The quiet moments while the city’s still dark

The entire village seemed to be abandoned. It wasn’t. However, Yori felt as if it were. He chewed his lip thoughtfully as he tried to focus on the book in his hands. If they were right, this would draw the creature out. If they were wrong, Hans would probably try to kill them again.

Yori resisted the urge to look over where he knew Wolfram and Rune were hiding. He heard a soft step behind him and tensed. Slowly, he turned and looked over his shoulder. His mouth opened in a silent gasp. The drawing in the book didn’t do this creature justice. It was far more terrifying than he’d expected.

The subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul

Yori’s heart was pounding in his chest. Terror filled him. However, he knew – he knew – that if they failed now, all the women this creature had taken would never be seen again. Steeling himself, he grabbed the creatures hands in his own.

The creature blinked at him. The frightful intelligence he’d seen earlier returned, if only for a moment. It hesitated.

“Now, Wolfram!” Yori shouted, not daring to break eye contact.

Behind him somewhere, he could hear Wolfram chanting. After a moment, the incantation began to take effect. The creautre tried to pull away, but it was caught now. Slowly, but surely, the soul of the creature was bound and subdued.

Finally, Wolfram finished his chanting. Yori released his hold. “Bring them back,” he said. “All of them.”

The creature howled in rage. Then it leaped away. A moment later, it returned with Marta. Just as the book had said, she was totally unharmed. Yori couldn’t help releasing a deep sigh of relief. It was over.

Wealth and love inhabit different worlds

Yori stepped over to Wolfram and cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he said, his voice soft.

Wolfram looked up from the book he was reading. He blinked and adjusted his glasses. “What do you want?” he snapped. “Go away!” He turned back to his book.

Rune pulled out a chair for Yori and then sat down in one beside it. As Yori sank into the chair, Rune spoke. “The creature that carried off your girl…”

“Astrid,” Wolfram said, his voice cracking. Tears welled up in his eyes and he shook his head. “Her folks didn’t even want us to be wed. They said I wasn’t good enough for her. I’m a bookworm, they said. I’d never be able to provide for her, they said. I wouldn’t be able to protect her, they said. Well, they were right and – and now she’s gone!”

Yori tensed. He set a hand on Wolfram’s shoulder. “We all have strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “You… love her, right?”

Wolfram nodded. “With all my heart,” he said, his voice cracking.

“Then that’s all that matters,” he said, giving the young man a weak smile.