Breakfast consisted of thick porridge, eggs and toast. Eldrick sported a few scratches on his hands from the chickens. His nose also had a nip taken out of the tip.
“We are going to have a couple of chicks soon. That dang banty hen took a chunk out of me when I tried to gather her eggs. She's a mean one” Eldrick stated.
“That’s what happens when they sit too long. Oh well a couple fryers would be good to have anyway” retorted Sergei. “After breakfast, Sebastian and I need to finish with the moose. Otherwise, we won't have meat for dinner tonight. Have you finished with the barn yet?”
“No sir I haven’t, I was planning on finishing that up after breakfast. It is probably going to take me all day. Some has frozen to the floor. Thank goodness it is frozen. I wouldn’t want to be near the barn for the stench." Eldrick looked at the ground in embarrassment. "I have to take the scrub brush and some hot water in there once the old straw and manure are removed. I had planned on mucking out the stalls yesterday. I seem to have slept all day. I woke up in the middle of the front room. Why did you let me sleep?”
“My dear boy, I think there was a magical attack during the night. I have not been able to determine where it originated. I am researching to find a way to shield you from further attacks." Sergei looked thoughtful, "Tomorrow we will return to your magical studies. Specifically, shields to protect yourself from attack." Eldrick watched Sergei shift his attention to Sebastian. "I would like you to stick around tomorrow and learn this as well. This technique will allow you to disguise your energies so others cannot sense your strength. I know you do not consider yourself menacing and neither do we. However, others will perceive a dragon as a threat," he shifted to split his attention between them. "I would like you to master this ability and make it second nature so that you do not need to concentrate on it," his gaze focused on Eldrick. "My last three apprentices to pass onto their journeyman trials failed. I was unable to travel with them for that time," turning his attention back to Sebastian, "I am going to ask you to shadow young Eldrick while he is on this trial. I fear the High Druid has plans to remove anyone he perceives as a threat. Eldrick from studying your energies, I have noted you carry great potential. Everyone who has shown such potential has disappeared from the ranks of our order. I will explain more when the time comes, now we all have things to attend to.”
The rest of the day was filled with back-breaking labour for everyone. Eldrick in the barn, Sergei and Sebastian in the meat shed. The butchering of the moose took all day, quartering, then making smaller cuts from roasts to steaks, certain cuts were set aside for grinding to craft sausages and ground meat. The intestines needed cleaning to be used for crafting sausages. The bladder was set aside for Eldrick to clean, boil, and craft into a water skin for his journeyman trials.
Sebastian worried about the upcoming lessons; he didn’t think he was ready. The way his body was changing might interfere with working magic. He had to get through the day first. Sebastian noticed Sergei was a master butcher, as he attacked the carcass. Within several hours the moose was reduced to mere hunks of meat. The hide soaking in the tub for tanning. It would soak for about two days according to Sergei. Then would come the labour-intensive part of stretching the hide to dry on a rack. Gathering the gear and meat they headed back into the farmhouse. Sergei began preparing a meal of moose steaks with potatoes, carrots and peas, while Sebastian hung the rest in the larder. The redolent aroma of the cooking meat permeated the house. Sebastian's mouth began to water as thoughts of the meal drifted through his mind. He made a point of preparing wash water for everyone, as he cleaned himself off.
As Eldrick entered the house, he stopped in the doorway. With a huge inhalation through his nose, he clutched his stomach.
“Sir, that smells divine, how long until dinner is ready” inquired Eldrick.
“It won’t be too long, get in here and close the door. You have enough time to scrub up for dinner and remove the filth of the barn. My stars! what did you do to your hands?” Queried Sergei aghast, looking at his young apprentice. “It looks like you spent the entire day with your hands buried in the snow pile. I do hope it doesn’t interfere with your training. We may have to put some of it off for another day or two, which I don't recommend.”
“It’s alright sir. They will be fine by morning. I didn’t realize how long I was out there," he grimaced. "The barn is rather warmer this year than last. So, I spent longer out there working. There is more to do tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow there will be no manual labour. It will be a day of instruction and practice." Sergei looked sternly at Eldrick. "I know you want to finish the project you started. If you're to be ready by midsummer you need to focus on your lessons." He turned his attention to Sebastian, as Eldrick left to wash up. "I will be requesting a large favour from you soon. I hope you can accommodate me in this, as I don't ask for favours lightly. It's a delicate matter and could be the difference between life and death for many.”
"If it is within my power, yes. I am uncertain whether or not I will be capable." He looked quizzically at Sergei. "There have been some developments which may cause problems. I hope to alleviate those issues soon and I would be willing to accept any help offered."
“I will gladly help you if I can. Is it something sensitive you do not wish others to know?”
"We will discuss it later this evening if you do not mind. I am afraid there may be magical spying, and I do not wish to converse aloud. I can hear thoughts if they are focused towards me and only if I have permission to listen in on them."
“I see. Well later then if it pleases you. Eldrick, are you coming?”
“I will be there shortly; my fingers won't work properly. I am struggling to hold the soap and get clean,” he called back.
