"Callum! Callum, wake up, Lazybones!"
A seventeen-year-old boy groaned, blinking sleepily. Standing over him, blue eyes blazing and black hair wild, was a little girl. The girl was bouncing from foot to foot, leaning against the edge of the bed the boy was slumbering in.
"Tamsin." The teenager sat up, yawning. "What is it?" The boy frowned as he noticed no light was leaking past the curtains covering the one window he had in his chambers. "It's not even light out yet, goofball!"
The little girl rolled her eyes.
"I know that." She complained. The boy, Callum, noticed she had a satchel draped over one shoulder.
"What's that-." He broke off with another yawn, before rubbing at his eyes, "What's that for?"
"Catching a turkey!"
Callum stopped mid-rub.
"Come again?" He said, lowering his hand and blinking in disbelief at the girl.
"You forgot, huh?" The girl, Tamsin, sniffed. She smirked smugly. "But you promised… and you're a prince! Princes can't break their words."
Callum, adopted son of King Arthur, and prince of Camelot, could not for the life of him remember promising Tamsin anything regarding turkey catching.
"Remember, sleepyhead?" Tamsin prompted "Yesterday, when you said that if I could beat you at a game of dice, you'd let me pick a day where you'd do anything I wanted."
Oh, Callum made a face. So that's what this is about.
"Yes." He sighed. "So I did… is this your chosen day… or night?" He glared at the dim light coming in from behind the curtains. "Whatever it is."
"Yep. And Callum? I know exactly what I want to do." Tamsin grinned. "I want you to take us turkey hunting."
When Callum was a young kid, he'd been a servant to King Odin. His father had sold him into servitude after having become indebted to the king. When Odin had come to Camelot with Callum in tow, the boy had met King Arthur. Arthur had rescued him from his sorrowful life, and taken him in as a ward… after that, their bond had grown, and eventually, following many trials and tribulations, Arthur had ended up adopting him and naming him heir of Camelot.
Callum had never forgotten what his adoptive father had done for him, and he never ceased being grateful.
"Woah!" Arthur and his wife, Queen Guinevere, watched in stunned surprise as Tamsin and her friends came barreling into the dining hall, Callum following drowsily behind them.
"What's the rush?" Arthur demanded, as Tamsin grabbed a bread roll from the center of the table and threw the whole thing in her mouth.
"We-turkey- go- hunting!" Tamsin tried to get out past the food.
"She wants me to take this lot of ankle biters into the forest to catch a turkey," Callum mumbled, giving his father an unhappy look, like a kicked puppy. Arthur gave him a shrug.
"Why not." He grunted. "Just be careful."
"Are you sure?" Callum said, meaningfully. "I mean, as prince I feel I probably have obligations more important than gallivanting around the wilderness trying to bag a bird."
Arthur gave him a fond grin.
"I think the knights can do without you for a day." He said.
Thank you, father. Callum thought, sarcastically. He gave his dad a disgruntled frown.
"Have fun." Arthur prompted him. "Callum, you'll have plenty of times when there'll be no time for such activities… enjoy moments like these, when we're at peace, and you can go and be a boy for a bit."
Be a boy? Callum bristled. I'm not a boy! I'm a knight, and your son!
"Callum," Guinevere interjected, gently. She nodded to the children. "They adore you so… even if you think it's foolish, why not indulge them a tad?"
Callum paused. He contemplated the kids-Tamsin, Magnolia, and Henry- as they tried to shove as many bread rolls in their mouth as they could, giggling excitedly. The teenager felt a jolt of shame hit him.
Why not take the runt's turkey hunting? He mused. Callum swallowed, recalling his own childhood… of how little he was allowed to be a kid. Of how few the times were when he was permitted to just have fun and use his imagination without consequences. Of how much he'd wanted that…
"Aw, you're right." Callum deflated. Gwen smiled, and Arthur gave him a pat on the back.
