All the dragons of Camelhot were gathered in the courtyard, staring in surprise as Sir Galahot and Sir Hotbreath entered the castle.

'My knights!' said King Allfire. 'Blazing dragons, what a marvellous surprise! The fellowship of the Square Table is complete once more.'

'My king,' said Sir Galahot, executing a bow. 'We have returned from our noble quest, and we have brought you… well, something.'

'A bit too long to be a noble quest, if you ask me,' Sir Loungelot said to the other knights. 'They've probably just been loafing about the whole time, and now they've come back looking to steal a bit of glory.'

'Ah, my good, brave, noble knights,' said King Allfire. 'Have you brought me back an ancient and valuable mystic artefact, as you always used to?'

'Well, not exactly, sire,' said Sir Galahot. 'Sir Hotbreath, sir - show the King our prize.'

For the first time, everyone noticed that Sir Hotbreath was holding both hands behind his back. Shifting from foot to foot and belching little jets of fire, he revealed the spoils of the quest.

'It's a lemon tree, sire,' he said, placing a small plant pot onto the ground in front of him. 'We got it from Leominster.'

'The fabled Lemon Tree of Leominster,' said Sir Burnevere. 'I have read of this most illustrious shrub.'

King Allfire was eyeing the lemon tree suspiciously.

'My noble knights… I don't mean to criticise, or jump to any conclusions,' he said, 'but is this all you've got to show for such a lengthy quest?'

'It's all we've got to show for it, sire, yes,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'For now, anyway…'

'Hmm, maybe Loungelot was right for once,' Sir Blaze whispered to Sir Burnevere.

'But sirs, the fruit of this tree is reputed to taste like the nectar of the gods!' said Sir Galahot. 'If one of you would care to sample it…'

'You can count me out,' said Sir Burnevere. 'I have heard tell that the lemon is a bitter and tasteless fruit, overly abundant in citric acid.'

'Loungelot will try it!' Queen Griddle declared. 'You're not afraid of this citric acid stuff, are you, Loungelot?'

'Erm… of course not, my queen,' said Sir Loungelot. 'Fear not - no lemon is going to get the better of Sir Loungelot!'

Loungelot approached the lemon tree, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Sir Galahot plucked a lemon from the top branch and held it out to him.

'Go on, Loungelot, eat it!' said Queen Griddle.

Sir Loungelot put the lemon into his mouth and bit down hard. He immediately screeched in alarm and started clawing at his jaw, before rushing back to where he had been standing and spitting the lemon out. The yellow, pulpy mess sprayed all over Sir Blaze.

'Eeew, Loungey, it's in my eye!' said Sir Blaze. 'Ooh… argh… ouch, it really stings!'

'Nectar of the gods, my foot!' said Sir Loungelot. 'Lemons are truly the Devil's sweetmeats!'

'Come to think of it, sir, I don't think you're supposed to eat it neat,' said Sir Galahot. 'I believe we were told that the best thing to do with these lemons is to drain them of their juices and make lemonade. Is that not right, Hotbreath?'

'Hmm? Oh… oh, yes,' said Sir Hotbreath, who had clearly not been listening. 'Lemonade, that's right.'

'Very well, then - we shall reserve judgment until we have tasted this lemonade,' said King Allfire. 'Cinder and Clinker - I want you to harvest all the lemons you can from this tree, and make lemonade from them.'

'Ooh, lemonade!' said Cinder. 'Should be delicious.'

'Won't we need sugar?' said Clinker. 'A lot of sugar.'

'Tell Chef Turnspit to give you all the sugar you want,' said King Allfire. 'We shall all gorge ourselves on lemonade to celebrate the safe return of Sir Galahot and Sir Hotbreath, and in the meantime, let us hear their tales of great adventure, and welcome them back to Camelhot and the Square Table, where they belong. Come, my noble knights!'

With that, King Allfire led the court of Camelhot back inside the castle; only Cinder and Clinker remained in the courtyard, picking lemons for all they were worth.

'Isn't it wonderful that Sir Galahot and Sir Hotbreath are back?' Flicker said to Flame.

