Read Online Guardian Hound by Leah Cutter - Free Book Online
Authors: Leah Cutter
Tags: Fantasy, Magic, Contemporary Fantasy, seattle, Ravens, Book View Cafe, leah cutter, shape shifters, Tigers, The Raven and the Dancing Tiger, The Guardian Hound, War Among the Crocodiles, Vipers, Hounds, Crocodiles
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him from the shadows.
The classroom was warm, and the window was shut, a feeble attempt to limit distractions. Lukas concentrated instead on the paper smells of the books, the musty chalk, and the new red ink Felix his tutor had used the night before when heâd sat and graded Lukas and Gretaâs homework.
Tilgard wore his traditional leather pants and jerkin, with rabbit fur tied to his waist and bacon treats in his pocket. He kept his head and jaw shaved, making his dark brown eyes seem like they bulged out and his nose and chin flattened. He didnât stare at Lukas, didnât try to challenge him. But he did stand in a position of command, and he demanded respect.
Finally, Tilgard made a signal with his right hand.
Sight hound.
Lukas changed swiftly, calling on that aspect of Hamlinâs soul.
âGood,â Tilgard said, tossing him a bacon treat.
Lukas knew heâd done it perfectly, and that he now looked like Da, a champion gray-and-white greyhound. His head was diamond shaped, his body long and lean.
But the form didnât feel right. His jaw wasnât strong enough, and his hind legs werenât as powerful as Hamlinâs.
Lukas stood still and proud as he waited for the next instruction.
Tilgard gave him a mixed signal, sight with one hand and sound with the other.
Lukas and Hamlin wagged their tail once and flowed into the shape of a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
This shape felt almost right. His chest was broad and powerful, and his nose was large, able to catch more scents. He liked the ridge that ran down his back as well, knowing that when he was older, he could choose this shape as a hound warrior, and the ridge would become armored spikes.
But this form wasnât completely right either. His eyesight, while strong, wasnât as keen, and in this shape, while he was fast, he wasnât fast enough.
âGood, good,â Tilgard said. Then he made one last sign, a questioning sign, meaning Lukas could take whatever form he wanted.
Generally, the final shape of the three forms that all royalty had to practice was their natural dog shape, what their true hound soul looked like.
Oma had prepared Lukas for this as well.
Lukas called on Hamlin to help. This had to be perfect, too.
With a great shake, Lukas shrank down, more and more, until he was a compact little black Scottish terrier.
Tilgard still told him that he was good.
Lukas knew he had the form correctâalmond eyes, perky ears, long silky coat. This shape wasnât right, either, though it was the best compromise he and Hamlin could find. It was comfortable enough, with strong legs, a keen nose, and far-seeing eyes. It felt almost like Hamlinâs natural form, just with all his senses dimmed.
Except his intelligence. Lukas and Hamlin were both sharp and aware as a Scottie dog, more than any other.
Tilgard gave the next command: Change back into human.
Lukas sat down and looked expectantly at the hound master, as if he should get a treat. He tried to contain his excitement at the challenge.
After all the training, the weeks of secret study with Oma, Lukas was finally putting their plans into motion.
Tilgard gave the hand signal again, this time with the spoken command, â Verwandele ! â
Lukas swallowed. Calm, calm, calm . He made himself sit up on his hind legs, as if heâd confused the signal and was supposed to beg.
â Nein, â Tilgard said.
Lukas stayed on his hind legs and tilted his head to one side, fighting the urge to obey.
Hamlin pushed out and up in the little terrier body, filling all the space, his heart and courage bigger than the commanding presence in front of them.
When Tilgard spoke sharply, Lukas dropped down to all fours and yipped playfully, rear up, tail wagging, as if this were a game, though his heart raced and he panted.
If heâd been in human form, he knew heâd be sweating.
âChange back!â Tilgard commanded in English this
The classroom was warm, and the window was shut, a feeble attempt to limit distractions. Lukas concentrated instead on the paper smells of the books, the musty chalk, and the new red ink Felix his tutor had used the night before when heâd sat and graded Lukas and Gretaâs homework.
Tilgard wore his traditional leather pants and jerkin, with rabbit fur tied to his waist and bacon treats in his pocket. He kept his head and jaw shaved, making his dark brown eyes seem like they bulged out and his nose and chin flattened. He didnât stare at Lukas, didnât try to challenge him. But he did stand in a position of command, and he demanded respect.
Finally, Tilgard made a signal with his right hand.
Sight hound.
Lukas changed swiftly, calling on that aspect of Hamlinâs soul.
âGood,â Tilgard said, tossing him a bacon treat.
Lukas knew heâd done it perfectly, and that he now looked like Da, a champion gray-and-white greyhound. His head was diamond shaped, his body long and lean.
But the form didnât feel right. His jaw wasnât strong enough, and his hind legs werenât as powerful as Hamlinâs.
Lukas stood still and proud as he waited for the next instruction.
Tilgard gave him a mixed signal, sight with one hand and sound with the other.
Lukas and Hamlin wagged their tail once and flowed into the shape of a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
This shape felt almost right. His chest was broad and powerful, and his nose was large, able to catch more scents. He liked the ridge that ran down his back as well, knowing that when he was older, he could choose this shape as a hound warrior, and the ridge would become armored spikes.
But this form wasnât completely right either. His eyesight, while strong, wasnât as keen, and in this shape, while he was fast, he wasnât fast enough.
âGood, good,â Tilgard said. Then he made one last sign, a questioning sign, meaning Lukas could take whatever form he wanted.
Generally, the final shape of the three forms that all royalty had to practice was their natural dog shape, what their true hound soul looked like.
Oma had prepared Lukas for this as well.
Lukas called on Hamlin to help. This had to be perfect, too.
With a great shake, Lukas shrank down, more and more, until he was a compact little black Scottish terrier.
Tilgard still told him that he was good.
Lukas knew he had the form correctâalmond eyes, perky ears, long silky coat. This shape wasnât right, either, though it was the best compromise he and Hamlin could find. It was comfortable enough, with strong legs, a keen nose, and far-seeing eyes. It felt almost like Hamlinâs natural form, just with all his senses dimmed.
Except his intelligence. Lukas and Hamlin were both sharp and aware as a Scottie dog, more than any other.
Tilgard gave the next command: Change back into human.
Lukas sat down and looked expectantly at the hound master, as if he should get a treat. He tried to contain his excitement at the challenge.
After all the training, the weeks of secret study with Oma, Lukas was finally putting their plans into motion.
Tilgard gave the hand signal again, this time with the spoken command, â Verwandele ! â
Lukas swallowed. Calm, calm, calm . He made himself sit up on his hind legs, as if heâd confused the signal and was supposed to beg.
â Nein, â Tilgard said.
Lukas stayed on his hind legs and tilted his head to one side, fighting the urge to obey.
Hamlin pushed out and up in the little terrier body, filling all the space, his heart and courage bigger than the commanding presence in front of them.
When Tilgard spoke sharply, Lukas dropped down to all fours and yipped playfully, rear up, tail wagging, as if this were a game, though his heart raced and he panted.
If heâd been in human form, he knew heâd be sweating.
âChange back!â Tilgard commanded in English this
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