Macster - The Missing Links

Clad only in his nightshirt and slippers, the Dog Prince crawled slowly on all fours across the leaf-strewn stone floor of the ruined dining room. His face was lowered to the floor and his eyes were closed as he inhaled all the scents, searching for the one he wanted more than anything in the world.

"Get some bones. Jawbones. Gnaw bones...must find bones." He continued muttering as he crawled toward the foot of the stairs, the scent of juicy bones filling his doggy mind, indelibly imprinted there. But he couldn't find any here in this ruined castle. Frowning, he rose up and grumbled. "Mistress won't give me any bones..."

A brilliant idea suddenly came to him, and he grinned eagerly at the simplicity of it. "Steal some bones...bury them under the sheets...and chew them when she's gone to bed."

Panting madly, the Dog Prince went to implement his plan, crawling rapidly. But he wasn't looking where he was going and ran headfirst into a pillar. Dazed, head ringing, he backed away and circled the pillar. Instinct took hold, and as he passed he lifted one leg and relieved himself. It felt so good. Continuing his quest for bones, he crawled onward.

Above, on the stairs, the queen stood watching him. She had been observing him the entire time in disgust. On one level it amused her to no end seeing the image of Wendell performing such crude and animalistic mannerisms. If only it really were him...but then the real Wendell would be experiencing some of the same things, eventually. But on the other hand, she needed the Dog Prince to act like a human, not a dog, and she had only a short time to prepare him.

Plus, there was something disturbing about seeing a human in such a state, even Wendell. For a moment she allowed herself to speculate on the motivation that caused her to view these activities as so disgusting and immoral in a human, yet she was indifferent to them, or even pleased by them, when a genuine dog did them. But only for a moment, before she shook her head and descended the stairs. Such a study would have to wait until she had time, after her plan had succeeded and she ruled the Nine Kingdoms.

"Stand up." The Queen kept her voice firm.

The Dog Prince jumped, looking up at her fearfully. Then, slowly, he rose up onto his knees--and stopped, his hands curled before him like paws. The pose she had taught him when he was a dog.

"Stand up properly," she qualified.

He remained frozen, eyes wide. "I'm scared."

This was interesting. "Of what?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I'll fall over."

The queen had to fight to hold back her laughter. What an utterly simple mind. She kept her gaze fixed steadily on the Dog Prince, and slowly, holding onto the pillar beside him every inch of the way, he rose shakily to his feet.

"It's so high up here," he said worriedly, looking down at the floor as if he expected to topple over at any moment. As she approached his side, he turned and looked at her plaintively. "Can't I go on all fours?"

She fought the urge to throttle him. "Do you know who you are?"

He didn't answer her question, though whether out of ignorance or deliberate avoidance she didn't know. Probably the former. "Can I have a biscuit?"

The queen tightened her jaw for a moment and then continued. "You are not a dog. You are Prince Wendell, ruler of the Fourth Kingdom." And so he was now, her version of Wendell, to train and control.

The Dog Prince was not quite as stupid as he seemed, although he was close. "Prince Wendell loves biscuits!" He let his tongue loll out in that annoying fashion again.

A hint of promise was showing there, at how well he could learn. But he needed much more attention and instruction. "Get dressed." His face fell. "You have a whole life to learn. Before you can be crowned king, you must be seen to demonstrate bravery, loyalty, and intelligence."

He frowned thoughtfully, as if actually trying to understand what she meant, and looked vaguely proud of those terms being applied to him, though most likely in a canine sense. Then he grinned eagerly, nodded, and leaped past her, running up the stairs--and barking loudly all the while.

Closing her eyes, the Queen leaned against the pillar herself as she summoned the strength to deal with this near-impossible task.

"What a challenge," she murmured.