Dragon Eyes

Chapter 2. The Woodsman Family.

Chapter 2.

The Woodsman Family.

"Supper is ready!"

Lynwood heard Sofia call as she rang the dinner bell.

"Come and get it while it is still hot."

"Is Father home yet?" He asked as he entered the house.

"Yes, he is. Didn't you see him come in?" Sofia replied as she firmly set a vase with wild flowers in the middle of the round table, as though to prove a point that had been spoken of earlier.

"No, I was at the back of the house and didn't notice."

Sofia shook her head. "Daydreaming again." She said with a suspicious look.

"What's it to you?" Lynwood retorted. "Why do you have to know everything?"

"I don't. I just made a statement, that's all."

"That wasn't a statement, it was a question."

"It was a statement, I know what I said."

"Now listen here Sofia..."

"Children, that's enough!" The deep voice of their father cut short was about to become yet another argument. "The two of you need to learn to get along better."

"Well, she started it," Lynwood mumbled as he plopped down in his seat at the table.

"I did not!" Sofia shook her head. "I never start fights!"

"Oh ho, is that so?"

"Lynwood, Sofia, stop!" Lyndon let out a sigh. "This is starting to get out of hand. I am afraid to leave you both alone for very long in fear that you will fight each other out of this house."

Sofia and Lynwood glared at each other but said nothing more. Lyndon shook his head at them and took his seat at the head of the table.

The woodsman was a rugged man, just two years short of forty. His light brown hair was gathered in a ponytail and tied with a leather string. His beard was neat and the same shade as his hair. Sofia had inherited his almond colored eyes, while Lynwood shared the same chin and nose.

"Sofia, you are becoming a wonderful little cook," Lyndon said as they began to eat.

Sofia grinned and blushed from the compliment.

"What have you been doing today?" Lyndon asked, still directing his attention to Sofia.

"Well," Sofia began, digging deep into her memory and trying to remember what exactly she done and in what particular order. "After breakfast I tidied up in room and watered the flowers. Then I cleaned the hen house and gathered the eggs....or did I first gather the eggs and then clean the hen house....I don't remember. Anyway, after that I helped Lynwood weed the garden, and then I made us some lunch. After lunch I went for a walk in the fields, and then I came home and cooked supper."

"Sounds like you had a busy day." Lyndon gently patted Sofia's hair. "How about you Lynwood, how did your day go?"

"Well enough," Lynwood curtly replied.

"Well enough?" Lyndon repeated, raising an eyebrow and glancing at his son. Lynwood nodded and busied himself with cleaning the edge of his plate with the corner of his napkin. It was his way of saying 'I don't want to talk right now.' Lyndon understood the message and made a mental note to talk to him later when they were alone.

"And how was your day, Papa?" Sofia sweetly asked.

"It was good, very good."

"May I go and work with you in the woods tomorrow?" Lynwood asked, looking up from his plate.