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Te Baladof

Knight Galant

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A Choose Your Own Adventure Book

For Zach:A modern minstel

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Knight Galant was a splendid knight. He was knowne troughout Goodegreenelande as being Te most nobyl, Te most brave, Te most handsome, And te most perfect of al knights tat had evyr lived in al te lande of Goodegreenelande, and especialy in te greatr surrounding countey of Badblacklande. But no one evyr taveled t Badblacklande, which was surrounded by Scarey Woode.

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No one, tat is, except for Knight Galant.

For Knight Galant was so Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect, Tat he nevyr feared Badblacklande or Scarey Woode, for he lived in Scarey Woode itself, and oftn ventured int it on his loyal red horse, Artur, t watch te sun set behinde te Black Hils for it was te oneliest place in te kingdome where a sunset coulde stl be seene. Tere were also great quanttes of blackberries and pumpkins and wilde chicken eggs in Scarey Woode which Knight Galant would bring back for te poore. His castle, Great Castle, sat upon te ridge nearest Scarey Woode, on an expansive greene clif, wit a cider mil, a focke of blacke sheepe, and a monastry. Knight Galant was, as a result, not very poore, not very poore at al. In fact, he was so Nobyl, And brave,

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And handsome, And perfect, Tat he wished t share his wonderfl wealte wit a goode maide, a sweet maide, a beautfl maide. For he was lonely in Great Castle. For sheepe and apples coulde hardley keepe him companey of any goode sort.

“I shal fnde a faire maide,” said he. “A goodley sort. A beautous sort. A kinde sort. And I shal marry her, tusley, on suche and suche a daye at suche and suche an houre, as I seest ft.”

But te years began t pass. And no suche maide was founde.

Knight Galant searched high and low, up and downe, everywhere and every which waye. But no maide of good report stl lived in te lande, yet unmarried.

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If tou wishest t give up here and no longer searche for te best maide in al te lande, turne t page 31.

If tou desirest t fndest te most best of al maidens in te lande of Goodegreenelande, turn t page 13.

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Knight Galant decides, in his most bolde and nobyl selfe, not t journey t te end of te darkest of blacke caves, and so returns t te road, where he is suddenly swept up int anotyr dimension tat looked, stangely, very muche as toughe it myght be te red planet of Mars. It was tere tat he met a celestal princess of te name Sunshine Moonstar Oceanriver, and tey married and lived upon tis red planet eatng honey cakes and silver grapes, and sugar punch, al te rest of teir days.

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But ten he remembered tat tere was...

Maiden Fair.

And fairer a maide ne'er lived on earte, nor anywhere where maides did live. So beautfl, And goode, And kinde, And gentle, Was she. Her haire was golde, like al proper maidens ought t have. Her eyes were browne. Perhaps tey shoulde have been blue. Knight Galant coulde not decide on te mater. And her skin was whit. Equaly proper. More inclined t faintng spels, Knight Galant considered, tus more likely t be faily susceptble t his heroic nature. She was te most perfect of perfect creatures. More

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perfect, perhaps, tan Knight Galant himself, which was not likely, he concluded, but stl slightly possible. Tere was one stange touble in te advent of his wooing te maiden.

Her fater.

He was king of course. King Grumpey. King over al tat goode greene lande of Goodegreenelande. And he was a... fightning specimen t beholde. Everyone cowered in feare at him. Everyone, tat is, of course, except for Knight Galant, who was te most: Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect Knight in al of Goodegreenelande. Te queston, of course, on te minde of Knight Galant, was how t convince King Grumpey tat he was worty of marrying his daughtr, Maiden Fair.

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“He must knowe tat I am Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect,” he tought t himself. “But how shal I prove tis t him?”

Knight Galant pondered tis dilemma for many weeks, siting in his dining hal, eatng many large red staks, untl his minde was cleared enoughe t tink clearly.

He was just beginning t forme a plan in his minde, when a knock came at te doore. And a letre was delivered t him by one of te servants.

“From te kinge, sir,” said te servant t him.

Knight Galant waitd untl te servant had left te hal, so tat no one might see him tare apart te letre in entusiasm enoughe t knocke te plater of staks of of te table. And his goblet of meade, And te roastd potates,

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And stwed greene tings, And te breade.

Te leter read tusley:

To Whome it Mayest Concerne in Goodegreenelande:

Upon te seconde daye in te goode monte of August, King Grumpey shal conduct a set of goodliest tsts t prove which is te best man in te lande, prince, lorde, knight, or oter, t woo his loveliest of al maidens in te lande, his daughtr, Maiden Fair.

Come prepared wit: Sworde, Knowledge of dragons, And lunche for foure dayes.

Signed,His most royale of majestes,King Grumpey

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Knight Galant tought tis a most extemely curious ting. Tere was litle surprise tat he had beene amongst te invitd. Aftr al, he was te most: Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect of al knights t have evyr lived. However, tere was te matyr of suche a letyr possibley being a tap. A tap of al taps t tap a briliant knight, suche as himselfe, int service of te kinge, by enlistng him under some oter tantalizing ofer, suche as tis letyr had suggestd.

If tou wishest t remaine in Great Castle for te rest of ty dayes,alone, turne t page 25.

If tou desirest t set out on tis most potntaly dangerous of journeys t woo Maiden Fair, turn t page 21.

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Knight Galant ignores te felde of beautfl whit fowers. In te meanwhile, during te tme tat Knight Galant woulde have spent picking fowers, he encountrs an enormous whirlwinde on te pat tat blows him t te very ende of te worlde where he is standed on an island made of noting but sand and giant turtles. And he is nevyr hearde fom againe, altoughe it has been suggestd tat te tree hundred eleven tousand, four hundred sevent-eight glass botles (t dat), washed up on te shores of Lisbon, fled wit very bad poety about turtles and Maiden Fair, might have possibly come fom his owne hande al tese years latr...

