"Because you were such a better choice for your wife, old man," Kurt sneered.
"I actually tried to change for my wife. I didn't just dance around breaking the spell when I felt like it," her grandfather hissed. Seconds later, Bernd's nose was bloody, and Kurt was on the ground. Her grandfather had swept out his feet with the staff, and without hesitation, brought the stick down hard on Kurt's chest, knocking him back down as he tried to stand up. The pain was evident on Kurt's face as he rolled over and tried to get up again. Again, the staff came crashing down. Rage and angst filled Liesel as she watched. Without thinking, she grabbed the nearest rock she could find and threw it at them. It missed, but succeeded in getting their attention. And when it did, Liesel heard herself utter words she had never spoken to anyone before.
"I hate you both!" With that, she turned and took off for the mountain as fast as her feet would carry her. Her grandmother must have stopped them from following, as Liesel remained alone for the length of her run, but she plunged on ahead anyway as though evil spirits were at her heels. It wasn't until she'd gone about ten minutes up the mountain path that she stopped. Unsatisfied with the proximity to the path and all familiar landmarks, however, Liesel deliberately left the path and headed into the sparsely scattered trees until she found a large, flat sunny rock to flop down on.
Part of her wondered if she was too far from Kurt and Johan. They still didn’t know how far she could go before they changed forms, but the other part of her didn’t care. She was angrier than she had ever been. Images of what could have happened kept flashing through her mind. Kurt could have lost control. Bernd might have broken one of Kurt's bones or worse. Despite the time that had passed, Liesel could remember exactly what death had looked like on her own parents' faces. She might go mad if she lost another loved one so senselessly.
Since they had come, Liesel had been aware that her grandfather didn't approve of Kurt. But she hadn't thought he would go so far as to forbid her from returning to the pack. Of all people, he should have understood her need to help them. To fix, she thought darkly, what her grandparents should have. She had made a promise. Somehow, she was going to keep it.
Liesel let her mind slip into the sounds around her, closing her eyes and simply soaking up the sun. She had learned to do so when her mother was ill and she was afraid. Bernd had actually been the one to teach her.
"When life gets hard, Leese," he had crouched down and pointed at a swift clinging to the side of a tree truck. "Just come up here, close your eyes, and remember that the good Maker does care. He wouldn't have made all this if He didn't." Liesel did her best to concentrate now the way he had taught her to all those years ago. When she did, she found that a brook trickled somewhere behind her. Birds on their journey south sang goodbye songs as the summer showed signs of aging. Air whistled through the thin branches, and a toad croaked somewhere nearby. Liesel had nearly dozed off when a rustle in the leaves behind her made her glance back. After a moment of looking, however, she saw nothing, so she turned back and closed her eyes once more. Just a moment later, whatever it was moved again.
Her second glance found her staring into the bright eyes of a lynx. Its pointed ears twitched, but nothing else moved as it crouched, staring her down. Liesel felt her body go cold as fear paralyzed her where she sat. She had climbed the mountain nearly every day of her early life, and never once had she seen one of the big cats. The neighbors had spoken of them stealing chickens, and parents warned their children that the big cats could sneak in and eat naughty children who didn't go to bed on time. But, Liesel had always thought, those were stories for people who didn't understand the mountain and its animals.
And now one was going to kill her. Sure enough, it began to crouch even deeper, when an arrow whizzed right past Liesel and straight into its heart. A second arrow followed, ensuring the great cat stayed down. Liesel was still staring at the dead animal in shock and catching her breath when she heard heavy footsteps running up the path. She turned to see a young man racing towards her, nocking a third arrow as he went.
"Are you hurt, Miss?" It took Liesel a moment, but then she recognized the man who stood over her with concern in his eyes. Grown up or not, the red-bearded face was impossible to mistake.
"Manny!" Liesel scrambled to stand, but her knees still shook. Her old friend stretched a large arm down to help her to her feet.
"Liesel?" His mouth fell open. "What? When did you get back?" In spite of her still-injured feelings, Liesel couldn't help smiling a little.