“Very well, I will set the table and dish everything out. You continue to get cleaned up. If you need help don’t hesitate to ask,” growled Sergei, considering the foibles of young people never desiring to draw attention that they need help and thus causing more problems for themselves.
* * *
As he set the table, he recalled his youth and the trouble he got into. All because of stubbornness and unwillingness to ask for help when he needed it. His fondest memory was when he was learning to swim and was showing off to Linnea. The fact that she had to rescue him from nearly drowning made it harder for him to court her after that. Eventually, they married and had two beautiful children, a son and a daughter. His son chose to follow the path of a crafter leaving home at seventeen to pursue a life as a carpenter. His daughter wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, but the all-male druid circle would never allow it. She moved to a small village where she married and settled down to raise her own family. Sergei was very proud of his children. His daughter would have made a fine druid if the order had still accepted women. His son raised a family of his own. One son from each of his children apprenticed to Sergei and were never seen again. This thought brought a sniffle from Sergei as he contemplated the possible outcome of Eldrick’s journey to come.
Eldrick entered the room looking pale. Handing Eldrick the largest portion, Sergei dished out more food for himself and Sebastian. Delivering Sebastian’s portion to him, Sergei realized they needed to make accommodations for the young dragon. It wasn’t fair to make him sit on the floor, even though he never complained. For that matter, he didn’t even have a real bed. 'So much for truly being hospitable' thought Sergei. Knowing he had extras up the attic he vowed to correct the oversight after dinner.
Eldrick dug into his portion with such gusto Sergei was worried he would choke on his food.
“You are supposed to chew the food, not inhale it” growled Sergei. “I don't wish to see you choke. Besides you get more nutritional value if you take your time, and chew properly. It's easier for your body to digest and spends less energy.”
“You may be right, sir” slurred Eldrick around a mouthful of potatoes, which he sent spewing across the room.
“And don’t talk with your mouth full it is impolite and wastes good food.”
Swallowing what he had in his mouth Eldrick sheepishly looked up and replied “You are right sir, and we don’t have a lot of food to waste. I will endeavour not to do so again.”
* * *
Once the meal was finished Eldrick began tidying up the kitchen and cleaning the dishes. He was grateful he hadn’t had to cook as well. He knew cleaning up after every meal was a task he would have to undertake on his journeyman quest. No master would stoop to cleaning up after a subordinate, it was their job to clean up after the master. Failure to do so would be the same as failing the trial. Not a course of action he cared to consider. He'd heard stories of other candidates who failed their journeyman quest. Some were killed by locals in exotic locales that traversed. Some failed to notice natural dangers like quicksand and wild animals. A few even fell afoul of the masters accompanying them for the trial as they either didn’t show the proper reverence or respect. It was rumoured one failed journeyman was captured by a faerie and taken to the underworld for he intrigued her, and she wanted to keep him. Not sure if these stories were true or not, Eldrick chose to believe every one and thus prepare himself to pass all tests and not be captured or glamoured. The last one was the most difficult as there was very little a human could do to avoid Fae magics. He hoped Sergei could teach him enough magic to protect himself from those other magical creatures. The biggest thing he had to worry about was impressing whichever master would be accompanying him for his journeyman trials and learning everything he could about the places he may be going before he left.
“Well, I think it is time to start getting ready to bed down for the night." Sergei's voice broke into his thoughts. "Before we do though, I realized that for the past few months Sebastian has been with us, he has not had a proper bed. I understand he may be used to sleeping on the ground but that doesn't mean we should make him. It isn’t hospitable to have a guest sleeping on the floor." Sergei stretching looked towards the ceiling. "I know there are beds in the attic we could bring down for Sebastian. I think he has more than earned it. He more than earned it the first night, when he dug us out of the avalanche. Now off to the attic with you."
The attic was a small, cramped space lodged between the second floor and the roof. The gabled ends, slanted down to create a space filled with odds and ends accumulated over the years with the coming and going of generations. There were a few beds, a rickety old rocking chair, and an old vanity which would be perfect for the lady of the house.
Chests full of old clothes were carefully put away with cedar and lilac to keep the moths from infesting them. Eldrick opened one, revealing clothes designed for fine ladies of the court. Eldrick looked at the gowns wistfully, the lace and brocade evincing an unfamiliar internal reaction, before turning back to the task at hand.
Buried deep in the back, behind an old wardrobe, was a bed perfect for Sebastian. Though it was not a huge bed, it did come apart into sections easily moved and then put back together again. The grain of the wood was a fine, rich cherry with many whorls throughout, which an artist of a carpenter, had lovingly carved into roses and thistles. The feet of the bed looked not dissimilar to Sebastian's clawed feet.
Erecting it in the room Sebastian had been granted as his own, the bed seemed suited to the room itself. A second trek to the attic garnered bedding and a mattress. Once again, Eldrick wistfully examined the gowns. The material was soft and silky when he picked one up to examine. He didn't understand why he had a longing for that particular style of fashion. Thoughts of Sebastian flitted through his head as he fondled the gowns.
Shaking his head, he quickly collected the bedding and returned to Sebastian’s room. Helping Sebastian make up the bed was simple enough. Eldrick considered falling asleep in the bed with Sebastian.