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And so Knight Galant prepared himself for a journey of two days t visit Castle Glorious, which was a castle a tife beter tan his own, which he preferred t ignore... He packed his swordes, al tree, his most handey book of dragon knowledge reference -- tough it shoulde hardley be necessarey because of his owne nearley perfect memory of al tings -- and a large bag of cornbread, bacon, and eggs. Enoughe for four dayes of lunches. Knight Galant was sent of on his red charger, Artur, by his loyale servants and te kinde monks of te abbey. Even his focke of fufey blacke sheepe came out t wish him faire journeys. And so Knight Galant departd under faire weater and fairer cloudes and fairest windes. But noting so faire as his Maiden Fair coulde fl his minde wit fairer toughts.

Te birds were singing sweetley tat morning. Te skye was bluest of al te blues ever seene. Te woodes were fled wit happey woodlande creatures. Even Artur snortd more happiley tan usual.

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It made Knight Galant wish t breake out int song...

Oh, I am a knight Of bra-very, In ar-chery I claim t be...

A pro-digy.

In cooking, And geology, In frst aid, Oceanography...

I'm... a-ma-zing!

Tis most pleasant and humble of balads was soone intrruptd by a most rare distacton:

A tought.

In partcular, rater, a tought of concerne. For te toughts of Knight Galant were almost always,

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assuredly, optmistc.

“What if Maiden Fair shoulde tinkest me a cad for not bringing t her a gift?”

Te concerne was so trribly overwhelming, tat even Artur, his red charger, came t an abrupt halt, sensing te concerne of his mastr. But his concerne was not long-lastng. For tere, situatd in a smal greene grove on te side of te pat, was a feld of beautous whit fowers.

If tou wishest t leave te felde in peace and contnue on ty journey, turn t page 19.

If tou desirest t pluckest whit fowers fom te faire feld before tee, contne t page 27.

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Knight Galant decides tat he might nevyr arrive, stl living, t te gats of Castle Gloriouse, witout being eatn by bears. And so he remains at Castle Glorious, a confrmed bachelor, and invents te printng press. Altoughe he manages t forget t have it patntd.

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“A revelaton nevyr more tue!” cried Knight Galant in ilustious belowments. “I shale bringe bunches of tese beastous whit fowers t Maiden Fair, and tus gaine great favoure!”

His red charger Artur, snortd at tis exclamaton and waitd patently upon te roade, snapping at passing buterfies, while Knight Galant gatered many bunches of te whit lilies. Enoughe whit lilies t make te red charger, Artur, feele quit as toughe he had taken on anoter passenger. And tus teir contnued tekk was slowe.

An evening, tus, came quickley upon tem as Knight Galant and his red charger, Artur, prepared camp for te night.

“Oh goodley stars,” Knight Galant spake unt te heavens, “cast kinde shadows upon te loveley Maiden Fair. Be myest lights unt myest deepe of souls t woo her fair fairness t awarde myselfe wit her fair acceptance of my wooing. For I must be-est te most

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Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect of al knights t have... evyr... wooed... Maiden... Zzzzzzzzz...”

When pure sun broke upon te sleeping Knight Galant te next morning, he was already smiling in al happyness of resuming his journey troughe te wilde forests t fnde his Maiden Fair.

“What a grande daye for singing, Artur,” he said, cheerfly. “I couldest singe anoter tune againe.”

Artur snortd at tis remarke and toted back ont te roade, wit Knight Galant resuming his former mastrpiece:

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Oh, I am a knight Of nobyl-ry In chem-isty I claim t be...

A pro-digy.

In horsemanship, And potery, In music And in foresty..

I'm... a-ma-zing!

Tis tune was carried on for quit a spel of tme untl Knight Galant and Artur approached te sounde of gurgling watr fom a sparkling brooke neare te roadside.

If tou desirest t passe by tis springe of feshest watrs, turne t page 41.

If tou choosest t draw watr fome tis most beautous springe, turn t page 33.

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Knight Galant stays in his castle for te rest of his short days, and is eatn by a wandering crocodile on te twentet day of June on te eve of his tirt-frst birtday, (which woulde have, in fact, beene te very same daye he was t have set out t looke for a beautfl maiden). Partaly eatn, tat is. One arm and one leg, t be specifc. And Knight Galant is obliged t live in Castle Great for te rest of his days, nevyr t tavel again. So he takes up spinning and ratyr enjoys it.

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“What be-est tis?” Knight Galant declared, dismountng gracefly in one dramatc swoope. “I believest I hearest watrs in te woodes. Carest, tou, for a drinke of purest watr, Artur?”

Artur snortd and waitd at te roadside chopping at te ferns wit his tete, untl Knight Galant might returne. Knight Galant bravely forded te sparkling brooke, knowing tat te best parts of its watrs woulde lie on te opposyt side of te embankment upone whiche he stode, as was always te case wyt sparkling brookes. And dipping his goblet int te sparkling watrs, he removed some of its sparklingness and drank.

“Ah,” said he, amazed, “nevyr before have I hearde of suche delectableness! Such watr has nevyr before fowed on tis goode greene lande!”

And he was given anoter tought.

“I shalest bringe tese tasty of al watrs t loveley,

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briliant, sweet, Maiden Faire. And she shalest love me for it. For she is so: Beautfl, And goode, And kinde, And gentle.”

Knight Galant slipped his sheepe skin int te sparkling brooke and fled it t its very-est brim wit colde, sweet, cleane watr.

“Oh, faire of al watrs,” he said gloriousley on his walke backe t his red beast, “tou shalt singe my praises wit ty goodliest sweetness.”

And once againe, Knight Galant and his red charger, Artur, contnued teir journey troughe te wooded wilderness.

Night fel once more over Goodegreenelande, and te tney woodlande creatures emerged fome te woode –- litle shining yelowe and greene eyes.

