Now, Sheba and the Sphinx came to the Great City of Az, wherein the Blue Knight and his partner the Blue Woman Knight made their current. The Blue Woman (Knight) had recently been delivered of a fine Baby Knight and was keen to go questing in the Badlands where adventure was all but unavoidable and pleasantly inevitable.
The Blue Knight (Man) was wishing to be a stay-at-home Knight and care for the small Knight, who was precocious and had already learnt to ride a horse and was very sharp generally.
Sheba and the Sphinx made fine festive carousels with them in greeting until six o’clock when it was the time for the little Knight to sleep.
Sheba made to stay in Az, cataloging her medicaments and experimenting to find the scientific science of all the numerous leaves, berries and tinctures of bark, dilutions of dried flowers, powdered roots, infusions, unguents, salves, healing smokes, sprays, and drugs of all type.
The Blue Woman Knight, from here on called the Blue Knight (Woman), was determined to land a blow in the name of all things good. She had discovered a star in the heavens with which she felt some strong rapport, and would follow its path until an honourable quest was delivered.
Next day, goodbyes and see you soons, rang out at the great gate of the city of Az. Then The Blue Knight with all her pavilions packed, the arms and armour all packed, some sandwiches, snacks, fruit, energy bars and drinks all packed, set out the gate.
The Sphinx agreed to stay and defend Az against all comers that might come with aggressive intent or malicious sub texts.
At that moment an Elder of the City came into the room, sorry to interrupt, she said, but we have a problem at the gates.
At those gates the Sphinx found a small army, led by a Knight in Darkest armour which was chased across its surface with silver images, not to mention the flowers and foliage.
Surrender your city to me or I will turn your city to porridge, enslave your population and steal all your useful things, called the Darkest Knight.
Interesting, replied the Sphinx, I have heard of turning a city to rubble or ruin but I have never heard of turning a city to Porridge. Did you mis-speak or are you trying to push the linguistic envelope? I’m afraid the population here is not available for enslavement. I can understand why you might want to take our useful things, but I did notice that there was no mention of gold or silver. Was that an error or are you not interested in that kind of thing. Either way, you don’t stand a chance, anger management or not, I can crush your whole army with one paw, so make nice and come visit or high tail it out of here. Nice armour by the way.
I used the word porridge advisedly, replied the Darkest Knight, as it denotes, in my mind, a very thorough destruction of buildings. The nature of enslavement is that it makes no difference if the prospective slave considers themselves available or not. Lastly, you are correct, I have no interest in fancy doodads, give me practical objects every time. As to my armour, I had it made specially for this day, so I am glad that it is appreciated.
But enough bandying of words, surrender or we will do all the things that I mentioned earlier.
I shall have to get back to you, said the Sphinx, my instinct to crush your army beneath my paws is not in line with City policy and I must consult my line manager on this one, catch you later.
The army of the Darkest Knight camped outside the great walls of the City of Az.
The Guardians of the Cave 