"That's a good man." The king praised him. Callum's heart warmed. Arthur's praises never ceased to make him feel like he could fly. They meant the world to him.
"How the heck do you catch a turkey, anyway?" Callum called to the kids. Tamsin swallowed her mouthful of bread, grinning.
"It's easy! Henry's dad taught us- he's a trapper." She told him.
"You gotta sneak up on um, and bam!" Henry jumped in excitement. "You throw a bag over it's head!"
Callum squinted.
"Can't we just… get a crossbow and-."
"No!" Magnolia cried so loudly, everyone jumped. Gwen frowned in worry.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" She asked the little girl. Magnolia scowled at Callum.
"We're not gonna kill it!" She explained. "Just catch it."
Callum gave his father a disbelieving look. Arthur himself looked puzzled.
"Why would you want to do that?" He asked.
"Because, we're gonna keep it." Tamsin explained. "As a pet!"
"A pet turkey?" Callum scoffed. "Aw, rugrat. That's crazy!"
"As long as you keep it in Merlin's chambers." Arthur paused, a grin spreading over his lips. "On second thought, I'm sure your father would love to have a pet turkey."
"Arthur!" Gwen scolded, though her own eyes sparkled with good humor.
"I'm sure dad will love him, or her." Tamsin said, somberly. She didn't seem to realize the two adults weren't being serious.
"Oh. I'm sure." Arthur agreed. He gave Callum a smirk.
"Have fun, son."
Because the only one out of the three kids who knew how to ride was Tamsin, because Arthur had taught her, the group of four headed into the woods around Camelot on foot. Callum was tired. The day before, he'd stayed out late playing dice in the tavern… which was why he was in this mess to begin with. Tamsin had snuck into the tavern along with her little knights, and beat him at the game.
I lost to a little girl in front of all my knights, Callum used his hand to brush a branch away from his face. He gave a sour smile. Just my luck. At least she was a gracious winner…
"Hey, little witch." Callum called ahead, as Merlin's daughter led the way with the air of someone used to leading. She turned back, looking at him with a question clear on her face.
"Yes?"
"Why don't we stop ahead?" Callum pointed to where the forest opened up to a clearing surrounded by mossy trunks, with a ground covered in fresh grass. "Come up with a plan for when we find this turkey."
"We catch it." Tamsin deadpanned. Callum gave her a look.
"Don't be smart." He grunted. "I don't tell my knights when we're preparing to fight to simply 'fight'… I give them a plan on how we're going to fight. My father did, and does, the same. Leaders have to come up with detailed plans for their followers, even when the task seems simple. Leave nothing up to chance."
Tamsin blinked. Then, she nodded slowly.
"Huh hu," the girl said, thoughtfully. "Okay, Cal."
The group of four settled down in the clearing. Callum took a long drink from a Waterskin he'd brought with him.
"Ah." He pulled the drink away from his mouth, eyes half closed in contentment as the cool water washed over his dry tongue. Callum swallowed, before gazing out at the three children sitting across from him. "Okay, warriors… What's our plan of attack here?"
"We… find a turkey?" Henry began, deliberately. The boy sat cross-legged, the two girls sitting on a log behind him.
No kidding, rugrat, Callum let out a half-hearted sigh.
"Okay… how about we go a little deeper than that? Do you know how you go about finding a turkey, Henry?"
"Uh… You look for a turkey?" Henry said, giving a hesitant little smile.
"Yes… That's good." Callum said, not wanting to discourage the kid for the obvious answer. He nodded to the girls. "What do you two think?"
Tamsin and Magnolia exchanged a look, both with their brows furrowed. Tamsin glanced away for a moment, looking up at the clear sky above, which was peering down at them from between the branches of the trees that stood guard over the clearing.
"Oh!" The girl's eyes lit up. She grinned at Callum. "Turkeys like to roost in tall trees, often around beds of water… like rivers… or swamps."