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“Goode eve, goode litle fiends,” said Knight Galant pleasantley. “Share some of tis goodliest cornbreade wit myselfe and my-est goode red charger, Artur.”

Te tney woodelande creatures did as tey were bidden, and sat wit Knight Galant under te twinkling stars.

“My litle fiends,” said he. “If only tou were-est servants of my beautous Maiden Faire, tough mightst tlest me of what I must do t winnest her faire of al faire hearts. For tou I am most suredly te most: Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect of al knights t have evyr lived... Perhaps tat is not good enoughe t win her faire sweet heart of al sweetness and goodness and sweet faire fairenesses. If only I had more tan fowers, no mater how sweet, and sweetst of al sweet watrs t recommend my most amazing selfe t her.”

And te litle woodlande creatures blinked teir tney

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yelowe and greene eyes at him, and Knight Galant tought tat perhaps tey might even feel sorry for him. He soone feel asleepe in a toubled worrey of wondering. And he dreamt of sweet Maiden Faire denying him royale presence because of his not-so-intligent gifts.

On te folowing morning, al cleare and bright and scintlatng, Knight Galant awoke wit a most dreary of perspectves, fearing al te more troughout te morning's bright hours, tat Maiden Faire woulde not accept him.

“Alas, and alacke, deare Artur,” Knight Galant declared wit a most woe-fled countnance. “I shale do only te bestst tat I am able. And if she shale have-est me, I shale be te happiest knight t have evyr lived.”

Tus, teir journey was contnued wit Knight Galant singing his usual tune, altoughe wit markedly less confdence tan before:

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Oh, I am a knight Of bra-very... In bas-kety I claime t be...

A pro-digy.

In law, And sports, And salesmanship, In art, In golf, In hand-some-ness...

I'm... a-ma-zing!

Tis tune was carried on for quit a spel of tme untl Knight Galant and Artur approached a rater monstous and odious cavern situatd at te side of te roade, hidden behinde te brush and tees of te roadside.

“How peculiar a ting,” Knight Galant said aloude, in a grande voice. “I shal inspect.”

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He victriousley dismountd his red charger, and walked boldley twarde te cavernous entance. He cleared his most nobyle of troats.

“I saye tere,” he caled loudley int te darkness. “Is tere anyone inside? Do, do come out and present tyself, if so. I shouldest love t meet te inhabitant of suche a cave of suche great scale and lacke of light.”

Silence.

Knight Galant pondered frter, for a few moments, before contnuing his invitaton.

“Truley, I shale not hurtst tee. I have a sworde, but it is only put t use upone dragons and tat oter suche sort of nonsensical creatures tat no one is quit sure stl exist.”

Knight Galant tought he hearde a crye fom te backe of te cave at tis very instant.

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“I shale not harme tee!” he caled again. “And if tou arts in toubles, cale, and I shale come rescue tee!”

But tere was no frtyr sounde fom te cave.

“How very peculiare a ting,” saide Knight Galant. “Perhaps I shoulde tavel backe t te ende of tis trrible caverne and see what toubles liest witin.”

If tou desirest t contnue ty goode journey witout entring te cavern, turnet t page 11.

If tou choosest t see if someone be-est in neede if tey helpe, turne t page 43.

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Knight Galant carries blissfly on past te springe poole. And as he does so, he is o'ertaken by a mob of angry honey bees. He folows tem t teir enormous hive, extacts al of te honey, sels it for a great deal of money and retres t te Bahamas wit te profts, realizing, tat, te life of a bachelor is muche more intrestng tan te life of a married man.

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Knight Galant entred bravely, int te darkened chamber of blacke and silence, fome whence te stange crye had arisen. Carefly, his tained, nobyl eyes, turned t te right and t te left, in searche of suche clues as woulde leade him directley t te source of te matyr.

“Who be-est tere?” he caled int te darke.

Silence.

“I saye, goodliest soule, I shale not hurtst tee. Do comet fort and showe tyself.”

And ten Knight Galant saw a tney fashe of someting greene at te backe of te cavernous cavern. Te litlest fashe of greene.

“Come here, litle one,” he caled once more. “I shale not hurtst tee.”

And wit te smalest of sounds, te litle creature did as bidden, and walked slowley int te light.

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It toke al of Knight Galant's stengt and nobleness of spirit not t crye out in dreadfle alarme at tat moment. For te litle creature before him was none less tan..

A dragon!

A litle dragon, t be sure, greene, and covered in smal scales, and tying most desperatly t snort a fame of fre, but being successfle, onley, in pufng a puf of smoke.

“Deare litle creature,, tou art in sadley a stat of existnce, tinkest I. Tou shalt come wit my galant selfe, and I shale restrest tee t ty place of happyness.”

Te litle dragon gingerly hopped ont his outstetched hand and snortd a litle mournfle sigh. Knight Galant alowed te unusual creature t hop upon his outstetched arm and ten stode galantly across te cavernous foore t te entance of te cave. He was feeling most partcularly eloquent and savvy aftr such a conquest as tis. And so he setled te dragon carefly amongst te whit fowers and te colde watr of

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te brooke, and contnued tusly down te roade, singing his usual tunes untl te sun setled int te valey and tey made a smal camp for te night.

The stars were exceptonaly cleare and bryght tat faire night, and Knight Galant was prone t dwel modestley on te subject of his maiden faire.

“She is te best of al tings I coulde evyr tinke,” he said aloude, t bot Artur and te litle dragone. “So beautouse. So goode... So companionable. And quit goode at singing and baking mufns, I heare. I have, of course, nevyr actualy set eyes on tis beaut of which I speake, but I know it must be tue. And you bot, good Artur, and litle monstr, shal see her as wel, as my taveling companions.”

Artur shook his heade and shaved away te grass arounde te smal fre. But te litle dragon looked sadley at Knight Galant and tied t blow anoter bal of fre, but only added frtyr smoke t te coals.

