WHAT'S THIS, jester? You have business here? a brusque-looking captain of the guard eyed me up and down.

Ihave, Your Grace. I bowed to the guard and smiled. It is business I have come for and business I will do.Important business... Not as important as yours, Your Grace, but the stuff of lords, I meanlaughs...

Shut your trap, fool. The guard glowered. Who awaits you inside?

The lord awaits me. And my Sophie.

The guard scrunched his brow. Thelord ? Awaitsyou ?

The Lord awaits usall. I grinned and winked.

Some people waiting in line began to chuckle.

LordBaldwin , then, I went on. It is he who awaits me. He just does not know it yet.

Lord Baldwin? The guard screwed up one eye. What do you take me for? Afool ? He roared laughter.

I bowed humbly. You're right, sir, I amnot needed if such a wit as you is already here. You must truly keep the barracks up all night in stitches.

We already have a fool, jester. His name is Palimpost. Not Your lucky day, eh? It seems we're all fooled up.

Well, now we're two-fooled, aren't we? I exclaimed. I had to say something that would gain me support. Even this mold-worm must be able to be charmed or swayed.

I knelt down to a farmer's boy. I poked at his chin, his nose, then snapped my fingers, and a small dried plum appeared in my hand............