"Although John has no father, might not the master be able to force an outcome regardless?" Hans questioned aloud.
"I do think he may mean to discredit me, but I cannot fathom why he has such a grudge against me," she said, shifting the boy's weight around.
"Pray, princess," Hans said a little ashamed that he was not the one carrying the boy. "Allow me to take him."
"Nay, he is not heavy," she replied absent-mindedly.
"Then let us continue walking." I would not have you exerting yourself unnecessarily, he said internally, wishing he could give voice to his concerns without sounding like a doting suitor. He was simply concerned for the princess' well-being, 'twas all.
Princess Cordelia nodded and continued down the hall, and Hans comfortably matched his pace with hers which was much slower than usual.
"What manner of test is the master having you perform?" He asked, worried and not able to identify why he was so unsettled.
"I know not, but he seems to be trying to separate my father from me. You spent time with him, what could his aim be, I wonder?" Cordelia asked almost to herself.
Hans was quiet for a moment before speaking, "I think he is a deeply bitter man. He is also terribly cruel. Whatever his aim may be, it is only that which will best benefit him, and he may want to harm your father for dismissing him those many years ago."
Cordelia's brow furrowed as she considered what Hans had said, "His ill intent seems exceedingly apparent. I wonder that my father may be so taken in. Certainly, he cannot be fooled, can he?"
Hans shook his head, "I don't know, princess, but I heard some time ago that it was Master Friedrich that saved your father in battle. Even if he doesn't trust the master, that is something that is not easily forgotten."
"Indeed," Cordelia said as Hans opened the door for her. "Goodnight, Hans."
"Sleep well, princess," Hans said, closing the door for her.
Hans hobbled down the hall to the servants' quarters and entered his little room. In the silence, he contemplated calling on Lord Heinrich as he felt need of some advice. He did not, however, want to draw attention to his magical prowess, so he sat, weighing advantages and disadvantages to this decision. He ultimately decided not to call for his true master as he first wanted to see what hand Master Friedrich would play.
Early the next morning, Hans arose, feeling uncomfortably restless, so he went out to the training yard, hoping Peter would be about, but finding no one, Hans decided to muck out the horse stalls, needing something physical to do to release some of his anxious energy. As he labored, his back began to ache dully. When the dull pain began to morph into shooting pains through his back, Hans decided that he should stop, but he was still irritable.
He left the yard and made his way back to the library, still feeling the need to exert himself. He opened his books, but he had balanced them yesterday, and there was naught much more to be done until the king called him to account for them. Hans stood abruptly, and a hiss escaped his lips at the pain that shot through his back. Fool, he said to himself, you should have stopped when you first felt the pain.
He turned to leave and caught sight of the princess and John at the door to the library. He tried to relax his expression, knowing that it must declare his irritation to anyone able to see.
"Princess," he said, dipping his head in respect.
"Hans," Cordelia said, stepping further into the room. "The test is set to begin before midday meal. May I ask you to be in the great hall? I would feel better knowing that you are there."
"Of course, my lady," Hans said, feeling another overwhelming sense of insecurity wash over him. Of course, he wouldn't tell the princess that it might be best for everyone if he was not there today, and he was beginning to suspect that Master Friedrich would punish him in these sham proceedings today. His presence would simply make it easier for the vile magician to get rid of him as well. That was of no consequence because he was not about to suggest that the princess face her would-be executioners alone.
The tension in Cordelia's shoulders relaxed a bit and she nodded. "Thank you," she whispered and tugged on John's hand to signal that they were leaving.
Hans rubbed his hand over his face. Just what was the old magician up to? It was too bad that he couldn't look into the master's thoughts. Although, on second thought, that would probably dredge up a slew of emotions and passions that Hans would not want to know ought about. He felt another urge to call Lord Heinrich to aid him in this mess, but Hans dismissed the desire, reminding himself that the master could not be alerted prematurely of Hans' abilities. Hans wasn't sure what he was waiting for exactly, but he knew that, for now, waiting was the princess and his best option. For now, he needed to find something with which to occupy his mind until the test or he would be driven mad with the pressure of it.
Hans returned to the yard to find Peter and to work out his anxiety with a robust sparring session, but it seemed that the maker would not have him so easily forget his problems. Peter was still nowhere to be found, and Hans was less comfortable sparring with any of the other knights, knowing their prejudice against him. He grumpily walked around the castle grounds until the sun was high in the sky, and he returned to the great hall to witness the princess' testing.