CHAPTER 3

Three years later, the boy's personality had changed greatly. Malus had loved the journeys he spent around the country with his uncle. Like a young boy, he became curious by nature and loved adventures. Cornell taught him bits in morality, wisdom and academics along the way. Malus was a quick learner for his age.

Cornell planned a trip for them both that morning, but right now Malus was studying the instruments in his father's music shop.

"Hmm..." Malus was examining an exceptionally well-made wooden flute. He looked inside the mouth piece hole as though he expected to find something. Then he continued the examine the flute itself. The wood was polished and carved smoothly to look twisted. It played just as well as any normal flute. Malus looked to his father. "You made this one too?"

Marcell grinned. "Of course I made that one too!" Very much unlike his own cousin, Cornell, Marcell had always been spunky and good-humored.

"Ah, so you like the carved ones? I'm actually quite good at carving, if I do say so myself... Which instrument do you think you'll be best at?"

"Uh..." Malus looked around the shop at all of the instruments hanging on the wall, to the ones sitting on the floor. "Perhaps a harmonica? They sound sort of easy to play."

"Bah, all instruments are easy to play, once you practice. Knowing you, you'll probably want something more sophisticated to learn..." With a warm and satisfied smile, Marcell surveyed his shop. "Let's see what we can fix you with... Hah, I've got it! A bagpipe!"

Malus' eyes widened with bewilderment and one of his eyebrows twitched. "A whatsit--?"

Marcell picked up a violin and grinned. "Nah, not that sophisticated. How about a violin?"

His father shouldered the instrument and started to play. He started out with one long and low tune, then instantly he started to play his notes at a quick and catchy pace. It was something very nice to square dance to!

"See, it's not that difficult!"

Malus smiled. "That's what you think!"

"Well fine, have it your way. We'll find a nice music piece for you, yet!"

It was late morning before Cornell and Malus headed off on their journey. This time, they would be visiting a young friend of Cornell's who lived a distance away. Cornell had been a traveler all his life, even when he was with his man-wolf tribe. His stamina was still excellent. Twenty-five miles down the country road, running at a dogtrot Malus was bathed in sweat and Cornell had barely shed a drop. Suddenly, he came to a halt.

"We can stop here and rest awhile, if you like."

Malus collapsed in the grass beside the road to catch his breath before he could speak. "Yes...a very good idea..."

Cornell sat down beside him and surveyed the surroundings.

Once Malus' was breathing was back to normal, he took a bit of water from the canteen that hung around his neck. He marveled silently at the man-wolf's ability. Over the past years, Cornell had survived through a lot and the story of how he had to rescue his sister became legendary in their village. It was because of Cornell that the village became safe. Even Malus' own father played a key part in saving the village. Neither of them had their full wolf power now, but they both still kept certain traits.

"Has my father ever been in a war?"

"Perhaps the one with the demon hounds attacking the old village, but other than that, no. Your grandfather has been in many a war though; And my father. They were both veterans and fought together."

"What was my grandfather like?"

"Well, he was...pretty much like your father...both seemed very happy and had alot of humor. He taught your father everything he knows in weaponry, fighting, battle tactics... Of course, now he's gone and made himself a musician... Though I'll say, Marius didn't grin nearly as much as Marcell. There's a good thing..."

"Ha ha! What about your father? What was he like?"

Cornell's friendly expression changed to look more sullen, as if the thought of his own father was displeasing.

"My father...Matthew...yes, I remember him..."

Malus was still curious. He sat patiently waiting for his uncle to continue. Cornell finally sighed.

"He was a kindhearted man...knowledgeable...even wise at times... Though, when my mother was killed, he...sort of sunk into depression. He became sarcastic and unhappy." Cornell sighed again to himself and stared at the ground infront of him. Seeing that Malus was starting to look sad as well, he smiled barely and tried to lighten the subject.

"He was a devoted scholar though. One way or another, he taught me nearly everything I know. In fact..." Cornell took off the travel sack on his back and rummaged inside. "This is a good time...to practice handwriting..."

He pulled out a quill, a bottle of ink, a piece of parchment, and a writing board.

"Let's see how well you can write your genealogy names: 'Cornell, son of Matthew; Marcell, son of Marius; Malus, son of Marcell.' "

Malus took the items and did so. It didn't take long for him to hand the parchment back to Cornell for examining.