"A few weeks ago."
"I haven't seen you in town. You must have snuck in and out if your presence has been kept a secret for all this time." He ran his hand through his fiery hair and laughed. "Old Mrs. Klatsch would have told all of Weit by now if she had seen you."
"She's still alive?" Liesel laughed with him. The old woman had been the town gossip and as old as dirt for as long as Liesel could remember. She had a nasty habit of creating rumors that were more than just a little false.
"Of course! Who else would guess at all the neighbors' goings-on?" Shaking his head, he looked at her in awe. "I have to say, Liesel, you've really grown up." Liesel blushed. Though a wisp of unease floated in her stomach at the way he was still staring, she couldn't ignore the subtle thrill of being noticed, either.
"You've changed, too, you know," she waved at him, suddenly feeling ridiculously shy. The ornery little boy she had once run the streets with was far from little now. Everything about Manny was massive. His arms, his legs, even his chest and neck looked as if someone had stuffed them full of rock and packed it firm. He towered over Liesel, and would probably stand even a bit taller than Keegan.
"Are you hunting for your father's shop?" Liesel pointed at the weapon he held.
"What? Oh, this. I had some time away from the shop, so I thought I might look for some small game. Things are slow this morning. And no, my father died three years ago."
"I am sorry," Liesel said. And for his loss, she was sorry, but not excessively so. Manny's father had been a drunk, but unlike her father, he had made it a habit of beating his children when he came home in the wee hours of the night, and his inflictions were visible for weeks after, never disappearing completely before a new set was given.
"What about you?" The young man shifted uncomfortably. "Is your family back to stay?"
"No," she said quietly, remembering suddenly why she had climbed the mountain in the first place. "No, I'm just visiting my grandparents before my wedding." It felt so strange to say, and when she did say it, his face fell just slightly.
"Ah...I see. So is your betrothed here, too?" Liesel nodded, not missing the resentment in her old friend's voice. Finally, he cleared his throat. "What are you doing up here alone anyway?"
"I miss the mountain," she said slowly, careful not to give too much away. He snorted.
"You of all people should know better than to run off by yourself. You're nowhere near the trail."
"Did that stop us when we were young?" Liesel teased, hoping to deflect further questions. Manny grinned.
"No, I guess not. Can...Could I at least escort you down? You didn't seem too keen on handling him earlier." He pointed with his bow at the large cat lying still on the ground. Liesel smiled as he picked up his prize.
"Thank you. That sounds good."
Thankfully, he queried nothing more about Liesel's personal situation as they walked down. Only after he had brought her to her grandparents' porch did he ask,
"Will you be at the Adler wedding?"
"My grandmother says we are." Suddenly content, Manny smiled and nodded before turning and heading back down the hill towards town. Liesel watched him go, feeling satisfied with the reunion until she recalled her initial reasons for running.
"Who was that?" Kurt's voice was low and dangerous as he appeared out of the evening shadows. At the same time, her grandparents emerged from the house. Liesel was about to reply, when Bernd sent Kurt a scathing look and Kurt returned it.
The hatred in their expressions rekindled the anger for both men that she had felt that afternoon, and instead of replying to Kurt, Liesel snapped her head over to her grandmother instead, and speaking only to her.
"Manny Rinder walked me home." As she said it, Liesel didn't miss the dark anger that flashed across Kurt's face.
"Well, I suppose that was kind of him," her grandmother said a bit hesitantly. "What did he need to do that for?"
"A lynx found me, and he happened to be out hunting."
"My goodness! Are you alright?" Ilsa began looking for blood, but Liesel shrugged.
"He killed it before it could touch me. Now, if you don't mind, I am tired, and I want to go to bed." She began to walk into the house, but stopped. "Grandmother?"
"Yes, dear?"
"If they don't already know, please tell my grandfather and Kurt that if they try anything like that ever again, I will not be speaking to either of them for as long as I live." Her family was silent as Liesel made her way back to her room and shut the door. And soon as she was alone, she felt large tears begin to fall as sobs shook her body.
