Sir George and the Treacherous Map

An overconfident officer is outwitted by a map while trying to save the local princess

Sir George and the Treacherous Map

Bryan Gunn

           

Fiercely shining armor covered the knight head to toe, his

War horse beneath all that steel, sweating but

Head held high, like the lance clad in a metal fist, a

Banner flies, streaming out as does the train of squires and

Servants behind, sweating buckets like the

Poor horse who carries Sir George.

 

Roofs appear, a village, at last they made it now

All the knight has to do is defeat the dragon,

Collect the gold, and marry the Princess who is being

Held in the wicked beast’s lair, waiting for her champion.

He dismounts, villagers gather around, eyes wide, jaws open.

 

“Good people, point me towards the dragon and I will rescue your

Princess and end his tyranny!” No cheers ring out.

Arched eyebrows with curled lips are their only replies

“Milord, there’s no dragon here, plus we are a non �" partisan

Democracy with no monarchy.”

 

Sir George’s visor slams open, his face red and shiny

“Map!” he squawks like a parrot, a rolled

Parchment is presented on bended knee.

Minutes stretch out, his eyes flick across the page

“Aren’t we here” finger jabs, voice now hushed

“No lord, we headed east at the fork, at your behest.”

“Damn these accursed maps”

 

His shoulders slump, all these decisions weigh more

Than that steel, growing duller by the minute.

Then a shrug, no mean feat wearing armor

“Right, camp here then.” Voice decisive again

“Perhaps another knight will rescue the damsel.

Probably too late as it is.

Most likely she is a snack by now.”