Re: Herr D’s CFLs

[Herr D]

THE VERY CROSSE KNIGHT Chapter III: The Protocol

The three knights huddled for a moment, considering these strange events. The largest of them spoke first.
“How say you that you are the champion of our quest?” He called out. “I see mischief afoot. Let us insist on protocols.” He said quietly to the others.
“I am prepared to prove it, since you have passed the test.”
“Test?!” The three knights were astounded, speaking almost as one, “What test?”
“You have found my shield, and reached this bridge unharmed. Only knights could do such a thing. As you are three knights, and not traveling with a strongbox or even provisions, you must be on a quest! You are so lucky today, it’s inconceivable.”
“How so?” called the youngest. “I cannot see him at all!” he said quietly to the others, “Just some armor around a shadow! Is he perhaps a malevolent spirit?”
“I am here waiting to champion a quest–and here you have found me!” called back the figure in shadow.
Quietly, the knight with the blue visor said, “He is very much alive.” Then he called out. “You may have tested US good sir, but we have yet to test YOU. To be the champion of this quest, you would have to be deemed so by our liege.”
“Nabooian law,” the figure in shadow called back, “Does wisely allow for exceptions.”
“Ridiculous!” called back the largest knight, “You would have to defeat each of us in combat! And with us dead, you would be champion of NO ONE!”
“Ah HA! But if I could beat NOT EACH of you, but ALL of you at once, WITHOUT killing you, then I would be champion of your quest.”
The youngest knight blurted out, “Now THAT would be inconceivable.”
The knight with the blue visor smacked the back of the youngest knight’s helmet. “He conceived it.” Then he bellowed out, “ARE YOU CHALLENGING THREE KNIGHTS TO A FIGHT?”
“If but ONE of you,” the figure said, “reaches this side of the bridge without being wetted by water of this stream, then I yield to thee! But as I will cause you ALL to be wetted and yet unharmed before you can reach me, I CHALLENGE YOU ALL AT ONCE!”
The largest knight said, “We’re not idiots, you know. You can’t be cutting down this bridge as we run across it.”
“I AM PLEASED AT YOUR LACK OF IDIOCY, BUT I WOULD NOT HARM THIS BRIDGE–I NEED TO CROSS IT TO FETCH MY SHIELD.”
The largest knight said, “He speaks the truth.”
“I SHOULD ALSO INFORM YOU THAT IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT MY TRIAL BY COMBAT, I WILL NOT GUIDE YOU TO THE FEARSOME FEROCIOUS FOE YOU SEEK. AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE TO FIND HIM.”
The largest knight blinked and said, “He speaks the truth. CHARGE!” Lifting his claymoor above his head, he led the charge to cross the bridge. –All three of them had wet faces by their fifth step. They all stopped, stunned. How had this happened? The figure had not seemed to move.
“GOTCHA.” said the figure in shadow. “Return to the other side and I will join you for an enclave of the utmost importance.”