“Guilty,” I answer, aware of the irony.
“You’re going to do it now, right?” Liesel asks, her little voice brooking no argument. “You’re going to make sure he stops?”
I look her right in the eyes. “I swear.”
“I’m going to help,” Liesel declares.
There’s immediate uproar, from the captain of the guards all the way to the high priest and priestesses. I see the hard set in Liesel’s jaw, the way her tiny fingers curl into fists. Before she can say anything, I raise my arm.
Miraculously, the others quiet.
“Liesel, I need your help,” I say, my attention solely on the little girl.
Her fists relax. She raises one hand up, sparks flickering on her fingertips. “I will help you. He hurt Fritzi. He needs to be stopped.”
I shake my head. “I don’t mean help like that.”
She stomps her foot. “I can help! I’m a champion too! Abnoba chose me!”
“I know,” I say before anyone can interrupt. I can feel Fritzi’s eyes on me, the trust she has for me. “I know,” I tell Liesel again. “But we don’t know where Dieter is.”
“He’s in Trier, you said.”
“Iguessed,” I answer quickly. “But I don’tknow. And if he comes here, we need a champion to be here to help protect the Well. How much did you hear? There’s a stone the council has, and—”
I can see the rebellion rising in Liesel’s eyes. The Well is not a place Dieter can easily breach. This is the safe option for Liesel, and she knows it. But she also knows the gravity of the situation. The stone the council has must be kept safe. This isn’t a distraction, but an important task.
“Please, Liesel,” Fritzi whispers.
Emotion wars on the little girl’s face. Liesel is far too clever to notsee how we’re manipulating her with this. But she is, no matter what she says, still a child. One I’ve sworn to protect.
I lean closer to her. “And can you stay with Hilde?” I ask. “Protect her if…” It’s a low blow, and I know it. Liesel is keenly aware of what it’s like to have only one family member left alive.
“Do you promise to kill him right this time?” she grumbles, glaring at me.
“I swear.”
Liesel huffs a sigh. “Fine.”
She turns to Fritzi, giving her another hug, and I’m reminded again that Dieter may be related to them both, but he hurt them in a way that can never be forgotten. And whatever chance of forgiveness and family he may have had left, he long ago burned it as surely as he burned both girls.
Still wrapped in Fritzi’s arms, I hear Liesel whisper, “You have to tell meeverythingso I can write it down for my epic, and I mean it, Fritzi, you have to tell meeverything.”
When they pull apart, Liesel’s eyes are redder than before as she looks up at her cousin. “Promise to come back.”
“I promise.”
Liesel turns. The three of us had all forgotten about the others, but when Liesel looks at Rochus, Philomena, Cornelia, Brigitta, and all the rest, she commands their attention. “Well, that’s all settled then,” she says firmly. “Fritzi and Otto are going. And you guys can figure out the rest without us.” Liesel takes Fritzi’s hand and starts to lead her away. I hear some of the others muttering protests, but Liesel glowers so fiercely that the way parts before us.
She’s right. Fritzi and I need rest. Because at dawn, we leave.
Liesel doesn’t relax until we’re back outside. She holds Fritzi’s hand as we cross the bridges to Fritzi’s home, and then the cousins hug again.
When they pull apart and Fritzi steps inside, Liesel glances at me, blocking my entrance. She looks mad, but I know her well enough to see that she’s frightened.
I give the girl a carefree smile. “Don’t you want me to promise to come back too?” I ask.
Liesel shrugs, refusing to make eye contact. “Come back if you want to, I guess.”
