Chapter 23 - The Toad
"A... did you say a toad?" Schwarz repeated dubiously as Wilhelm dismounted from the mare.
"Not another word from you," Will warned, noting the nobleman's skeptical expression. "Stay here with Kastanie," Wilhelm added, not in the least looking forward to the task ahead of him.
Shrugging his shoulders in resignation, Schwarz gave Will a teasing grin. "Alright, you ask the toad. I'm going to interrogate the birds," he answered in jest.
Ignoring his urge to throttle the dark-haired man, Wilhelm stepped off the road and into the forest edge. Feeling the soft give of deep, rich soil beneath his boots, the older Grimm had a growing sense of being watched as he stepped further into the trees. Placing a hand on his holster to reassure himself, Will began the unpleasant task of overturning fallen logs.
Noticing a particularly well-rotted log, Wilhelm winced as his fingers sunk into the punky wood. Cautiously lifting the woody debris, Will felt equal parts relief and dread as a large, fat toad stared back at him from under the log with a distinctly disgruntled expression. Raising the displeased amphibian to eye level, the older Grimm swallowed nervously.
"Grandmother toad, show us the way to Jacob. Please show us the way, and I'll give you a kiss," Wilhelm asked with all the respect he could muster, trying not to flinch as he pressed his lips gently against the toad's cold and rough head. Will slowly pivoted, pointing the toad north in the direction of the left fork, then gradually turning to face east in the direction they had been travelling. As he turned east, the older Grimm felt the tiniest tickle of a clawed foot move across his palm as the toad extended its front right leg to point.
"Thank you, grandmother toad!" Will exclaimed, his disgust with the warty animal momentarily overshadowed by his success. Letting out a rasping croak which sounded uncannily as though the toad was greatly underwhelmed with his efforts, it leapt from his outstretched hands and proceeded to gracelessly squeeze itself back under the rotten log with one final disgruntled squeak.
Uncertain how he had offended the creature, Wilhelm brushed off his hands and turned back to the road. Emerging from the trees, Will headed back towards the junction where he'd left his mare and the nobleman. Hearing him emerge from the forest, Schwarz turned in his direction, both men shouting "It's the right one!" in unison.
"Hold on, how did you figure that out?" Wilhelm countered.
Grinning sheepishly Schwarz replied, "I asked the birds." Dismounting from Kastanie he continued, "No, really. It was the strangest thing, your mare began prancing back and forth between the two roads, and each time she turned towards the right fork, a flock of bluebirds would start to sing, erm... shriek really."
"You traitor," Wilhelm hissed towards the mare, "I had to kiss a toad!" The chestnut mare snorted cheekily in response.
"You did what?" Schwarz questioned as Will walked past him towards the right junction.
"No questions about the toad," Wilhelm shot back.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading. This is the updated version of Chapter 23, uploaded on 03/2023.