The tale of the three scrolls

There had been many changes in the kingdom. When the last king abdicated there had been no natural successor and a prince from another kingdom bought the castle and became king. Now the new young general stood before him for his first audience. He was excited; it was his first chance to be a proper general fighting real battles.



“I know that in the past you only worked with young squires and used wooden swords and lances, not metal ones such as the knights you now command will brandish”, said the king. “But I have heard great things of your work with the young lads and I have faith in you”, he continued. “And I have to tell you that I am more a castles man than a battles one, so to help me, but more to help you, I have appointed a new, senior, Defender of the Frontiers, or DoF if you will”. He will guide you and provide you with the very best soldiers money can buy, as I am a rich man. While I may know little of war and battles, the castles in my other lands are of the highest quality and I earn many gold ducats from renting them.”



Heartened by this encouragement the young general made his way to his new quarters. There he was surprised to find the old general, Lord Jim of the Gannon clearing out his belongings. The young general had heard good things of this man, but had also heard that some of the peasants in the kingdom were glad he was going.



“I won’t tarry” said Lord Jim, “as I know you will have much to do. But let me say, I wish you luck. And I want to give you some advice.”



He pointed to three scrolls on the table, sealed with blue wax. “These scrolls provide advice that you may need at key moments. Even if you are very talented, things can go wrong. So if the tide is unluckily against you, you may think it is what it is, but honestly, you will need to change something. The scrolls are numbered. So on the first occasion that things seem terrible, open the first scroll and follow the advice therein. If further misfortunes befall you, then the second and maybe eventually even the third. You will not need a fourth”.



And with that the old general smiled and left. The new general, whist a well mannered and kindly man, thought to himself that he wouldn’t need this help; he had modern ideas and help from the DoF. He tossed the scrolls into the corner of the room.



Things started well with a comprehensive victory over a lesser baron from the south. But then it got difficult. Although no land was conceded, battles were often indecisive and progress wasn’t being made. The new general was summoned to speak with the king. He wasn’t sure what he should say as everything was going according to plan from what he had done before, it was just the results weren’t what he expected.



He remembered the scrolls and opened the first one. It read “blame your predecessor”.



At his meeting with the king the new general said “Sire, I am as disappointed as you. I know the old general is gone but he was a strong personality and the culture he created still persists and it is this that is holding us back. I need more time”. The king nodded, “this too was a conclusion that the DoF and I came to – indeed it was the reason for his removal. You shall have more time but be aware that the fighting season will soon end. In the summer it will be too hot to do battle. I really want to have the local barons suppressed by then. I have big plans. I intend to conquer kingdoms many leagues away”.



“I know”, replied the new general, “and can I say how nice the castle is starting to look, what with the battlements all repainted and everything”. “Thank you”, said the king, I will admit that when it comes to war and battles I am not well versed, which is why I appointed the DoF, but when it comes to nice shiny castles, I am definitely your man”.



The first scroll had bought some time and the new general was still quite popular. Indeed, the king’s master of music had composed an uplifting song for the troops to sing as they marched into battle:



The army fights our enemies

But our arrows mostly miss

Never mind, we go again

Because it is what it is.



Things did not improve, however. The same pattern persisted. The new general was summoned again. This time the opening of the next scroll was more feverish. The words were; “restructure and reorganise”.



The king was clearly angry. “I gave you more time. I continue to spend many ducats on wages for the army, but yet there is no change. I hear tell that in battle our troops just shuffle to the left and then they shuffle back to the right instead of attacking. I’m not an army man, but I’m sure we won’t win battles like that”.



“I am very sorry,” said the new general, “and I’m sure the DoF is too, although I’ve not heard him say it. When we model how the battles will work on the DoF’s giant table, we always win. But on the day it doesn’t work like that. And I have to say that the passing of ammunition around at the back of the army before trying to move forwards is the modern way. It has been employed to great effect by the famous Conquistador Guardiola from Iberia. But I have the answer”



“Many of the knights in the army are those the old general recruited. They do not fit well into the sort of structure and organisation I need to have. We do not have enough knights who hold their swords in their right hands for instance”. “Well, that is strange”, replied the king “as my analysis is we need more who hold it in their left. But what do I know, I’m a castles man”.



“Talking of which”, said the new general, “what’s that shiny thing near the drawbridge?” “That”, said the king proudly, “is a lantern tally”. “When its finished it will be illuminated and will show for each battle how many we slayed and how many of our own were slain. It was invented by one of my military engineers, Merlin. He’s an absolute wizard, you know”. “Getting back to the battles, you can have more time again. But it’s your last chance”.



The new general left, realising that the old General had indeed been a wise and generous spirited man, whatever others may have said about him.



So the fighting season petered out with little change. At the start of the next fighting season, the king and the new general met once more. “Excellent news, Sire”, said the new general, “the DoF has persuaded a great knight, Sir Quig from over the Lea to join us. He is exactly what we have needed; a beast of a man to lead our troops into battle”. “So be it”, “said the king, “but I had heard that although he is a great knight he has a tendency to fall from his horse and hurt his leg”.



And so it proved. Things got much worse. The lantern tally shone brightly at battles but told a story of defeat. In the second battle, Sir Quig fell from his horse and hurt his leg. The news from the castle infirmary was grave; he would not be fit for battle for many months. “Fear not”, the DoF told the new general , “ I have a replacement from the kingdom of Germania. Why his very name will confound our enemies”. But in the next battle, when this new knight had the chance to render a mortal blow his lance flew many feet from its target. He never did battle gain.



It was getting toxic. The peasants who had been so gleeful at the departure of the old general were rarely seen in the streets now and when they were the townsfolk threw rotting vegetables at them as was the custom of the time.



There was a brief respite with a victory against a part time army from the south. But then came a battle in the strange barony known as Tykeland. At first it went well, but then Sir Matthew of Warburton, a former hero of the army in the days of the old general, but now fighting for the Tykes, pierced the defence and took down the standard. All confidence drained from the army and they were scattered in a terrible defeat.



The new general hurried back to the castle. He knew another summons would come soon from the king. Desperately he searched for the last scroll. He found it and tore it open, the blue wax shattering into many pieces. He unfurled the parchment. Three words met his eyes.