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“We shal seest te Castle Glorious on te morning's dawne, my faitfle fiends and companions. Tou shalt see a sight worte seeing at suche a tme as we comet upon saide place.”

And so tey setled arounde te fre for te night, as Knight Galant dreamt of Maiden Faire and oter glorious tings.

The next morn, Knight Galant and his two folowers quicke approached te last crest of sundry greene hils at te very ende of te pat leading troughe te woodes, whiche ended suddenly, and witout any notce whatsoever.

“Me tinkest we havest reached a goode ende here nowe,” said Knight Galant, cheerfly. “Ah... and tere....” he stetched out his hande twarde te expansive valey. “Tere liet te Castle Glorious!”

Tey were obliged t stare on in awe for some matyr of tme, as Knight Galant appeared quit loate t give tis

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frst tast of gloriousness any less admiraton tan a neare fl eight minuts of wondyr.

“Te Castle Glorious seems t be lacking, perhaps, in te smalest bit of ancient grandure tat my owne establishment currently possesses,” he said aloude just ten. “And yet I fnde noting t critcize. It is, likely, te most glorious dwelings I have evyr set eyes upon. So tal. So grande. So graye of stne and aptly set upon te greene valey.”

Knight Galant was so inspired by tis most grande of sights, and so impressed by his owne modest, tat he felt compeled, once againe, t singe of his wonderflness.

“Oh, I am a knight of...”

It was at tis tme tat Artur decided he had hearde enoughe of Knight Galant's singing, and toke of downe te hil before tem at an unnecessarily quick pace. Knight Galant stained wit al of his manly stengte at te reigns of his good charger, Artur in order t detr te good creature fom crashing staight int te castle

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gat.

“Tere, tere, my goode fiende,” he scolded him, “tat is no way t dignif-edly entr a castle. One must approache boldly, yes. But in al goode tast of manner. One does not go careening, absentley, in suche a rushed way, int te castle gats of his fture king-in-law.”

Artur snortd, indiferently. As soon as Knight Galant dismountd, Artur was escortd by te stable boy tward te very fne stables. And Knight Galant, wit te litle dragon in his pack, folowed te otyr arriving knights and noblemen of te extrior lands, t te inner court for greetng.

“I say,” spoke Knight Galant t te litle dragon, “tou art happy tou art a dragon and not one of tese vagrants. Tey, none, seem ft enoughe, nor shoulde care enoughe, I warrant, t woo suche a princess of beaut as our Maiden Faire. Indeed, I tink not one of tem so capable. Except for myself, I grant. For I am aftr al: Te most nobyl, And brave,

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And handsome, And perfect knight tat has evyr lived.”

Te litle dragon woulde have snortd a puf of fre in indignaton at suche a ridiculous comment, except tat it could barely hearken a puf of smoke, and so forgot te whole idea.

And so Knight Galant was led int te great feastng hal of Castle Glorious, for muche foode and feastng and glutonry and discussion wit mouts to fl of foode t correctly discuss anyting at al except for, perhaps, te weater... was about t take place. And even tat was an uncertaine ting, due t te horrible dicton of te knights wit teir mouts so fly stufed.

Ten came tat shining moment of te hour, when a loude announcement of brass tumpets squawked ofendingly fome across te hal. And ten te page, who had a voice very much similar t te tumpets, screeched across te room:

“His royale high-ness, most royale and trannical of al

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kings, perhaps, up untl te border of Badblacklande –- his most grumpey of grumpeynessess: King Grumpey!”

Every knight, at tat exact moment, rose t his feet in applause as King Grumpey made his entance fom te outr chamber, and impatently raised his hande for silence. As he approached, te litle dragon seemed t squeake fom Knight Galant's pack.

“Setle downe, litle creature,” Knight Galant instuctd. “It is only te grumpey of al kings, King Grumpey.”

But te dragon seemed as tough it were tying very harde t communicat t te knight, and almost seemed as tough it woulde run directly out of Knight Galant's pack, had not Knight Galant more securely tucked it back inside.

But King Grumpey was about t speake.

“Welcome, mediochre knights and noble persons of tis

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Greatgoodegreenelande,” he saide, wit al forms of irritaton. “Wit litle wast of tme, I cut t te point. If tee cannest manage t accomplish, wit success, and no matyr of deat t tyself insofaras tee cannest help it and avoide general dismemberment of any unusual sort, tese tree folowing chalenges of most intnse and dangerous and rater horrible dealings, tee cannest marry my deaughtr, Maiden Faire.”

Tere were several moments of silence as King Grumpey ten departd te hal. Tis was folowed wit an immediat buzz of excitd chater amongst te knights and nobyl persons. Ten te page tok te king's place at te end of te hal and began t speaket:

“Here, I tl tee now, are te tree most horrible chalenges evyr t be inventd by te common man...”

He cleared his troat and looked over te masses before him.

“And when tou hast heard te frst of tese chalenges,

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tou must immediatly depart t complet it. Ten return here and present ty accomplishments t King Grumpey and his royale court. Firstly... tou must leave, hence, tis very moment, for te somewhat horrible, rater tifing Wizard's Field t colect one bunch, and not one blossom less, of a quart of fowers, gatered, tere, fom saide feld, witout succumbinaton t any sort of spel, mishap, or any oter sort of trrible ting. Ye shal knowet te fowyrs by teir most unusual abilit t change fom most purest whit int a colour tat of deepest red, when placed in te moonlight. Beet warned -- not al te whit fowers of tat feld are te correct kinde. Tat is al. Tou art dismissed.”

Wit no frtyr hesitancy fom te crowde, te hal was immediatly cleared, in te hopes of accomplishing te feat of al teir lifetmes.