"This is good. It's become neater since I've last seen it...very soon, your handwriting might be neater than your father's... You just need a little more practice on spacing and writing in a straight line. Here, let me show you..."

Cornell took the parchment and placed it back on the writing board. He dipped the quill pen into the ink bottle and began to write under Malus' text. Once he had finished, he gave the parchment to Malus.

Malus looked at the parchment with disbelief. "Great Zeus, your writing is...flawless..."

Indeed it was. Cornell's handwriting was in neat calligraphy, perfect down to the size and spaces. He merely gave a small smile, so short that it seemed more like a twitch.

"When I was young, my father had me practice writing constantly. If I had made even the slightest mistake, I'd have to write it all over again...the whole parchment. It would usually take me half the day to finish one scroll. Here are the results, I guess..."

Cornell put the writing items back into his travel back and stood up. "We should get going now, since we still have a long way to go. If we continue at the same pace we'll make it there by late afternoon the next day."

Much to Malus' misfortune, the two continued at a jogging pace for twenty-seven more miles. Cornell's man-wolf stamina was definitely not in Malus' genes... Eventually the man-wolf took pity on the hyperventilating boy and carried him on his back for a few more miles. The two traveled by the lone countryside road, occasionally passing by another traveler riding by wagon or horse. Cornell chose a shortcut through a forest for them to journey the rest of the way. Later that evening, they made camp and continued by midmorning. Cornell's timing was correct. By sunset, they had reached the end of the forest and arrived in town. As they came closer to the forest border, they could see someone waiting for them. A young man riding a horse watched Cornell and Malus approach. He wore a forest green gentleman clothing with a white dress shirt underneath. Instead of dress shoes, like most gentle or noblemen wear, the man wore plain light brown boots instead. His fairly long golden-blond hair was tied into a ponytail, and his facial features were kind and gentle. He smiled at the two travelers.

"A long journey, I see?"

"It wasn't all too bad." Cornell said. "How have you been doing, Henry?"

"Oh, I'm all right. It's been peaceful around here, so there's nothing major that needs to be done. I see your nephew came along as well! Malus, isn't it?"

Malus nodded. "Yes, sir. And you are...?"

"My name is Henry Oldrey. Actually, since I'm a young knight, I'm to be called "Sir Henry", but just Henry will do fine. Last I saw you, you were naught but an infant... Since you both have had a long journey, you can ride and I'll walk."

Less than a moment after Henry finished his sentence, Malus became almost as chipper as his father.

"Really! No more walking? Much gratitude, thanks! A noble knight, indeed!"

After walking for miles, it didn't take Malus long to fall asleep after supper. Cornell surveyed the scene from the doorway. Watching the boy sleep peacefully put Cornell at ease for another day. No harm had yet come upon him, and with luck, none would ever. He went over and ruffled Malus' hair gently, then joined Henry in the drawing room. As Henry poured them both a cup of tea, Cornell sighed and sat down in an armchair across from him.

Henry gave Cornell his cup of tea and smiled. "You really cherish him, don't you?"

"Of course...the lad's happy and curious...just the way every child should be..."

Henry nodded. "Malus has changed a lot since he was very young, you know..."

Cornell was silent. He could already sense the question that would be asked of him. Henry knew all too well, but he gave the question a try anyway.

"You never did tell me, Ada, or Marcell... Why did you name the boy, Malus?"

Cornell remained silent and stared pensively into his tea cup. It seems that he was still keen on not telling.

"Oh, come now, Cornell... We already figured it had something to do with Dracula's castle...don't keep us this worried..."

"Then it is probably better if you didn't know." Cornell murmured.

Both of them sat in silence for awhile. It was an odd, yet confusing silence. Henry continued to sip his tea, hoping that Cornell would finally reveal the seven-year secret. To Henry's luck, he wasn't completely disappointed. Though it wasn't what he expected. Cornell summed it all up in two blunt sentences.

"I've seen visions... I know what Malus can become..."

There was another odd silence. Before Henry could say something to break the quietude, Cornell continued.

"Somehow I know that I'm responsible for this...that demon must have cursed Malus before he was even born. I won't let Dracula claim his life! Not while I can still help the boy..."