Chapter 21 - The Stars
Wilhelm and Schwarz sat in the summer night's silence sharing the pumpernickel loaf between them. As Will's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he stole a glance at his happenstance travelling companion. The soft moon light illuminated Prinz's classically handsome features, highlighting the hard curve of his jaw and straight nose. His long black hair was pulled back loosely, in a style that was currently popular with well-to-do folk. Wilhelm shot another discreet glance towards the other man, noticing how the threads of his heavily embroidered jacket cuff caught the moonlight. The finery of Schwarz's clothing juxtaposed the worn and ragged state it was currently in, seeming a poor match for his aristocratic features.
Over the years of conning folk for their coin, Will had become quite adept at assessing their mark's monetary value. While Jacob often chided him for his theatrics and fanfare, even his brother had conceded that Wilhelm was quite adept at ensuring the cost they charged for their services was scaled accordingly and not beyond the means of their clients. Chewing thoughtfully on the bread, Will found himself staring up again at the illuminated night sky.
He noticed familiar constellations, recalling how Jacob had excitedly pointed them out while they were at university, sharing their stories with Will in a last-ditch effort to help him retain ancient Greek myths for an examination. Wilhelm would never admit it to a soul, but he remembered them all, cherishing the evenings they had spent sneaking off to the school's church tower to stargaze. Recalling that he had aced the exam with his brother's tutelage, Wilhelm realized that he had never properly thanked Jacob for his help.
Reflecting back on their years in university together, Will recalled countless other occasions where his brother had supported him, and he had acted in an appallingly thankless manner in return. Even when their mother died and Will rashly left the university, Jacob had persevered. Forsaking his passion for folklore in lieu of the field of linguistics which was held in greater esteem by the university, Jake had zealously authored several well-regarded publications, securing him a tenured position and allowing him to send his salary to Wilhelm for upkeep of their childhood home. Feeling his face flush in shame, Will realized that his treatment of Jacob had not much improved since their days in university. Examining the uncomfortable feeling carefully, Wilhelm realized with a jolt why he continuously drove a wedge between them: Jacob made him feel vulnerable.
"Do you want more bread, Wilhelm?" Schwarz asked, wrenching Will from his self-reflection.
"What?" Will started, seeing a piece of bread held out in offering. "Absolutely. This is excellent pumpernickel," the older Grimm replied in thanks. Chewing on the dense bread Wilhelm noted hints of caraway, an atypical and expensive addition to the traditional recipe used by most countryfolk. Again, Wilhelm felt suspicion stir as he wondered how someone wearing such well-worn clothes could afford this fare.
"Glad you're enjoying it," Schwarz replied after a moment's pause, "It's somewhat of a family recipe."
Dubious that this man's wealth came from something so pedestrian as running a bakery, Wilhelm prodded further, "Do you live somewhere in these parts, Schwarz?"
Letting out a heavy sigh, the dark-haired man shrugged, "I suppose I did."
"You did?" Will replied, not intending to pry but also too suspicious of the other man to help himself.
"Yes, did. As in the past tense, Wilhelm," Schwarz grated, his eyes glimmering in the night air.
"Right, sorry," the older Grimm responded turning his attention back to the meal, "I didn't mean to offend."
A heavy silence settled between the two men, unbroken save the gentle whispers of a breeze slipping through the gnarled trees. Finishing his food Wilhelm leaned back on his elbows, appreciating how the grass in the glade appeared to sway as one as the blades danced in the wind.
"Wilhelm," Schwarz asked suddenly, hesitating out of nervousness. "You- Would you love your brother, no matter what?" the dark-haired man asked softly, "Regardless of what he did or who he was?"
Taken entirely off guard by the personal question, Wilhelm resisted the strong urge to respond flippantly to the other man and paused in consideration. Could Jacob ever do anything to change how he felt about him? The older Grimm had never considered this before, usually directing his worrying towards how Jake felt about him. Although Will was certain that they felt differing degrees of love towards each other, he had never considered the possibility of not loving Jacob.
"You would love him regardless, wouldn't you?" Schwarz noted, his voice softening, "I knew it."
Will felt his irritation growing towards Schwarz's personal questions, wondering what the other man's point was.