'Yes, it's very good news… but don't use it as an excuse not to push yourself forward a little, Flicker, as were discussing,' said Flame.

'Flame, my… my position on the matter hasn't changed,' said Flicker. 'But there are more important things for the King and the knights to deal with at the moment… like hearing about Sir Galahot and Sir Hotbreath's adventures.'

'Yes, I suppose so,' said Flame. 'Hmm… you know, Flicker, I'm not sure that Sir Hotbreath is very happy to be back. Sir Galahot seems more buoyant than I've ever seen him before, but Hotbreath…'

'I know what you mean, Flame,' said Flicker. 'He seems upset - or at least distracted - about something. Maybe he's getting adventure withdrawal symptoms.'

'Why don't you talk to him, Flicker?' said Flame. 'Maybe there's something he'd like to get off his chest.'

'Flame,' said Flicker, 'it's not a lowly squire's place to…'

'Fine, then - don't talk to him!' said Flame, flouncing ahead of Flicker. 'It's up to you, Flicker - I can't make your choices for you!'

'And then, sirs, the Two-Headed Harpy of Sutton Coldfield swooped down on us like a gigantic, ravenous bird of prey!' Sir Galahot declared. 'I knew that only the Sacred Shield of St. Cuthbert the Unsteady could save us!'

King Allfire and the Knights of the Square Table stared at Sir Galahot, hanging on his every word. Only two of the dragons seated at the Square Table seemed uninterested; Sir Hotbreath was sitting with his head in his hands, his expression downcast, while Sir Loungelot was eating as much food as he could manage to cram into his mouth.

'Sir Galahot certainly seems to have enjoyed his quest, doesn't he?' Flicker whispered to Sir Loungelot, pouring wine into his goblet. 'I don't think I've ever heard him say so much at one time… or at all, come to think of it.'

'He's got a terrible case of verbal diarrhoea,' said Sir Loungelot. 'There's nothing I loathe more than a puffed-up braggart who's always wasting everybody's time banging on about his boring so-called adventures!'

'Yes, Milord,' said Flicker. 'But have you noticed Sir Hotbreath? He seems very subdued, don't you think?'

'At least he's keeping his trap shut,' said Sir Loungelot.

'That's what worries me, Milord,' said Flicker. 'Sir Hotbreath should be full of daring tales of great adventure, just like Sir Galahot, but… well, he isn't.'

'So?' said Sir Loungelot.

'So, maybe there's something wrong with him,' said Flicker.

'Maybe there is,' said Sir Loungelot.

'And maybe someone should try to talk to him about it,' Flicker pressed. 'One of his fellow knights, perhaps.'

'Raging plague, Flicker!' Loungelot hissed. 'I've got much better things to do with my precious time than play agony aunt for Sir Hotbreath! If he wants to go around looking like a wet weekend in Grimsby, who am I to deny him?'

'But, Milord -'

'Lemonade!' Cinder's voice suddenly filled the room. 'Lemonade for everyone!'

'Don't worry about the pulpy bits,' said Clinker. 'They're meant to be there; they add to the flavour.'

King Allfire and his knights tasted the lemonade; each of them belched out a small jet of fire after taking their first gulp.

'It certainly has a pleasant kick to it,' said Sir Burnevere.

'It still stings,' said Sir Blaze, 'but not unpleasantly this time.'

'Congratulations, Cinder and Clinker,' said King Allfire. 'Your lemonade is a rip-roaring success!'

'Thank you, Your Majesty,' said Clinker.

'We always aim to please, sire,' added Cinder.

'I still say it comes straight from Satan's gullet,' muttered Sir Loungelot. 'Flicker, you can finish mine for me.'

'Er… thank you, Milord,' said Flicker, accepting the proffered beaker. 'So, about Sir Hotbreath…'

'I told you, Flicker, Hotbreath's melancholy mood is no concern of mine!' Sir Loungelot snapped. 'If you're really all that worried about him, why don't you go and talk to him yourself?'

'Yes,' said Flicker. 'Yes, perhaps I will.'

Flicker yawned as he closed the door of Sir Loungelot's bedchamber behind him. With the intention of reaching his own bedchamber, Flicker crossed the corridor and climbed a nearby staircase. When he reached the top, he almost fell over Sir Hotbreath.

