Each of the kingdoms was, more or less, triangular in shape, and at the point where their lands would have met, was a large lake. Now, in the middle of this lake was a lovely little island. The island was uninhabited, but it was very desirable property. The grass was green, the trees grew tall and straight, and there were numerous springs of clear, cold water. All three kingdoms lay claim to ownership of the island. Heralds were summoned, and diplomatic notes were sent back and forth between the rulers of the kingdoms, all disputing ownership of the island. Things were getting pretty nasty, and it began to look like the long period of peaceful coexistance between the kingdoms was going to come to an end. One of the heralds, an old man, had the temerity to suggest that instead of fight a three-sided war, with disastrous consequences to all three kingdoms, a tournament be held instead. Once again, heralds began their labourous journeys between the kingdoms to arrange the details of the proposed tourney. Knights and war-lords, barons and dukes, all were vitally interested in hammering out the details of this tourney. Finally, after many many days of negotiations, of proposals and counter-proposals, the details were arranged. The bravest and foremost knights of each kingdom would be selected by their respective kings, and these knights, attended by their squires, would meet, on the first day of summer, on the island itself. And upon the morning of the second day of summer, not the knights themselves, but their squires, would meet in grand melee, and the island would be awarded to the kingdom of the winner of the melee. It goes without saying that the winning squire would also be knighted, as well as winning fame and reknown among the fighting forces of all three kingdoms. There was much speculation among the populace concerning which knights would attend, and which squires they would take with them. The respective kings called together their fighting forces, and made their selections, and on the first day of summer, the chosen few arrived at the island. The first kingdom was represented by a force of four knights, each supported by four squires, meaning that a fighting force of some 16 squires would be entered in the melee tourney from the first kingdom. They immediately began to pitch camp, make fires and, as it was somewhat late in the day, to cook their dinners. The force representing the second kingdom consisted of five knights, each with five squires, thus the second kingdom would field a force of some 25 squires. They, also, begin to pitch camp, make fires, and cook their dinners. In addition, the squires were required to polish their knight's armor, and ensure that all the knight's weapons were in top form. The knights of the first two kingdoms spent their time visiting each other's camp, boasting among themselves of the skills of their squires, and performing mighty feats with bottles of ale (mostly disappearing tricks). Meanwhile, the force from the third kingdom arrived. Somehow, this force consisted on only one old knight, who was accompanied by only one squire. They pitched camp, with the knight taking on the chore of putting up the tent, and polishing his own armor and weapons. His squire made dinner by throwing a rope over a tree limb, and tying a noose in the rope, to which he attached an old iron pot. In this manner, he was able to keep their supper from burning by raising the pot high over the fire while he was engaged in taking care of his own weapons and armor. At dawn the next day, the forces of all three kingdoms met at the appointed field of battle, and much derision was made of the paltry force from the third kingdom by the forces of the first two. The melee began after blessing from above. Great blows, mighty deeds and much honor was won by many of the participants, but as the day wore on, more and more of the squires were removed from the field by their knights, after they had been overcome in battle. Toward afternoon, the melee had come down to only one squire from the first kingdom, two squires from the second kingdom, and, of course, the sole squire from the third kingdom. Summoning the reserves of their strengths, and calling upon God to assist them, the four squires charged each other, and a huge cloud of dust arose from the field of battle. All fighters were hidden from view. The knights wondered aloud at the intensity of the combat, but after a few minutes, the dust began to clear away, and it was seen that only one squire was left standing. It was, of course, the lone squire from the third kingdom, thereby once again proving that the squire of the high pot and noose equals the sum of the squires of the other two sides. |