As king Aylard returned to the palace, he immediately brought the little boy to meet the queen. The servants brought in some food and some dry clothing for the little guest. Little Xavier looked at the kind strangers with curious eyes, wondering who they might be. Soon he was tired and fell asleep in the queen's arms. It wasn't until the following morning he met the other two boys: Theo and Galien. While Theo showed some hesitance in welcoming his new playmate, Galien welcomed Xavier by holding his arm around the little boy's shoulder.
All three boys were close in ages: Prince Theo had already seen 7 Springs, and Galien 5 Summers and the little boy Xavier, no more than 2-seasons old. Eventually, the three boys played well together. Both Theo and Galien seemed to have accepted Xavier as one of their own.
Several days had gone by, and the king paid a few more visits to the disastrous area to inquire with locals about the whereabouts of Xavier's parents. No one had good news for the king. After several more days, the parents were presumed dead, swallowed by the mudslide and were buried too deep to be recovered. What's worse, even those who were recovered had eventually died too from their injuries.
The east side farmers were now dependent upon the west side farms for crop supplies. King Aylard assigned some of the farmers from the west side to assist in the clearing of the mud and the excessive water, then worked on replanting and rebuilding the farms. Soon, the fields were taking form, and the farmers were happy once again.
In an effort to make sure such a tragic event would not repeat itself in the future, many of the skilled farmers were sent up to the mountain to examine the route where the water and the mudslide and water might have come down from. They constructed another passage to guide the water, leading it to the other side of the mountain where there was an ocean below. The dam was strengthened to ensure its stability. They repeated the same construction of the dam on several other higher mountains as an additional precaution.
XXXXX
Back in the palace, little boy Xavier had gradually adjusted to the new environment, as he was welcomed by Prince Theo and Prince Galien as their new playmate. There were no questions as to where he had come from, or why he was there. The children simply adjusted to each other with no effort at all.
As Prince Galien reached the age of 5 Summers, he was presented a wooden sword, just as it had been presented to Prince Theo when he reached the age of 5 Springs. King Aylard selected his most trusted swordsman to train the two boys the skill in the sword-fighting and mastery of the bow and arrow - a much-needed skill - not only for future combat but also for the hunting of wild boars which would help nourish the family by putting food on the plate - which was a means for survival. The king wanted his sons to be self-sufficient so they could both help one another to rule the kingdom.
Little Xavier would often sit in on these practice sessions between Theo and Galien – his young mind soaking up like a sponge every move, every duck, every strategy taught to his brothers by the swordsman. Soon, he could predict when either brother was advancing with a forward-strike, and who would retreat. Although without realizing it, young Xavier was preparing to rule with the strength of a true warrior and leader. Now, he simply thought he was sat to the side of the room as a sort of punishment, one where he had to watch his own brothers engage in a game that he was not allowed to play. You're much too young to be handling the wooden sword – this is what he was told. Since no one knew exactly which season Xavier was born, King Aylard and Queen Isabella chose to assign his birth in Spring as well, just like their firstborn, Theo.
By the 5th Spring, Xavier had grown into a healthy little boy. He had dark hair and deep blue eyes, a ruddy complexion, much unlike Theo and Galien, who had light and dark brown hair, and a fair complexion like the king and the queen.
Theo was now a boy of 9 Springs, and Galien, a boy of 7 Summers. Theo had light brown curly hair, pushed to one side of his face. His eyes were as blue and beautiful as the bright blue sky. Galien, at 7 Summers, had grown much taller than most boys his age, he was now only half a head shorter than Theo. Galien had bright blue eyes as well like his brother Theo, but his hair was dark brown which parted in the middle of his head and randomly let down to both sides of his head, reaching his shoulders.
Xavier had a lot of dreams in his young mind. His most favourite recurring dream was one where he saw a young man riding on the back of a white horse, racing through the mountains. The young man was dressed like a knight or a warrior, the white horse galloping and racing through the greens of the mountains, running wild and free. The young man had, in one hand, the horse's rein and in the other hand, he held a shining real sword. The young warrior seemed to ride his horse on a mission. He was heading somewhere.
Xavier would often have this recurring dream. He wondered who the young man in his dream could be. The mysterious lad seemed very good-looking and strong. He had wide shoulders. Like himself, the young warrior had dark hair and deep blue eyes. Xavier was greatly impressed by this recurring man of combat. He wished he would become the young man in his dream one day.
