Will and Galahad traveled for a long while with little said between them. His quest was to find Deanna. He could care less about the Holy Grail.
Eventually, Galahad spoke. "Sir William, do you think we'll actually find the Grail?"
Riker shook his head in mild amusement. "I have no idea, Galahad. I would like to find Deanna first." He stopped for a moment, seeing a bit of red tangled in a tree several meters ahead of them. "It looks like the cardinals ran through here."
The young knight followed him to the scrap of material. "Don't you think finding the Grail is more important?"
"Not more important than finding Deanna," Will answered. Looking at the ground, he saw footprints leading toward the edge of the woods. "This way."
The two started toward the tree line, when an explosion nearby threw them roughly to the ground. Will landed painfully on his left shoulder and Galahad's right leg was injured when the explosion knocked him against a tree.
Slowly, Riker picked himself off the ground and checked on the young knight. "Galahad, are you alright?"
"Ow-ow-ow-ow!" he complained, trying to cradle his hurt leg.
God, when is this craziness going to end? Will grabbed the young man's arm. "Come on, stand up. I'm sure you'll be fine. We have a mission to accomplish, remember?"
Galahad's voice was shaky when he answered. "Y-yes, you are right. We must find the Grail!" He took Will's hand and pulled up, hopping slightly on his uninjured leg.
Riker pulled Galahad's arm around his neck to help the young man walk. "Maybe there's a castle nearby where we can get someone to look at that leg of yours." And I can leave you there.
"Sorry 'bout that!" A voice called from behind them, causing the commander to stop. "We set a trap to kill mosquitoes an' it looks like you triggered it!"
Will turned in the direction of the voice, almost expecting to see the Spanish Inquisition again. He was surprised to see a group of men that looked very similar to several of the other knights, Arthur included. "Kill mosquitoes?" he asked.
"Yep, tha's what we do!"
This keeps getting worse and worse, Will thought. "Isn't setting a bomb a bit much for killing mosquitoes?"
"Nah." The man speaking finally stepped out from the bushes, wearing safari khakis. "They're real killers, I tell ya! You gotta be sneaky to get 'em."
"Yeah," Riker deadpanned. "Well, you injured my friend here," he nodded toward the whimpering form of Galahad, who was leaning heavily on him. "Any chance you've got a medic with you?"
"Nope." The 'hunter' approached the two, studying Galahad. "'E's not injured bad. 'Tis but a scratch."
"Is NOT!" Galahad yelled.
Will rolled his eyes. More insanity. "Okay, Galahad, let's go." He turned back toward the man in khakis. "Be more careful where you set those bombs, okay?"
Before he could answer, Riker pulled Galahad along with him toward the edge of the forest. The extra weight of the young knight was pulling on his bruised shoulder. He winced in pain, hoping there was a castle nearby so he could drop the knight off and continue looking for Deanna.
The Spanish Inquisition, led by Cardinal Ximinez, drug Deanna Troi through the forest.
"You won't get away with this!" Troi exclaimed. "King Arthur will send his knights after you!"
"I think not!" the cardinal said. "But, that doesn't matter! You will confess your heinous act of heresy!" His smile held a bit of dark amusement. "On pain of… TORTURE!"
Deanna felt all the blood drain from her head. What did they mean by that? "I still don't understand what you mean. Why must I confess?"
"You will understand when we get to the castle." Ximinez laughed and the other joined in.
"There it is!"
The counselor looked up to see the stone structure ahead of them. She wasn't able to get a real good look with all the bouncing around in-between Cardinals Fang and Biggles as they pulled her along while they ran toward the castle.
Upon entering, they pulled her through several dark passages before stopping in a cold room that somehow felt as if it were underground.
The Spaniards stopped as Cardinal Ximinez circled around them. "Now, woman -- you are accused of heresy on three counts -- heresy by thought, heresy by word, heresy by deed, and heresy by action -- four counts. Do you confess?" He rubbed his hands together, giving her a smug smile.
Deanna sighed, very frustrated with these men. "I told you, I don't understand what I'm being accused of!"
He laughed, "Biggles! Fetch the CUSHIONS!"
Cushions? Curiosity took Deanna completely. What would he want with cushions?
The man ran off, returning quickly with a couple of what Deanna identified as throw pillows. "Here they are, lord."
Ximinez turned quite dramatically toward Troi. "Now, lady, you have one last chance. Confess the heinous sin of heresy, reject the works of the ungodly -- two last chances. And you shall be free -- three last chances. You have three last chances, the nature of which I have divulged in my previous utterance."
All Deanna could do was stare at her captor. "You've got to be kidding."
"I am not, milady!" the cardinal snapped. "Confess, or be tortured!"
She rolled her eyes, "Oh, no! Not the cushions!"
"Right!" he exclaimed, gesturing the go-ahead to Biggles. "Poke her with the soft cushions!"
As the Biggles continued to poke her with the pillows, all three cardinals were chanting, "Confess! Confess! Confess!"
Deanna couldn't hold it in any longer. The cushions tickled and with the craziness of the men there, she burst into laughter.
Cardinal Biggles stopped what he was doing. "It doesn't seem to be affecting her, lord."
