books.

Lost in the future, Angela was unprepared for the present. A hooded monk leaped from the ditch wielding a shovel. Angela fell backward, her helmet toppling from her head. The monk stood over her.

“You’re the old man with Hans, aren’t you?” she said, scrambling to retrieve the sack from beneath her general’s coat. “Here are the burial jewels you wanted. Just spare me.”

“I don’t want your jewels. I knew the archduke’s men would steal them. I wanted to keep them safe.”

Angela recognized the voice. “Hans?”

“Yes.” Hans threw back the hood. “You were right to fear me. I was told to kill you. I refused.”

Angela glanced fearfully at the bushes. “Where’s the old man?”

His voice wavered: “I knocked him out.” He sucked in a breath.

“What’s the matter?”

“He was my papa. After tonight, he won’t want to see me. Not ever.” He wiped his eyes. “At least with you I won’t be alone. Nor you with me. Wherever we go, we can help each other.”

Angela shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sorry, Hans, I don’t want your help.”

“What?”

“I have to flee to a secret place. There’ll be all sorts of perils: Highwaymen. Wolf packs. And if I survive, even worse. I’ll be on a quest to free my parents from the devil himself: Archduke Arnulf and his necromancer! I need someone I can count on.”

“That’s me.”

Angela sighed. “I like you, Hans, but at Potter’s Field and my family’s crypt you ran away.”

“You’re saying I’m a coward?”

“Well,” Angela said carefully. “You’re not exactly brave. Anyway, sorry, I have to go.” She grabbed her helmet and took off.

“Wait.” Hans chased after her. “Take me with you, and I swear on my life, I’ll never run away again.”

“With a promise like that, you’ll be dead by daybreak.”

“All right, take me with you and I’ll be your faithful knight.”

“I wouldn’t count on that either.”

“What do you want then?” Hans implored.

“I’m not sure,” Angela said, “but I’ll know when I hear it.”

Hans ran ahead and threw himself at her feet. “Angela, take me with you, and I’ll do your bidding forever and ever.”

“That’s more like it,” Angela said brightly. “I could use a servant.”

“A servant?” Hans leaped up. “You want me to be your servant?”

“Why, yes,” Angela beamed. “I’ve never been without one.”

“I’m nobody’s servant.”

“Well, you are now. Unless you’re a liar. After all, you did say you’d do my bidding forever and ever.”

“You tricked me!”

“I most certainly did not. So which are you? A liar or a servant? Make up your mind. I have to go.”

“Oh!” Hans jumped in the air in frustration. “Fine then! I’m your servant!”

“I’m so glad!” Angela exclaimed. With that, she adjusted her general’s coat and marched up the road, the grave robber’s apprentice at her heels.