The Sword and Heir of Shadows

Chapter 9: Village Festival.

The next morning, as the first rays of the sun gently kissed the horizon, Hector was awakened by the delightful giggles and excited chatter of his two sons, Kael and William. They clambered onto his bed with boundless energy, their little feet scrambling up the blankets and onto their father's chest.

"Daddddyyy...!!!" They exclaimed

Hector, was baffled, as he was still not awake and had his eyelids closed, but now they were wide open.

Whereas Kael and William, with big bright eyes and tousled hair, were gripping at their father, they questioned Hector in unison, "Daddy, why weren't you home for dinner last night? We missed you!"

Hector smiled warmly at his inquisitive boys, ran his hands through his hair, pushing them all back and apologized in a sleepy voice, "I'm sorry my little rascals. Daddy had some work to do, but I promise I won't miss dinner again.

The kids exchanged looks and then looked at their dad together, innocently. Hector's heart melted and with his right hand, he held his two gems, while getting up and sitting straight with his back to the board. But with his left, he hid Layla's cloth under the cushion, so his kids wouldn't see it.

Again with his hands, he made a gesture, pointing his finger at his children, squinting his eyes, he smiled and said "Come here both of you", and the kids leaned forward. Hector kissed their foreheads, and said with a smile, "Now it feels like my morning". The kids giggled when Hector made a gesture again, With his hands he pointed at his cheeks demanding kisses, "Muahhh" Kael and William kissed their father's cheek and Hector took those blessings with his eyes closed.

"Shall we start out the day, Warriors?" Hector asked them,

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"YAyyyyyyyy", yelled the kids and both got off Hector's body,

"Careful...Kids" Hector shouted, afraid kids might fall.

Their hearts lightened by their father's words, and they eagerly began their day together. The trio embarked on their usual morning routine, a dance of love and laughter that started with cleaning up their cosy home. Hector and his sons worked side by side, making chores feel like play as they tidied up.

Afterwards, they shared a bath together, Hector took some foam and then put it on Kael's head, Kael saw what his father did, so he furrowed his eyebrow in the process to see what was on top of his head, while William left out a hearty laugh, "Big Bruder has a foam hat",

"And you have a foam nose," Said Hector as he again took foam to put on William's nose. This time it was Kael who laughed, And the three of them were laughing. A time of splashing and giggles as they washed away the sleepiness of the night. Hector carefully scrubbed their small bodies, making sure they were sparkling clean.

As the scents of a hearty breakfast filled the air, they gathered around the table, their simple meal filling their hearts and tummies.

"Daddy, Try these" William stretched his hand so his dad could lean to take a bite of the bread. "Hmmm....Tasty " Hector said while chewing his bread.

They made sure to prepare a generous portion of food for Ustas, their faithful horse, ensuring that even their four-legged friend was well taken care of.

With their bellies full, Hector took a moment to impart some daily instructions to his sons,

"You would not go far away from the lawn, okay? Do not fight each other" Hector instructed them in a stern voice, as he was all ready to leave for town to earn for the day.

He continued to remind them to be kind, to look out for one another, and to not prank others. The kids nodded at everything their father asked them to do.

As Hector prepared to leave for the day, his heart swelled with love for his boys. He knelt down to their eye level, ruffled their hair affectionately, and bid them goodbye.

"Be good, my little ones," he said, his voice filled with paternal love.

"Bye, Daddyyy", the kids waved them bye.

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The village bustled with activity, and as Hector walked through the streets, "Good morning, Hector" an old man greeted Hector, he was wearing a plain shirt which had stitches, it looked like a shirt he had been wearing for ages, he was wearing trouser's which reached below above his ankles, his face was wrinkled and had patches of beard, he was too thin for an average old man.

"Good morning, Mr. Winsor" Hector replied with his generous smile, and then he went on and exchanged greetings with fellow villagers.

"Attention! Attention!" A young man stood on a wooden box, holding a Paper rolled in a cone near his mouth. Everyone looked in the direction of the speaker.

In the heart of the village square, a man with a commanding presence stood tall upon a makeshift wooden platform. He was the town crier, well-known to all the villagers for his typical voice. With a weathered face that spoke of years of service, he wore a faded brown cloak that billowed gently in the morning breeze.

His beard, salt-and-pepper and meticulously groomed, framed a set of keen, lively eyes that sparkled with morale. His voice carried a deep tone, and every word he spoke held the attention of those gathered around him.

With a clear and commanding voice, he announced, "Hear ye, hear ye! Gather 'round, the good folk of our village! A bright announcement is upon us!" His words resonated with a sense of excitement that rippled through the crowd.

"As you all know," he continued, "our generous King shall grace us with his presence in just one week! It is a time of great joy, and we must prepare to welcome him with open arms and open hearts!"

The villagers listened attentively, their faces reflecting a mixture of expectation and spirit. The crier continued, "Each and every household is encouraged to set up stalls and displays showcasing your skills, crafts, and wares. The King has passed that there shall be rewards for the most outstanding and innovative presentations!"

As he spoke of the King's impending visit, the villagers exchanged excited glances. It was an opportunity to display their talents and receive recognition from His Majesty himself.

With a final flourish, the town crier concluded, "Prepare, dear villagers, for a week from today, our village shall be blessed with the presence of our King! Let us make it a day to remember, a day of celebration, and a day that will be etched in our hearts for years to come!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, eager to begin their preparations for the grand event that lay ahead.

Hector stood there with Ustas and listened to what the Crier had said, and now he was in deep thought of grabbing that oppurtunity. Nevermind he left with his horse on his way to town.