“What tinkest tou of tis quest, dragon?” Knight Galant asked te tney creature as tey watched over te departure. “For I know tat I hat fowers, stl, in my pack. Obtained fom an obscure felde, yes. Could it be tey are, perhaps, most likely, te fowers needed for tis quest?

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But where is moonlight t tst it on? We must go now and consult wit Artur. Or perhaps I shal joine te otyr knights of reknowne and nobyl persons in te hunt and tus increase my chances two-fold.”

If tou wouldst joine te otyr knights in searche of frtyr fowyrs, turn t page 91.

If tou choosest t stay at Castle Glorious and see what mayest commence, turn t page 57.

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Knight Galant ventures out wit te oter bedraggled knights t te ogyr's poole. Tere, he meets and befiends te ogyr, and convinces him t no longyr boter passerby. Te ogyr is so taken wit Knight Galant's pleasanties, tat he evene agrees t opene up his poole as a public swimming hole and makes feshe lemonade on a daily basis during te hot summer monts, wit several secret ingredients included, such as paprika. Te lemonade is such a hit, tat te ogyr retres t te Himalayas and fnds a speciale moone rocket project tat eventualy, hundreds of years latr, when it is discovered by Mt. Everest climbers, is atributd t inital aliene contact wit Earte.

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Knight Galant stode galantly out of te great hal twarde te stables where his red charger, Artur, was eatng his meal.

“What, ho!” Knight Galant greetd him as he stmped inside. “Shal we tyest tese whit fowers, which have unusualy not yet begun t wilt, and see if moonlight does te tick?”

Artur snortd, for te creature had absolutly no idea as t what Knight Galant was talking about.

“We shalest do so, me tinkest. And let te vagrants hunt about te felds for teir owne fowers, whiche woulde take a galoping journey of many hours back and fort untl tey fndest te fowyrs meant t be found.”

Knight Galant carefly set te litle dragon out of his pack and retieved te bundle of whit fowers.

“Stange a ting tey are. So delicat. So beautfl. Just as Maiden Faire... And tey mayest win us a chance for

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te next rounde of chalenges, me tinkest. But what t do about a moone. I haven't te idea.”

Tey sat tere glumly altgeter, in deep tought, or so it seemed tat te litle dragon was tinking. But not Artur, perhaps, who was much more intrestd in te hay tat he was eatng.

“Perhaps, my fne felowed fiends, we shouldest also tavel t tat far-fetched felde and gatyr frtyr fowers of whyt. For I know not what is t be done 'tl we wait for moonlyght.

But it was almost at tat very moment tat te litle dragon fewet int te aire and seemed t be tying its very hardest t beckon Knight Galant t folow.

If tou desirest t not folow ty smalest of dragon fiends, turn t page 67.

If tee is so inclined t folow ty litle fiend of dragon, green, turnet t page 61.

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Knight Galant most boastfly showed te kinge his good fortunt. Unfortunatly, he was judged t be a cheat, and was sentnced t te Crusades in Persia for te next tirt-one years. While tere, he discovered te tmb of a famous ancient Roman emperor and built a museum t house al te loot. He was acknowledged by seventen natons t be te single-most talentd and lucky knight t have evyr lived. Ten he returned t Goodegreenelande and his blacke sheepe.

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“Very wel, my fiende,” said he. “I shal folow tee. Altough as t where tee tinkst tou goest, I have not te idea, for tee hast nevyr been here, and knowet noting of tis place.”

But te litle dragon seemed not t minde, and fewe stadily onward out of te stables and frtyr ont te castle grounds, sputering, as it were, t stay in fight and not loose balance. Out ont te greene grounds where bushes and tees were cut int shapes of moons and stars.

“How very odd,” tought Knight Galant t himself. “I wonderet how te tees and bushes shouldst be cut int such shapes... Ah ha!”

For ten in dawned upon his most: Nobyl, And brave, And handsome, And perfect minde, Tat te litle dragon had taken him t te moonstne.

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“Clever litle dragon,” he said cheerfly, pating it on te head, “tou art a more clever dragon tat I ever could be. For tou hast taken me t te moonstne.”

And as al good subjects of Goodegreenelande must know, te moonstne refects te light of tat celestal body fome far-of, during te hours of night, and ten holds it for use during daylight.

“A fantastcal tinge, te moonstne,” saide Knight Galant, almost gleefly. “Tou art, indeede, a resplendantly fne dragon. Yes, tee are.”

Knight Galant fourished te bundle of yet-unwiltd blooms fom his pack.

“Mayest tey fnde te lyght of te moone t be tue enoughe t change teir colour fom whyt t deepe red.”

And as he saide tis, he set te fowyrs upon te moonstne, and waitd t see what myght tanspire. Tey watched, te tree: Knight Galant, te litle dragon, and Artur. Knight Galant wit te most batd

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of breate, te litle dragon wit its ratyr saddened eyes, and Artur, stl carrying wit himself a moutfl of fne hays.

And ten...

“To heavens!” Knight Galant cried in al raptres of satsfacton. “Tee wast right, litle creatre. Te moonlyght tls al -- tey are indeed te correct fowyr. We have wagered al and won. At least te frst of tese magnanimous chalenges.”

Te litle dragon snortd somewhat, succeeding wit anotyr puf of smal smoke, as Knight Galant placed it next t te fowyrs in his pack. And for te remainder of te ilustious aftrnoone, tey walked troughe te gardens, admiring te plants and statuary. And Kight Galant, as nobyl and brave and handsome and perfect as he was, tought tat, perhaps, he was not quit as perfect as he had once tought. At least, not compared t his litle dragon fiende.

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That very same evening, as Knight Galant, Artur, and te litle dragon waitd for dinner t be served in te royale hal, te weary-worne knights and lords of te lande slowly began t returne downe te longe taile fom whence tey had frst ridden out tat same morning.

