Chapter 8
Ishild took a seat across from her father and Chief Randulf. She takes a deep breath and waits for one of them to speak.
"Ishild, your father is concerned about you. From what he has told me, you disappear into the forest and you are there all day. Why, from what I heard, one of the guards said you made off with two bows today, your own and a spare, but you came back with one," Chief Randulf said to her.
"Ishild, I just want to know what is going on," Gerhard said to his daughter. Ishild does not speak, she could not think of a way to get out of this.
"The village is grateful for that buck you brought back, everyone will be merry on St. Nicholas day," Chief Randulf said to her.
Ishild then had an idea and she speaks, "I just love the forest, especially in the winter time. It's so peaceful and quiet. I just love to be there and not have to worry about anything."
"Well Ishild, you do have responsibilities here. You are part of night patrol and you have not joined them in days," Lord Gerhard said, but Chief Randulf just chuckles.
"Oh, leave her be Gerhard, if she wants to be in the forest then let her. She is good with her bow and I do admire her spirit," the chief replies and Ishild smiles at him. "Plus, I do need someone to do patrol in the forest, there have been strange things going on," he adds.
"Like what?" Ishild asks, curiously.
"Apart from your sightning of an intruder and the farmer's dead ewe, the people are telling me that someone has been leaving things outside of their huts," Chief Randulf answers and adds, "Like a severed leg of a deer or there have been trails of blood leading out of the village."
"Blood?" Ishild asks, again.
"Yes, and just last night around midnight I believe, the guards said they chased away a bear that came too close to our village. I have never seen a bear come close to our village," Chief Randulf said to Ishild.
"But I don't understand, do bears hibernate in winter?" Gerhard asks the chief.
"I wish I had an answer for that, but I think this one doesn't," the chief answers and looks to Ishild, "So, you have my permission to scout the forest to your heart's content, I do believe it will do us some good if you find whoever is responsible for these strange happenings."
Just then, Gerlach came in, his face was full of fury. "Wait a minute, you're just letting her do whatever she wants?!" he bellows at the chief.
"Gerlach, keep your voice down," his father demands, but his son doesn't listen.
"When I am chief, I'm going to lock her up!" Gerlach shouts and points at her sister. Ishild's stomach drops; how could her brother say something like that?
"Gerlach, you can't become chief, Chief Randulf has a son and he will take over when his father passes," Ishild said to him, but her brother doesn't listen and leaves the room.
"Chief, I'm sorry," Gerhard said to his friend. Chief Randulf, however, did not accept Gerhard's apology.
"Your son is a hateful creature," he said to Gerhard, "If he shows me disrespect, especially towards your daughter, again, I will have him banished from this village."
"Oh, chief! Please! Don't send him away!" Gerhard pleads with him.
"I have been speaking to Oda and she says Gerlach has a dark soul, and I have to agree with her," Chief Randulf said to him.
"Oh, that crazy old lady!" Gerhard mumbles under his breath.
Chief Randulf stands up to leave and Ishild helps him to the door. "Chief, do you really think my brother is possessed by the Devil?" she whispers to him.
"There is no doubt in my mind and I am sorry for you as you deal with him every day. Plus your father does not displine him," Chief Randulf said to her. He then looks at her with his gray eyes.
"Why don't you come to dinner tomorrow? Just you Ishild, I do want to hear what's been going on in the forest and my son would appreciate it," Chief Randulf asks her.
"I accept your invitation, chief, I will be there before sunset," Ishild answers him and he chuckles.
Chief Randulf then gets on his horse and leaves. Ishild shivers as it had gotten really cold. She shuts the door and retires to her bedroom.
"What was that you said to the chief?" she heard her father ask and she turns to see him.
"He invited me to dinner," she answers and a look of delight forms on his face.
"You must find your best dress, none of those furs will do," Gerhard said and then Gerlach comes in.
"Why did he invite you?! You're a girl!" Gerlach snaps.
"What's wrong with being a girl?" Ishild asks and adds, "Gerlach, why do you hate me? What did I ever do to you?"
"Everything!" Gerlach shouts at her and leaves. Gerhard does not speak and instead, he leaves his daughter's room.
Ishild felt hurt by her brother's words, but she still did not understand why Gerlach hated her. If he was possessed by the Devil, then she had to find a way to free him.
Ishild opens her window, gazing up at the starry night, and she says in a whisper, "Mother, if you are with God, see if you can help Gerlach find some light in his soul."
She then shuts the window and cuddles up in her fur blankets. Tomorrow was going to be an exciting day, she felt it in her gut.
From the author: Gerlach is bad news, will he find some light? Find out later!
