“Who goes there?!” the guard on the wall shouted.

“You’re on,” I whispered to Will. “Make it the performance of your life.”

“I’d better get extra experience for this,” he whispered back. He stood in his saddle, every inch the proud and noble knight he was. “I am Sir Eric of Skywatch Tower! Guardian of the lands of Princess Elena Fairwind!” He drew his sword, holding it high over his head. The setting sun flashed along the length of the blade. “Wielder of the mystic blade, Windsinger. Slayer of the ancient dragon, Flameblood!”

Okay, he improvised that last one. I prodded his leg with my staff. Stick to the script, please.

He went on without missing a beat. “My companions and I seek parlay with Lord Albrecht. Nay, we demand it!”

“Aye, Master Albrecht has been expecting you. Enter!” The gates opened wide to permit us.

Will sheathed his sword and sat back in the saddle. “Well,” he said with a smile. “That was easy.”

I knew Albrecht better than any of them. ‘Easy’, in Albrecht’s terms, meant ‘deadly’.