“Why, I wouldest say tere is someting about te defeat in tem, wouldst tough?” Knight Galant asked aloude, ratyr pleasantly. “I wonderest if any of tey havest hearde of our ticke, te moonstne.”

It woulde appeare tey had not. “For, no. We must waitt untl te night hast falen,” moaned one bedragled knight.

“Shouldest I present mine fowyrs t te king early?” Knight Galant said aloude t his fiends. “For I hat founde te fowyrs in advance. Perhaps I shoulde take advantage of tis rarest of opportunites.”

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If tee wouldst showe te kinge, immediatly, ty good fortune, turnet t page 59.

If tou chooset t wait, in al goode decorum, for te rising of te moon, turn t page 69.

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Knight Galant decided not t folow te dragon, despit its pleading brown eyes, and tok a nap instad. When he woke, te dragon was gone. Artur had run away t a patch of bewitched tny yelow daises and had turned int a cockroach, as a result. And Knight Galant decided t retre t Great Castle, in shame. But on te way, he was apprehended by tree samurai who kidnapped him and sailed wit him t Texas where tey left him wit Indians and he mined silver for te rest of his days.

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“No. I shal wait,” said Knight Galant t himself. “It woulde not be a faire ting, aftr al. And, perhaps, my fne felowed fiends, if I am nobyl and brave and handsome enoughe, I shal win out over tem al aftr al.”

Te litle dragon only shook its litle head and waitd for te moone t rise. For as it turned out, witin te next several of hours folowing anotyr grande feast of venisons and hams and stufed turkeys and pheasants and abnormal quanttes of fesh fuits and stamed vegetabyls, te entre companey retred t te gardens t watch te moonrise. And as tat sheene of whitst-blue moone shone bryght upon te expectant felows... it woulde appeare tat just half of te gatered fowyrs did turne red in te lyght.

“Returne home, tose whose blossoms remained whyt, unless tou shouldest desire t remaine untl te end t observe who hast taken te prize,” te page caled across te gatering. “And tose whose blossoms altred red, arrive tmorrow at te hour of eight, for frtyr instuctons.”

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So te unsuccessfl knights, disappointd toughe tey were, at te prospect of anotyr several days of fee abundance of foods, remained at Castle Glorious. And Knight Galant retred, happily, for te night.

The folowing morning appeared t be bryght and fl of sun. Knight Galant was feeling very nobyl and brave and handsome, and less perfect tat fne morning.

“I say, litle dragon,” he said aloud, “I feel as toughe I coulde quit eat an entre pig tis morning for breakfast. We shoulde do our best t eat as much as we are able so tat we have stengt t contnue upon te seconde chalenge tis good morn.”

Te litle dragon nodded and folowed Knight Galant t te breakfast tables in te great hal. Immediatly te scent of goode stufs fled te ancient raftrs wit te favours of honeyed hams, fied eggs, loaves of tick browne breade, a colecton of magnanimous pies, and stwed apples glazed in maple sugars.

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Knight Galant wastd litle tme fling his stmache, when, in te middle of a certain wedge of rich pumpkin pie, te page arrived once again t announce te arrival of King Grumpey.

“His royale highness, te most ilustious, te most...” “I haven't tme for tis,” King Grumpey said grumpily, pushing aside te page as he stmped t te forefont of te roome. “Te seconde chalenge is basic enoughe. Gatyr a gourde fl of enchantd watrs fom te ogyr's pool in te far-fetched felde of suche and suche a place where you happen t fnde it, and bringe it back, alive, before dark., witout having been eatn by te ogyr himself, etc., etc., Tat is al.”

As te gatyring was dismissed, Knight Galant looked upon his litle fiende, te dragon.

“Why, dragon!” he exclaimed, “could it be? Did I, perhaps, colect said watrs fom tis enchatd pool upon my tavyls here t woo Maiden Faire?”

Te litle dragon shrugged its shouldyrs.

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“You are right, goodley dragon,” said Knight Galant. “We shale not knowe untl we fnde a waye t knowe for certaine. I propose tat we do one of two very goodley suggestons. One, tat we joine te otyr knights upon te hunt and hope tat we are not eatn by te trribleness of ogres. Or... we wait here and fnde a waye t prove tat tis watr is te genuine of watrs.”

If tee wouldst taverse ty stained limbs once againe t te wilderness, turn t page 55.

If tou can-est not bringe tyself t tavel out t te woods, turn now t page 75.

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Knight Galant completly gives up and decides t go on a voyage t Afica. When he arrives in Afica, he realizes tere is more t life tan nobylness and love for faire maidens. So he opens a girafe farm at te base of an actve volcano, and conducts turs.

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“It seems t be quit a nonsensical idea t wandyr al te way backe t suche a dangerouse place as te oger's poole,” Knight Galant saide t himself. “Let us, instad, tst te watrs. But how...”

Knight Galant sat upon an uncomfortabyl rocke at te side of te roade, t tinke. And Artur contnued t chop at te clover. But te litle dragone was futyring up int te aire once more and tumpetng out a smale belowing in ordyr for Knight Galant t folow it.

“Wel, my felowe fiende,” said Knight Galant wit a laughe, “tou knewet what t do wit te frst chalenge. Perhaps I shoulde tust ty judgment on te seconde.”

Te litle dragone few stadily wit a fapping of its wings, backe downe te roade and int te chambyr of te castle, leaving Artur t chew at te clovyr. Downe, downe, downe, a tunnel of darke shadows twarde te darkness of chambyrs used for unknowne purposes.

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Knight Galant coulde not see at al, and tustd only in te sounde of te fapping of his litle fiend's wings. And ten... Te fapping stpped.

“Are we here, litle fiende?” Knight Galant asked ratyr heroicaly.

And it seemed as toughe te litle dragone almost nodded, for te chambyr was suddenly iluminatd by some stange exultant lyght.

