"Do you know," she said, "that Prince Ivan and his Muscovites are within a day's march of Courtland, and that Prince Conrad has already gone forth to meet them?"
"What!" cried Margaret, "within a day's march of the city? I must go and find my husband."
"Wait!" said Joan. "I see my way. Your husband shall come hither."
She went to the door and clapped her hands. An attendant appeared, one of the faithful Kernsberg ten to whom so much had been committed upon the Isle Rugen.
"Send hither instantly Werner von Orseln, Alt Pikker, and the Count von Löen!"
She waited with the latch of the door in her hand till she heard their footsteps upon the stair. They entered together and saluted. Margaret moved instinctively nearer to her husband. Indeed, only the feeling that the moment was a critical one kept her from running at once to him. As for Maurice, he had not yet grown ashamed of his wife's open manifestations of affection.
"Gentlemen," said Joan, "the enemy is at the gate of the city. We shall need every man. Who will ride to Kernsberg and bring back succour?"
"Alt Pikker will go!" said Maurice instantly; "he is in charge of the levies!"
"The Count von Löen is young. He will ride fastest!" said the chief captain.
"Werner von Orseln, of course!" said Alt Pikker, "he is in chief command."