¿ªÔÆÌåÓý? ?(Angus) "Aye, Mistress Mikayla," Angus said, nodding.? "That was me. Or still is me, truth be told.? I am the dog, and the dog is me.? I told you before about the young mage who came here to free the village from the dragon, yes?? And I believe I mentioned that the young mage had a loyal hound for a companion?? Well, I am the hound in that story." "The story is actually quite simple," the man went on, his face somber as he spoke.? "That is, if anything involving magic can be called simple.? I was a dog first, you see.? Always had been, until the master and I came to this cursed place." "When the dragon put his curse on the master, he completely ignored me.? So when the dragon was gone and my master was a dragon, I was still there.? A loyal but in truth fairly useless canine companion.? Later though, the master did find a way to make me useful again." "The master could still work magic, you see.? And so he began trying to find a way to transform himself back into a man.? And over time, he began to succeed.? He was finally able to transform me into a man," he smiled a little as he spread his hands to gesture at himself.? "And we were hopeful then that his restoration would soon follow.? But we soon discovered that the dragon was more cunning than we'd given him credit for." "You see, in order for the transformation to be permanent, the spell caster must know the name of the person the spell is being cast upon.? Otherwise the transformation only lasts for a day.? The master knew my name, which is why I am able to retain this human form.? But the dragon apparently knew this. And so when he cursed my master, he erased all memory of my master's name."? The man sighed heavily.? "Even I do not know what it is." "Which is why so much rests on you, mistress. You have shown that you have the ability to read magic and to make it work.? You can continue where the master cannot." The burly servant went down on one knee in earnest supplication.? "I beg you, mistress.? Please help him. ?- Mikayla - As she listened much of what he told her she had already figured out. The minute he said he was the dog that would not let her pass, she remember the dog from the story...Angus.?Everything started to come to her then.? She understood then that Angus was the dog and the Dragon was the young idealistic mage who thought he could right the ills of the world. But he was cruel now. Angry. Bitter. ¡°All the girls from the village...he was searching for someone who could read the book.¡± She said more to herself than to Angus. However when he dropped to one knee, she gasped. ¡°Please Angus no,¡± she said taking him by the arm. Please you give me too much credit. I am but a simple girl. I have no magical ability. I am sure there is a reason for what happened that has less to do with me and more to do with the moon or the season or just how hope you both are. Please please stand.¡± She said pulling him up his feet. ¡°Will you please take me too him. I wish to see him now.¡± She said.
|
