The Medieval King
Warning: This one's a groner!
A medieval king was doing battle with the neighboring kingdom and had the chance to defeat his enemy if he could get a message out to his allies further south. He called his knights together and requested a volunteer to carry this entreaty. Immediately a tall and brave knight stepped forward and announced he would gladly volunteer his services. It was with much fanfare that the knight mounted his steed, the secret message in his saddlepack, and headed out across the drawbridge. Out of the clouds came a giant yellow hand that snatched both the knight and his steed off the drawbridge, crushed them both, and deposited their remains into the alligator filled moat below. A somber hush fell over the castle. The king again requested a volunteer to save his kingdom. And another knight stepped forward, willing to risk his life for the glory of serving his king and kingdom. Much concern and hoopla went on as he mounted his steed, deposited the secret message in his saddlebag, and headed out across the draw bridge. And AGAIN this enormous yellow hand swooped down out of the clouds, snatching him off the drawbridge, crushing him and depositing him in the alligator filled moat. The king was at a loss as surely he would lose the battle and his kingdom in the process. No other knights would step forward. The king offerred his daughter's hand and half his kingdom to whoever could dispatch the message to his allies. A small page stepped forward, caring little about the kingdom but possessing an intense desire for the princess. "I'll do it," he said, as he took the entreaty and placed it in the purse pages were wont to carry in those days. The drawbridge was lowered and he scampered across as fast as his little legs would carry him. As before, down swoops this giant yellow hand, grabbing for the page as he raced along, but as luck would have it, his size worked to his advantage, and he slipped between the fingers, reached the other side of the drawbridge and disappeared into the safety of the forest. The message was successfully delivered, the war was won, and he lived happily ever after with the princess on his half of the kingdom. The moral of this story? LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING THROUGH THE YELLOW FINGERS!
Originally published November 14, 2002.
