Knight challenge

Quill nodded. “Yes. Something went wrong. Many things, actually. Because people listened to the queen and obeyed her, she was never wrong.”

“I thought you said something went wrong. This is getting boring again. Is she wrong or not?”

“Patience, Poople. Patience. You see, no one ever told the queen she was wrong. No one stopped her when her plans went from perfect to pitiful. She fixed everything she could in the land of the memory snakes and then she told everyone that they could solve all the problems so they marched to the land of the lizardmen, intent on bringing truth and beauty but got crushed in a senseless war.”

Poople brushed all the crumbs onto the floor. “So?”

“So the crown got lost when the queen and her army lost the the lizardmen. Do you realize how powerful that crown is?”

Noople nodded thoughtfully. “Is it the crown or the gems that has the power?”

“Just a dumb story, that’s what it is, and now I’ve heard like 10 different versions of it.” Poople stood up and another pile of chip dust cascaded onto the floor.

“So let’s find the real story, and find the crown.” Quill said, smiling,

“Seriously? You’re gonna challenge Noople and I to a quest race? See who can find this crown thingie first?”

“I wasn’t no, but now I am.” Quill spun in place three times and was suddenly a knight in shining armor, complete a closed metal helmet with a purple feather coming out of the top. “I challenge you two to an adventure duel! The first team to return here with the mythical crown of the queen wins…”

“No, no. The loser has to bake a cake for the winner. That way if nobody finds it, big deal or whatever,” Poople said.

“Okay. Poople and I are a team,” Noople said. “Who is your teammate?”

Quill looked around the room and spotted the covered bird cage. “Percy!”

“Dude. He’s still asleep. He’ll be asleep until the sun sets.”

Quill opened his metal visor to reveal a black bearded face. “Such is my confidence in my skills as a treasure hunter.”

Poople and Noople leaped into action, stuffing their bags full of gear and racing outside. They weren’t going to turn down a head start.