Markhoff’s Story

I remembered! Hopefully, these will be every week, instead of random. I hope you enjoy it!

Snippet Four

Almost One year later . . .

Markhoff wasn’t in the castle grounds, in his own special place. He had found a small hollow in the ground, hidden by grass. It was about the size of a fox burrow. Since it was unoccupied, it made the perfect spot to store his . . . experiments. 

Markhoff picked up a stone the size of his fist. He held it firmly in his left hand, and ran his right hand over it, thinking. He closed his eyes, tapping into his power. He already knew what he wanted it to be. 

Markhoff let the power flow into the rock, opening his eyes. The rock seemed to go soft, forming into shape, the beginning of a flower.

Markhoff shook his head ever so slightly, a small frown wrinkling his forehead. Willing the stone to turn into the wolf he wanted. The rock resisted, but all it took was Markhoff forcing in more power to bend it to his will. The rock slowly, ever so slowly, reformed into a wolf. 

Markhoff smirked, satisfied. He had won again. 

Markhoff studied its face, his face darkening. The only flaw with everything he made, was its eyes. They always had a sad, trapped look. The people he had shown his work admired the look in their creatures’ eyes. ‘It looks almost as if it’s trapped. Sorrowful. I have to take it, I feel like I need to. . . free it.’ one buyer had told him. 

Fine for them, but Markhoff wanted to complete the look. Make it look majestic, powerful, and fearless. Make it look like it was something. Not sorrowful. 

He shoved the wolf with the other models. He’d find a way to distribute them soon. But it was suppertime, and he’d be missed if he was late. There was something enthralling, doing this in secret. The thrill he felt when he sneaked out to his secret place, the secrecy of sneaking to town and selling them without anyone knowing. 

And as far as he knew, it was still a secret. Not even Erumend had found out. Busy body, sticking his nose in everything. Markhoff snorted. 

No one knew what he was doing, and he planned to keep it that way. Just wait until I get a hold of an emerald or a diamond. No one will be able to match my skill! 

Erumend hadn’t been gifted with manipulation, and it had been a long time since someone in the family had had that Gift. 

Over a century. And the fool didn’t sell them! He let things ‘go the way they wanted to’ and kept them in the family. But as much as Markhoff tried to criticize his long-dead family member, there were still plenty of the little monuments in the castle. He had spent a long time staring at the figures. The chessmen that looked like they were in motion, so much that you half expected them to move of their own accord. 

And then there were his sculptures. They sat there, on the mantle, impressive, intimidating, unmatched. Their eyes were not pitiful, but confident, majestic, or whatever suited his sculpture. 

Markhoff pushed open the side door to the castle, trudged to the dining hall, and sat at the table. 

Not long after, Erumend rushed in, his hair unkempt. Markhoff resisted the urge to point this out to him. Mother and Father would surely notice. 

They came in soon after, and we sat down to eat. 

“Why so bright today, Erumend.”

“No reason. It’s just a wonderful day outside.” Erumend said, biting into his bread. Crumbs fell onto the tablecloth. He looked like he had been up to mischief. Markhoff wouldn’t let him get away with it if he had. 

“Do tell, brother. What were you doing?”

Erumend swallowed and sounded slightly agitated as he stirred his stew. “Oh Mark, knock it off.” 

“Were you doing something naughty?” Markhoff wasn’t going to back off.  He briefly glanced at Father. There was that warning look on his face. It was his “Markhoff you’d better stop you’re pushing too far” look. 

He chose to ignore it. 

“If you must know.” Erumend wiped his mouth with a napkin, “I was in town.”

“Oh.” That was disappointing. 

Markhoff returned back to his stew. Erumend never got in trouble. He never did anything that he could get in trouble for. He was a goody-goody two shoes, that’s what. 

Markhoff ate faster. He wanted to get back to testing as soon as he could. He’d go to market Friday, in disguise, of course.