Roland's Castle (32 page)

“yee-hove-leap!” cried the
yee-hove-hees, and thrust the boat up into the air.

The trio let the racquet go and it
struck the missile full square, sending it sailing upwards in
another long, slow arc – straight back to its origin. The scuttler
exploded with yet another shower of sparks and flame

“Return of serve, I think.” said
Roland.

“We did it!” Oliver cheered, “ – we
can play Ogleforth! Even on grass!”

“We have lawn invented
lawn
Ogleforth!” Savitri cried and the three of them high-fived.

There was little of use they could
do now in an Ogleforth boat so they withdrew. Oliver was dropped
off by the ranks of archers so that he could join them and put his
own bow to work. Roland and Savitri returned to the top of the hill
where mounts and arms awaited them. They mounted up and rode down
into the battle, galloping up to Og-dra-gob just as the mêlée
between his forces and the Spirus was in its final stages.

“They are fine sport, these
Spirus!” Og-dra-gob called out to them, and then turned to
congratulate a group of his own men, “Well done red team! A voucher
for a new suit of armour to you!”

Savitri made up for all the time
she had spent waiting for revenge by galloping into the midst of
the battle, cutting a path right through the Spirus as she went.
None of them stood a chance as they fell before her furious,
flashing blade.

Roland looked over to where the
Knights Fortressers were battling. They too were on a winning
streak. Everywhere the Spirus were being defeated and falling back
to the castle walls.

“Now is the time!” said Roland, and
waved his sword high above his head. It was seen from within the
finished tower and a group of villagers rushed down the steps into
the courtyard and released the prisoners. They rushed from the
cage, picked up whatever they could use as weapons and began to
fight the Spirus.

The Spirus now had nowhere to
retreat. Caught between the Knights Fortressers, Og-dra-gob’s
forces and the prisoners, who quickly found the armoury, they were
quickly vanquished.

Roland knew he owed a debt. He rode
up to the Knights Fortressers.

“Thank you,” he said, “You rescued
us when we needed it, the victory is yours as much as anyone’s —
more so!”

“A final victory,” said Brother
Stalwart, “It’s so long since we have tasted victory in combat, I
had quite forgotten how good it is. You must now look to the future
Roland, guard the castle well. I am sure you will. We entrust it to
you and your descendants for all time. I know you will not let us
down.”

“But..” Roland began to object.

“It is time for us to go, now,”
said Stalwart, “We have all killed, and now because of our oath we
must die as well…”

“No!” Roland cried.

But then he realised that he could
now see through Brother Stalwart to the things behind him. Stalwart
was fading away, like a reflection in a pool, or like the mist on a
summer’s morning. One by one the Knights Fortressers faded and
flickered out of life, all of them. Brother Goodwill was the last;
with a cheery wave and a happy smile he was gone to join his
brethren amongst the stars.

“No!” Roland cried, No!”

He rushed forwards, thrashing at
the air with his sword in desperation, but they were gone.

"Can we...?" the herald pleaded,
“Can we use the proper heraldic terms, as it is a special occasion…
Just this was once…? Please?”

“Oh, all right!” Og-dra-gob gob
said, “As it is a special occasion – just this once, mind!”

“Oh thank you! thank you!” said the
herald, “
Thank you sire
!”

All of the victors were assembled
in the courtyard, including the ex-prisoners of the cage. All were
rejoicing in the defeat of the horrid Spirus.

The herald took a deep breath and
let forth a
full panoply
of emblazonments featuring all of
the pily paly bendy dancetty prancetty stuff he could muster.

As his tourneyers stepped up to get
their prizes Og-dra-gob turned to Roland saying, “It was wonderful
to fight in a
real
battle after all these years — thank you
again for inviting us!”

“Thank you again for helping me get
my castle back,” said Roland.

“Yes, thank you,” said Dagarth.

“As I understand it, you were one
of the villains!” Og-dra-gob said, arching his eyebrows at
Dagarth.

“Err, a misunderstanding, a
misinterpretation of my
true
motives. I merely
pretended
to be on the Spirusses side so that I could betray
them when the time was right and help you … And so I did! And we
have
all
defeated the Spirus! Hooray! Hooray!” he cheered,
hollowly.

Og-dra-gob turned back to Roland
and leant towards him, speaking confidentially, “Slippery
character, isn’t he?”

“Tell me all about it do,” Roland
replied.

