24: Sleepless Night

Kielholz had screamed his throat raw after the news broke about a bridge northeast Hammelburg blowing up while his brother was on it. Amidst the chaos and confusion, there had been nothing on Tobias's whereabouts. The wreckage was still being combed and bodies were still being pulled out by the time the guards were sent to their barracks for the night.

Langenscheidt had never felt so powerless when it came to helping Kielholz. He couldn't blame him for his extreme reaction, but as the day went on and Kielholz isolated himself, it worried Langenscheidt deeply. Then again, after Kielholz nearly got violent with other guards and prisoners, perhaps it was best that he stayed away from others for a while.

That night, Langenscheidt continued to worry when Kielholz didn't say anything to him, not even a "good night." He lay awake, listening to Kielholz's breathing in the bunk above. It was uneven and Kielholz kept sniffling like he was crying and trying to hide it. Then Langenscheidt heard Kielholz mutter, "They can go to hell."

"Who can go to hell, Erich?" Langenscheidt asked.

"Whoever did this to Tobias," Kielholz replied. "They can go to hell."

Langenscheidt got out of his bunk, wincing when he felt just how cold the floor was, even with his socks on. He stood on his toes to look Kielholz in the eye. "Do you want to come down to my bunk and talk?"

"No. I want to know Tobias is alive and alright."

"I… wish I knew, Erich."

"Then go away." Kielholz rolled onto his side, putting his back to Langenscheidt.

Sighing, Langenscheidt got back into his bunk. "Alright." He didn't want to push Kielholz, but he hoped his friend would come around. He couldn't close himself off forever.

Langenscheidt was equally worried about Tobias. Tobias had welcomed him into the family and treated him no differently than his little brother. He was well-versed in magic, though he didn't practice it himself, and frequently sent them potion bottles to help with various ailments. He was also more than happy to let them stay at his quiet little home in the woods north of Hammelburg whenever they took leave. Langenscheidt couldn't imagine not having that anymore.

"Tobias didn't do anything to deserve this," Kielholz said.

Langenscheidt stood again, resting his head on the side of Kielholz's bunk. "I don't think any of the people on that bridge deserved it."

"No." Kielholz turned to face Langenscheidt, eyes filling with tears. "I lost Mama, I can't lose Tobias, too."

The powerlessness Langenscheidt had felt earlier returned, much more forcefully this time. There was nothing he could say to reassure Kielholz. He had no way of knowing if his brother was alive or dead, and he found himself wishing and praying that he did. Nimbly, Langenscheidt lifted himself into Kielholz's bunk, and said what he hoped was the best thing he could come up with. "Whatever happens, I will be here for you."

Kielholz hugged him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. After how much he had cried that day, Langenscheidt was a tad surprised that Kielholz still had tears left in him. He let Kielholz cry, and gently stroked his friend's hair. He started to understand why Kielholz worried so much. He couldn't do anything to stop his mother from getting killed in that bombing raid, so now he's doing everything in his power to keep the slightest thing from hurting me.

It quickly became obvious neither of them would be sleeping that night.