Ximinez spun around, his robes flowing about him. "Do you have all the stuffing at one end?"
"Yes, lord."
The lead cardinal jerked the cushions from Biggles, then stroked his chin thoughtfully. "She must be made of harder stuff."
That comment caused another bought of laughter from Deanna, which seemed to make Ximinez all the angrier. "Cardinal Fang! Fetch… THE COMFY CHAIR!"
Fang's face contorted, reflecting absolute horror. "Not the comfy chair!" He then turned to leave the room.
"Yes! The comfy chair!" the leader clapped his hands in victory, facing Troi once again. "So you think you are strong because you can survive the soft cushions. Well, we shall see."
Fang returned, pushing a very plush, soft-looking chair into the room, placing it in front of Deanna.
"Biggles! Put her in the Comfy Chair!" Ximinez ordered.
The cardinal did as he was told, taking her by the arm and guided her to the chair and pushed her into it.
Leering at Deanna, Ximinez threatened, "Now -- you will stay in the Comfy Chair until lunch time, with only a cup of coffee at eleven." He paused, looking somewhat confused, then addressed Biggles. "Is that really all it is?"
Biggles started to answer, but was interrupted by someone shouting.
All three cardinals turned toward the sound.
Deanna recognized the voice. "Will! I'm in here!"
The men turned back toward her when she yelled.
Biggles addressed his superior, "What do we do now, lord?"
"Leave her and run! We are obviously out numbered!"
The men nearly ran over each other for the exit.
Will and Galahad finally made it to the edge of the forest, finding a castle only a short distance from them.
The young knight looked skyward. "The Grail!" he exclaimed. "It's in that castle! Make haste, Sir William!"
Riker followed his gaze, seeing a cup shape illuminating the clouds above them. "I'm going as fast as I can, Galahad," he answered, shifting the man's arm around some on his neck.
It took a bit of time, but the two men finally made it to the door of the castle. Will gave it a rap then yelled, "I have an injured man here! Is anyone there who could help?"
Almost instantly, the door swung open, revealing a young lady dressed from head-to-toe in white. "Oh, please, Sir Knight, do come inside. We have someone here who may be able to help."
"Thank you," Will hefted Galahad through the entrance.
Once inside, Galahad spoke, "Where is the Grail?"
Her eyes widened. "Grail? What Grail?"
The girl in white introduced herself to them. "I am Zoot, and these are our doctors, Winston and Piglet," she gestured to each in turn. "They will look after your friend."
The two women came and took Galahad as he tried to fight them off. "I have seen the Grail and it's here! Show it to me!"
Will rolled his eyes and spoke to the Zoot. "He's delirious, don't listen to him." He watched as the others took the struggling knight into another room.
Zoot approached Riker, placing a hand on his shoulder, then ran it across his chest. "It is not very often we have male visitors at Castle Anthrax."
Riker felt the blood drain from his head. "Um… that's nice to know." He took her hands off him. "I have a question for you."
She took a step back, "I will do my best to answer."
"I'm looking for a friend who was kidnapped by three men wearing red robes. Have you seen anyone like that come by the castle?"
Zoot paused for a moment, biting her lower lip. "No… No, I haven't seen anything like that lately."
Will's eyes narrowed. She was lying and he knew it. He had only one card to play, and he hoped it would work. "Are you sure?" he took a step toward her. "It would mean a lot to me if you could tell something -- anything."
She scanned him appraisingly from head to toe. "Really?"
He gave his best smile. "Really."
At that moment, Galahad yelped and came running back with several dozen girls following after. "I must find the Grail!"
Will glanced into the room from which the young knight just came from and saw a flash of red go through the opposite door. They're here! He took off running down the corridor. "Deanna! Where are you? Deanna!"
He faintly heard her voice, making him run all the faster. If they've harmed her, I'll kill them, he thought.
When Riker entered the room with Deanna, her face was red and tear-stained. He hugged her close, stroking her hair. "It's okay, Deanna, I'm here."
She started giggling.
Confused, he pulled back to look at her, thinking she'd gone nuts too. "Deanna?"
"I'm okay," she chortled, "They… they…" another burst of laughter came forth.
All Will could do was hold her and try not to laugh. He honestly didn't know what to do.
Deanna finally calmed enough to finish what she was saying. Wiping tears from her cheeks, she said, "They tortured me, Will."
"What?" He started to stand so he could hunt down those bastards.
"No! No, not like that!" Troi giggled some more. "They were poking me with pillows!"
Riker was dumbfounded. "They… tortured you with pillows?"
"Yes!"
This time, he laughed. "And here I was, thinking you were in danger!"
"I don't thing there's a such thing here! Except from flying cows and wooden rabbits!"
The two held each other in their amusement at Troi's comment.
Will finally got his breath back and wiped the moisture from Deanna's cheeks. "I think we should get out of here before they return. I'd hate to see what else they have up their evil sleeves!"
Deanna sobered for a moment. "You didn't come alone, did you?"
"Actually, Sir Galahad came with me, but he's upstairs entertaining the ladies." He gave a mischievous smile. "I think he can handle things by himself."
TBC...
