Read Online Spun by Emma Barron - Free Book Online Page A

studying her. He kissed her forehead, shifted her gently in his arms, and smoothed her hair. He asked her questions again, as if he knew she wanted the distraction, and she began to talk.
    Anja found herself completely opening up to him, telling him things she barely admitted to herself. She told him every childhood fantasy and every adolescent folly. She cringed from embarrassment at some of the stories, and laughed along with him as he teased her. She never noticed that he deftly deflected any further questions she asked of him.
    The hours passed until the first gray light of the morning peaked through the window. Tillz stood, picking Anja up and setting her on her feet.
    “Come,” he said, “straighten your clothing. It is time for us to go.”
    “Us?” she asked.
    “Yes, us,” Tillz said, reaching out to stroke her hair. He couldn’t help himself. “You do not think I would leave you here, do you?”
    “I cannot leave with you.”
    Tillz didn’t know whether to scowl or laugh. “Of course you can leave with me. You cannot stay here, not after Werner has shown his unwillingness to release you.”
    “You said yourself, if Werner finds me gone, he would just hunt me down—or my father. I cannot risk it.”
    “You cannot risk staying here. Werner has proven himself unpredictable, there is no telling what he will do. No,” Tillz shook his head, “I am taking you with me.”
    “He has also shown that he is not inclined to hurt me.” Much, Anja appended to herself, rubbing her arm where he had grabbed her. “He just wants his gold, and I think he will let me go tomorrow morning as he said he would.”
    Tillz snorted.
    “He will!” Anja said defensively. “After he believes my father has paid off his debts, after I have shown I am willing to provide him with gold if necessary, he will release me.”
    “You are assuming you can provide him with the gold,” Tillz said.
    Anja blanched. “You have brought it, haven’t you?” she asked. “You will leave me with more gold, won’t you?”
    Tillz studied her face, as if deciding. “Fine,” he said. “I will leave you here—with more gold—only because I think you are right. Werner will not harm you so long as you continue to provide him with it. If he does not release you tomorrow, however, I am taking you out of here. No arguments.” When Anja did not respond immediately, Tillz put a finger under her chin, lifting her head until she met his gaze. “You will leave with me.”
    “Yes,” Anja agreed. “If he does not release me tomorrow, I will let you take me out of here.”
    Tillz dropped his hand. “Then it is settled. Now I best get out of here before Werner appears.” He withdrew more gold nuggets from his pocket, set them on the table, grabbed copper from the jar, and left the cottage.
    * * * *
    Werner turned up the wick of his kerosene lamp, his inky fingers leaving black smudges on the brass knob. He sat at his thickly carved oak desk, his ledgers open in front of him. He kept meticulous track of his accounts, knew precisely how much wealth he had, down to every last roten Heller . He knew who was behind on their rents and by exactly how much. He knew who owed him money for favors done, money lent, and bets lost. He kept a close eye on the money going out as well. He was stingy with his servants, and woe to whoever thought they could steal or cheat him.
    His lips curled in a malevolent smile at the memory of the young stellmacher Werner had employed last year. The boy had been an artisan with the carriages, able to repair any problem and design ingenious improvements to his fleet. He was also cocky, impudent. He bullied the stable boys, took liberties with the servant girls, and made an elaborate show of not being intimidated by Werner. Werner tolerated it for a short time, only because it made the stellmacher’s comeuppance that much more enjoyable.
    Werner had suspected the boy of thievery. He had been relatively certain the boy had been