Snippet Nine
Two months later. . .
Markhoff had decided not to do any more animal shifting in the courtyard. He didn’t want it to get back to his father again. As of late, he had caught his father giving him curious looks, but whenever Markhoff made eye contact, his father hastily looked away.
Markhoff cautiously slipped the hood of his cloak on, stuffing the traps in his satchel. He’d set them up, and check on them tomorrow.
He smiled to himself. How far could his gift go? What else could he do? Perhaps one day, he could reshape the mountains themselves. Turn rubble into ships. He could make this kingdom great.
I’ll never be King, though. The thought twitted across his head out of nowhere, surprising him.
It’s nonsense to worry about what I can never accomplish. He pushed the thought away. Erumend is going to be King someday. But the tiny voice inside spoke up again, You deserve it more. You have the power. Erumend’s Gift is nothing like yours. You have true power.
Markhoff shook his head and turned back to his task. He easily made it through the gates. He was fourteen now, and they no longer stopped him from making visits. It wasn’t as fun to sneak out when he was allowed. It wasn’t ‘sneaking out’ then. But that didn’t matter.
He strolled down the road until he was out of sight, but not quite to town.
He looked around, dashed into the brush, and set up the traps. He ran back to town, having a hard time not looking conspicuous.
Soon. he promised himself, Soon, I’ll show Mother and Father I know how to use my gift. That I know it isn’t a toy.
The next day, Markhoff marched out to his traps. He had caught a squirrel and a rabbit. He looked at them critically then he pointed to the squirrel.
“I shall turn you into him.” He pointed to the rabbit, “And I shall turn you into him. Am I clear?” the rabbit stared at him, fear in his eyes as he tried to writhe from the trap.
“I believe I shall do you first.” Markhoff picked up the squirrel by the scruff of his neck, easily avoiding it’s sharp teeth.
He easily tapped into his power, and began to force it into the squirrel. The squirrel began to shift, and Markhoff found not much resistance.
Soon, he held a bunny, a bunny that looked exactly like the other one.
Markhoff put it down, and it bounced off quickly. Then he turned to the rabbit. Markhoff pidcked it up. The rabbit began to kick like crazy, almost as if it had understood what had happened to the squirrel, and was terrified for what would happen to him.
Markhoff summoned his gift again and began. The rabbit’s features began changing, but not into a squirrel. Instead, the snout grew longer, and teeth began to form. A wolf snout.
“Bend you stupid thing,” he muttered, clenching his fist that wasn’t holding the rabbit. The rabbit grew a long fluffy tail and small ears. Its body slowly started changing. And then shaggy fur began to grow.
“No, not wolf’s fur. You will bend.” he gave the rabbit a little shake, and suddenly, the transformation was complete. The rabbit was a horrendous squirrel with a wolf’s snout and fur. Markhoff frowned at the creature, dropping it. The rabbit -no squirrel wolf– didn’t run off. Instead, it sank its teeth in Markhoff’s leg.
“OOOOWW!” he hollered, shaking his leg. The squirrel rabbit flew off. It landed growling, running lopsidedly, back toward Markhoff. It’s snout was practically touching the forest floor. Are you kidding me? A squirrel with the behavior of a wolf? Couldn’t it have just run away? Markhoff kicked it away, but not after the teeth scratched his ankle. Markhoff broke into a run, ignoring the pain in his leg. He hoped dearly that the guards wouldn’t notice the blood soaking his pants, and that the nurse wouldn’t ask too many questions.
He limped to the gates.
“Ho there, Prince Markhoff, what happened to your leg?”
Markhoff had a sudden idea. He gasped, and faltered. He collapsed at the gate.
Instantly, there was mayhem as people rushed out, checking his pulse and forehead.
“Markhoff, son, speak to me, what happened?”
Markhoff was only half faking, the pain in his leg really was terrible, and the loss of blood was making him feel a little dizzy.
“Wolf. . .” he groaned, “Something . . . it was like a squirrel, but it had a wolf’s snout.” Better tell the truth to Father, then he’ll think it’s not me making these animals.
“The boy is delusional,” said a soldier, “get a healer, now.”
“I’m telling the truth!” Markhoff forgot to act injured in his indignation. To make up for it, he coughed. Hard.
Father grabbed his hand, “Stay with us, Markhoff.”
Markhoff groaned, and leaned back, closing his eyes. He hoped he looked pale. He felt pale.
He felt himself being lifted, he pretended to stir a little.
“Shh,” his father said, holding him close.
He heard his mother’s scream of terror when she saw him.
He cracked his eyes open to peek at his family. They’ll be sorry they ever were unfair to me. Erumend was looking closely at him. Markhoff closed his eyes fully and waited.
“What happened, Father?” Erumend asked. His voice was calm and completely unconcerned. Markhoff felt his blood rush. Didn’t his brother care? Didn’t Erumend see that he was dripping blood? That his pant leg was soaked red?
“From what I heard, he had some run-in with a squirrel wolf.”
“A what?”
“Such things do not exist, this is obviously a wolf bite. But he insisted that it was part squirrel. That would explain why he is still alive, if it is true.” Or, perhaps I might not be as incapable as you seem to think.
“But-”
“Hush. The medic is here.”
Markhoff was laid on a bed, and the medic felt his pulse.
“But Father,” Erumend asked, “how on earth is there a squirrel wolf in the forest?”
“I don’t know, Erumend,” said Father. He paused, letting his words hang in the air. Markhoff was almost sure Father was looking at him.
Maybe he should have left out the squirrel part.
“He should be fine.” said the medic, standing, “just wash the wound frequently to it clean, and we can’t wrap it. It has to stay open to avoid infection.”
Markhoff dramatically opened his eyes. He moaned. His leg really did hurt.
“Was he out unattended?” the medic asked
“Yes, we had no idea he had left.”
“Ah.” said the medic, “Then I shall change my prescription a tad bit, I suggest bedrest for 6 weeks to cure him both of this injury, and the chance of another.”
Markhoff sat bolt upright, “6 weeks?” Everyone looked at him. The medic gave a wry smile.
“Feeling better already, eh?”
Erumend just shook his head. “I knew it.” he whispered softly. Markhoff tried to cover for his mistake.
“Argh, my leg.” he leaned back, clenching his teeth. In truth, that salve the medic had spead was starting to take effect, and the pain was far less.
“Ah, you try to cover your mistake, but that pain medicine has taken effect by now. Unfortunately, you are in far less pain.” the medic patted Markhoff’s leg and stood. Markhoff winced.
“I shall be going now, I will be back tomorrow.”
“Thank you, doctor. And I believe I shall take up your advice on the bedrest.”
“Father!” Markhoff protested.
“It is fair. You went outside without permission, and faked being hurt far more than you were.” Father’s eyes said it was for something more, but Markhoff slumped sullenly. He scowled at the Medic. If it weren’t for him, everything would have been just fine.
He turned over in his bed. Things would have to be fine later.
Six whole weeks later.
Krafting with Kayleigh 