Callum, who had been hunting with his father often enough to know exactly where turkeys could be found, dipped his head in affirmation.
"Well done." He said. "That's right."
"I pay attention when King Arthur tells dad about his hunts." Tamsin told him, and Callum felt a sudden kinship to the little girl. It was a good feeling, knowing they had both learned the same fact from the same man.
"Good on you." Callum stood up, stretching. The residual grogginess that had been clinging to him like sludge since Tamsin had awakened him slipped away. He was ready for a hunt.
I haven't been hunting in a long time, Callum realized. Morning light slipped past the branches overhead, and yellow beams danced around them like golden fish swimming in a pond. It was a beautiful morning. It was warm, the breeze was soft and brushed over them with the gentleness of a feather, and the birds sang out joyous hymns.
"You know," Callum chuckled, winking at Tamsin. "I'm not so sure your father would approve of this turkey hunt you've organized here. He never was much for hunting."
"Because he doesn't like hurting innocent animals… we're not hurting the turkey, we're giving him a home." Tamsin told him, giving a 'so there' smirk.
"Uhm… More like we're abducting him." Callum snorted. "Alright, little warriors…We know that turkeys roost around bodies of water… So, where can we find a body of water?"
The kids all stared blankly for a moment. Then, Tamsin's grin stretched clear from one side of her face to the other.
"The swamp!" She said, brightly. "My dad's taken me there when he's gathering herbs for Gauis! There are plenty of trees there, and water… and… Well, it's worth a try!"
Callum nodded. He knew the swamp… The first time he'd been there had been when he'd been helping King Arthur arrange a wedding surprise for Merlin and Dawn, Tamsin's mother. Arthur had had him take the two betrothed out to the swamp, while back at Camelot, a surprise wedding was being arranged for them.
"Sure is." Callum picked up his satchel from where he'd set it on the ground, and tossed it over one shoulder. "Alright, men… and women! On me!"
Callum marched back into the forest, the three youngsters trailing behind him in excitement.
When they reached the swamp, instantly, Henry began picking up rocks from the muddy ground and tossing them up into the towering dark oaks around them. The rocks would fly up through the branches, before coming down with a cluster of leaves in tow. Callum jumped up onto a vast boulder resting in the shallows of the swamp's murky water, before turning back to frown at the boy.
"Henry, buddy, what do you think you're doing?"
"Dad does it." The boy told him, tongue between his teeth as he gazed through narrowed eyes up at the treetops. "You gotta scare the turkeys out of their nests."
"And then you bag them, huh?" Callum said, smiling thinly as he remembered the kids' early words.
Henry's father probably hasn't caught a turkey in years… old drunkard that he is. That trapper hasn't trapped anything in a long, long, time. Callum thought. Honestly, old Perkins was harmless… but he sure spun some grand tales. Tales that the little kids tended to believe.
"Yes, Prince Callum." Henry said, tossing another rock up. Magnolia squealed as leaves showered down on her head.
"Hey! Be careful!" She warned, wiping the vegetation from her hair.
"Sorry."
"Uh, hey." Callum hopped off the rock, stopping Henry from flinging another rock. The boy frowned as Callum held his arm still. "Why don't we try something a little different?"
"Like what?" Henry asked, his eyes soft. The kid was as gentle a soul as they come. Callum ruffled his hair in affection, releasing his hold on the boy's arm.
"Well, when I was a boy… my good friend used to tell me of this sure as pie way of catching birds… He used it to catch pigeons… But… It might work for turkeys."
Callum felt a strange mixture of sorrow and warmth well up inside him as he thought of Carl. He hadn't talked about his friend in a long time.
"You take bait… like… say this here corn." Callum spun his satchel around so that he could open the flap. He took out a small sack of corn he'd brought for this hunt, and opened it.
"Can I have a kernel?" Magnolia asked, licking her lips at the sight of the yellow snack. Callum took a small handful of the corn.