As much as she tried to push them out, the images of what could have been bombarded her once again. Her grandfather, still and white, covered in blood just as her father had been. Kurt, lying on the ground, unconscious from a swift blow to the head with her grandfather's hateful staff.
And it wasn't just the fight that hurt Liesel. It was the betrayal.
Warin's fondness for strong drinks meant he had often spent much of his time in the tavern, even when Amala had been alive. It wasn't lost on Liesel, even from a young age, that her father wasn't at home much of the time. Even on Holy Days, he could often be found sleeping off a night of fun instead of going to the church with his family. Though he wasn't gone to the extent that he was later on in Ward, Liesel had grown to hate his ways from a young age. Even worse than his drinking, however, were his dreams for Liesel.
It had all culminated the day she had arrived home from visiting her grandparents to announce she was going to follow suit and see the world.
"Your fancies are pretty, as are you my dear," her father had slurred the day she had announced such dreams. "But it's best if you keep those hopes to yourself, Leese." When Liesel had demanded to know why, he had simply shrugged and patted her head. "Women don't need to see the world. You're pretty enough to land a smut with enough money to keep you and your little pack of mongrels fed and warm." He'd let out a raucous laugh. "Just like your mum."
Liesel had been so upset she'd turned right around and run all the way back to the vineyard in tears. As much as she loved her mother, Liesel had no desire or intention of ending up like Amala. She had been so angry and ashamed of her tears, however, that she'd hidden out in the middle of a field, crying her tears alone and slamming her fists on the ground in protest for hours.
It had been Bernd who had found her, finally quieted, staring silently out at the other fields below as her grandfather's men readied to leave for the day. Without saying a word, he'd simply seated himself on the ground beside her and waited until she was ready to speak. Liesel had never forgotten how comforting it had been, just sitting beside her grandfather in the dirt, knowing that unlike her father, he was listening.
"Father says I can't see the mermaids," Liesel had finally mumbled in a sulky voice.
"Oh?" Bernd had asked. "And what does he want you to do instead?" Liesel's young eyes had burned with tears once more.
"He says I have to stay here and marry someone like him." Before she knew it, Liesel had been drawn up into her grandfather's strong arms. While she sobbed like a baby, he'd cradled her fiercely, his arms holding her protectively.
"No, you won't, Leese," he had whispered with fire in his voice. "You are going to see those mermaids...and the rest of the world as well."
"But what about Father-" But he was already shaking his head, his beard tickling her forehead.
"I won't let them hold you here. The choice will be yours when the time comes. I promise." And Liesel had believed him. They'd sat like that for a long time until Ilsa had come looking for them. That had been the day Liesel had begun to truly see her father for what he really was, and little he did afterwards had ever convinced her otherwise. Liesel had wondered as time passed if the promise had been an attempt from her grandfather to have revenge upon Warin for marrying his own daughter. And if she was honest with herself, she couldn't blame him. From that day forward, Bernd, and not Warin, had become her protector and her confidante. Ilsa liked to tease that when other girls were learning to enjoy sewing and cooking, Liesel could always be found trailing along behind Bernd in the fields.
And now, after promising for all those years to allow her to choose her life, her grandfather's hatred for the one she had chosen to love cut deeper than any knife ever could. Kurt's own hatred just made it worse.
"Liesel?" Kurt whispered from the other side of the door. Before he could say anything else though, Bernd spoke from down the hall. Liesel couldn't make out what he said, but Kurt's retort was acidic. "If by some miracle we pull this off and break the spell, old man, don't expect me to ever bring her back here again."
Just when she thought her heart couldn't hurt more, Liesel felt it break.
19. DISSONANCE
True to her word, Liesel had spoken to neither Kurt nor her grandfather since the fight. Days had passed, and she had ignored them so well she'd impressed even herself.
"Silence can feel empowering, Liesel," her grandmother had warned, "but it accomplishes little."
