Ken's blog

Once upon a time, long ago in an enchanted land, a young deer poacher was hauled before King Arthur by Cuthbert of Sodshire, the local sheriff, who threw down the slain deer on the stone slab floor before King Arthur’s feet.

“Look Sire, as you can see, this strapping young miscreant was caught in the act of poaching in the King’s forest. Sire, he deserves to be hanged,” proclaimed Cuthbert of Sodshire solemnly.

“We shall see, sheriff Cuthbert of Sodshire,” said King Arthur.

“What’s your name, lad? Your face seems familiar,” asked King Arthur, leaning forward with interest.

“John of the Brook, Sire,” answered the lad timidly, brushing his blond locks away from his eyes.

“I say, John of the Brook, are you the son of Gorlois of the Brook, the blacksmith, who saved princess Evaine from a roaming, fire-breathing dragon by burning its foot with a red hot iron?” inquired the King, indicating the fair princess Evaine by his side, who was looking on with interest.

“Yes, Sire, I am the son of my brave father Gorlois of the Brook,” said John of the Brook, legs trembling less.

“Well then, John of the Brook, I will ask you a question. If you can answer it correctly you will go free, otherwise, to maintain discipline, you will be hung from the tree Yggdrasil forthwith,” said King Arthur solemnly.

“Sire, I eh say, what… what is the question you would ask?” stammered young John of the Brook.

King Arthur spoke gravely, raising his scepter: “I am thrice as old as my sister Morgan le Fay was when I was her age. When she is as old as I am the sum of our ages will be 91. What are our ages?” he said, looking attentively at John of the Brook.

“Sire, please give me a moment to think, and I will answer you true,” said John of the Brook, took a deep breath and entered into a meditative state, fixing his gaze on a distant horizon.

After a few minutes of contemplation, John of the Brook gave his answer resolutely to King Arthur.

“Correct you are, John of the Brook, well done,” exclaimed King Arthur. “Sheriff Cuthbert of Sodshire, take this clever lad to Merlin for an apprenticeship and arrange for a venison feast,” commanded King Arthur.

John of the Brook bowed before King Arthur and broke out in a wide smile as he was escorted off by the scowling sheriff Cuthbert of Sodshire.

Princess Evaine retired demurely to her quarters to prepare for the feast.

What do you say are the ages of King Arthur and Morgan le Fay?