"Hold out your hand, hon." He said, and the little girl did just that. While Magnolia munched on some of the bait, Callum glanced around. He spotted a nice clearing by the edge of the swamp, surrounded by brush. Tree roots stuck up out of the ground on one side, making a perfect place to sit, watch, and wait.
Callum lead the kids over to the clearing. He sprinkled the corn all around the opening, before moving to sit behind the jutted root of a dark oak.
"Now," he said, yawning and leaning back. The soothing breeze brushed gently against his ears. The thick leaves and branches above them offered the waiting group a shelter of cool shade. "We wait."
"We wait?" Tamsin sat next to him, her back against the roof. "Just wait?"
Callum closed his eyes, smiling knowingly at the little girl's impatience.
Ah, to be a kid again. Callum mused. And to think everything should happen on your time, or not at all.
"Be patient, little witch." He murmured. "Your turkey will come soon enough, and when he does-."
"We bag him!" Henry grinned.
"Uh… just listen to me when he comes." Callum felt the exhaustion from earlier come creeping back into him. He slouched against the hard root behind him. "Just… watch. Watch… and if a turkey comes… let me know."
And with that, Callum allowed the peace of sleep to overcome him.
"Callum!" The young prince felt something nudging his shoulder. He whined as the magnificent castle he'd been riding towards, with a beautiful young woman behind him on the horse, laughing in his ear, faded away. The glowing lands of gold that he'd been dreaming of gave way to a shadowy forest as he opened his eyes. The sky above him was a soft purple that boarded on pink. Faded stars blinked down at him from their place above his head.
"What?" Callum mumbled, sitting up. Sleepily, his eyes found who it was that had yanked him from his slumber. Tamsin was glaring down at him.
"You slept all day." She complained. The girl jerked her head. "But that doesn't matter! Cal, there's one there! A big one!"
"A big what?" Callum rubbed his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to flop back down and see exactly where that dream of his had been heading.
"A turkey, you clotpole!" Tamsin sighed in exasperation. "Look! Out in the clearing!"
Callum twisted around. Sure enough, in the clearing, where he'd put out the corn, there was a huge tom turkey. The bird had feathers of brown and gold. His waddle was a scarlet red, and he had a mask of blue and purple skin around his eyes. The turkey's neck was stretched towards the ground as he gobbled up the corn. He clucked happily to himself as he did so.
"That's the biggest turkey I've ever seen!" Callum gaped, his excitement chasing away the drowsiness from his mind.
"I know!" Tamsin was practically vibrating with anticipation. "It is! He's huge! Callum, what do we do now?"
If I could find a stone, Callum mused, glancing around. I could chuck a good one, and that turkey could become the finest of fine suppers!
"See any rocks?" Callum asked the kids. Henry frowned.
"Can't we bag him?" He asked.
"Uh, maybe. If there are no rocks."
"What do you need a rock for?" Tamsin frowned. Her eyes narrowed. "Callum, I don't want to kill him! I want to catch him!"
"Tamsin… you know, keeping a wild turkey as a pet… it just won't work." Callum tried to explain. He paused, seeing the little girl's set jaw.
Okay… I guess I'm going to have to try and catch him. Callum gave a soft sigh, climbing to his feet.
"Alright, rugrats." He grunted. "Empty out my satchel, Henry!"
"Yes!" Henry beamed, doing just that. "Are you gonna bag him?"
Callum took the empty bag from the boy, offering him a sideways smile.
"Yes, buddy. I'm going to try and bag him."
"It'll work." Henry insisted. Callum held the satchel open with two hands, watching the enormous turkey scrounge around the clearing.
"I hope so." The prince said, making his way out from behind the root. Quiet as a cat stalking a mouse, Callum crept towards that tom turkey. The bird was too busy choking down corn to notice the approaching threat. Callum held his breath, carefully putting one foot in front of the other.
But then… he stepped on a twig.
