His dark horse walked once more through the fields of the kingdom under the monarchy f the queen whom the jester had counselled on his previous visit. Rumours of his deathly appearance had circulated in the time since his last visit to the extent that on riding down a high street he was seen many times by the shocked eyes of youngsters who for then on gave no argument when sleep was commanded. The adults, too, saw him and their faces took on such a hue as to shame the baker. He cared not for these small things, and he passed in silence, not imparting any words of wisdom.

On his approach to the castle he was blocked by a pair of guards who in their long years watching an empty road had fostered a hope to command a dark traveller and by this save the kingdom from peril. To this somewhat wishful end they commanded the blackened merry-maker to dismount and say on his business.

‘Good sirs your conduct in guarding is exemplary, and the use you put this metal to is one most proper, but I beseech you do not in all your tired duty detain me from my duties. If you do, it may go ill for you and yours.’

‘No man may pass without our leave, sir, and as yet we reserve it for those who can prove that they come in peace.’

‘I do not come in peace, for I hear tell of war all around, although never yet have I witnessed it. And you do not guard in peace for these tools of the warrior make poor overtures of peace to me. Sirs, I come in war to speak of peace. I carry a message of mercy much needed to your queen and in these times I advise you to make with mercy before the choice is removed.’

‘Twill be so, good sir, and yet I must take your horse in dept of your good intentions. To prevent escape and to discourage foul play.’

‘Take more care of this beast than you do of yourself, sir, for he has seen things which would crack your reason to it’s foundations.’

‘Fine words for a fine beast. You have my word he will be treated in a fit manner.’

‘Therefore you have my word he will treat you with the same courtesy. Now, shall I make my own way to the Queen or will I be escorted, to prevent escape and discourage foul play?’

In answer, one of the guards took the reigns of his horse while the other stood beside him with his pike lofted.

The queen was sat in her throne, surrounded on all sides by the court. There was a debate ensuing and as the jester walked quietly into the back of the room he listened at what was coming to pass.

‘No one man can cause this, highness. I believe there to be a great force of arms marching far and wide. How else are the tales to be explained?’

‘Tales need no explanation, Sir Hector. If tales are to be believed we should be set upon by dragons, giants and elves hiding in our porridge. Tales are not reasons enough to raise an army.’

‘Maybe they are not, but the proof of the many battles upon our borders is surly all the evidence needed to command the conscription?’

‘What is this evidence of which you speak? I have seen none of it.’

‘Respectfully, highness, you do not often venture from this castle to see your borders. I have seen great swathes of war in the world. On my oath I must sway your resolve to defence of this kingdom and yourself. If not, should any of the tales prove true we will fall.’

‘If we should protect against that which may happen why have we not built a fortress to repel rocks from heaven? Or raised dams on our borders to stem a flood of the land? Or made it so that bees are contained should they mount an invasion of our honey-stores? I commend your concern for my safety, but I suspect it is less founded in kindness and more in greed. Would not an army encourage war, not stop it? An idle man with a sword will take his blade to anything which does not argue, and thus wars are born sir.’

‘Your Majesty, it is not so, I attest! There is nothing in my motives over the concern for the kingdom.’

‘Maybe so, and who would the kingdom fall to should war be mounted? Hector, your face shows two sides, and neither are becoming. I have it! Your brother, Sir, who was last heard to be ruling the Southland’s, has spawned this jealousy in you. I see now how your machinations have always leaned towards either war with that power or power of your own in this kingdom. Begone! Go to your brother, slay him and steal his power without spilling innocent blood! Make haste, I too have heard tales, and they speak of capture and torture. Go now, and should you ever set foot within those borders you so recently wished to protect it will go ill for you.’

The man standing before the queen spun and strode out of the throne-room, the crowd parting ahead of his fury and closing once more on it’s tail. In the darkness at the back of the room the jester stood in silence once more until Sir Hector had passed him by. Before the door could close he followed in that wrathful wake.

On the great stone staircase leading down and out of the castle the jester trotted after the banished knight. He spoke, his words pulling the anger up and spinning it around.

‘Good sir, cease for a time your angered passage and speak of your grievance.’

The knight turned slowly, looking at the jester in place of any worm.

‘Speak no more, fool.’

He turned once more and made a few steps headway before the jester spoke once more.

‘I heard the reason for your fury. Is it so? Do you crave that power granted to your brother?’

Stopping once more, Sir Hector stood. He looking away from the jester, considering his response.

‘If my answer were yea, would you speak wisdom or fool to me?’

‘Wisdom often dances in the guise of the foolish and the true wisdom is in seeing it for what it is.’

‘Very well. For all your seeming knowledge of my business I shall fill in a few errors. I do not crave the power of my brother, I do but wish it to be placed where it belongs. He is a weak fool.’

The jester skipped down a few stairs to observe the profile of the man.

‘A fool? How does this weakness recommend him to the power he has?’

‘He followed a romantic quest, such as the tales speak of. Nothing was to come of it. The Queen, in her wisdom, saw him as a liability and set him this task to be rid of him for a time. And yet he took a course unforeseen to anyone here. Instead of being slain by that far menace he allied with it, gaining power beyond anything he may have caught here.’

‘I see nothing but somewhat ironic fortune in this action, sir. Is there more in this than you say?’

‘No more than this. I have striven long in the service of this Queen to be granted small sway over the military faction of this kingdom. No more than this will I gain until I die, unless I take it upon myself and my brother in placing that power he has where it is destined to lie.’

‘You seek to slay your brother and take his place at the head of the menace you spoke recently of?’

‘I need not slay him, for fratricide is not in my interest. A mere removal is needed to place that which is where it should be.’

‘And you are a fit judge of that which should be?’

‘In the concerns of my own family I am the only judge. He will be content in his new position, should he wish it.’

‘What position would you have in mind for him sir?’

‘That of a second, a man who will always be the shadow of greatness. He is suited to this, and in time will know it makes us both greater than one alone.’

‘Indeed, two is a greater number than one. But all numbers are nothing if there is no nothing to judge them by. How shall you take this power you so richly desire?’

‘Why, by asking first of course. I am knighted and barbarous actions rub with my oath.’

‘Very well. Spill no blood and merry may the world remain. I will see you again, although not in this place for it is now banned to you. Thus you must depart with haste.’

‘For a fool you have a most excellent mind for such matters. I will go now, and should you see me you will kneel for then the power will be mine and men will quail before me.’

With that the knight strode away down the steps, and the jester watched him leave with a perplexed frown upon his brow.