King’s Gate
Many years ago in the Land of Andhor, there lived a mighty king who loved to do pleasing things for his subjects, the people of Andhor. One day while holding court, there came to him many wise men from his kingdom who pleaded with him that bandits and other robbers of bad repute jumped over the walls of his kingdom and played havoc with the people living inside. “Oh mighty king,” they prayed, “build us walls to keep away these bandits!”
The king summoned his horse and rode to the outskirts of his city and saw for himself that what his subjects said was true, “No expense will be spared,” he told his subjects, “to protect you!”
The next day his subjects looked with joy as labourers and craftsmen, the best in the kingdom of Andhor, came to the outskirts of the city where the city walls were to be constructed and started their work.
They looked with joy as they heard the sound of hammering and riveting, of blacksmithing and chipping and knew their days of anxiety were soon to be over. Knowing the problem was in the safe hands of their majesty they even stopped going to the outskirts of the city to see the progress of the work.
And then one day they heard the sound of drums.
They knew the sound; the king was arriving on his trusted steed to inaugurate the walls. They rushed in large numbers to the outskirts of the city.
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist with an estimated readership of 6 million. He also conducts a short-term writer’s course. Contact him at bobsbanter@gmail.com for more details.