'Oh… I'm sorry, Sir Hotbreath,' said Flicker. 'I didn't see you down there, what with it being so dark and all.'

Sir Hotbreath raised his eyes to look at Flicker. He sighed heavily, and lowered his gaze again. Making a quick decision, Flicker sat down next to him.

'I hope you'll forgive me for saying so, My Lord, but you haven't seemed… quite yourself since you got back,' said Flicker.

'Well then, perhaps I'm not myself,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'It wouldn't surprise me.'

'Er… is there anything you'd like to talk about, Sir Hotbreath?' said Flicker. 'You can trust me not to repeat anything you tell me… unless you want me to, that is.'

'I don't suppose there's any harm in telling you,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'I don't suppose it really matters who knows, come to think of it. After all, everyone's going to know tomorrow, aren't they?'

'Everyone's going to know what?'

'That I've been a fool! That I've gambled with my life and lost!'

'Oh. Oh, right,' said Flicker. 'Um… does this have anything to do with your recent quest?'

'Yes,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'You see, I was on the road to Leominster - Sir Galahot had gone on ahead of me; he had that tree when I next saw him - and I ran into this fellow who called himself the Puce Knight. He challenged me to a duel… he was very courteous and polite about it, but he refused to let me pass until I had fought him, so… well, I did.'

'And did you win?' asked Flicker.

'Well, yes,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'And no. You see, before we began our duel, the Puce Knight got me to agree to a very strange set of terms and… well, I think he tricked me good and proper, to be honest.'

As Sir Hotbreath recounted his experiences with the Puce Knight, a curtain twitched at the top of the staircase, although neither Flicker nor Sir Hotbreath was in a position to notice.

'So, let me get this straight,' said Flicker. 'You agreed that if you managed to defeat the Puce Knight, you'd let him do the same thing to you that you'd done to him after exactly one month had passed… and then you cut his head off?'

'That's right,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'Well, how was I supposed to know he'd pick it up and put it straight back on again?'

'Was he angry?' asked Flicker.

'No - he was as polite and friendly as ever,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'He congratulated me on my battle skills, and he agreed to let me pass because I'd defeated him. But then he told me he'd come to find me in one month's time and do to me what I had done to him, as we agreed. So, he'll be here tomorrow to cut my head off… and I've given him my word that I'll let him do it!'

'Well, Sir Hotbreath… a knight's word is his bond,' said Flicker.

'So you're saying I should let him kill me, is that it?' said Sir Hotbreath.

'Hmm, not exactly, but… well, maybe this Puce Knight doesn't really want to kill you,' said Flicker. 'Maybe he's just testing you; a test of chivalry, I mean.'

'Do you really think I can afford to take that chance?' said Sir Hotbreath.

'To be perfectly honest, My Lord, I don't think you can afford not to,' said Flicker. 'You are a Knight of the Square Table, and a knight's word speaks only truth. If you have promised the Puce Knight that you'll let him cut your head off, you'll have to honour that promise… but that doesn't mean he'll necessarily take the opportunity to do it!'

'Well, I hope you're right,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'My head doesn't reattach as easily as his does… not so far as I know, anyway. So you really think I should stop fretting and just keep my word to the fellow?'

'Well, I think that if you do, it can't be the wrong course of action,' said Flicker. 'I mean, if you honour your word as a knight, things have to work out for the best. Doesn't King Allfire's Code of Chivalry tell us so, and haven't we all sworn to uphold it?'

'I wish I had such faith in the Code as you seem to,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'You obviously know it very well, and you seem to trust it completely, but you're not even a knight… you're Loungelot's squire, aren't you?'

'Flicker, Sir Hotbreath.'

'Yes… well, Flicker, if you can place your trust in the Code of Chivalry and not waver when your faith is tested, then so can I! I shall meet the Puce Knight tomorrow, and I shall keep my word to him, and I shall trust in the Code to ensure that everything turns out for the best.'

'Good for you!' said Flicker.

'I'd better get some sleep if I'm going to be ready to face my destiny in the morning,' said Hotbreath, rising to his feet. 'But I do feel that I can face it now, thanks to you, Flicker.'

