But the knights were weary from the battle against the Nomads of Norwich and Lord Flamini who led the foot soldier knights lay helpless in the infirmary as were the knights of the cavalry Lord Theo, Lord Ox and Lord Poldi.
And so, the knights fought the Dortmundians from Germania as much as their ebbing strengths could allow, but it was not to be. With Dortmundian Lewandowski spearheading the attack, men fell by the sword and the Dortmundians looted part of the Armoury. Defeat.
Duke Wenger: Close the North, and the East gates! Station the cannons at the Hornsey and Gillespie gates! We swore to protect the noblemen of Arsenalia! Retreat and fight from within the walls!
And so the Dortmundians came to the gates and comprehended them not; and they rode away into the darkness.
Lord Santi: Traté señor Giroud, pero mis pies no trabajo (I tried señor Giroud, but my feet work-eth not).
Lord Giroud: The magic hair cut the Madame at the bank of the river Étienne gave me work-eth neither.
Duke Wenger: Enough with it! Pick-eth up thyselves after this defeat, we must regain-eth our pride and that of the noblemen of Arsenalia.
All the Knights: Yes Duke.
And so four days past and the knights practising in the palace courtyards regained their strength and confidence…
Lord Nacho: ¡Ah! Ahí viene! Señor Flamini! (Ah! There he comes! Lord Flamini!)
Lord Flamini: Aye? I did miss-eth fighting with all of thee.
And the knights, happy, surrounded him exchanging pleasantries; then the Duke walked in…
Duke Wenger: Ahem! We ride to Selhurst Park at noon, ready yourselves against the Crawlies of Crystal Palace.
Lord Flamini: May-est I come along? I’m as fit as a raging bull my Duke.
Duke Wenger: All right then, thou may-est.
And so they rode to the domain of the Crawlies of Crystal Palace and their walls were filled with creepy crawlies, they were everywhere.
Lord Kosc: Err…Duke, you mean, if we win, these dudes pay us tribute?
Duke Wenger: Yes
Lord Bacary: In what, gold or roaches?
Duke Wenger: Err… I never really thought of that. Fight first, ask later.
And so the knights went with him and invaded Selhurst Park, and the Crawlies of Crystal Palace were delivered into their hands and the knights slew of them in Selhurst two thousand men. But Lord Flamini was wounded in battle and Lord Artets’ horse was beheaded. And in their anger, the Duke and the rest of the knights gathered what was left of the Crawlies and cut off their thumbs and great toes; that is why till this day, the Crawlies of Crystal Palace are without thumbs and big toes…
* What? You dare ask-eth me if this is true?! Go wound Lord Flamini and behead Lord Artets’ shiny new horse then you can ask-th me*
The Duke and his men counted the wounded…
Lord Wilshere: My Duke, Lord Flamini and Lord Artets have-th been moved ahead of us to the infirmary.
Duke Wenger: Lord Flamini wounded again?!!!
The fear on the Duke’s face was visible; his mind went to the number of men lying in the infirmary – Lords Diaby, Chamberlain, Poldi, Theo, Artets, Sanogo and now, Flamini
Lord Ramsey: What… what is it my Duke?
Duke Wenger: It’s the curse
Lord Wilshere: Huh? What curse?
Duke Wenger: The curse of the Abou Diaby.
