Theanore and Archibald were at the edge of the apple grotto territory, looking at the dirt road.
"Archie, this is not a very good road," Theanore said. Her shoes were muddy, and the edges of her dress were too.
"Mhm," Archibald said.
"Ants, line up," Theanore said, and a builder ant appeared.
"Make this road out of stone, all the way to the nearest village," Theanore said to the ant, and more joined it as they went to the nearest cliff and started breaking rock from it.
"What next, Archie?" Theanore asked.
"Wall and gate," Archibald said, and he stretched his hands. "Big."
"We don't need them, Archie. We want people to come and visit. Tell you what, we will make you a clay house and put a wall and gate around it," Theanore said as she tried to cheer up the boy when she saw him pout.
"And ants will live inside?" Archibald asked. He didn't want another toy. He wanted something useful.
"Just one. I can't make big houses," Theanore said.