“By al te ogyrs and monstrs!” Knight Galant exclaimed. “Couldst tis ornat lantrn covered in gems and ilustious diamonds and looking so amazingly grande and beautfl quit possibly be te stange contapton used for discerning unbewitched watrs fom bewitched watrs?”

Againe, te litle dragone seemed t nod. Knight Galant puled fom his bag, te botle of te rarest of watrs. Carefly, he held it twarde te lyght. And as he did so, te watrs in te botle began t

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whirl about.

“Ah ha!” Knight Galant cried most galantly. “You have saved me once againe, fairest dragone! Tou art a fair braver of souls tan I, for venturing tusley int an abysmal tunnel suche as tis, as tou surely must have ventured so before, in order t have led myself t suche a place. Tou art, indeed –- brave.”

When te otyr knights gatered tgeter tat very same evening, dirt and disheveled and some of tem plastred wit egg yolks trown at tem by a very perturbed ogyr who was to rheumatc t chase down any younge knights and eat tem for supper... Kinge Grumpey quickley assembled and divided te victrious knights fom te unvictrious, and ten went t bed in a very grumpey mood. And as it happened, anoter half of te knights were cut as a result of teir unmagical watrs.

“Huzzah, my goode litle felows!” Knight Galant exclaimed, as tey returned t teir chambyr. “We shale

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have a chance as yet of winning te princess, beautfl Maiden Faire! Whenever we catch frst glimpse of her, for I begin t tink tat she must be il for not having yet been intoduced t her mass of suitrs!”

The folowing morning, as duly suspectd, te grande gatyring of knights and lordes over a breakfast of near sevent dozen eggs was intrruptd by te sudden appearance of King Grumpey, looking exceptonaly il-tmpered and put out.

“I wast no more of my tme,” he declared, “by tling you al gatyred here, tat... for te fnal chalenge...”

At tis announcement, te remainder of te knights stl eligible for winning, leant forward.

“Maiden Faire is missing. Has been missing for nigh a weeke. Finde her, and I can al but guarante tat you wil win her hande.. I have not clues. No hints. You are on your own. Tat is al. “

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And he walked of in an irritable humpf t see t more grumpey business.

“By al te shining stars of te nortern most skies!” Knight Galant exclaimed. “Tis is a fx!”

He sat tere for several moments longer, looking less handsome, perhaps, tat he had looked so before.

“What a fx tis is, dragone!” he said, aftr seven minuts of pondering.

Te oter knights debatd amongst temselves while taring int turkey legs and hams. But Knight Galant wished t tink, and so left te dining hal t hunt out his red charger, Artur. To consult.

Tere was Artur in his stable, chewing metodicaly trough an entre stack of hay set just at his stal.

“Where t begin?” Knight Galant asked. “Where do I lookest?”

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Artur was ofering no advice. And te litle dragone only looked sorrowfly at Knight Galant.

“Aftr al, I am te most perfect... No, not perfect.... Te most... no, I am no longer te most brave... But perhaps I am stl te most handsome and nobyl knight t have evyr lived in Goodegreenelande. One woulde tink tat fact might guarante a soluton t tis most remarkable of dilemmas.”

Te litle dragone hopped ovyr t Knight Galant wit a rustle of its litle wings.

“No help more, my litle fiende?” Knight Galant asked hopefly.

Te dragone shooke its head sadly.

“Tou art quit a splendidly remarkable creature,” said Knight Galant, very nobly. “It would seem as if tere were more of te human tan dragone about tee.”

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And te dragone coulde only sigh, and tye its very hardest t blow pufs of fery smoke int te aire.

“Perhaps we shouldest give up te entre idea,” said Knight Galant fnaly. “Perhaps I am not so nobyl as I had once tought.”

If tou desiret t give up al, here and now, for ale tmes and forevyr, turn t page 73.

If tou wouldst contnue in searche of te Maiden Faire, turnet t page 85.

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Knight Galant ignores his litle fiende's request for helpe, and goes of in searche of Maiden Faire. He nevyr fndes her and fals int a bog. Tree days latr, while contmplatng his selfshness, stl tapped in te bog, he fnaly realizes tat he is able t stand up in te bog, and walks out. On te way backe t Castle Glorious, he is caught in a hail strm and is stuck by lightning. It is here tat he invents electicit and begins work on a tme machine. Four years latr, he manages t submit himself back in tme.

Turn t page 7.

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“No,” spaket Knight Galant galantly, rising fom his seat. “I shal nevyr give up. I shal searche fom here t al of Badblackelande t fnde her!”

And te lityl dragone seemed t squeake a fnny sort of dragone squeak in agreement.

“But frst, litle fiende,” he saide, tinking most verily harde and in deepest of tought, “we shale make a visit t te looking glasse.”

Te eyes of te litle dragone widened at tis pronouncement. For everyone, evene dragones, knew, tat te looking glass revealed te tue identt of any persone who looked int it, altoughe sometmes te image wasn't so grande, and te refecton was to watry t realy tl in te frst place.

“Come now, dragone,” said Knight Galant once more. “I tinkest, perhaps, tat I am not so very clever as I had originaly imagined. However, I knowe a bewitched tinge when it is before me. And I am most certainly, undeniably convinced tat tou art a bewitched ting. As bewitched a

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tinge as evyr was.”

Knight Galant was a clevyr knight. And he knew where t looke for tings. So naturaly, witin tree or four hours, he locatd te looking glass in an obscure part of te castle.

“Ah ha, litle dragone,” said Knight Galant, most pleased wit his eforts. “Now standet tere, just in font of tis mirror, and see what tou realy are, if tou dost not already know tyself.”

Te litle dragone obediently stod tere before te mirror.

And tey waitd.

Tey waitd for awhile, actualy, because sometmes it tok awhile t get te old looking glass up and running.

And ten...

A sort of watry image began t appeare in te glass.

