Being a report of the expedition mounted by diuerse members of the
populous in order to fulfil their vows made at the recent feast.
Sir Andrew, Lady Anne & I went by the West Port to the appointed
rendezvous at Byzantium, where we gathered together (in a hall which is,
alas, no longer preserved) with our fellow pilgrims who had each chosen
their own diuerse routes thither. Sadly Sir Athelwulf Draca was delayed in
the land of the Bulgars with Arnfirth & did not meet up with us for
the final assault.
As we were few in number compared to the Paynim Hordes I deemed that
cunning strategy & guile would need to be employed, rather than the
simpler direct charge. (Sir Andrew & Lord Michael de Brad may
disagree!) To avoid diuerse engagements en route we did not make great
display of arms & mingled with ordinary pilgrims. The usual route from
Byzantium to the Holy Land was bound to be well defended & prepared
for our arrival, so I took the bold step of leading our party by a more
northerly route. Thus we reached the World's End first.
While the company gathered at Byzantium we amused ourselves by remarking
on the natives willingness to exchange large treasures for strange &
unsatisfying beverages. Sir Corwin's Squire, Ieuan, swore that his was
made from earwax. Once all had completed their diuerse preparations we
took our leave of the Byzantine guards, shared around some jelly bears,
(Heads First, naturally) & set out.
Crossing the bridge, we walked the merry mile, meeting a man in a Mitre,
from whom we received blessings. In his house the older warriors in the
party, considering their responsibility to train the Squires in the party
in more diuerse matters than merely physical combat, bethought themselves
to improve the mental preparedness of their charges by introducing them to
the subtleties of Pub Chess. Ieuan in particular applied himself
assiduously in an attempt to grasp the details, managing to best his
Knight in one game.
Still discussing the game play we marched on, until we reached The World's
End. Here we found a Belle Haven by which we were refreshed. Here, after
diuerse discussions & diversions, Ieuan grasped the inner nature of
Pub Chess & passed beyond the beginner's maze of rule & gambit.
Here also we met a fellow pilgrim, known to us of old, Brother Skallagrim,
Sir Gunnar's house priest. This much heartened the company.
Refusing to be intimidated by nature's conspiracy with the Paynim to
discourage us, we trusted in Saint Mary, who led us onward. Brother
Skallagrim exhorted us to put our faith in the Holy Rood, which we did. At
this time we heartened ourselves with the recital of diuerse old songs,
some of which were new to our less experienced brethren who nevertheless
enjoyed them mightily. Here it was that Lady Anne at last found the bailey
she sought, having been disappointed at the World's End.
From here it was a pleasant walk, past the home of a giant fish, to
approach the Holy Land from the East. This obviously took the Paynim
unprepared for there was no defence on that side & we were soon
rejoicing in our possession of the South, Cider was quaffed, ale was
drunk, & by now so were several of the company. We partook of the
delicacies prepared by the locals & congratulated each other in
diuerse ways. Being assured that our aims had been achieved, we disbanded
and each sought home by the most direct route.
Some members of our company, being of a pioneering spirit, made diuerse
diversions en route home to expand the safe routes available to later
pilgrims, & also to gain booty to replenish the coffers emptied by our
travails. Thus we all eventually came safely to our homes & welcome
rest