The dragon knights of Camelhot were sitting around the Square Table, waiting for one latecomer to arrive. King Allfire coughed and shuffled a sheaf of papers.

'Well,' he said, 'perhaps we should make a start. First order of business, then… now, let me see, it's here somewhere…'

'Forgive me, Your Majesty, but it doesn't seem right for us to start without Sir Blaze,' said Sir Burnevere. 'After all, he's just saved us all from becoming Merle's slaves, so I think we should do him the courtesy of waiting for him, at least a little longer.'

'Yes, I agree,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'We owe everything to Sir Blaze - we can't start without him.'

'It does seem a poor way to repay him for the great service he has performed for us, sirs,' said Sir Galahot.

'Well, well,' said King Allfire, 'I never dreamed I would see the day when the Square Table was surrounded by and regaled with unrestrained praise for Sir Blaze. What say you, Sir Loungelot?'

'Well, I'm very grateful to Sir Blaze, Your Majesty,' said Sir Loungelot, 'but I wouldn't mind starting the meeting without him, even in spite of his recent triumph.'

'Coo-ee! Panic over, everyone - I'm here, and look who I've brought with me!'

Sir Blaze entered the hall with his arm around the shoulders of a young male dragon.

'Is that Sir Charash?' Sir Hotbreath whispered to Sir Burnevere.

'I certainly hope it is,' Sir Burnevere whispered back.

'Ah, Sir Charash,' said King Allfire. 'Welcome back to Camelhot - we've been looking forward to seeing you again.'

'Thank you, Your Majesty,' said Sir Charash. 'I'm very glad to be back, although I must admit that I did enjoy spending a few weeks with my parents and telling them about everything, and hearing how proud they are of me. My mother even made me this lovely new tabard.'

'Doesn't he look stunning in it?' said Sir Blaze, grasping Charash by both shoulders and staring at him admiringly. 'That's the coat of arms of Toasting-Forkney, you know.'

'Yes, I recognise it,' said King Allfire. 'King Hot was once a great ally of mine, which is partly why I have always been ready and willing to knight his sons.'

'And that device you wear across the coat of arms, Sir Charash,' said Sir Burnevere, 'with the horizontal bar and the three stripes. Does that adornment not indicate that you are the heir to the title that goes with it?'

'Um, yes,' said Charash. 'My mother absolutely insisted that I should wear it. I believe Queen Griddle sent word to her that my brother, Sir Agraflame, wasn't ever going to be in a position to inherit my father's throne, and that… well, I was the only one left. I never expected to become heir to the throne, being the third and youngest son, but now I suppose I'll just have to take on the responsibility when the time comes… which won't be for many years, I hope.'

'Now that I've seen your new tabard, Charash, I remember Sir Agraflame wearing a device like that across his coat of arms when I first knew him,' said Sir Galahot. 'I never knew what it meant, but now I understand. Listen, we're sorry for the loss of your brother… for the loss of both of them, in fact. Aren't we, sirs?'

Everyone nodded and vocalised their agreement.

'Thank you,' said Charash. 'I never really knew Agraflame - he was twenty-two years older than me and I didn't see him often. But I do miss Gasflame, when I stop and think about it - he was a good brother to me.'

'And a good cousin to me,' said Sir Blaze.

'And a very good knight as well,' said King Allfire. 'Gasflame will always play an important role in the stories told of Camelhot, believe me.'

'Well, thank you, everyone,' said Charash. 'I'm glad to hear these things, and I'm honoured to take my place at the Square Table.'

'And we're honoured to have you,' said King Allfire. 'Do sit down, my boy.'

Sir Blaze showed Sir Charash to his seat, before taking his own. Sir Burnevere leaned towards Charash.

'Something's been bothering me ever since I first saw your coat of arms, Charash,' he said. 'Just what is the name of that horizontal bar that marks one out as heir to a title? I've been racking my brains and I just can't remember.'

'Oh, right,' said Charash. 'Well, it's called a label.'

