‘What’s that?’
‘It’s a story.’ The artisan stood back, admiring his own work.
‘What does it do?’
The artisan glanced up, thinking it was maybe the inbreeding, but – still – as his old dad always said, the customer is always right. ‘It is a series of events, written down.’
‘Oh.’ The (potential) customer leant closer, looking at the squiggles on the parchment. He’d had several expensive tutors, some of whom had strongly suggested he learn what these black squiggles represented. But he, (now, Duke) Farantzy, didn’t see the point. ‘Oh,’ he repeated. ‘What events?’
‘Well, this one is about a heroic knight,’ the artisan glanced at the (potential) customer’s dress and regalia. ‘A Duke....’
‘A Duke?’
‘Yes, a Duke.’ The artisan took a breath, he could always rewrite it before delivery, shove in a couple of references to dukes. ‘He journeys to save a princess from a dragon.’
‘Ooh, a princess, eh?’
‘Yes, a beautiful princess.’
‘How beautiful?’ The Duke made a gesture suggesting he was weighing a pair of grapefruit in his hands.
‘Oh, very beautiful.’ The artisan made a similar gesture suggesting he was weighing a pair of melons… watermelons. How he suffered for his art.
‘But… a dragon?’
‘Yes, a very brave… fearless Duke.’
‘And I… er… he kills the dragon?’
‘Well…. I wouldn’t want to give the end away.’
‘Oh?’ The Duke scratched his beard. ‘Then why have you written it all down?’
‘I… er…. To entertain… in the reading of it.’
It was the first time the Duke had ever heard the words ‘entertain’ and ‘read’ in the same sentence, at least one without any negative connotations.
‘The joy is in the reading, the unfolding of the tale.’
‘It is?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh, how strange. Couldn’t you just tell me if he gets off with the princess?’
‘No.’
‘No?’ Nowas not a word the Duke was used to hearing. His hand reached towards the pommel of his sword.
‘No,’ the artisan repeated hastily. ‘The joy of the tale is in the telling.’
‘What?’
The artisan sighed. This was turning into a long sale. ‘You share the tale with the characters in it, as it goes along; share their adventures, their trials, their mista… their misfortunes and triumphs. So by the time he gets to fight the dragon to rescue the princess you feel as though you are there with him. You share his every stroke of the sword, every thrust of the lance is yours as though you yourself are fighting the dragon.’
‘Eeek!’ The Duke blushed. ‘I mean, poor bloody dragon….’ He gripped the pommel tight. ‘Wouldn’t stand a chance, know what I mean?’
The artisan nodded. ‘Of course, sire.’
‘So why don’t you just tell me what happens in the end, save me the bother of having it read to… of me reading it?’
‘Like I said, sire, the joy is being in the tale yourself.’
‘Right.’
‘So, sire,’ shall I wrap it, have it delivered to your house?’
The Duke thought for a moment. ‘Nah,’ he said. ‘I’ll just wait for the DVD.’ He turned and left the shop.
The artisan watching the Duke stride away as he used several words, under his breath, he’d never used in any of his stories... yet.
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