By the time the Vespers bell tolled, Chad had changed into his finest doublet, his woolen leggings and his prized codpiece that the King had given him after he killed the dragon Panthax. He was looking forward to his next dragon quest because he had grown weary of taking out knights and noblemen that had angered the King.
As he approached the King's private dining salon the guard vassals came to attention and blocked his passage by crossing their halberds.
"Look guys, it's me, Sir Chad. Remember, I ran jousting practice just the other day with you two."
"Yes, Sir, we know you. The King asked that we detain you until he calls for you."
"Oh, I see, very good, men. I'll wait out here then."
Chad thought, 'The old goat is probably giving the Baron a good earful about me', loud laughter could be heard coming from the dining alcove, 'probably laughing about me.'
"Look, did either of you let the King know that I was here?" he suddenly asked the guards.
The two vassals looked at each other, shrugging. "Well!?" Chad demanded.
One of the guards leaned over into the doorway, "Sire, Sir Chad is here."
"Well send him in fool," the Kings voice boomed from inside the room. Chad gave a dirty look to the vassal and stepped through the portal.
"My finest knight!" the King exclaimed as Chad entered the brightly lit dining room, a huge fire blazing on the hearth.
Baron Brun was sitting at the huge table covered with foodstuffs and now rose to greet Chad, offering his arm in the traditional forearm clasp between knights. Chad accepted his greeting and bowed slightly, acknowledging the Baron's rank, and then turned to bow to the King.
"Sit young man, and eat, drink--you must have some of this wine that the Baron brought. It's French, isn't it?"
"Yes Sire, from the Burgundy region, I think it goes well with the beef."
Chad was famished and immediately followed their instruction, hacking off a large slab of the roast before him and allowing the Baron to fill his chalice. As he dove into his food, the two older men looked on.
Chad continued to attack the feast with gusto until he realized that both his superiors were watching him intently.
Slowing down a bit and then taking a gulp of the wine, he asked "Sirs, is something wrong?"
The King let out a huge guffaw, slapping his thigh as he tipped his chalice towards Chad.
"We're just amazed, and jealous I might add, at how you attack the feast with such abandon, my boy. Am I not correct Baron?"
"Yes, Sire, indeed. It is both amusing and wistful to watch him eat!"
Chad cocked his head and gave a lopsided smile before resuming his wolf-like consumption. After a bit, he finished, taking a long swig of the wine following which the Baron refilled his chalice.
"Before you arrived," the King began, "we were talking about your injuries and the enchanted balm that the Baron had provided."
"Yes, Sire, that ointment was miraculous. Now that you mention it, I wanted to ask the Baron why the likeness of a dragon was carved upon the lid of its container."
"Well, Sir Knight," the Baron responded with a sly smile, "if you must know, it was not an 'enchanted balm' per se, but the spunk of a dragon, which in itself has peculiar and magical properties."
The king again let loose with a loud guffaw as Chad's mouth dropped open, then the knight exclaimed "So Sir Gawain smeared my backside with dragon cum?"
"I am afraid so," the Baron said consolingly, "but it did have the desired effect, did it not?"
"I suppose so," Chad said, regretting eating that last oyster and now fully realizing Gawain's 'side effect' behavior.
"Sir Chad, I wish to look at the areas of your wounds from the sword whipping," the King said nonchalantly as he sipped his wine.
"Sire? Now? Here?"
"Yes, stand and disrobe," the King ordered, never one for long explanations or excuses.
Chad stood, he was a trained knight and even though he briefly questioned his liege, he would not fail to comply with an order--and the King's wish is an order. For the fourth time that day he pulled off his clothes, first his sword belt, then his doublet.
As he pulled the doublet off both the King and the Baron stared at his chiseled physique that was randomly highlighted by scars of many sword fights. After his boots, codpiece and leggings he was naked and turned away from the table so that his back was to the noblemen.