'A label?' laughed Sir Loungelot. 'Not a very grand name, is it?'

'It does seem like a bit of a letdown,' said Sir Hotbreath.

'Let's make it our duty to think of a better name for it, sirs,' said Sir Galahot.

'It doesn't matter what it's called,' said Sir Blaze. 'Charash wears his label well, and he does it with pride - who cares if its name is a bit lame?'

'That's right,' said King Allfire, 'for let us not forget that even someone with a lowly label - such as "kitchen boy" - can save a kingdom. Now, to business…'

The knights filed out of the hall, talking amongst themselves and slapping Sir Charash on the back. With carefully timed precision, Queen Griddle swept into the throng and plucked Charash out.

'So nice to see you back here, my dear boy,' Queen Griddle said, dragging Charash off along a corridor. 'I deduce from your new tabard that Griselda must have received my letter.'

'Um, yes,' said Charash. 'Thank you for taking the time to write to her about me, Aunty Griddle.'

'Not at all, not at all,' said Queen Griddle. 'I can think of no one more deserving than you to inherit the throne of Toasting-Forkney someday. And just imagine if you were to marry someone who was also heir to the throne of a kingdom - your two kingdoms could unite into one glorious whole!'

'Aunty Griddle, I'm only just eighteen,' said Charash. 'I really haven't given any thought to marriage.'

'Well, you should - now is the ideal time!' said Queen Griddle. 'I have to show you something, Charash - quickly, in here!'

Charash stumbled and fell forward as Queen Griddle propelled him through a door and shut it behind him. He found himself in a very small room with no windows.

'Smells like apples,' said Charash, sniffing the air. 'Well, I suppose I'll just wait here, then.'

Sir Charash waited for several minutes, then he heard footsteps outside the door. He took a step towards it, but jumped back quickly as the door opened and Princess Flame lurched over the threshold, obviously having just received a powerful shove from behind. The door closed behind her and a key could be heard to turn in the lock.

King Allfire stuck his head around the door of the Chancellor's room.

'I say, Chancellor,' he said, 'are you at home to visitors just now?'

'Of course, Your Majesty,' said the Chancellor, looking up from his work. 'This is the second time in as many weeks that you've come to see me - I do feel honoured.'

'I'd just like to go through a bit of paperwork with you, old chap,' said King Allfire. 'We must make sure that Sir Charash's records are in order, and then I've got something to add to the Square Table To-Do List.'

'My pleasure, sire,' said the Chancellor. 'I'll gather up Sir Charash's paperwork for you now.'

'Thank you. Um, Chancellor…'

'Yes, Your Majesty?'

'I've been chewing something over in my mind lately, and I'd like to run it past you,' said King Allfire. 'You are, after all, Camelhot's greatest source of knowledge and wisdom.'

'Well,' said the Chancellor, 'knowledge, perhaps.'

'I've been thinking about knighting young Flicker,' said King Allfire. 'I've spoken to a lot of people about him and he really does seem to have proven his worth.'

'Ah yes, an excellent idea, Your Majesty,' said the Chancellor.

'But I'm not sure I should just knight him out of the blue,' said King Allfire. 'I thought perhaps I should wait until an opportune moment presents itself.'

'Until he's proven his worth one more time, you mean?'

'Well… yes, I suppose so. But on the other hand, perhaps he's done enough already - I know my daughter thinks he has.'

'If you were to knight young Flicker - as you put it, sire - out of the blue, do you think any of the Knights of the Square Table would feel annoyed or resentful in any way?' asked the Chancellor.

'I shouldn't think so,' said King Allfire. 'They all seem to think very highly of him.'

'Well, whatever you decide to do, I'd advise you to elucidate your plans to Princess Flame sooner rather than later,' said the Chancellor. 'I must confess, sire, that she's been here to see me more than once during the past week, asking about whether I thought you might be on the brink of making this decision.'

'Oh, has she indeed?' said King Allfire. 'Well, perhaps I should keep her hanging on a little longer, then - I wouldn't want her to think that she'd managed to badger me into giving her exactly what she wants!'

