The dragons first came from the air with wings so wide it covered the sun, then the leviathan from the sea carrying waves after waves of water, and as both lords of the air and sea communed, the lord of the land rode his horse, a great white horse with feet made of gold.
Arthur interrupted his father there, “the lord of the land has a smaller beast” he said, his father smiled and said, “that is brave men choose the horse today”.
“Time for bed,” his mother said and the curls on Arthur’s face became noticed even with the yellow rays of light that the candles provided.
“Okay boy, we’ll continue tomorrow night,” His father said, Arthur, rolled his purple eyes at him. The eye rolling however earned him a poke on the ribs that sent him giggling and rolling on the soft bed made of wool with brown patches that confirmed Arthur’s usual night deeds.
Everything seemed nice until when the sun turned red and big and made red stripes of clouds mass around it. Arthur’s mother was packing away sheets of clothing that hung on the ropes when she heard the galloping sound of horses.
A rider appeared first but was not alone as others followed suit.
“Are you the wife of the silk trader? “ the first rider asked the little yellow rays of the sun reflected from his clothing that made clinging sounds each time he moved. His head was covered with a thick helmet that also shone, and if the sun had been brighter would have rendered its beholders blind for a time.
“Yes, Sire is there anything I-” Arthur’s mom answered but had not finished talking when she was taken away by the other riders. The house was searched, and as they found nothing they left. Unbeknownst to them that Arthur was with his uncle in his Tavern, as he was fond of the bearded man with thick palms and a smile that spread well across his face.
When the news got to him later that evening as the Tavern was a place where mouths were open to words and news become old in a matter of seconds. Arthur’s uncle “Lord Ale” as was his sobriquet, he didn’t bring Arthur back home lest the sins of his father are visited on the lad as well.
Arthur grew up there in the Tavern a healthy boy who learned to bake bread and make different types of cakes to the amazement of his uncle’s wife Naomi. He was always in the kitchen in the midst of the smoke and fumes from the pots of the different dishes they served their customers.
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The smoke and aroma brought many folks to the Tavern, common people, sell swords, thieves who often hope to get away with the pockets of other customers and did some of the time save when they are caught by Lord Ale who was a prudent man who had served in the army in his youth.
The smoke from the Tavern rose well above the thick green forest that characterized the outskirts of Ganeswood, a lowly town of fishermen, traders, and farmers alike.
“The smoke looks like Angels going up” Arthur had told his uncle Lord Ale years back when he first came to the Tavern.
Lord Ale trained every morning just behind the Tavern and soon Arthur began to join him. The duo could be heard smashing wooden swords at each other often ending in with Arthur’s fall to the ground. He didn’t give up as he always gets up to another round of defeat.
“Your place is with the warriors just like me” His uncle often said. Arthur enjoyed sparing with the man but loved baking as he was always learning new types and flavors of pies. Soon the Tavern customers termed him “Baker Boy” and the common people either said Lord Ale’s Tavern or the Tavern with the Baker boy.
Few days after the new moon, which shone bright that night as shadows were more visible and face even more. The prince of the realm, Prince Thomas visited Ganeswood and was a guest of the lord of Ganeswood. As was widely reported, the prince often paid visits to the Taverns surrounding the towns he sojourned.
Earlier that day whilst Arthur and his uncle were training an argument broke out.
“I want to know what happened to them,” Arthur asked, he kept his gaze on his uncle who was trying to fend off the sudden attack by him.
“I told you, boy, they were taken” his uncle answered as both parties became grew oily skins from the sweat that ensued.
“No, I want to know who took them and why they were taken” Arthur responded betwixt waves after waves of swipes by his uncle who laughed at the way his nephew dodged it.
“You are not ready boy” his uncle answered, which made Arthur throw down his wooden sparring sword and made for the solace of the woods.
The morning breeze flew across his face ever forcing him to move a bunch of stray hairs from his face and back to the fold where they belonged. As he sat on a log not too far from the Tavern trickles of water fell from his eyes and not long he was forced to wipe the too.
Prince Thomas’ visit to Ganeswood made the Tavern very busy and as such the Baker boy was once again in the midst of smoke and fumes from the bread and stews which he prepared. He was also assisted by his uncle’s daughters but his hands wrought the magic on those pies that came forth.
The next day three men walked into the Tavern with swords in a sheath and dressed commonly but for the swords that spoke loudly with their shiny handles that could be seen by all. Lord Ale was first to know that they were noblemen “or perhaps servants of noblemen” he thought.
He offered them the best seat in the Tavern and ginger ale which was on the house as usual. They had pies first before their meal would be served.
”This reminds me of my mother” one of the men, a younger one said to the other.
“This was made to perfection” he repeated after taking more than half a chunk of it.
“Excuse me, sire,” he said to lord ale, “your wife makes the best pie I’ve eaten in a long while” he added.
“Oh my wife didn’t do those, Baker boy did” Lord ale replied proud of the work of his nephew.
What happened next was a miracle, the men left with Arthur who was to serve as the prince's squire for the young man was the prince.
Three new moons later he was knighted and six new moons later an order for release was sent for his parents who were wrongly imprisoned for the crimes of another tradesman.
When his mother saw him she threw her hands over his shoulder before coming back to rub her hands over the fickle of hairs that lined his jaws.
His father only stood by and fended waves of tears that sort to break free from his eyes. They did however when Arthur hugged him.
He was now known in Ganeswood as the Baker boy who became a knight.