With the prize giving done he
decided it was time to get the nasty bit – and the nasty folks –
out of the way so that the real party could begin. First Roland
addressed his uncle: “Uncle, although I could and should be
“wonderly wroth,” as the books have it, I intend to pardon you for
your sins. You are family after all and it would seem ungracious
not too, particularly as you have now turned over a new leaf, for
the moment — or so it would
appear
, anyway… . I wish you to
leave this castle and its environs and go back to your own, on
condition that you never, ever return – and no more treasure
seeking!

Dagarth bowed and scraped as he
backed away, nervously looking at the swords that were still being
brandished by Roland’s allies, “Thank you, oh thank you for being
so merciful! I really won’t let you down, honest! Oh thank
you!”

Roland continued “As for you,
Bril-a-brag and Gloatenglorp, I also licence your departure. You
may pass on to
Caunterbury
unmolested, where you may do
penance before the blissful holy martyr.”

Bril-a-Brag and Gloatenglorp left
without a word, but as he went Uncle Dagarth muttered, “I’ll bet he
lays his hands on the treasure straightaway and gives most of it to
those despicable peasants!”

He then glared at those peasants
and gestured for his wife, sons and what was left of his retinue to
follow him in his walk of shame out of the gate.

Roland addressed those who
remained: “Now, enough of enemies! Let’s make more time for
friends! I thank you once more, yee-hove-hees!”

The yee-hove-hees all cheered,
“Yee-hove-hee!”

“and thank you to the Venerable
Conceiver Of Strategies!”

The fool of the venerable conceiver
of strategies beat him around the face even more enthusiastically
as usual until the venerable conceiver at last seemed to realise
that he was being appreciated, gave a smile and even started
blowing kisses to all those cheering him.

“And Bobblejob and Jubblebub – step
forwards! You did your part, albeit unwittingly, so I am promoting
you both to be my guards with special responsibility for spotting
mythical and non existent monsters – a post with no responsibility
whatsoever. Nevertheless, you will still be supervised carefully to
prevent you doing any harm…”

Bobblejob said, “Thank you! Thank
you! I swear we will keep a special lookout for any mythical and
non—existent monsters and report them straight away if we see
any.”

“Yes, we will carry out our duties
digitally.” Said Jubblebub.

“And then jump in the moat,” Oliver
said.

Roland gave him a stare, then
continued, “And Firebrace my old counsel; I am sorry you could not
be with us in the final battle… What can I say, what can I give you
but my grateful thanks and enduring friendship.”

Everyone cheered and Firebrace
rose, as best he could, and acknowledged the applause.

“Oliver,” Roland said, “I make you
seneschal of this castle and Savitri chief muster mistress and
adjutant — if you will accept the positions.”

“Gladly,” said Oliver.

“Yes,” said Savitri, “and anyway, I
have nowhere else to go!”

Roland asked them, “I would like
both of you to supervise the guarding of the land surveyors and
ensure they cause no further problems.”

They both confirmed acceptance of
the grave responsibility.

Roland continued to express his
heartfelt thanks, “Thank you villagers!” — the villagers cheered —
“and thank you to the sun warriors.” — the sun warriors stood
silent, in rows, like dummies, as if waiting for their next orders;
but everyone cheered them anyway.

“And Lumenfarge! We all owe you
everything. You put yourself out to bring us the instruments of
this victory.”

Everyone cheered. In response
Lumenfarge burned even more brightly and with a slightly pink
tinge, almost as if he were blushing.

“And Mr Botherworth –
indispensible, and also wonderful!”

Botherworth really did blush.
Savitri hugged him.

Then the bird which had conveyed
messages when Roland was in the tower’s cradle fluttered down and
perched on his sleeve. It pulled at it with its beak and tweeted
loudly, as if demanding its role in the victory be
acknowledged.

“And thanks to you also – my able
avian messenger! I hereby make you captain of my birds!”

The bird tweeted its appreciation
and flew off, doubtless to inform its fellows of its new rank.

All said a quiet prayer to remember
all those who had fallen in battle, especially the Knights
Fortressers and particularly Brother Goodwill. “We will remember
them!”

Then they all went off to the great
feast that awaited them — all except for Roland and Firebrace, who
remained behind for a moment. Roland turned to Firebrace and said,
“The tower is the treasure isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” said Firebrace,
Doubtless there is gold or silver to be found in many of its rooms,
but it is as worthless as dust compared to the great treasure that
is the tower itself — the connexion between earth and sky that
sustains all life!”

“I am glad we saved the tower from
the Spirus – and from Uncle Dagarth and his friends.”

“We did well – you especially, my
young commander. But don’t think this will be your last battle;
there are many others who seek to control the tower.”

“And destroy it,” said Roland, “The
storm lords.”

“Them too.”

“One day I will defeat them and
free my mother.”

“Yes,” said Firebrace, “One day you
will.”

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