Vignette 8 - To Camelot or Not...?
Continuing a plot thread from Vignette 6, we look in on the group of Heroes being led by Prince Alfonse of Askr. Under his command were Luke of Realm-I, a cavalier; the archer Leon, also of Realm-I; the wyvern rider Altena, of Realm-II (as well as the older sister of Lief); Lalum, the fun-loving and boisterous dancer from Realm-III's future; and Micaiah of Realm-V, their resident magic-user. They were traveling at present towards the site of some supposed Emblian activity and were presently looking for a place to stop for the night.
"*Ugh* My feet are killing me..." Lalum complained with a groan. "That tears it, once we get back to Askr Castle, I'm investing in some better footwear!"
"Make sure you take me along with you then," Leon chimed in. "I found a great cobbler in the castle town a little while back, might be able to help you pick out something with both style AND good support."
"It's a date!" Lalum cheerfully agreed.
Further up the caravan, Micaiah was speaking with Alfonse. "How soon until Altena returns?"
Alfonse looked ahead of them to make out a flier in the distance. "I think that's her right now," he replied.
Soon enough, the red-armored wyvern rider was hovering alongside the others. "Found something up ahead, your highness," she confirmed. "Looks like a good prospect, in terms of shelter for the night."
"Well, what're we waiting for then?" Luke eagerly posed. "Show us the way, milady! My horse's dogs are barking like you wouldn't believe!"
Moments later, the party was at the bottom of a path leading to a rather nice-looking castle atop a hill. A sign in front of them identified the place in question as-
"Camelot?" Micaiah read out loud in a confused tone of voice.
"Rather a quaint name, don't you think?" Leon added as he absent-mindedly rubbed the back of his head.
Alfonse had a map of Askr out that he was going over. "Strangely enough, it's not on the map here-and I don't remember seeing it on any of the maps I've gone over back home."
"Who cares?" Luke said before letting out a yawn. "Let's just head up and see if they'll take us in till morning."
"I'm with him on this one," Lalum affirmed. "I'll be so relieved that I'll gladly muster up a happy dance even in my current state!"
With that, the party (along with Luke's horse and Altena's wyvern) trekked up the path until they reached the castle doors, where Alfonse proceeded to use one of the large metal knockers to see if someone would answer. As if automatically, both doors opened to reveal a tableau that took the party by great surprise:
The knights within, all singing, all dancing (some even on the tables of the feast hall), while a little musical troupe played in the background, all to a very, very jaunty-sounding tune.
Knights:
We're Knights of the Round Table,
We dance whene're we're able.
We do routines and chorus scenes
With footwork im-pec-cable!
We dine well here in Camelot-
We eat ham and jam and Spam a loooooottttt!
The knights on the table did a brief jump before launching into a brief kickline step, with one kick unfortunately hitting a server carrying a stack of round flatbread. The sight of all this left the party of Heroes staring, wide-eyed with dumbfounded expressions (which even the two mounts shared) chock full of disbelief.
Knights:
We're Knights of the Round Table,
Our shows are for-mid-able.
Though many times, we're given rhymes
that are quite un-sing-able.
We're opera-mad in Camelot,
we sing from the diaphragm a loooooooootttttt!
The knights on the table continued their hopping kickline, before three of their number then broke into a little soft-shoe routine and one used four of his comrades as a human drum kit by tapping a wooden spoon and a mace atop their helmets (the latter of which he accidentally knocked out another server with, further astonishing the Heroes at the door).
Knights:
In war we're tough and able...
[The sound of a cat getting its tail stepped on was briefly heard, startling the Heroes.]
Quite in-de-fa-tig-able...
Between our quests, we sequin vests,
and impersonate Clark Gable.
It's a busy life in Camelot...
Knight [in a low baritone]:
I have to push the pram a looooooottttt!
As soon as the music ended, both Luke and Alfonse quickly pulled the doors closed in front of them, before they and the party swiftly turned around towards the path they came up.
"...Oh-kaaaayyyy...On second thought, let's not stay at Camelot," Alfonse said.
"Seconded!" Lalum added. "I'm an admittedly pretty silly person, but even that was too silly a place for my tastes."
"Y'know what? I think my steed and I can manage another round of walking," Luke quickly chimed in.
Altena, Leon, and Micaiah nodded just as quickly in agreement, and soon the whole party headed back down the path to resume their original route. All the while, Alfonse made a mental note to ask the Summoner about two things:
Who was Clark Gable, and what is Spam?