"I apologize, Wilhelm. When I met you in Sélestat I was struck by how protective you were of Jacob. It must be difficult sometimes, caring about someone so deeply when they are so trusting of others," Schwarz continued empathetically.
"Yes, well," Wilhelm retorted gruffly, "He doesn't make it easy, bringing unsavory scoundrels like you back with him." The two men snickered together at Will's lighthearted jab.
"I'm envious of you, Wilhelm, of the two of you really," Schwarz confessed after a moment's silence, "You'll never be alone in the world, because you will always have your brother's love." Taking a deep breath, he continued solemnly, "On the other hand, I returned to my family's keep in Aalen gravely injured after setting out on a dangerous journey at their request, and they disowned me after learning of my… ailment."
"Ah," Will responded, feeling his suspicions towards Schwarz wane as he understood why the other man's ragged appearance was at such odds with his pedigree.
"Indeed," Schwarz continued, "Please save your sympathy, Wilhelm, I've wallowed in enough of my own self-pity over the past weeks." The disgraced aristocrat put a hand lightly on Will's shoulder in reassurance, "I tell you this to say, I understand how important Jacob is to you, and I will do everything in my power to help you be reunited."
As the tower door swung open, heavy on its hinges, Jacob did his best to pretend that he'd not been investigating the room's contents, leaning against the windowsill in resignation. The younger Grimm tensed as he heard footsteps on the stone floor echoing towards him.
"It's an agreeable view, isn't it?" Herr Lied commented, coming to stand beside Jake at the window. "Look, you can see the vain queen in all her glory," the silver-haired man said as he stared up at the night sky.
"Cassiopeia," Jacob responded, turning to look at Herr Lied in surprise.
"You know your classics, Jacob," the Piper responded in equal astonishment, his voice coloured with the faintest hint of respect.
"Of course, Mein Herr," Jake replied, "How could I ever hope to understand German folklore without learning about the rich history that has come before us."
At this, Herr Lied turned his eyes away from the stars, cocking his head to appraise Jacob thoughtfully as if seeing him for the first time. "A scholar, indeed," he murmured, before turning his gaze back to the sky.
Jacob remained silent, apprehensive of his host's apparently relaxed mood. Not that Herr Lied had reason to be anything other than relaxed; given his impressive control of magic. Jake suddenly realized that he posed no greater threat to Herr Lied than a gnat would, a realization that was somehow disheartening, humbling, and immensely frightening all at once. Studying the magician's cold grey eyes and silver hair which reflected the cold moonlight, Jacob was certain of one thing, beyond any shadow of a doubt Herr Lied was the Piper that Stille has described.
'Yet,' Jake realized silently, thinking about the Mayor's contradictory description, 'It seems Lied took great care to hide his true appearance from the people of Hameln.' The younger Grimm hypothesized that Herr Lied's enchantment had worked on all of the townspeople, save for the young deaf boy. Gazing out across the darkened forest canopy below, Jacob couldn't begin to fathom the meaning behind this bizarre detail.
Herr Lied suddenly interrupted the midsummer night's gentle silence, "Jacob, would you like something to eat?"
Starting at his words, Jake took a moment to compose himself before turning to face the magician will an appreciative smile, "Mein Herr, food would be wonderful."
The Piper nodded, "Despite having abducting you, I suppose it doesn't hurt to maintain a modicum of hospitality," he replied dryly, a faint smile flitting across his lips.
Letting out a small snort in agreement, Jacob leaned against the windowsill and watched skeptically as Herr Lied crossed the tower towards a large wooden dresser. Jacob recognized his familiar black leather saddlebag alongside a larger pack. Watching the Piper open each bag and examine their contents, Jake hoped his mare was still safe with Wilhelm.
The Piper began humming a light, cheery melody, conducting the tune lazily with one hand. To Jacob's utter amazement, a white linen cloth flew out from one of the bags to lay flat on the wooden dresser's surface. A hunting knife soon followed, accompanied by some cured meat and dark bread. Jacob watched in amazement as the knife seemed to slice the meat and loaves on its own accord, to the sound of Lied's humming which had increased its tempo gradually. Awestruck at such an inane and seemingly effortless use of power, Jacob felt quite helpless as he wondered how he could escape such a skilled magician, let alone rescue the children of Hameln.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. This is the updated version of Chapter 21, uploaded on 02/2023.