That night a banquet was held in the Great Hall. The returning hero, Sir Bigwart, was the guest of honour. Princess Marigold sat on the King’s right and Firkin on his left. King Eggnog had never met a real wizard before and was keen to see what he could do. Crispin didn’t sit at the table at all, since he was only a humble squire and belonged with the servants.
King Eggnog got to his feet and waited for the room to fall quiet.
‘Let us raise our goblets,’ he said, ‘to the bold Sir Bigwart who killed the Ogres of Ghastly Fell and brought the Princess Marigold safely back.’
‘To the brave Sir Bigwart!’ chorused the knights of Eggnog, rising to their feet.
Lord Fawnley leaned across and whispered something in the King’s ear.
‘Good heavens, I almost forgot!’ said the King. ‘Next Saturday you are all invited to the Princess Marigold’s wedding.’
‘WEDDING?’ Marigold jumped to her feet and reached for a bowl of soup. King Eggnog prepared to duck.
‘But surely, my sweet … the quest? We agreed …’
The Princess pointed at Sir Bigwart. ‘If you think that I’m going to marry that knightly nincompoop you can think again!’
Lord Fawnley blew his nose. ‘I’m afraid, Highness, the King gave his word. Sir Bigwart completed the quest so you must – Aatchoo! – marry him.’
‘But what if he didn’t complete the quest?’ said Marigold.
‘Well, of course he did! Didn’t you, Sir Bigwart?’ asked the King.
Sir Bigwart had turned a little pink and was suddenly interested in his supper.
‘Well … ah um …’ he mumbled.
‘Did you slay the ogres or did you not?’ demanded Lord Fawnley.
‘Well, I um … I … not,’ admitted Sir Bigwart in a small voice.
‘Odds frogs, man!’ cried the King. ‘If you didn’t then who in heaven’s name did?’
A small boy with a pudding bowl haircut pushed his way through the crowds until he was standing in front of the King. He bowed clumsily.
‘YOU?’ said King Eggnog. ‘Who are you?’
‘This is Crispin, Father,’ smiled Marigold. ‘He’s a squire and he makes the best honey cakes you’ve ever tasted.’
‘And he killed the ogres?’ asked the King.
Crispin bowed again. He seemed to have lost his tongue.
‘And saved your life?’
‘He did, Father,’ smiled the Princess. Crispin bowed a third time.
‘Well then, I suppose now you wish to marry my daughter?’
‘He doesn’t,’ answered Marigold before Crispin could open his mouth. ‘He wants to be a knight. And he’s going to live at the palace. Isn’t that right, Crispin?’
‘Um, yes, I suppose it is,’ said Crispin and blushed to his boots because the Princess had just kissed him on the cheek, which is enough to make the bravest of knights turn red.
Lord Fawnley leaned across to address the King. ‘Well, sire, it all seems to have turned out for the best,’ he said. ‘Sir Bigwart is back, the ogres are dead and the Princess seems to have – Aatchoo! – found a friend.’
‘Yes,’ said King Eggnog, wiping his eye. ‘But I do wish you’d stop sneezing all over me.’
The Wizard Firkin spoke up. ‘If you will allow me, my lord,’ he said, ‘I know just the spell for curing a cold.’
He drew out his wand and waved it twice over Fawnley’s head, uttering some strange words. Instantly the Lord Chamberlain vanished in a puff of blue smoke. In his place stood a hairy hog which blinked in surprise, opened its mouth – and sneezed.
Sir Bigwart smiled to himself. He had always said that Lord Fawnley was a terrible boar.
Other titles in the History of Warts series
Custardly Wart – Pirate (Third Class)
Ditherus Wart – Accidental Gladiator
Honesty Wart – Witch Hunter!
By the Same Author
Bloomsbury Publishing, London, New Delhi, New York and Sydney
First published in Great Britain in September 2008 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
This electronic edition published in December 2012 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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Text copyright © Alan MacDonald 2008
Illustrations copyright © Mark Beech 2008
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eISBN 978-1-4088-1897-8
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Sir Bigwart Page 6