With that, Sir Hotbreath descended the staircase and passed into the corridor beyond. A few seconds later, Flicker resumed his journey towards his bedchamber.

A further few seconds passed, and Count Geoffrey's Evil Spy stepped out from behind the curtain at the top of the stairway. Swiftly and silently, he made his way out of the castle and set off for Castle Threadbare.

'Heh-heh-heh, this is perfect!' Count Geoffrey told his Evil Knights. 'Thanks to my Evil Spy, I know exactly how we can get those pesky dragons out of Camelhot for good.'

'Does that mean we'll be moving in ourselves?' asked Evil Knight Number Two.

'Of course!' said Count Geoffrey. 'What else would we do with the place?'

'Open it up to visitors and charge people to take tours of the castle and grounds?' said Evil Knight Number Three. 'We could make a lot of money, dread Count Geoffrey.'

'What a stupid idea!' said Geoffrey, cuffing Evil Knight Number Three around the back of the head. 'As if anyone's ever going to make any money doing something like that! No, Camelhot will soon be my bastion of evil. Evil Knights Numbers One, Two and Three… I have a plan.'

'Enlighten us, oh mighty evil one,' said Evil Knight Number One.

'Indeed I shall,' said Count Geoffrey. 'One of those foolish dragons is expecting a visit from the Puce Knight tomorrow. And the Puce Knight is going to turn up, and he is going to remove the scaly head of that dragon as planned… and then he's going to take over Camelhot!'

'But I thought you were taking over Camelhot, Count Geoffrey,' said Evil Knight Number Two.

'Idiot!' said Count Geoffrey. 'I will take over Camelhot, because I'll be the Puce Knight, and the Puce Knight will be me, and we'll be one and the same!'

'I didn't know you were the Puce Knight, Count Geoffrey,' said Evil Knight Number One.

'Well I'm not, am I?' said Count Geoffrey. 'Not yet, at any rate. But tomorrow I shall be the Puce Knight, and I shall dispatch Sir Hotbreath without mercy, thanks to my characteristic ruthlessness and evil! After that, I'll tell all the other dragons to scarper unless they want to suffer the same fate, and then Camelhot will be mine!'

'But… if you've just killed a dragon knight, won't the other dragons be mad with you?' said Evil Knight Number Three. 'Instead of running away from you, they might… well, attack you.'

'Heh-heh-heh! They won't do that, because then they'd be going against Allfire's ridiculous Code of Chivalry!' said Count Geoffrey. 'Sir Hotbreath has given his word that he'll allow the Puce Knight to behead him tomorrow, and there's nothing the other dragons can do about it!'

'But are you sure they'll be scared enough to run off and leave you Camelhot without a fight?' said Evil Knight Number Two.

'Well, think about it this way,' said Count Geoffrey. 'If the Puce Knight came into your castle, killed one of your court and told you to get out unless you wanted the same thing to happen to you, and you knew that he could reattach his head when someone cut it off, wouldn't you leave without a fight?'

'Er… I guess so,' said the three Evil Knights in unison.

'Exactly - it's a brilliant plan,' said Count Geoffrey. 'And all I need to bring it off is a convincing Puce Knight disguise. MERLE!'

There was a flash of lightning and a puff of smoke, and a small bed appeared in front of Count Geoffrey. It was occupied by Merle the Wizard, grey hair in curlers and apparently fast asleep.

'Merle, wake up!' Geoffrey barked.

'Give me a break, Geoff; you're interrupting my ugly-sleep!' said Merle, opening her eyes. 'How's a girl supposed to stay wrinkled and warty if she doesn't get her full eight hours?'

'You can go back to sleep as soon as you've made me look like the Puce Knight, you revolting old witch,' said Count Geoffrey.

'Ooh, the Puce Knight,' said Merle. 'Yes, I remember him, from my younger days… I remember him very well.'

'I don't want to know any more details, do I?' said Count Geoffrey.