The crack seemed to echo like thunder in the quiet air. The turkey's head snapped up, and he gave a gobble of confusion. Then, the animal saw Callum, with the bag raised, and a sheepish expression on his face.
The turkey squawked in alarm, spreading his wings in panic. Callum, reacting off instinct, jumped forward. He managed to get the satchel over the bird's head and halfway down his long neck.
"Yeah!" He heard the kids yelling. "Come on, Callum! Get him!"
Easier said then… Callum winced, trying to keep a grip on the turkey as it began flapping around the clearing, dragging him with it. Done.
"Easy, bird!" Callum tried, speaking like he would to a spooked horse. It did little to settle the panicked bird. "Stop-." Callum yelped as he got hit in the eye by one of the flapping wings. "Ouch!"
Callum let go of the bag with one hand to protect his face, and when he did, the turkey began lurching forward with all his might. He managed to drag Callum all the way into the swamp, where he jumped up and down in the water. Callum felt that sticky, goopy, water drip down his face, and growled in disgust.
But he refused to let go of that turkey.
"Callum, you've got it!" Callum, out of the corner of his eye, saw Tamsin come running up. She slid to a stop on the shore of the lake, and leaned forward, trying to get a grip on the bag. "Here, I'll help!"
"Don't s-slip!" Callum regretted opening his mouth as swamp water pooled into it.
"I won't-." The little girl started. It was then that Callum heard a swish in the water across from him and the struggling bird. His keen eyes caught a flash of green…
Dark green.
Something scaly and long cutting through the water towards them.
Callum let go of the turkey, and the bird flew clean into the air with the bag still stuck over his head. He landed with a splash in the middle of the swamp.
"Tamsin, come here!" Callum lurched back, stumbling away from the swamp with one hand latched on the little sorceress's arm. Right as he pulled Tamsin away, an alligator burst forth from the water like a dragon bursting from the depths of hell. It's huge mouth was agape, and rows upon rows of sharp fangs glinted in the evening light. It let out a low growl that made the hairs on the back of Callum's neck stand up.
"Woah…" Tamsin exhaled, voice thick with shock. Callum swallowed, staring into the monster reptile's beady black eyes.
"Keep backing up." He murmured, pushing Tamsin behind him.
"Is that a dragon?" Henry asked, as Tamsin and Callum moved back to stand beside the two kids. Callum shook his head, glancing at the wide-eyed boy.
"No." He managed to get out past his dry throat. "It's a gator."
"Look, it's going back into the water!" Magnolia cried. Callum glanced back towards the alligator. Sure as can be, it was slipping back into the swamp…It's tail leaving deep marks in the muddy shallows where it had been resting. The reptile moved like a snake through the water, wiggling back and forth as it headed towards the floundering turkey.
Towards supper. Callum mused, wincing.
"Come on…I think that's enough turkey hunting for today." He said, moving his body to block the children's view of the massacre that was to come. Ignoring their protests, he urged the kids back through the forest, and back to where they'd left all their things behind the root that overlooked the clearing.
"This stinks!" Tamsin was whining, as Callum picked up his Waterskin, and the few things that had been in his satchel, which was likely now in a gator's belly. "We were so close! We almost had a turkey… this day was nothing but a waste now!" She sniffed, tears welling in her eyes. Callum gave her a soft smile.
"Sometimes, things don't work out the way we planned them." He told her, as the poor girl choked back her disappointment. "That doesn't mean all of today was a waste… we had fun, didn't we?"
"We were supposed to catch a turkey!" Tamsin snapped. "And all we did was wait… and watch… and get wet!" She shook one of her wet shoes for emphasis. Callum jerked his head, his hair still damp and dripping.
"Ah, come on, little witch… be thankful for today." He said.
"Be thankful for what?" Tamsin glared at him, eyes wet. Callum narrowed his own eyes.
