She steps aside, and I enter Fritzi’s room.
Before I can close the door, Liesel grabs my arm, pulls me closer, and hugs me around the waist.
I can feel her tears, hot and wet, soaking through my tunic. I drop a kiss on the top of her head. “I promise,” I tell her.
Once the door closes, I turn to Fritzi. She pulls down the shoulder of her chemise, exposing her clavicle and the brand Dieter put on her. The scar is perfectly shaped, a clear letterD.
The hexenjägers used that brand. It meantDämon.
But I realized after Fritzi escaped her brother the first time that the brand was a torture thathecame up with, not the archbishop. And it was a way of labeling his own handiwork.
DforDieter.
He wanted to claim her—her magic, her self—ashis.
“Here is what I know, Liebste,” I say gently, calling her focus back to me. “What he did to you does not define you. Dieter runs about this world claiming possession of anything he wants. But I am yours because I give myself to you. It is a choice I make with every breath I take. He may have bound you to him by force…”
Her hand flutters to the scarred brand.
“...but he has no concept of how much stronger a bond is when it is a gift.”
She looks at the floor, but I can still see the worry and fear etched on her brow. I put my finger under her chin and tilt her face up, waiting until she focuses on me. I want to say something that will ease the anxiety clenching her heart; I want to have the right words to make her see herself as I see her, to have as much faith in her as I do. But when she looks at me, I find I can say nothing more than, “I love you.”
And perhaps that is enough. She wraps her arms around me, pulling herself up to my lips, our kiss a promise more powerful than any fear.
The next morning, we gather outside of Hilde’s house. Brigitta obviously spent the night with my sister, something we all tacitly ignore as the Grenzwache arrives separately. Brigitta has selected five fighters to join us, and Hilde passes out brown cloaks that are intended to be a part of our disguise as pilgrims to pay respect to the remains of Saint Simeon. The chosen soldiers are all grim about the mission, all but Alois, who bounces like a colt.
“I can’t believe I missed all the action last night,” Alois mutters, but he shuts up pretty fast when he catches the look on my face.
I ignore him and head over to my sister. “Do you mind keeping an eye on Liesel?”
“Of course not,” Hilde says. “Liesel is a dear.”
“You do know she has the ability to burn this entire village to the ground if she has a temper tantrum, right?”
“She would never!” Hilde gasps.
“Yeah, I would never.” Liesel pops out from around the corner, Hilde’s cat trailing behind her, mewing for more attention.
“Honestly, how could you even suggest something like that from such a sweetheart?” Hilde says, glaring at me as she stoops to give Liesel a hug.
While my sister’s back is to me, arms around her, Liesel sticks out her tongue at me, a tiny flicker of flame dancing on the tip. She giggles innocently and goes inside Hilde’s house. My sister follows her, and I can already hear her promising Liesel more cookies.
When I turn around, I see Cornelia approaching. Rochus and Philomena are wildly opposed to a priestess taking up arms, but they cannot control her.
The priestess goes straight to Fritzi. When I reach them, Cornelia gives Fritzi a silver charm on a leather thong. “I do not know how powerful Dieter’s magic has become, or what the nature of his cursed connection is,” she says, “but this should keep your mind and body safe from possession.”
Fritzi slips the necklace over her head, tugging her blond curls free. “He can’t get in my head anymore?” The tremble in her voice blinds me with rage.
“You’re safe,” Cornelia confirms. “The bond between you and Otto has already proven effective. Now that you know Dieter’s formed this horrid connection, you’ll be able to fight it. And this will help.” Cornelia leans in, giving Fritzi a hug. “You’re safe,” she repeats.
Interlude
Dieter
Ha! Safe.
No, my sister.
