Court, for complaint had been lodged against him by his old
enemy of Trutz-Drachen - Baron Henry - the nephew of the old Baron
Frederick who had been slain while kneeling in the dust of the
road back of the Kaiserburg.

No one at Drachenhausen could read but Master Rudolph, the
steward, who was sand blind, and little Otto. So the boy read
the summons to his father, while the grim Baron sat silent with
his chin resting upon his clenched fist and his eyebrows drawn
together into a thoughtful frown as he gazed into the pale face
of his son, who sat by the rude oaken table with the great
parchment spread out before him.

Should he answer the summons, or scorn it as he would have done
under the old emperors? Baron Conrad knew not which to do; pride
said one thing and policy another. The Emperor was a man with an
iron hand, and Baron Conrad knew what had happened to those who
had refused to obey the imperial commands. So at last he decided
that he would go to the court, taking with him a suitable escort
to support his dignity.

It was with nearly a hundred armed men clattering behind him
that Baron Conrad rode away to court to answer the imperial
summons. The castle was stripped of its fighting men, and only
eight remained behind to guard the great stone fortress and the
little simple-witted boy.

It was a sad mistake.

Three days had passed since the Baron had left the castle, and