"If I speak to either one of them, it will accomplish even less," Liesel had retorted. "Because it won't be a word, but rather, a shout." And so, she had continued to simply watch and wait.
There hadn't been any more fights, but there was no peace either. Kurt now disappeared with Johan instead of working in the fields, and only came back to the barn when it was time to sleep. Bernd worked as many hours as possible, and when he was inside, did little aside from shuffling around, mumbling that the young fool would never break the spell.
Though Liesel said nothing about it, she secretly feared her grandfather was right. Kurt had gone from training with Bernd every day to avoiding the family as much as possible, only joining them for supper when Ilsa insisted by shouting out the window that if he wanted fresh hay for his bed in the barn, he would be coming to eat at the table like a decent human being. Kurt would comply, but the meals were never enjoyable by any means. Kurt would stare angrily at his food, speaking only to Ilsa when asked a direct question. Bernd would stare his food down with a look nearly identical to Kurt's. He spoke to no one. The only one who seemed unaffected by the awkward silence of the room was Johan. Speaking as little as possible was in his nature.
It was during such a meal one night that Liesel decided she'd had all she could take of Kurt's new countenance. His sullen silence galled her, and she resolved to get him to speak that night, even if she had to do it out of spite. Guilt tried to nip at her even as she spoke the words, but she ignored her conscience and asked anyway.
"So who is the preferred bachelor of the dance this year?" The question was directed to her grandmother, but Liesel could sense Kurt freeze up as he bent over his food. Satisfied for some sort of reaction, she looked expectantly at Ilsa. Either Ilsa didn't care or didn't see what she was up to, because her answer was as even as ever.
"Actually, I think it was Manny who won the draw this year."
"Are there any ladies he's rumored to favor?" Liesel continued casually.
"Not really," Ilsa raise one eye at Liesel, suddenly sounding suspicious. "Why?"
"It's always just fun to see a little competition," Liesel shrugged, sneaking another glance at Kurt. His mouth had turned down in a way that assured Liesel he was angry. Good, she thought, trying to quiet the nagging rage of her conscience. Perhaps he would get angry enough to stop sulking. Nothing more was said of the dance, but when Liesel excused herself to use the privy after supper had ended, Kurt imm
ediately excused himself as well, ignoring the warning glare her grandfather leveled at him. He quickly overtook her in the darkness, grabbing her arm and pulling her out of earshot of the cabin. Liesel could feel from his grasp that he wasn't fooling around. But then, she steeled herself, neither was she.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kurt's voice was low and tense.
"I haven't done anything."
"Oh please. You've not spoken to me in days, and now you're thinking and teasing about him?" Liesel jerked her arm out of his hand and glared at him through the darkness, sure he could see her better than she could see him, but she remained silent. "Liesel," he suddenly sounded exasperated. "I don't know what you want me to do!"
The question caught Liesel off guard. What did she want him to do? It took her a moment to find her voice, and when she did, much to her annoyance, it was very close to cracking.
"I wish you would at least try breaking the spell. I wish you would stop acting like a child around my grandfather. I want you to fight for me." Liesel stopped as her voice broke and a sob forced its way out. Kurt didn't speak for a moment, but when he did, his voice was somber and sad.
"What do you think I've been doing since the day we met?" And with that, he walked away.
Liesel went to bed feeling ill that night. Heat rushed to her face, and it burned with embarrassment as she thought about his words over and over again. What had possessed her to be so blind, she wondered. While his avoidance of her family still exasperated her, she realized now that it was foolish to think that he would stop trying to break the spell just because of his squabble with Bernd. Perhaps she had assumed wrong when she'd believed he was hiding out as a wolf. Even more guilt was heaped on as she realized she had inadvertently called Kurt a coward to his face as well.
Liesel sobbed angrily into her bed as she wrestled with herself. No, Kurt's behavior certainly hadn't been perfect as of late. But that had given her no excuse to be cruel. And cruel she had been.
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