"For a free day to spend with your friends and with me." He told her. "And that you get the opportunities to do things like this. When Arthur was a child, he wasn't even allowed to leave the castle without an escort of at least four guards, and he had to get his father's permission… he wasn't allowed to do things that could be considered unworthy of someone of his status- like running around after a turkey, trying to simply catch it." Callum shook the collar of his tunic, before twisting the hymn in his hand, trying to squeeze out the swamp water. "And me…" the prince paused. "Well… my dad didn't want me entertaining childish pastimes either. If I was to go out looking for a turkey, I'd best be bringing it back for supper."
Tamsin didn't say anything, but Callum could tell by the pout on her face that she was still upset. He reached out a hand, giving her wiry shoulder a gentle shake.
"Cheer up. Perhaps you'll beat me at another game of dice one day, and we'll do this again." He grinned, voice a drawl of challenge. Tamsin brushed his hand away.
"I could beat you at dice any old day." She informed him, sticking her chin up in the air. Her every feature reflected the pride and confidence she had in those words.
"We'll see." Callum waved a hand, urging the children to follow him. "Come on, it's going to be pitch black out here before you know it. We'd best get home before my father sends out a search party."
"I still wish we'd caught that dumb old turkey." Tamsin muttered, as they started through the woods for home. Callum sighed.
I wish I'd caught it for you, kid, the prince thought, with a slight feeling of guilt. He watched somberly as Tamsin trailed after him, her head dropping and her shoulders slumped. But it was either end up in an alligator's belly, or let go of that bird. And I love you… but not enough to get killed over a darn turkey for you.
As they got closer to Camelot, and came to a place in the woods where the brush had been trampled down by horses and men to create a path, Callum came to an abrupt halt. In the middle of the path, there was a buggy. At the front of the buggy, sat a man. The man was playing a flute. The gentle sound of music seemed to flow in time with the twinkling of the stars, and the peaceful calls of far-off night birds.
"Greetings!" Callum called out, eyebrows furrowed as he walked hesitantly towards the stranger. The kids started to follow him, but Callum held up a hand, urging them to stay put.
Who is this man? Callum wondered, scanning the buggy up and down as he approached the stranger. The stranger had scraggly black hair, and a suntanned, unshaven, face. He wore ragged clothes, and his hands were grizzled and shaky.
He's not from Camelot, Callum knew that much. I've never seen this man before.
"Greetings!" The man said, a friendly smile on his face. "If I didn't know any better, good sir, I'd say you'd gotten caught in a rainstorm!"
Callum coughed uncomfortably, well aware he looked like a drowned rat.
"Yes, well, unfortunately there are other ways to get soaked… what brings you out this way? Heading for the kingdom?"
"To Camelot?"
"Yes." Callum waited patiently as the man tapped his flute, seeming to consider that question.
"Is there good trading there?" He asked. "I've just come from a village not far from here… and I made quite an investment in some rather interesting merchandise." The man sighed, pointing towards his buggy's front, left, wheel. "But I'm afraid my wheel there busted before I could make it to Camelot to see if my trade would be well received."
"Camelot has some of the finest trading there is," Callum spoke fondly of his father's kingdom. "My father, King Arthur, keeps taxes fair and the knights are quick to root out merchants with ill practices."
The man did a double take. He let the flute drop down to his lap, blinking in awe.
"King Arthur is your father?" The trader let out a breath of disbelief. "Oh, Lord… why I didn't realize I was in the presence of a prince!"
Callum laughed good-naturedly.
"I don't fault you that." He said, spreading out his arms and gazing down at his messy clothes. "I don't exactly scream of royalty right now." Callum frowned, leaning down to take a look at the man's wheel. There was no easy fix there… The wheel had broken clean down the middle. The spokes were all hanging off. And it was sagging like a tired donkey.
"Callum?" Tamsin had crept over to him, blue eyes bright with curiosity. "What's wrong?"