'You certainly don't, Geoff,' said Merle. 'Not unless you want to be off your food for a week. Okay, let's see here…'

Merle snapped her fingers, and Count Geoffrey was dressed from head to toe in pinkish-brown armour, a huge visor obscuring his face. He had grown by about two feet, and looked an imposing figure indeed.

'Oh yes, that's the Puce Knight all right,' said Merle. 'Sure brings back memories, Geoff, seeing you like that…'

Count Geoffrey shuddered and made a noise of disgust.

'Now, what else?' said Merle. 'Oh yeah - the Puce Knight always rode on a magnificent puce charger. I guess we'll just have to make do with you, boys.'

Merle snapped her fingers again, and the three Evil Knights were squashed together inside an enormous coat of horse's armour.

'Hey, it's dark in here,' said Evil Knight Number Two.

'Is that your nose?' said Evil Knight Number One.

'No, that's me,' said Evil Knight Number Three. 'And it's not my nose.'

'Well, let me know if you manage to take over Camelhot,' said Merle. 'I bags King Allfire's room. Bye!'

Merle and the bed disappeared. Count Geoffrey mounted his 'horse', chuckling to himself all the while.

'I've got you this time, Allfire!' he declared, in a voice deeper than his own. 'There's nothing you can do to stop me - Camelhot is mine!'

Flicker had just blown out his candle and was preparing to get into bed when he heard a knock at his bedroom door. He blew on the candle for a second time, this time releasing a jet of flame to reignite the wick, and went to open the door.

'Oh, Flame,' he said, sounding slightly alarmed. 'Um… it's very late, you know, and…'

'Relax, Flicker, no one knows I'm here,' said Flame. 'I saw you talking to Sir Hotbreath. For what it's worth, I think you made the right choice.'

'It's worth a great deal, Milady.'

'Did you find out what's bothering him?'

'Yes, I did,' said Flicker. 'And I think I can tell you - he didn't ask me to keep it a secret. In fact, he said that everyone's going to know about it tomorrow morning, so it doesn't matter who finds out.'

'Oh goody, then you can tell me all about it,' said Flame. 'Can I come in?'

'I think it would be better if I escorted you back to your room, and we discussed the matter on the way,' said Flicker, 'don't you?'

'What's wrong, Flicker?' said Flame. 'Scared of what might happen if the Princess is discovered in your bedchamber in the middle of the night?'

'Yes, Flame, I am scared of that!' said Flicker. 'And so should you be. I know that the consequences for you wouldn't be as severe - and probably terminal - as they would be for me, but surely you realise that whatever happened, the consequences for us… I mean, the consequences for our future… well, for any chance we might have of… oh, I don't know what I'm trying to say!'

'I know what you're trying to say, Flicker,' said Flame. 'And you're right, of course. Come, then - escort me back to my boudoir, kind sir.'

She held out an arm. Flicker smiled, and hooked his own arm through hers. They set off along the corridor together.

'Sir Hotbreath is worried that a mysterious character named the Puce Knight is going to come here tomorrow and decapitate him,' said Flicker.

'Seems like a strange thing to worry about,' said Flame. 'Why does Sir Hotbreath fear this unlikely occurrence so?'

'Because one month ago, he agreed to let it happen.'

'Oh, I see. Why did he do that?'

'The Puce Knight must be some kind of shape-changer or sorcerer,' said Flicker. 'He put his own head back on after Sir Hotbreath had cut it off, but Sir Hotbreath had already agreed to let the Puce Knight do the same thing to him after a month had passed, and… well, Sir Hotbreath's head isn't detachable, is it?'

'Quite a quandary,' said Flame. 'Did you give Sir Hotbreath any advice?'

'I told him to trust in the Code of Chivalry,' said Flicker.

'Yes, well I don't suppose there's anything else he can do, if he's given his word of honour to this fellow,' said Flame. 'Still, it seems a shame to let Sir Hotbreath just stand there and get decapitated. Oh look, here's my room.'

Flame opened the door and entered her bedroom. She turned back to smile at Flicker, and then kissed him on the cheek.

'I'll come and find you first thing tomorrow morning, Flicker,' she said. 'We'll keep an eye on this Puce Knight situation, even if we can't do anything about it. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight, Milady,' said Flicker.