Sophia's POV
We walked through the lawn, walking under the sun, stepping on the old man's footsteps, I yawned and as if it's contagious, they all yawned too. Then after a long journey that seems to be an everlasting one, we saw the mountains through open space from the forest, glinting with sunlight, and hurt my eyes which is hoping to see a poor old house. And we saw birds flying over a small hoise, decorated with all kinds of beautiful flowers. And the old man was there, breaking woods with an Axe.
"Wow," I said, "peaceful than the city."
"I see," Lucy said, "Heaven in the forest."
"I couldn't believe my eyes," Ben said, "Does that means he's living here alone"
Bella sighed and say, "I'm thirsty."
"Hey," I called. And the old man looked up, dropping the ax. "We are here."
"Come near," he said.
We walked to him, and he summoned us to follow him inside. And after walking in, I glanced around for a while, heat cascade upon me, a cat, meowing on a white chair, Tv plasma behind a curtain that hide wide windows, radio was on a stool in the middle, and our legs step on a neat carpet. Solar bulbs flared down from the blue ceiling, and we exchanged glances. Everything in the parlor was neat and pristine. The cat jumped to the other side and moved into a room.
"Can I have water?" Bella asked
"Look over there," he said as he pointed to a small freezer in a corner, Bella walked there and drink till she was full.
He looked back at us and says, "Who knows how to cook?"
We exchanged glances for a while, waiting for a person to say something.
The man sat and says."Someone should answer me."
"Sophia can cook," Lucy said. Why should she mention my name? I'm about to defend myself when I remembered that I made a promise to do everything here.
"Yea, I can cook," I said, "What did you want me to cook"
"What do you guys like to eat?" he asked.
"Noodles," Lucy said.
Bella looked at her, saying, "Noodles?"
"We don't want noodles," Ben said, "rice is better."
"Okay then," the man said, "follow me to the kitchen."
"I will follow you," Bella said to me. "Can I?"
"You can," the man said, "but you two guys will stay." He pointed at Lucy Ben. "you would wash my clothe."
"Clothes?" Lucy asked.
"Yes," he said, "I thought we have a deal before"
"They will do it, she can wash clothes," I said and Lucy looks me with a bad face.
I and Bella followed him to the kitchen, and he showed us a cupboard fill with ingredients, and a bag of rice is beside it. "Cook ten eggs," he said and walked out.
Bella's eyes held mine. "I don't expect this in the forest."
"Me too," I said
"Would the man help us?" she asked, looking worried.
"Who knows?"
I open a pot and I saw meat. "Come and see."
"What is that?"
"What kind of meat is this?"
"Maybe you should taste it first."
"You taste it first," I said.
The old man's step was heard and I closed the pot. He walked in and says, "You didn't cook again?"
"We don't see matches," I said.
"Coming back," he said as he walked out and then walked in immediately. "It's on the stove."
"Oh," I said, looking at him kindling the stove and after that, he dusted his hand with a handkerchief, dropped it down, and then walked out.
"I'm scared," Bella said
"Of what?"
"I'm afraid, I don't want him to poisoned us or harm us."
"He can't do that, he won't do that."
Bella grinds the pepper, while I cooked.
"Wow," I said after tasting the soup. "He will like it"
"Really," Bella said, "Let me taste it"
"Bring me plates first."
We served them the food in the parlor, Lucy has been tired of washing. Benjamin wear a happy face when he saw food and say, "Who cooked this? Is it Sophia?"
The old man tastes the egg first. "Oh! Yummy"
We smiled because we made it.
"I can cook more than you," Lucy said, "It's not sweet at all."
"When you know you can cook, why don't you cook it then?" Ben asked
"I'm not in the mood," Lucy
"Hey you guys should stop talking when eating," the old man said, "don't you know that before or you forgot?"
We all keep quiet and a sound came outside, calling, "Reuben"
The old man stood up and darted out, and then closed the door. We all stopped eating except Lucy, and we exchanged glances, listening to the conversation.
"The king of Bowen village wants to see you."
"For what? the old man asked.
"Listen as my partner read what the king wrote."
A man cleared his throat and boomed, "Reuben, you will fight Rederigo and Santiago on my daughter's birthday. You should meet me here as soon as this letter reaches you. And there is a huge price for the winner for that day."
We exchanged glances again, we are scared, who is this man? Lucy stopped eating too, listening.
"Does that mean the man is a warrior?" I asked
"We will use the opportunity to get to the village on time," Ben said.
We heard the old man sighed and say, "Come in and have something to eat before we embark on the journey."
"Nay, we need have a lot of messages to deliver to people."
The old man walked in gazing at us for a while and then say, "It's time to go to the Bowen village. You can bring your food along."
He walked into a room and say, "Be prepared before I come out."
After some minutes he walked out with a sword, bow, and arrow, and he wore a Helmet. He looked at Ben and handed him a sword. "Help me hold this."
"Oh, It's so heavy," Benjamin said.
And then we followed the old man, we walked to the open air and the cool breeze blowing on us. And the two messengers stood there, looking handsome and holding swords.