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.
“Well, we are going to have a couple 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 anywhere near the barn for the stench." Eldrick looked at the ground in embarrassment. "I may have to take the scrub brush and some hot water in there once I have the old straw and manure 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 determine from where it originated. I am doing some research. I am hoping to determine 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 an attack." Eldrick watched Sergei shift his attention to Sebastian. "I would like you to stick around tomorrow and learn this as well if you can. This technique will allow you to disguise your energies so that others cannot sense your strength. I know you do not consider yourself menacing and neither do either of us. However, others will perceive a dragon as a monumental threat," he shifted to split his attention between the two of 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 reasoning for this is because the last three apprentices I had failed their journeyman trials due to the fact that 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 partaking of this trial. I fear the High Druid has plans to remove anyone who may be a threat to him power-wise. Eldrick from studying your energies I have noted that you carry great potential. Everyone who has shown such potential has disappeared during journeyman trials. I will explain more when the time comes, right now we all have things to attend to” drawled Sergei.
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 out for crafting the sausage in. The bladder was set aside for Eldrick to clean, boil, and craft into a water skin for his journeyman trials.
Sebastian, worrying about the upcoming lessons, didn’t think he was ready. The way his body was changing might interfere with working magics. 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 laborious 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. The redolent aroma of the cooking meat washed through 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, cleaning himself off while he was at it.
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. 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 in 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 really do not recommend.”
“It’s alright sir. They will be fine by morning. I didn’t realize just 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 more 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 are going to be ready by midsummer you need to focus on these very important lessons." He turned to attention to Sebastian, as Eldrick left to wash up. "I am going to be requesting a very large favour from you in the near future and I hope you are willing to accommodate me in this. I do not ask for favours lightly. This is going to be a very delicate matter and could be the difference between life and death for many.”
"If it is within my power I do not see why not. I am uncertain as to whether or not I will be capable." He looked quizzically at Sergei. "There have been some recent developments which may cause problems. I am hoping to alleviate those issues in the very near future and would be willing to accept help there if you can."
“I am not sure if I can, but if so, I will gladly help you. Is it something sensitive that you do not wish others to know about?”
"We will discuss it later this evening if you do not mind. I am afraid there may be magical spying going on and 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 please you. Eldrick are you coming?”
“I will be there shortly; I cannot seem to get my fingers to work properly at the moment. I am struggling to hold onto the soap and get clean,” he called back from the other room.
“Very well, I will just 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 may need help and thus causing more problems for themselves because of it.
* * *
As he set the table, he recalled his own youth and the trouble he got himself into. All because of stubbornness and unwillingness to ask for help when he needed it. His fondest memory was when he was just 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. He did eventually marry her and together they had two beautiful children a son and a daughter. His son chose to follow the path of a crafter and left home at seventeen to pursue a life of a carpenter. A rich life for him. His daughter wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. the all-male druid circle would never allow it. She moved to a small village where she got married and settled down to raise a family of her own. Sergei was very proud of his children, his daughter would have made a fine druid if the order would have 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 own journey to come.
Eldrick came into 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 that they really needed to make some accommodation for the young dragon in the kitchen, it really wasn’t fair to make him sit on the floor all the time even though he never complained about it. For that matter, he didn’t even have a real bed. 'So much for truly being hospitable' thought Sergei. Knowing he had extra’s up the attic he vowed to correct the oversight tonight after dinner.
Eldrick dug into his portion with such gusto Sergei was worried he was going to choke on his food.
“You are supposed to chew the food not inhale it” growled Sergei. “I really do not wish to see you choke. Besides you actually get more nutritional value out of it if you take your time and chew it properly. That way it is easier to digest and your body spends less energy trying to digest it.”
“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 setting about tidying up the kitchen and cleaning the dishes. He was grateful he hadn’t had to cook as well. He knew that cleaning up after every meal was going to be a task, he would have to undertake daily on his journeyman quest. No master would stoop to cleaning up after a subordinate, it was the subordinate's job to clean up after the master. Failure to do so would be tantamount to failing the entire trial. Not a course of action he cared to consider since he has heard stories of other candidates who failed their journeyman quest. Some were killed by locals in exotic locales that needed to be traversed. Some failed to notice natural dangers like quicksand and wild animals. A few even fell afoul of the masters who were accompanying them for the trial as they either didn’t show the proper reverence or respect. One failed journeyman, it was said, was taken captive by a faerie and taken to the underworld for he actually intrigued her and she wanted to keep him. Not sure if any of these stories were true or not, Eldrick chose to believe every one and thus prepare himself in every way to pass all tests and not be captured or glamoured. The last being the most difficult as there was very little a human could do to avoid the compulsion of Fae magics. He hoped Sergei would be able to teach him enough magic to protect himself from those other magical creatures. The biggest thing he had to worry about was impressing whichever master it was that 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 that, though, I realized that for the past few months that 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 properly hospitable to have a guest sleeping on the floor." Sergei stretching looked towards the ceiling. "I know there are a few beds up in the attic we could bring down for Sebastian. I think he has more than earned it. In fact, he had more than earned it the first night when he dug us out of the avalanche. Now off to the attic with you."
