Markhoff’s Story

Hey hey! Welcome to the first snippet of Markhoff’s Story. This project has been completely finished, so no need to worry about it being canceled! Markhoff is the villain of one of my stories, and this is his backstory.

Snippet One

Markhoff hated the Winter Celebration. This was mainly because he was forced to sit still for a very long time while his father talked about boring things. Things like how the harvest went well, and how they prayed they’d make it through the winter. 

Markhoff stole a glance at his mother. She was looking at his father. Markhoff couldn’t resist, he shifted in his chair. 

Immediately, she turned, and gave him a sharp nudge, “Markhoff, you must sit still. Your Father is almost done. Follow Erumend’s example.”

Of course, she compared him to his older brother. His favored older brother. Markhoff crossed his arms grouchily. He glanced over at Erumend. Erumend was older than him by only two years. He was fourteen, and Markhoff was twelve. 

Erumend sat on the throne, looking attentively at Father. I bet you he isn’t even listening, just pretending to please Mother. Markhoff scowled at his brother. 

Erumend had brown hair and soft brown eyes. If Markhoff weren’t his brother, he’d say Erumend was handsome. But since Markhoff was his brother -younger brother at that- he’d never admit it for wolds. 

Markhoff himself had hair black as pitch, and eyes that were such a light brown, they were almost orange.
Erumend didn’t even move as he watched their father, except for blinking and breathing. 

Markhoff willed himself to stay still. People wouldn’t be able to say that he was a fidgeter. He sat still as stone. 

His nose itched. He willed his hand to stay still. His legs burned with the want of moving. I will not move, I will not move.

A leg suddenly kicked out before Markhoff could stop it. 

This time both his mother and his brother turned to look at him. His mother gave a disapproving look before turning back to her husband. 

“Sit still, can’t you?” Erumend hissed. Markhoff blushed, turning away from Erumend. Who did he think he was, scolding him? He drummed his fingers on the chair absentmindedly. 

He heard his father say “. . .And I wish you a very wonderful Winter Festival!” 

Markhoff could hardly contain himself long enough to stand up regally. He fairly leaped from his chair, and whispered “Finally.” under his breath. 

Erumend gave him a disapproving look. Markhoff didn’t care. In a few minutes, he’d be enjoying the Winter Festival celebrations. He’d find some way to slip off and see all the shows. They were fascinating. Markhoff thought happily of his own Gift. Maybe he’d have a chance to show it off a little, but he’d have to make sure Mother, Father, and Erumend were nowhereno where near. They told him that his gift was not a toy. As if he didn’t know that. They were just jealous. 

Markhoff slowly began to recede into the crowd. 

Erumend grabbed his arm. “You’re not supposed to sneak off by yourself, Mother and Farther said you have to be 13 before you can go without a guard.”

“I’m two months from 13, lemme go!” Markhoff wrenched his arm from Erumend’s grip, anger burning in his eyes. Just because he was older didn’t mean he’d let Erumend boss him. Erumend sighed. 

“I’m not trying to spoil your fun, Mark. I’ll go with you.”

“I don’t need you babysitting me, thank you very much. Go tattle if you want, I don’t care,” Markhoff brushed off into the crowd, ignoring Erumend’s protests. So what if he’d get in trouble? It was worth it, for just one night.