The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest by Melanie Dickerson Read Free Book Online Page A

of revelers, how he had made her feel so safe. She sighed.
    “I must say, Odette”—Anna spit out another cherry pit—“I’ve never seen you look at a man the way you looked at Jorgen last night. I would not be surprised if you were falling in love with him.”
    “I barely know him. You should not suggest such a thing.” Odette laughed to try to cover her discomfiture.
    Jorgen was the last man she could ever allow herself to fall in love with.

5

    J ORGEN TREKKED UP the castle mount on the path that led to Thornbeck Castle. The guard at the gatehouse waved him through. At the front door, the servant said, “You are Jorgen Hartman, the forester, are you not?”
    “Ja.”
    “The margrave is waiting for you in the library. Follow me.” The articulate servant turned and marched down the corridor.
    Always a bit nervous when he spoke to the margrave, Jorgen felt a trickle of sweat between his shoulder blades. He had to tell the margrave that there was a poacher hunting deer in Thornbeck Forest. He was certain to be displeased.
    The servant motioned Jorgen into the room. The windows were open, but as it was a cloudy, misty day, lit candles stood in copper candlesticks on Margrave Reinhart’s desk. He sat behind it, staring down at some papers. Unfortunately, Ulrich Schinkel was standing at his shoulder.
    While the margrave seemed to like Jorgen, his new chancellor did not, and the feeling was reciprocated. Jorgen could never forget how arrogant Ulrich had been when they were boys because his father was the margrave’s chancellor, and Ulrich would often boast that someday he would take his place. And now he had.
    Jorgen strode forward as the margrave looked up at him.
    Margrave Reinhart, or Lord Thornbeck as he was known, was not much older than Jorgen. He had become the new margrave when his older brother died in a fire in the west wing of the castle the year before. He had thick dark hair and eyebrows. He was just the sort one would want as a knight defender, broad and muscular shoulders and unusually tall. With the title of margrave, he was even more imposing.
    The margrave’s forehead was creased, as if he was concentrating. “Jorgen,” he greeted and waved him forward.
    Jorgen stepped up to the desk, doing his best to ignore Ulrich, but Jorgen could see out of the corner of his eye that Ulrich was sizing him up.
    “As our forester,” the margrave began, “tell me how the game is faring in the park. Any problems to report?”
    “Lord Thornbeck.” Jorgen bowed and decided to begin with the good news. “The mild weather has produced many new pheasant chicks, as well as many hares. In fact, it might be best, my lord, if you permitted the gamekeepers to snare some hares for your larder. Too many will cause the animals to be thin and sickly and might attract new predators, like wolves, to move into the game park.”
    “Please have your gamekeeper set some snares, then, as many as you think necessary.” He turned to his chancellor. “Ulrich, tell the cook to prepare rabbit stews and pies for the next few days.”
    “For you, my lord, or for your servants?” Ulrich’s pinched face looked even more pinched, as if he didn’t look forward to eating rabbit stew.
    “For both my table and the servants’.”
    “Yes, my lord.” His face took on a resigned expression. Then he scowled at Jorgen when he caught him staring at him.
    The margrave was looking at Jorgen again, so he went on. “The hinds and their new offspring are mostly accounted for, my lord, but I believe some of the stags may be missing. I also found an arrow that does not bear your red feathers, as well as some evidence of blood on the ground that looks as if someone tried to brush over it with leaves. It appears there is a poacher afoot in Thornbeck Forest.”
    The look in the margrave’s eyes sharpened. “A poacher?” He glowered.
    “I believe so. If you wish, I can put up a notice in the town center. We can offer a reward to anyone who has