Hello! Today releases the third snippet!
As you might have noticed, I am terrible at posting on Mondays. So I will actually be moving the posting day to Wednesday in high hopes that I will post more often!
Enjoy the Snippet!
Snippet Three
“Leave me be!” Markhoff tried to wriggle from Erumend’s grasp but wasn’t successful. Erumend maintained a firm grip, and Markhoff found himself being marched to the royal family like a disobedient child. People were turning and looking.
“Let me go! I can walk myself.” Markhoff tried to pull away, but Erumend wasn’t loosening his grip.
“Last time I let go, you ran away. Not this time.” Erumend said. It was quiet enough that Markhoff heard, and not the villagers. Markhoff clenched his fists, but he couldn’t do anything other than that. Erumend was taller and stronger than he was. Besides, already more people were looking at them curiously than Markhoff would have liked. He wasn’t about to make a bigger scene fighting against his older brother, he’d lose anyway. He sufficed his anger by scowling at Eerumend.
Erumend brought him straight to their parents.
Father was standing there, his arms crossed, looking disapproving at Markhoff. Always disapproving. “Where have you been, Markhoff? It’s been 3 hours, and it’s high time we headed home.” Markhoff hadn’t realized how much time had passed while he had been watching the shows. A sinking feeling of guilt seeped into his stomach, but he wasn’t about to show it.
Frowning, he said, “I could have come on my own, I didn’t need Erumend dragging me like I was a little disobedient child.”
“Ah,” Father clicked his tongue, “You were a disobedient child. You went off without a guard, and it’s dangerous for a Prince to do so.”
“I was perfectly fine!” Markhoff protested, “I’m old enough!”
“Your disobedience has proven you are not ‘old enough’ or ‘mature enough’.” said the King, sadly, “Your privileges will be taken away for a week.”
Markhoff felt his heart drop in anger and dismay. A tiny, sinking feeling told him it was his own fault. Markhoff turned furiously to face Erumend, “It’s your fault! You told them!”
Erumend flushed and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Father interrupted.
“Erumend did no such thing, we were worried about you, and I told him to find you. And even if he did tell, he would have been right to do so because what you did was in direct disobedience, and potentially dangerous.”
Markhoff waited sullenly for Erumend to tattle that Markhoff had been using his powers. He was only mildly surprised when he didn’t. He’s probably just going to lord it over me later. Markhoff, do this, or else I’ll tell Mother and Father you were using your gift at the festival!
Markhoff followed the family to his carriage. He studiously looked at the cobblestone road, scuffing the moss growing in the grout with his shoes. He made sure to make a point of scuffing the moss loudly enough to remind his family how miserable he was and was disappointed when he wasn’t met with a single remark, not even a reprimand not to drag his feet or his shoes would be ruined.
When they got to the carriage, Markhoff had to sit next to Erumend, while Mother and Father sat across from them.
He looked away grouchily, refused to make contact, and refused to speak to Erumend, even though Erumend tried multiple times to start a conversation.
Over every single rattle and bump of the carriage over uneven cobblestones, Markhoff thought over and over again how Erumend had disrupted him in the middle of his fun. People were actually appreciating his power, and asking him to use it! And then Erumend had to go and ruin everything. And he had treated him like a baby. I am not a baby. Markhoff thought angrily, I wish they would just stop treating me like a little child and like how they treat Erumend. Responsible.
Markhoff kicked his legs back and forth. Erumend looked at him, like he wanted to say something, but knew Markhoff wouldn’t listen. Markhoff felt a small pang of guilt, but he pushed it away.
Idly, he thought more about his Gift. It worked with snow. He knew that. Maybe he could make it work with wood. Rocks. Maybe even gems. He sat up a little straighter. He could become the best sculptor in the Kingdom because he could manipulate objects!
Your gift is not a toy. He slumped back into the cushions. That’s what Mother and Father would say. They wouldn’t care how pretty his creations were, they would tell him not to use his Gift for ill. I don’t see how making sculptures is using my power for ill.
“Copper for your thoughts,” Erumend whispered, quietly enough so Mother and Father wouldn’t hear. They were talking about some sort of problem that they’d try and fix. Markhoff looked over at Erumend angrily. Erumend was looking at him with that look on his face. That face which he used when he wanted to make amends.
Markhoff said nothing.
“Aw, come on Mark! It wasn’t my fault you know.”
“You didn’t have to march me around like a Baby, I can walk myself you know.”
“You ran away last time I tried reasoning with you.” Markhoff didn’t want to admit it, but Erumend had a point. So instead, he busied himself fiddling with a button on his jacket. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Erumend look away.
Markhoff found himself whispering to Erumend, “Wasn’t my dragon rather impressive?” he smirked.
Erumend looked at him. Markhoff was shocked to see not an impressed look, but a disappointed one, “You can’t bend your power to your will, Markhoff. I watched you. You thrust your will upon the snow, making it what you wanted, not what it was meant to be. It was resisting, and you shouldn’t have forced your power into it like that.”
“It wasn’t obeying me.” Markhoff forgot to whisper as his frown started to return.
“But that’s just the thing! Your power isn’t meant to force things into what you want them to be, but rather make them more. . . more” Erumend struggled for words. Markhoff watched him, both curious and angry. “You’re supposed to make things more beautiful. Better. I guess. I know that’s not the right word, but you know what I mean.”
Markhoff saw his mother glance at him and remembered to whisper this time. “Wasn’t a dragon prettier than a snowball?”
“Well– that wasn’t what it was supposed to be,” Erumend said as if he wasn’t quite sure how to explain it.
Markhoff was sick and tired of Erumend knowing better. “What’s the point of having a Gift if you can’t do what you want with it?” He hissed
Erumend sat up sharply, “Markhoff,” he scolded, “You know what you-”
“Oh blow off will you?” Markhoff exploded, “You and your-”
The carriage rolled to a halt.
Markhoff threw the door open and ran out of the carriage.
“Markhoff!” He heard his mother call. He didn’t care. He tore into the castle and ran up the stairs and corridors into his room. He slammed the door shut, and leaned against it, panting.
Not long after, he heard knocking.
“Markhoff? Markhoff, let me in! You’re overreacting! Sitting and sulking will make it worse!” It was Erumend.
How was he supposed to know what was best for Markhoff? “I won’t let you in!” Markhoff hollered, “Go away!”
“Mark! Open up!” Erumend’s voice was exasperated. Markhoff made no response. He didn’t care.
But inside, he knew he did care. That little voice whispered to him, telling him he should open the door, and tell Erumend he was sorry for being a brat.
But that would require telling Erumend he had been right. Markhoff squelched the voice. I don’t care. Not one bit.
Krafting with Kayleigh 