Just this Spring morning, Xavier had the same dream again when he was rudely awakened by Theo and Galien.
“Hey, Xavier! Wake up!” Theo nudged him on his shoulder. “Today is the day!”
“What do you mean? What do you mean by today is the day?” Xavier opened his eyes, still half asleep, resenting the rude awakening.
“Yes, Father says you are going to get your sword today,” Galien answered. His eyes lit up with excitement. Now, Galien thought, he would have another playmate. Perhaps one who was weaker than himself so he could beat him in the game. He was getting tired of losing to Theo. His brother was not only a braggart, but a sore loser as well: sometimes when Galien managed to beat his brother, Theo would accuse him of cheating or of purposely making the wrong move to make him lose. Theo never took defeat well. Galien would be happy to have a new and weaker opponent for a change.
“He did? Did father really say that?” Xavier was wide awake now. His eyes widened with curiosity. He was totally beside himself with excitement. The thought of owning a wooden sword was like becoming a big boy.
Oh, great! Now I can join the grown-up games! He thought.
As he followed his two brothers into the courtyard, where the king's trusted swordsman, Henry, and both King Aylard and Queen Isabella were already waiting.
“Good morning, father! Good morning, mother!” greeted Xavier.
“My dear boy. Today, you are going to have your sword,” the king proudly told his son, as he lifted from the table one wooden sword to present to Xavier. Xavier received the sword with both stretched-out hands. There was a big grin across his face.
This moment has been long-awaited! This moment had finally come! Xavier's mind was full of thoughts of delight and validation.
Now, he felt he had suddenly grown into a big boy! As he received his sword he looked at its grip. He found it was etched with his name, “Xavier”.
Yes!! It's really true ! This is my sword! One that belongs to me! His mind was dizzy with excitement.
“Xavier, you must always guard this sword. Henry is going to be your trainer. You must learn and practice often. Do not disappoint me and your mother,” King Aylard told his son as Queen Isabella watched the little boy and his father with a smile upon her face.
“Yes, father! I will learn to be a good warrior,” Xavier responded, displaying enormous enthusiasm which pleased the king. Ever since Xavier had been brought to the palace two Springs past, he had been accustomed to addressing his new royal parents not by title, but by “father” and “mother”, following the lead of both Theo and Galien. King Aylard and Queen Isabella never rejected the intimate address from Xavier – they were both happy to gain another son.
The king and the queen were overjoyed with the fact that their youngest son was now old enough to receive his sword for practice, bestowing upon him the honour of his wooden sword on the observance of the 5th Spring of the birth of their beloved Xavier.
Soon, the three boys were practicing as the king and the queen sat aside in observation. First, it was Theo and Galien, and then it was Galien and Xavier. The royal parents could not have been more pleased.
SORRY ABOUT YOUR DISCOMFORT MY FRIEND. I ENJOYED THIS, SANDIE! I LOOK FORWARD TO READING ABOUT THE THREE BOYS AS THEY CONTINUE TO WALK INTO THEIR DESTINED PATHS. THANKS FOR SHARING. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS
Thank you, all, for reading and reviewing my story! I should have another chapter up soon. I have not been feeling well for the past two days. My throat is hurting today, but I know it is NOT COVID, for I don't have any of the symptoms. Most likely it's my sinus getting infected.
I will take some medications and get some rest, will post chapter 5 soon. It's going to be great for it will involve other children in the palace as well. I need to edit the chapter first before posting.
The entire story of 'Kingdom of Laro' is holding my interest, which is good as I am not a fan of 'fantasy'. Good that Theo and his younger brother are excepting the young orphan boy Xaviar as a brother, but now that he had been given his own wooden sword and seeing as the young boy had learned so much by mealy watching , I can see problems arising between Xavier and the bully, Theo.
Such a great chapter and so well-told! I'm happy that Xavier, instead of becoming an orphan at a young age, had been so naturally adopted and adapted into the royal family. As far as I can see, the king and the queen are his real parents. They have been with him almost from birth. Real parents do not have to be blood-related.
If you enjoy being taken to the edge of your seat, yanked sideways, and left spinning through the sky on a speeding wyrm, rejoice. The gripping, white-knuckled conclusion of the Dragon Racers trilogy is here.
Cetronia Strikes Back is the fifth book in the fifteen book series, The Adventures of Lord Belmundus, a remarkable tale of others worlds, strange customs, beauty and warfare; and, in its grips, lands a young celebrity, who has the chaps to play the m
