A Song of Daventry

Lady Abigail created this little poem about King Graham’s sudden quest to find his castle in King’s Quest 5.

KING’S QUEST 5’S
“A SONG OF DAVENTRY”
BY LADY ABIGAIL

Oh, Graham is an honest king,
So say his subjects all.
His praises they most highly sing,
They laud him ’til the hillsides ring:
“All hail to our gracious king!
All Daventry join our call!”

One fine spring morn, when the breeze was a’sea,
When the fields were filled with flowers,
King Graham took leave of his family;
Thought time ’twas for his demesne to see,
He never considered, possibly,
That a wizard might land to flex his powers.

That wizard worshiped Evil’s ways;
Revenge was on his mind.
He did not care for fine spring days;
He saw them through a close red haze —
Graham’s son had harmed his brother;
Now the castle he must find.

Find it he did! “Now, to be rid
of a meddling royal caster!
Manannan, upset by that impudent kid,
Shall wear, once again, a magician’s black lid!
And so, from below, a whirlwind now blow!
Fast, fast again, and faster!”

King Graham returned. Alas! Too late!
His castle, with family, gone.
But, as the king bemoaned their fate,
And looked about him, most distrait,
A ray of hope, with feathered pate
Alit upon a frond.

A small brown owl, blue-vested friend,
Assistant to a mage —
He saw it all, from start to end,
Knew every twist, knew every bend;
He knew exactly how to send
Graham to a helpful sage.

Thus, they began their journey long,
O’er land, and sea, and isle.
They travelled many a curled furlong,
Until, at last, they came upon
The wizard’s home. They crept sidelong;
It took them quite a while.

King Graham tried hard, his very best,
Against Mordack, the evil one!
A polymorphing magic fest
Which put the wizard to the test,
And which he lost. Graham’s quest
Was won! But not yet done.

So Crispin, Cedric’s suzerain,
Appeared, to save the royalty,
Restore them to their rightful mien,
Restore the castle to its plain,
Return a princess (scullery maid),
Whisk Graham and family over sea.

Oh, Graham is an honest king,
So say his subjects all.
His praises they most highly sing,
They laud him ’til the hillsides ring:
“All hail to our gracious king!
All Daventry join our call!”