The woodworker's shop is an eye-opener for children. It's a magical place filled with playthings...
Kingdom of Largo
Chapter 5
The Dog Wagon
Growing up in the palace had been a lot of fun for Xavier, especially since he didn't know that he could have been a peasant's son. To Xavier, he always thought he belonged to the Royal Family, and no one had told him otherwise.
King Aylard and Queen Isabella loved all their children equally, although from time to time Theo had to be reminded to be kinder to his siblings.
Playtime with the sword had become a most occupied past time to the three brothers. When Theo fought with his younger brothers he would strike so hard that sometimes it would leave bruises on Galien's and Xavier's arms and upper torsos. When Theo played he meant to play to win. He hated to lose, so he would use whatever strength he had to hold that sword and strike out at his brothers as hard as he could. Luckily for Xavier, he acquired knowledge of Theo's moves from the time that he was sitting aside to watch his two brothers play so he knew when and how Theo would strike forward and to and from which direction. His skill was not inferior in comparison to both Galien's and Theo's. Galien was almost as tall as Theo, but Xavier was still a tiny boy compared to the two.
The boy's trainer, Henry was surprised at how easy it had been to train Xavier for he acted as though he knew how to hold and use the sword already before he even taught him. Theo wanted to be the best of the three. He wanted to strike most of the time, always leaving Galien and Xavier on the defensive role.
Today was sunny and bright and all three woke up early. Henry was already waiting for them in the courtyard. The three brothers took turns in the swordplay with the swordsman, then, they would take turns in the swordplay with one another while Henry watched.
By mid-morning, they took a break.
“Teacher, how do you think we have done so far?” Galien asked. He was curious. He felt guilty for being on the defence all the time but not striking back.
Henry looked at Galien and said, “So far so good, but you'll need to learn to strike forward after you have retreated. You must not allow your opponent to think that he has the upper hand all the time. To be always retreating means you are the weaker warrior to your opponent.”
Galien watched as Henry spoke. He knew what he meant. Yes, he had been giving Theo too much advantage already.
“Remember, to be a true warrior, you'll need to think of winning. In a real battle, you'll need to think for yourself first because it's either you or your enemy who will die. There is no other way to get out of that fight,” Henry continued.
“I see,” Galien glanced over at his brother Theo as if he needed his permission to be a better swordsman.
“We will try to play fair next time we play the sword,” Xavier interrupted the awkward stares between Theo and Galien. “We will train ourselves to be the best warriors of Largo!” Xavier stood up and held up his sword, pointing to the sky as if to make a promise to himself.
Henry's eyes lit up as he looked upon this little fellow. By now, the smoothness of his skin had become a sun-kissed complexion instead of ruddy under the sun. His face turned upward, his deep blue eyes gazing towards the sky. His face shone with a special kind of bright aura. For a moment Henry thought he was looking at a future king of Largo, standing there before him. He was surprised at his own mistaken thoughts. This child is going to go far someday. He continued to marvel at the aura that surrounds Xavier.
This can't be right. Xavier will only be the third child in line to the throne. Theo is the oldest son, the king of the future! Then, there's Galien too, who is the second in line for the throne. Henry wondered why he would have that thought about Xavier, especially when he was only 5 Springs old.
After the break, they practiced again until noontime. Henry made it a mission to teach Galien better moves in the forward strikes, and he taught Xavier as well. Theo was now being forced to be on the defensive side, which he didn't like at all.
By noon, Henry called it the day and told the three boys they could practice on their own to do free moves. Then he left to go back to his own chamber.
While they were practicing the free moves, two boys came by. They were Drake and Durwin, the palace advisor's sons. They stood at the entrance of the courtyard, laughing at the three boys.
“Hahaha!!! Just look at them! The three horseless swordsmen!” exclaimed Durwin, with a smirk on his face.
“Swordsmen without horses! What a pitiful sight!” a sarcastic Drake chimed in.
Theo was furious. He did not like these two kids at all, and how dare they come by without an invitation! He jumped forward to shoo them away.
“What are you two doing here? Go away! No one has invited you here!” Theo shouted while holding up his sword and was ready to strike at them both.
Then suddenly, he saw something in their hands. When he looked closely he discovered it was a wooden stick with a top that was shaped like a horse's head.
