Frances and the Werewolves of the Black Forest by Refe Tuma

Author:Refe Tuma
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

An Unexpected Offer

Orphans filed out of the tunnel without a word, dragging their feet through the murky water. All but Otto, who stood rooted in place while the others coursed around him, until Fritz set Rolf in his arms. He looked startled at first, then squeezed the undersized dog to his chest and shuffled forward.

Frances lingered until she had allowed some distance between herself and the orphans. She felt out of place, like she was eavesdropping on a private tragedy she had no right to witness. Except she was the cause of all of it. It was her fault Aldo, Waldo, and Rhetta were gone.

No. She wasn’t the only one to blame. Hilde was ready to hand her over to the Huntsmen like a carrot from Rosie’s garden. Yes, she tried to do the right thing in the end, but by then it was too late. Now the dogs were gone, and the Sanctuary was in more danger than ever.

I knew she couldn’t be trusted.

She trailed the orphans as they gathered around their leader in the square. Hilde’s chin rested on her chest, her knees splayed carelessly beneath her. Mud caked her hands, flecked with red. Aldo’s blood, Frances feared. There was no trace of the unflappable confidence Frances so admired—and resented. As hurt and angry as Frances was, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for her.

It was Vera who broke the silence.

“Is it true?” She spoke through gritted teeth, hands clenched at her sides, knives mercifully still tucked into their sheaths.

“He took them,” Hilde whispered.

“It is, isn’t it?” Vera snorted. “You’ve been lying to us from the beginning. Why? Why not just tell us about the Huntsmen?”

“He took all of them,” Hilde said, shaking her head.

“Who cares? They’re just dogs. You made us believe we were trapped in this crummy, broken-down village, rationing, barely scraping by, hiding every night in the Abbey. And now we find out you knew who was responsible all this time?”

“They are not just dogs,” Hilde shouted, rising to her full height. “They’re family. And now they’re gone. He took them, just like he took everyone. He took your parents. Siegfried’s parents. Rudy’s grandmother. Magda and Margrit’s father. The priest, the nuns. Everyone.” Her eyes softened and the anger faded from her voice. “He would’ve taken you, too.” She looked around the circle, pausing at her brother. “All of you.”

Otto set Rolf on the ground—to avoid meeting his sister’s gaze, Frances suspected. When he straightened, he kept his eyes fixed on Rudy, who was interpreting.

“We can handle ourselves,” Vera said, answering for the others. A few of them nodded.

Not Siegfried. He took a step forward, puffing out his thin chest. “You have no right to accuse her like this. You practically worshipped the Huntsmen. If she made a deal with those men, she did it to protect us. Fighting isn’t always the answer.”

“Maybe you should join them,” Vera replied. “At least you’d be closer to your precious wolves.”

“Enough.” The fire had returned to Hilde’s voice. “Siegfried is one of us, just as much as you.

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