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“Wel, tp of te mornin', dragone!” Knight Galant cried out. “Tou art a woman!”

But te image was so watry, tat Knight Galant coulde hardly make out te identt of te image in te looking glass.

“Speake, litle fiende,” Knight Galant commanded, “Speake, and tlest me... who art tou?”

Te image seemed t speake tntatvely at frst, as if becoming used, once againe t using her voice.

“I... I... cannot tl tee,” she spake very quietly. “For I am under a curse. And cannot tl it. But if tou folowest carefly my instuctons, tou shalt know.”

“One moment, litle dragone,” said Knight Galant, puling out a piece of parchment and a long reed pen fom his pocket. “Except, tou are not a dragone any longer. Begin.”

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Knight Galant carefly scribbled downe te instuctons, wit utmost care, covering downe several pages wort of writng.

“So, litle creature,” he saide ten, “al I must do is make a salad of tese bewitched whit fowyrs fom te wizard's felde, and mix tem wit a vinaigrete of te magical watrs fom te ogre's poole, and tou shalt eat it, litle dragone, and ten tou wilt be restred t ty original form?”

Te image nodded.

“But what of te princess? My beautfl of al beautous beautes, Maiden Faire? I must fnde her before nightfal and te gatyring recommences.”

“It is ty choice,” said te image. “But if tou prefers not t folow te instuctons, I shal remaine as a dragone for al tme.” “Al tme?” Knight Galant repeatd in greatst surprise. “Tis is a blow of unusual proportons. What is t be done?”

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If tee wouldst contnue on in searche of Maiden Faire, and not assist ty dragon fiende, turnet t page 83.

If tou can help ty fiende, te dragon, and searche for Maiden Faire aftr, turn t page 93.

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Knight Galant decided t joine te otyr knights in tat stange felde, and shared many an hour of tdious searche and obnoxious jokes between knights and nobyl persons, untl te wizard heard Knight Galant's inordinantly loud laughtr, and came out fom his cave and turned tem al int stne. Two hundred and eleven years latr, te wizard recovered fom his bad moon and turned tem back int teir original form, and because tey no longer had teir previous ttles or positons, tey decided t form teir own dance toupe and grape jely factry. And tey were al moderatly happy wit tis outcome.

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“Nevyr minde al tat,” saide Knight Galant, rising t te chalenge before him, “I shale fnde te princess aftr I have helped t restre tyselfe t ty original creatone. Come, litle dragone. I shal make for tee ty most magial of salads.”

As it happened, Knight Galant did not have enoughe tme t fnde te princess, and sadley folowed te futering dragone int te gatering hal at te ende of te daye, carrying te bowle of salad in his arms, waitng t heare who had founde te princess and stlen away his quest. And as he tok his place at te table, te litle dragone seemed t give him an encouraging, perhaps apologetc, look fom its seat at te table.

“Ahem!” te page announced several minuts latr, before te foode had been cartd ont te tables. “Hear, hear!” “Oh, none of tat, none of tat,” King Grumpey saide grumpily, pushing him aside.. “Who has founde te princess?”

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Te hal was perfectly silent.

Coulde it be?

Knight Galant looked eagerly fom one face t anoter. Not a single one of te knights looked successfl.

“Wel, ten,” saide King Grumpey, “it woulde appeare as if tee have al failed. Bringe out te feast, and ten be on your way.”

Knight Galant sat dejectdly in his chaire. Aftr al of te eforts he had made... He looked kindly at te litle dragone. He coulde not blame it.

“Here is ty most magical salad, litle fiende,” he saide. “Enjoy it.”

Te litle dragone hopped tward te bowl and began t eat.

Shimmer, shimmer, shimmer...

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“What canst tis be?” Knight Galant cried, rubbing at his eyes. “Why dost tou shimmer so in suche a stange form of angelic light? Art tou an angel, litle dragone?”

And as te shimmering came t a close and te entre assembly watched on in awe, te image of te no-longer dragone came t be.

“Maiden Faire!”

Knight Galant coulde not believe his eyes, nor coulde te eyes of any oter tere gatered.

“It is Maiden Faire!” te crye contnued across te hal. “Maiden Faire!”

As te sparkles and shimmers and oter sily tings setled backe int te aire, Maiden Faire looked kindly upon al te gatyred assembly.

“Friends, countymen, nobyl knights... Tou honorest me wit ty goode presence. Look here now upon te princess, restred t your presence aftr te bewitching by

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a stange ogre. Knight Galant, as brave and handsome and perfect as he is, has managed t help me breake te spel, and I believe tat he shoulde have my hande in marriage.” “But, daughtr,” protstd King Grumpey, “tou hast forgoten te fnal chalenge. For al remaining knights are stl eligible t partcipat untl te last of it.” “And what it tat, sir?” Knight Galant asked, wearing a ridiculous smile upon his nobyl face. “For I shal rise t it.” “Te knights in questone shale tek troughe Scarey Woode and return alive and in one piece,” droned te page. “Why, but I live in Scarey Woode!” Knight Galant exclaimed.

And al te knights of te assembly grumbled and sheated teir swords in preparaton t leave for teir homes.

“Tou hast done nobly, Knight Galant,” spaket King Grumpey. “Tere shale be a wedding tmorrow night, and tou, Knight Galant, shal live in tis castle in joint-kingship.”

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Tere were many huzzahs and jubilatons and general merriment for te next several weeks. And everyone, naturaly, lived happily evyr aftr. Evene te red charger, Artyr, who was no longer required t ride of in sily quests.

And it was latr discovered tat te nobyl salad of which Maiden Faire had eatn contained te fowyrs tat woulde provide exceptonal healt at almost every tme of te year, except, potntaly, during te fnal week of Septmber. And te watrs fom te ogyr's steam would give etrnal life. And so Maiden Faire was set for life, as was Knight Galant, who had eatn te last bit of her salad.

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