New Beginnings, Chapter 5

​Sir Owen & Sir Kyle

It had been several days since the attack on Baron and Rex, when Lawrence summoned Sir Owen and Sir Kyle...

"Your Majesty.... you sent for us?"

"Yes, I did. I'm sure that you've heard about the attack on the Winter Patrol?"

"Yes Sire, we have.   How is Sir Baron?   Has there been any further news?"

"Unfortunately there hasn't been much change in Baron's condition, although he does appear to be stable.
​Which brings me to why I've summoned you here. The Winter Patrol is very important to the people in the far northern reaches of the Kingdom, and they have come to depend on it.""

"But with Baron incapacitated, and Rex staying with him to hopefully bring him home when he recovers enough to travel..."

"I need to send someone up there as their replacement. So I'm appointing the two of you."

"It would be an honour, Sire."

"Commander Jude and his Special Forces Team left a few days ago, to hunt down those criminal mercenaries, and return order to the region."

"So, by the time you get up there, it should be safe to finish what Baron and Rex have started."

"Yes Sire. Thank you Sire!"

"Here are your orders."

"Best of luck gentlemen. Our people are counting on you."

Heading Out

After familiarizing themselves with their new responsibilities, and getting their affairs in order at home, the two knights set out...

They were both excited about their promotion.

"I sure wasn't expecting that. Were you?"

"No, I wasn't. Not at all."

"The King must have quite some confidence in us, to be sending us on this important mission."

But it wasn't lost on the two men that their opportunity had come at great cost to someone else.

Still, they were excited about the opportunity...

...and were looking forward to their new duties as the Winter Patrol.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Winston had been busy flying back and forth checking on Baron and reporting back to the King. He had left Saphira alone with their eggs, and thought he better go check in with her before heading back up north again. He found Saphira pacing in her armour.

"Where have you been??  I've been called back into work, and I have to leave!"

"But...but...there's been an incident way up north.  Baron has been severely injured, and the King needs me to check on him every day.  I was just about to leave again to go up there, but thought I better go see how you were doing first."

 "Well....I'm sorry about your friend....and I wish him well..... but I have a job too. Now it's your turn to look after our eggs."

"You need to keep them warm, and turn them twice a day."

"I'm going to be gone for a couple of weeks, and will see you when I get back."

"But....!?!?"

And she left.

What was he going to do now?

The King needed him to go check on Baron, but he couldn't leave the eggs unattended. What to do??

Looking for an Egg-Sitter

Winston was torn between his duties to the King, and taking care of his eggs. He needed someone to watch his eggs for him. But how was he going to find an egg-sitter?  He couldn't just leave the eggs unattended. So he wrapped them in a warm blanket in his cart and headed out into the snow to find someone...

He hadn't gone far when he came across some geese.
​"Good day ladies! I understand that you are quite experienced at looking after eggs.  Maybe you could help me?"

"Saphira had to go back to work, and I have an important work assignment as well, so I'm looking for someone to come to our lair and watch our eggs."

"Well...we don't know about that.  How do we know you won't eat us the minute we step into your lair?
​We weren't hatched yesterday you know!"

Winston lifted the cover to show them his eggs. "I need egg-sitters more than I need dinner right now."

"Wow! Those are some beautiful eggs!!"

"So, will you help me?"

"I guess we could."

"But only for a couple of days. Then we have to go back to the barnyard to lay our own eggs."

Bird-Brain Sitters

So the geese followed Winston back to his lair, and before he could say anything, one of them jumped up onto the eggs.

"These eggs are awful big!"

"My tush isn't near big enough to keep them all warm."

So they tried sitting on the eggs all together..."They aren't very comfortable."

"They are as hard as rocks!!"

Winston was starting to regret that he'd promised that he wouldn't eat them.

"I don't need you to SIT on them!  I just need you to watch them here by the fire."

"You just need to keep the fire going, and turn the eggs twice a day."

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Okay.  But remember that we can only stay until tomorrow."

Awake 

When Winston arrived at the Doctor's Infirmary, he was surprised to find Baron awake. His fever had finally broken, and he had regained consciousness...

"It's so good to see that you're finally back in the land of the living!"

"Everyone has been so worried about you. How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been trampled by a team of horses.   How is Naomi?"

"She's been so worried about you.  I know she will be overjoyed to hear that you are finally awake."

"So, what have I missed?"

"Well....I'm going to become a father....just like you!"

"Saphira laid four eggs a few weeks ago.   We are expecting two girls and two boys!"

 "That's fantastic. Congratulations!  Wow, four at once.  You're going to have your hands full."

"Well, they won't be hatching for a couple of months, so there's plenty of time yet to prepare."

 "Anyways, you look like you need to rest, so I'll be going. I'm so happy to see that you are awake, and can't wait to tell everyone the good news. It's what everyone has been hoping and praying for."

"Tell Naomi I love her, and I hope to see her again soon." 

the Daily Report

Winston was excited to finally deliver some good news.

"Baron is awake!!"

And he gave Lawrence the letter from Rex.

"That's wonderful news!"

"Apparently the Doctor thinks Baron is making remarkable progress..."

"... considering the severity of his injuries."

Winston had a question, "Now that Baron is awake, and it looks like he's going to be okay, do you still need me to go up there every day?"

"Because, I have a little problem," he continued, "As you know, Saphira laid a clutch of eggs recently, and she's been watching them while I was flying back and forth to check on Baron."

"But she had to go back to work, and now our eggs are my responsibility. Unfortunately I can't be in two places at once, so I had to find an egg-sitter. I have some goofy geese looking after the eggs today, but they have to go home tomorrow, and then I'm stuck....."

Monica turned to Lawrence, "Maybe we could help?"

"I think it's important that Winston keeps us informed about Baron, but not at the cost to his own family."

"What if Winston brings his eggs here, and we look after them for him?"

Winston was surprised by the Queen's offer, "Really? I wouldn't want to impose?"

"Are you sure?" Lawrence asked her. "I have all kinds of duties to keep me busy all day, so the eggs would be totally your responsibility."

"Winston is a good friend, and he's performing an important job for us right now, so the least we can do is to help him out."

"Not only would it relieve his stress knowing his eggs are safe, but I think it would also be a good distraction for the children. They are all very worried about their Uncle Baron, and they could use a positive distraction."

"So yes, I'll look after your eggs."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I really appreciate it."

"I will bring the eggs tomorrow before I head back up north again."

* next - Chapter 6

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