"His wheel." Callum sighed, straightening up. He gave the man a helpless sigh. "Sorry, sir… but there's no way this can be fixed without tools and… and it may need a new wheel, how about-."
"I can fix it!" Tamsin said, her voice buzzing with excitement. "I can fix it so that it looks brand new!"
Callum stiffened.
She can… what? He gave the trader a brisk mixture between a grimace and a smile, before giving Tamsin a meaningful laugh.
"That's very funny." He said, hoping the little witch would catch his drift and not bring up what he was pretty sure she was fixing to bring up. "But Tamsin, this wheel is busted."
Tamsin raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah? And I can make it not busted." She grinned. "I could make the whole buggy gold if I wanted to!"
The trader gave a deep chuckle.
"Quite the imagination you have there, child." He laughed. Tamsin bristled. Callum could almost see her hackles rising like an offended cat's.
By Camelot and all the kings of the past, now you've done it, old man. Callum tried to stop Tamsin as she brushed past him, but like Thomas, the warlock the girl was named after, little could stop her when Tamsin decided she wanted to do something.
"I'm not making up stories, I'm telling the truth." She snipped at the man. The trader raised both eyebrows at her brashness.
"Is that so?" He hummed, titling his head. Tamsin nodded somberly.
"So as so can go." She told him. Callum grimaced.
"Tamsin, you're not supposed to do… you know what, outside of the kingdom unless your father is with you… that's Merlin's rule, isn't it?"
"This is an emergency." Tamsin brushed him off. Callum shook his head gravely.
"This is a bad idea," he warned the little girl. Tamsin ignored him. The girl raised her hand, and eyed the wheel.
"Edcwician." She murmured, and Callum watched as the girl's eyes lit with a golden hue, and the wagon jolted as the wheel under it began to shake… and then, the spokes clicked back into place, and the wheel, where it had spilt, merged back together.
"By all the lands of Albion!" The trader yelped, leaning over the side of the wagon to look at his wheel. His horse nickered in alarm from the front of the buggy. "How…"
"S-see." Tamsin smiled, though she was breathing hard as she lowered her hand. The girl brushed a hand across her nose. "Easy as pie."
"Easy? Easy! Why, child! You're a witch!" The trader slapped his thigh. "I'll be danged!"
"She's under the protection of Camelot… daughter of the king's sorcerer." Callum said, every muscle in his body tensed, just in case this stranger was one of those men who saw magic as evil… something to be destroyed and condemned. If he made one move towards Tamsin, Callum would draw his sword from his belt and end him on the spot.
"I'll be danged!" The man repeated. "Well, well… thanks for your help, little sorceress!"
Guess he's fine with it then, Callum thought, relaxing. Tamsin gave the man a dip of her head.
"You are very welcome." She said. Suddenly, a noise like the cackling of a gaggle of chickens came from the back of the man's buggy. Callum blinked.
"Is that… your merchandise squawking?" He asked. The trader scratched his head.
"That would be them." He agreed.
"Them?" Callum raised an eyebrow. While he was talking, Tamsin, Henry, and Magnolia went around to the back of the buggy, peering in through an opening covered by iron bars.
"Callum!" Tamsin waved him over, eyes wide. "look!"
Callum gave the trader an inquiring look, but the man just smiled sheepishly. The prince moved around to where the kids were standing. Callum peered in through the iron bars.
And laughed.
Because in the back of that man's buggy, squawking and cackling, was a flock of turkeys… turkeys not quite the size of the one they'd almost caught out on the marsh, but more than big enough to make someone quite the supper.
"Oh, man." Callum glanced over at the trader. "You have no idea how ironic this is… I've been trying to help these kids catch themselves a turkey all day."
The trader chuckled.
"Taking them hunting?" He asked. Callum gave him a long look.
"No, sir." He snorted. "They want one for a pet."
The trader laughed so hard he doubled over at that. When the man could pull himself together, he said.