'It is for you to decide, Your Majesty,' said the Chancellor. 'Look, here is Sir Charash's paperwork.'

'Excellent,' said King Allfire.

Flame glared around the confined space with a thunderous look on her face, and then turned to Charash. Gradually, her expression softened.

'Hello, Sir Charash,' said Flame. 'Congratulations on your recent knighthood, and on your newly elevated position in Toasting-Forkney.'

'Thank you, Your Highness,' said Sir Charash. 'Um… what is this place?'

'It's a fruit cellar,' said Flame.

'Ah, so that's why it smells of apples,' said Charash. 'Do you have any idea why we're here?'

'Stepmother Griddle has locked us in together,' said Flame.

'Oh, I see,' said Charash. 'Why has she done that?'

'To force us to spend some time together - she wants us to get married.'

'Oh… so that's what she was talking about after the meeting!'

'Yes, she seems very keen on the idea of uniting the kingdoms of Camelhot and Toasting-Forkney,' said Flame, running her hands around the edge of the door. 'That arrangement really doesn't fit in with my plans, though, and I'm sure it doesn't fit in with yours either… so it won't be happening.'

'Are things really that simple?' asked Charash. 'I mean, if Aunty Griddle really wants this, what can we do to change her mind?'

'Foiling her carefully laid plan doesn't necessarily mean changing her mind,' said Flame. 'It might be necessary to remove a vital part of the plan instead. By the way, we were all sorry to hear about Sir Agraflame - your parents must be very upset.'

'Well, they are, but they both pretty much gave up on Agraflame a long time ago,' said Charash. 'My father says I'm a much more suitable heir than Agraflame, because I'm not evil.'

'That is a very important factor in your favour, Charash,' said Flame, facing the door and staring down at the keyhole. 'Now, would you mind if I got us out of here?'

'Not at all, Your Highness,' said Charash. 'If that's what you want to do.'

'Believe me,' said Flame, 'that most definitely is what I want to do!'

The sound of roaring flame filled the fruit cellar as Princess Flame blasted the keyhole with as much fire as she could generate. The lock buckled and the door caught fire, and Flame hurled herself against it. She felt the heavy obstacle move before she was pushed back, and went in for a second assault. On the third try, Flame burst out into the corridor.

'Enough!' she growled. 'Daddy, I want a word with you!'

'Have you got that, Chancellor?' asked King Allfire.

'I think so, Your Majesty,' said the Chancellor, reading back over what he had just written. 'To Do: Think of a better name than "label" for a label (heraldic device).'

'That's it,' said King Allfire. 'Marvellous.'

'Daddy!'

'Hello, Puff,' said Allfire, as Flame stormed into the room. 'What can I do for you?'

'You can do for me what you should've done for me several years ago!' said Flame. 'You can knight Flicker and let me marry him, and then we'll both be extremely happy and Stepmother Griddle will have to stop trying to marry me off to random people!'

'My dear,' said King Allfire, 'remember your recently acquired patience…'

'I've been patient!' Flame fumed. 'I've been more patient than anyone could reasonably have expected me to be! But I am not going to hang around forever waiting for something that is never going to happen - my mother died doing that, and I'm not going to share her fate! Daddy, you've been making your enquiries and mulling things over and you've had long enough! Tell me right now whether you're going to knight Flicker, or else!'

'Or else what, Puff?'

'Or else I'm going to do something really bad!'

'Your Majesty,' said the Chancellor, 'if you still want my advice on this matter, I'd urge you remember my earlier recommendation in relation to your daughter.'

'Thank you, Chancellor, but I'll handle this in my own way,' said King Allfire, frowning slightly. 'Flame, no one has the right to issue an ultimatum to a king - not even you! As I told you before, I shall make my decision - and let you know what it is - in my own time…'

'You've had more time than you could possibly need!' Flame roared. 'Tell me you're going to knight Flicker, Daddy - tell me now, or you will regret it!'

