Eldrick awoke to the sound of a closing door. Startled he jumped out of bed, threw on clothes, and rushed out of his room.
“Why didn’t you wake me before Sebastian left?” demanded Eldrick.
“You needed your sleep to focus on your studies. These lessons are going to be unforgiving. One incorrect intonation, one wrong gesture, or one poorly drawn symbol can be devastatingly destructive. By that, I mean a farm-sized crater,” replied Sergei. “Now let’s eat so we can begin, after your chores”
“Yes sir. “
After a breakfast of eggs, porridge and toast, Eldrick headed to the outbuildings, to collect the eggs and milk Jemima the cow.
Returning to the farmhouse, he noticed the main room had been transformed into a workspace. The floor was covered with arcane symbols and a circle drawn in the center. Sergei beckoned him over.
“Mind the chalk. I don’t wish to have to redraw anything. It's hard on my joints and takes too much effort. You are my last apprentice.”
“You’re not that old sir!” remarked Eldrick.
“No? My boy, I am nearly 80. It is amazing what the druidic arts can do. They cannot stop or reverse the ageing process," he paused. "As you know, I have only chosen three other apprentices in my life. I only choose the smartest each time. If no one meets my basic criteria I don’t choose one. Now attend to the lessons at hand.”
Eldrick spent the day learning gestures and incantations until he was struggling. They took only a few moments to grab a quick midday meal. Eldrick was starting to wonder if this was ever going to end when Sergei flopped down into his chair. His foot scuffing one of the sigils.
“That’s enough lad. These old bones are done for the day,” grumbled Sergei. “I wonder how Sebastian is doing. It would be nice to have fresh meat.”
“How long do you think he will be gone for?”
“My boy, that I do not know, he only left this morning. We should give him a few days. The game has been ranging farther down the mountain than usual. I believe the avalanche buried most of the food when it came crashing down. Now I think it’s time to eat. Tomorrow is going to be just as bad as today. We may need to butcher one of the young pigs tomorrow or our stores may not last,” intoned Sergei. His voice cracked intermittently with exhaustion.
Eldrick headed off to the kitchen to fetch his master some food. Finding a couple of wizened apples, he sliced a small wedge of cheese and cut a couple of pieces of bread. Turning to bring the food to his master, he remembered to grab the jug of medicine from the rickety shelf. Hurrying back into the main room with the food, he found Sergei asleep. Snoring loudly, spittle dripping down his scraggly salt and pepper beard. Eldrick placed the tray of food on the side table next to the chair where Sergei could find it when he woke up. Heading back into the kitchen Eldrick scanned the larder looking for something he could eat. Deciding on bread and cheese he deftly sliced a couple of thin slices of cheese and two thin hunks of bread. Stoking the fire, he placed a well-used battered old cast iron frying pan on the stovetop to heat while he buttered the bread and placed the cheese slices on one. Once the pan started smoking, he placed the bread into the pan butter side down with the cheese on top then dropped the other piece on top. After a few moments, he flipped the whole thing over. The cheese started oozing out the sides while the bread reached a golden mahogany brown.
Ravenously eating the grilled sandwich, Eldrick began tidying up the kitchen. Once he had the kitchen clean, he went out to feed the livestock and milk Jemima again. This time Jemima was decidedly unimpressed with having to wait so long.
“I know Jemima, you would prefer if we stayed on a routine. Getting a little sensitive there are we? Well, let’s see what I can do.” Eldrick tried to mollify her.
Completing the necessary tasks, Eldrick decided he would ask Sergei if it would be possible to stop earlier in the day. This way he could get his chores done and still get a good night’s sleep.
The following morning when Eldrick awoke Sergei was still sleeping. The tray was in the washbasin. Grabbing a quick breakfast of porridge and eggs Eldrick set about his chores. Looking in the stalls, he realized he was going to have to muck them out soon. He refilled the mangers. Checking the grain stores showed a surplus due to the warmth of the barn and outbuildings from the insulating layer of snow from the avalanche. Gathering up a bucket of oats, Eldrick headed to collect the eggs and feed the chickens.
Taking his spoils back into the house Eldrick set about preparing breakfast for Sergei. Once completed he brought it out into the main room, and set it down on Sergei’s table. Picking up the chalk he started redrawing the smudged sigil.
Eldrick knew Sergei was awake when he heard a crash, followed by loud cursing
“Eldrick,” he bellowed.
Rushing into the room, Eldrick found Sergei sprawled on the floor cradling his right arm. He was struggling to rise with his left leg limp and at an odd angle. Sprinting across the room to his master’s side he reached down.
“Here, let me help you up.” Easing him up off the floor, Eldrick got him situated back on the bed. “What happened?”
“I awoke to a searing pain in my right shoulder. Then to top it all off I fell out of bed," he winced. "I believe my hip is dislocated. You are going to have to put it back in for me." Looking Eldrick in the eyes, "We covered this in your earlier lessons do you remember what to do?”
“I do sir. This is not going to be very pleasant." Eldrick glanced around the room, "I am going to need a few things.”
Leaving Sergei on his bed, Eldrick went off in search of the supplies he needed. He grabbed a wooden spoon, some ice from the icebox, a couple of rags to wrap the ice in and a length of rope. Returning to Sergei’s room, he hands the wooden spoon to his master, placing one bundle of ice on his shoulder and the other by his hip. Wrapping the rope around Sergei's thigh, Eldrick braced himself.
“Let me know when you’re ready. I am not sure I am going to be strong enough to accomplish this.”
Sergei grunted his acknowledgement, the wooden spoon in his mouth and nodded. Gritting his teeth Eldrick reefed on the rope, leaning back while using the bed for leverage. After a few moments, a loud POP resounded through the room. Sergei grunted in pain. Releasing the tension on the rope, Eldrick peering over at his mentor saw that he had passed out from the pain. The hip was back in place but the swelling needed to be tended to. Taking up the ice-filled rag, Eldrick placed it on the worst of the swelling. Replacing the ice rag on the shoulder, he retrieved the wooden spoon and returned it to the kitchen. Grabbing Sergei’s breakfast off the side table in the main room, Eldrick shifted it to the bedside table so Sergei could eat when he woke. Considering the morning's events, he figured the training session was a washout. He completed his morning chores. Left with no direction, he decided to review the previous day’s lessons. He discovered he could do the gestures and incantations without errors. Even though he could do them flawlessly, he still spent time on the routine.
At midday when he checked in on Sergei, the food was gone and the ice had left puddles on the bed. Gathering the wet rags, Eldrick went back to the kitchen switching them out for dry ones, adding fresh ice he replaced them on Sergei.
“It’s not fair, it’s just not fair." Eldrick paused in the doorway. "Why a girl? What can I do? What should I do? Is there any way to change reality? Should I even consider trying?” Sergei mumbled in his sleep.
Confused by his master’s fevered comments, Eldrick tried to put it out of his mind. Unfortunately, it kept nagging at his mind. Unable to focus on his magical studies, Eldrick tried reviewing his herbology and first aid training. Still struggling to concentrate, he decided it was time to take care of the evening chores, then go to bed.
His sleep was fitful and restless and waking was a slow, agonizing process. It felt like all his muscles had decided to rebel simultaneously. His feet were cramping into claw-like imitations. He couldn’t straighten them without excruciating pain arcing across the soles of his feet. His hips felt like they were trying to twist outwards and become wider. The cramps across his midsection felt like someone was driving thousands of red-hot needles into his flesh. The pain was so great that the mere thought of moving was enough to send pain to torment his body.