"Well, I have more than enough to make a decent income from selling them in a marketplace… why don't you take one of the old gobblers, and give those kids that pet?"
"Really?" Tamsin stopped poking her fingers through the bars and petting the turkeys. She grinned at the old trader. "You'd give us one?"
"Sure! You fixed my wheel didn't you, child? Saved me plenty o' trouble, only seems fair I pay you back in some way."
Tamsin's grin faded. She shifted slightly.
"You don't… you don't have to." She mumbled. Callum could tell the girl was just trying to be polite. It was obvious she wanted the turkey.
"Oh, don't be shy! It's not skin off my back! Take one!" The trader insisted. Tamsin gave a yip of joy, grabbing Callum's arm in excitement.
"We got a turkey! We got a turkey!" She danced around, chanting. Callum grinned.
"You sure did." He said. "And here you were saying that the day stunk."
Tamsin stopped jumping about. She paused, gave him a look, and then drew her foot back and forth through the dirt.
"I guess you were right." She said, more to herself than to him. "It's better to be thankful for what you have, then to be mad over what you don't have… because then, when good stuff does come, it'll make you twice as happy."
"That's one way of putting it." Callum agreed. "But you know what?"
"What?"
"I would have been thankful for this day if we hadn't even laid eyes on a turkey." He rested one hand on Tamsin's shoulder. "Because I got to spend it with my favorite little witch… who's like a sister to me."
Tamsin brushed his hand away, before lunging against him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
"Me too, Callum." She murmured into his chest. "Because I got to spend it with my favorite person in the world… who's like my brother."
Back at the castle that night, after he'd helped Tamsin drag her turkey into her father's chambers, Callum found his father in his own chambers. The man was going over some paperwork, but he looked up as Callum entered.
"Hey!" Arthur set his quill down. He laced his fingers together and gave his son an inquisitive look. "So, how did it go? Did you catch a turkey?"
"We…" Callum chuckled. He stood across from his father. "It's a long story."
Arthur blinked, before nodding slowly.
"Did you have a good time?" He asked. Callum grinned.
"Better than I have in a long time… you were right, it was wonderful to take a break from the army and work… to just fool around."
The king eyed him with a blend of regret and pride. He sighed, glancing up at the ceiling.
"I hope the work you do with the knights doesn't take away from you enjoying your youth, Callum." He murmured. "That was never my intention when I allowed you to lead them."
Callum quickly shook his head.
"Of course not, father… I asked to lead them. I love doing it. And it's part of my duties as a prince, as your son." Callum would never tire of being Arthur's son. And not once had he ever even thought of complaining about the duties that came with being in that position. He would never stop being grateful for all he had now… he'd gone from being a servant with nothing, to the prince of Camelot… the son of one of the greatest kings to ever live.
Being thankful for what we have sure does make life seem brighter, Callum realized.
"Hey, father?" He said, seeing the faraway glaze in Arthur's eyes. The king blinked, shaking his head clear.
"Yes?"
"I have a surprise for you." Callum beamed. Arthur titled his head.
"For me?" He repeated. "What for?"
"Eh, just because." Callum glanced towards the door to the king's chambers. "And it should be here any moment now."
As though his words were a summons, the door to the chambers burst open. Merlin stood there, breathing hard and with wide eyes. He gazed at Arthur and Callum, mouth agape.
"Arthur!" He cried out. "Why is there a turkey in my bed?!"
Arthur began to howl with laughter, his eyes watering as he laughed. Callum was quick to join him. And Merlin, even though he was still frowning in confusion, smiled at the sight of the two of them dying of amusement.
This, Callum thought, his heart alive with happiness. Has been the best of days.
Hey, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed this short I whipped up for Thanksgiving! This is the first of many shorts to come from the world of Destiny's Revenge! I hope you all are doing great, and thanks for reading! If you have any ideas for what the next story should be, or even a story you've heard the characters talk about, but would like me to tell in detail, feel free to suggest them!