'Flame, I want you to go to your room and think about how a princess should conduct herself,' said King Allfire. 'When you have calmed down, I shall -'

'That's it!' Flame screamed. 'That was your last chance!'

'Flame, as your father and as your king, I order you to go to your room!'

'NO!'

There was a sudden flurry of movement, and a table went crashing to the floor. King Allfire and the Chancellor barely had time to open their mouths to object before several bookshelves were being torn from the walls.

'My records!' the Chancellor cried in dismay.

'Flame, what do you think you're doing?' King Allfire demanded.

'I told you I'd do something bad!' Flame replied, running over to the window. 'Flicker is Camelhot's greatest and noblest warrior - tell me that you're going to give him the recognition he deserves!'

'Flame, I can't just…'

Allfire's words were drowned out by Flame's screams and sobs, then the sound of ripping curtain material filled the room.

'Oh,' said the Chancellor, 'my curtains!'

Flame tore the curtains to pieces with her claws and teeth, before turning her attention to a large book entitled Code of Chivalry that was standing on a lectern nearby.

'Now, Puff,' King Allfire said uncertainly, 'don't do anything you'll regret later.'

'I'm never going to let myself be in a position to regret anything ever again!' Flame yelled. 'The only thing I regret is that I've been forced to live my life under the cruel oppression of the rules in this book!'

'But Flame,' said King Allfire, 'it's the Code!'

'Hang the stupid code!' Flame roared. 'In fact, blast the stupid code!'

With that, Flame unleashed a colossal stream of fire at the Code of Chivalry, which flared up at once and began to burn away. Flame turned on her heel and stormed from the room, leaving King Allfire and the Chancellor gaping after her.

'I… I can't believe it,' said King Allfire. 'I simply can't believe it.'

'Your… Your Majesty,' said the Chancellor, 'do not despair - I have several back-up copies of the Code of Chivalry.'

'That's not the point,' said King Allfire. 'Don't you see, Chancellor? Flame destroyed the Code of Chivalry, and in doing so… she might as well have destroyed Camelhot.'

Flicker was sitting on a chair and darning one of Sir Loungelot's tunics when Flame came bursting into his workshop, breathing heavily and wearing a dark look.

'Hello, Flame,' Flicker said uncertainly. 'I was hoping I'd see you so I could, er…'

'Yes?'

'Well… I was going to ask you for some tips on sewing, but that's not important right now.' He bundled the tunic, needle and thread onto the floor and got to his feet. 'Are you all right?'

'No,' she said. 'But I will be in a minute. We're going.'

'We're… what?'

'I've told you, Flicker! I've waited and waited and waited for my father to knight you, and it simply is not happening! Just now I went to ask him about it again, and he turned round and said I couldn't tell him what to do because he was the King, and he was never going to knight you!'

'Did he really say that?' asked Flicker, looking stricken.

'Well… not in so many words, but Flicker, can't you see? If it was going to happen, it would have by now, after all my efforts and his empty promises. It's too late. The time has been and gone, and what's more, Stepmother Griddle is now determined that I should marry Sir Charash.'

'Marry Sir Charash? Oh, but surely the King wouldn't -'

'I can't depend on my father for anything anymore!' said Flame. 'A couple of years ago the man walked me down the aisle to marry a giant chicken, for crying out loud! And you remember that jousting tournament, don't you? He let it go ahead because Queen Griddle was "in a bit of a mood"! His words! Flicker, we have to leave!'

'But Flame… the Code…'

Her expression darkened. 'I hate the code.'

'Well, I don't,' said Flicker, frowning.

'I know you don't. You've always put the code before me, haven't you?'

'No I have not! I've only once gone against the Code of Chivalry, Flame, and that was for you. You just mentioned it yourself - the joust for your hand. Remember the Pink - er - White Knight who left a red sock in with the wash? I know I refused to do it at first, but I did it in the end, and I'll thank you not to forget it.'

Flame sighed, took a moment to calm herself and then said, 'Of course I haven't forgotten, and I never will forget that, nor anything else you've done for me. Listen. I know the Code is important to you, but Flicker, you're not a knight. It isn't for you.'