“See? We have horses! And you don't! And we will be racing with them too! You guys are too busy training while we are having fun,” said Drake, who held up his horse stick to show the three.
“Where did you get those?” Theo inquired the uninvited visitors, his eyes, bright with curiosity. By this time, Galien and Xavier had also come forward.
“We got them from the woodworker. He's making a lot more for all the children. You can have them too if you asked him to make you one,” Drake replied.
“Where is this woodworker? I need to get one too for myself and so do Galien and Xavier.”
“Well, he hasn't finished making them all yet. But he has an idea. He wants all children in the palace to have one, and then we will have a day of horse stick race contest,” said Durwin.
“There will be a horse stick race later in the open area of the woodworking place. The woodworker will announce the day when he is ready. If you go to him earlier you'll get more time to practice,” said Durwin.
Drake put the horse stick between his legs and hopped and ran about the courtyard with it. “See? This is how you ride it,” he explained.
“I want one too,” a now excited Galien spoke up.
“Me too!” said Xavier.
“You will take us to him!” Theo commanded. “We want to be included in the race. What will be the reward for the winner?”
“It's going to be a Dog Wagon. Very nice! You should see it! He has made it already and it's on display now. It's a new thing he has made! It is to be pulled by dogs and you can sit in the wagon. It's very neat!”
“A Dog Wagon!” Theo's eyes lit up! His mind has now shifted to the Dog Wagon, imagining what it would look like. I definitely will need the Dog Wagon! I should be the one who gets it first!” thought Theo. Now, the horse stick didn't seem to be much of an excitement anymore. To him, the Dog Wagon was a much better thing to own.
“Take me to the woodworker, I need to see that Dog Wagon,” Theo demanded. All of a sudden it seemed Drake and Durwin were not so bad to keep as friends anymore. He could tolerate them now.
Theo, Galien, and Xavier followed Drake and Durwin to the woodworker's place where they found many horse sticks. Some other children were there already to choose which ones they like. The longer ones were for taller children while the shorter ones were for the younger and shorter ones. The three boys each chose one for themselves.
They also saw the Dog Wagon on display. The wagon was small but with two large wooden wheels, it seemed to only allow one person or child to be in it, then two long planks of wood extended to the front where the dog or dogs could be harnessed to pull the wagon with the rider in it. It certainly was designed well and could be used as a plaything for children, or for the farmers to transport small sacks of crops from one location to another.
As they entered the woodworker's house the three brothers greeted the woodworker. He was a busy man, still in the middle of creating new horse sticks.
Theo, Galien, and Xavier were led through the woodworker's shop. They saw many other wooden playthings as well that he had made. There were small replicas of animals: dogs, horses, ducks, chickens, pigs, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, deer, and even birds and wild boars. There were also little replicas of farmhouses with wooden farm furniture inside. At one corner of the house stood a replica of a larger farmhouse, also complete with furniture, and with farmers in it. There were several rooms, one was occupied by a little boy who was supposed to be the farmers' son, and in another room, there was a little girl who was supposed to be the farmers' daughter. The parents had another room. Outside the farmhouse, there were several wooden cows gracing on a sheet of greens that had been taken off from the real ground somewhere. Even though this is a small version of a farmhouse, but everything was in it, including the kitchen area where the farmers would cook their meals.
The three boys continued to walk through the woodworker's house and found some more replicas of farmers, and boys and girls – all made of wood. The place was like a magical land of playthings.
The woodworker gave them each a gift to take back to Royal's chamber. The three brothers couldn't wait to show the king and the queen what they have found and brought back. They wanted to tell their parents about the upcoming horse stick competition and the Dog Wagon.
Theo also had another idea: He wanted to convince his father to order the woodworker to make more Dog Wagons, he thought it may even be more fun to race the Dog Wagons instead of racing with the horse sticks.
Chapter 5: I can see nothing but ahead for Galien and X and Xavier by Theo. A wagon and stick (sword) fight coition... think I can see dirty work ahead by the bully brother, Theo,.
You have created and are weaving a very interesting and magical story about a Royal family, a King & Queen, and their three sons. This is the type of story that when one reads it, will not want to stop and put it down....I wish you much success in putting together this enchanting tale....
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