'It's for everyone who wants to live -'

'Oh, blazing dragons, don't you understand? I need you!' So saying Flame strode forwards, grabbed both of Flicker's arms and pushed him up against the wall. 'I want you, and I've got to have you - heart, body and soul - and soon! Because above everything else, Flicker, I love you.'

'Flame,' said Flicker, 'you shouldn't say… we shouldn't be… I mean… let's just think about this reasonably for a minute.'

'Oh, Flicker! I have loved you since the moment I clapped eyes on you. What could be more reasonable than to marry you? What you're looking for isn't here… and neither will I be, after tonight. I'm going, and I want you to come with me.'

Flicker looked at her for a moment. Then he let out a sigh, and said, 'Where would we go?'

'What about Northumberland?' said Flame. 'Your wicked stepmother is still living in your father's house, isn't she?'

'Yes… as far as I know. But she hates me.'

'So what? It's your house by rights - we could turn her out.'

'Oh, I couldn't do that,' said Flicker. 'She's got nowhere else to go. I refuse to punish her, no matter what she's done, but I don't really want to live with her either. Anyway, the house is hardly anything, especially compared to Camelhot. I can't ask a princess to live there.'

Scowling, Flame said, 'I don't care about that, and anyway, I'm asking you. All right, look… what about Singetagel? Princess Solder is my best friend now, and she seems quite interested in our relationship. She could probably even persuade her father to knight you, if she reminds him about how you saved Ignatio's egg. Yes, that's it! We'll go to Singetagel Castle!'

'But Flame, we can't impose -'

'Oh, what is the matter with you?' She dropped his arms, stepped rapidly away from him and turned her back. 'You're just making excuses not to run away with me.'

'No, Flame, honestly I'm not. I'm just trying to be practical.'

'Practical! Who cares about practical? I don't! We'll live in a cave if we have to! Flicker.' She turned round, and her eyes bored into his. 'If I asked you to fly out of that window with me right now, and never come back, would you do it?'

'Of course,' said Flicker. 'I'd do anything for you.'

'Why?'

'Why?'

'Yes, why?'

'You know why.'

'But I want to hear it!' said Flame. 'Why won't you say it?'

'I can't say it here,' said Flicker. 'It's not right. You're the Princess, and I'm -'

'I know what you are, and it's a lot more than you're given credit for. Your being a squire means nothing now, even if it did once make a difference! Look… I'm going to my room to fetch a few things, and then I'll come back here. I am leaving this castle tonight, Flicker, no matter what. If you want to come with me, pack a bag and we'll go together. If you'd rather stay here…'

With these words, her voice finally faltered. She turned away again, and made for the door. As she pulled it open, Flicker began to say, 'Of course I -'

The last word was drowned as Flame slammed the door behind her. For a moment, Flicker stared at where she had been standing. Then he turned with a sigh, went to his bed and pulled a knapsack out from under it.

Outside the window, the sky was darkening and a rope was trailing from the turrets above, straining with the weight of Count Geoffrey's Evil Spy as he slid down it to the ground.

In Castle Threadbare, Count Geoffrey stood scowling at Evil Knights Numbers One and Three, who were clutching each other and sobbing.

'When are you two going to stop snivelling?' said Geoffrey. 'You've been moping around the place for weeks!'

'We can't help it, dread Count Geoffrey!' said Evil Knight Number One.

'We miss Evil Knight Number Two!' sobbed Evil Knight Number Three.

Geoffrey said nothing else, but was still scowling at them when the Evil Spy ran into the room and whispered something into his ear.

'Hmm,' said Count Geoffrey, his brow furrowing in thought. 'Princess Flame wandering the castle grounds at night, with a view to running away, you say! Well, well, well! That's an opportunity too good to miss, isn't it, boys?'

Evil Knights Numbers One and Three gazed dolefully up at him, sniffling.

'Oh, pull yourselves together!' said Geoffrey. 'I have a plan!'