When it came time to celebrate the anniversary of the forming of theircanton, the Seneschal, Lady Luxandra of Altumbria, called herpeople into council and asked them, "We must needs celebrate ouranniversary with a splendid tournament. But where can such anevent be held? Most of our local parks are either the size ofa miser's heart or else in dangerous territory where even Angelsfears to tread. Oh, what can we do? "

And so did the people of the canton go out and search their land for a park large enough to hold a tournament and safeenough to attract people from other areas to attend theircelebration.After much searching and seeking, they did find a perfectpark to hold their anniversary, called Roxbury Park in the hillsof Beverly. However, it lay outside their land, on the borderbetween the Barony of the Angels and the Barony of Lyondemere.

Before they announced their plans to the Known World, they sought the counsel of their baron, Damon of the Lake that Flames, who assured them that the park was within his territory and that alltheir plans were acceptable to him. Unfortunately, one month before their anniversary was to be held,Lyondemere did invade Angels territory and did claim that park as their territory, holding a tournament there as proof of theirclaim.

The autocrat of the anniversary cried upon hearing this news, "Ohwhat shall we do now? Our announcement has already been printedin the Crown Prints and there will not be another published untilafter our event. Oh what shall we do?" "Fear not", said theirseneschal, "we are just a small canton with no fighters to speakof. They will not notice if we hold our tournament there."

Andso they went forward with their plans.The day of the event dawned beautifully. The sun reigned warmly in the azure Caidan skies. As the people of Greywinds went abouttheir business, setting up their event, several messages were sentto the autocrat. The first being that the King and Queen were illand were unable to attend. The second being that the Baron's wainhad broken and that they would be late, but to start the eventwithout them.So, at the appointed time, did Greywinds begin their tournament, with the Seneschal, Lady Luxandra standing in proxy of the Baron.

Afterthe Herald called the populace to attend the words of the Seneschal,suddenly came a clamor from behind the crowd. The crowd parted asa procession of Lyondemarines came forward, with Baron Conrad in thelead. Looking sternly at the good people of Greywinds, Baron Conradwas heard to say, "You people are trespassing on my territory. Forthis, you will pay! I give you until Coronation Day next to sendme your tribute!" Upon saying that, did he stalk off with hisentourage in tow.

When Baron Damon arrived on site later that day, Lady Luxandra didseek him out and informed him of all that had occurred previously."Do not worry. I will take this before the King and he will clearthis matter up for us." Then a thought came to Baron Damon. "DidBaron Conrad state what kind of tribute that he wanted?" "No." "Well, then," said Damon, "you are free to pay whatever you wantto pay."

By the time Coronation Day had arrived, Baron Damon had arrangedwith the Crescent Herald to do business before the King. ApproachingHis Majesty, Baron Damon brought out a map of Caid and placed itbefore the King. "Your Majesty," asked Damon, "is not this a map ofYour Kingdom with all the Baronial borders drawn as You have previously decreed?"

His Majesty looked at the map and agreed that it was."Would Your Majesty please have the Baron of Lyondemerecalled forward?"His Majesty signalled his Herald to do so.After Conrad came forward and did his courtesy to his King, didDamon ask, "Was it not agreed previously that all lands west ofthis road, numbered 405, were to belong to Lyondemere and all lands east of this road were to belong to Angels?" "Yes it was," said hisMajesty.

"Then on what side of this road would You say RoxburyPark was?" "Why to the East," said his Majesty, looking at Conrad."What say you, Conrad?"Conrad took the map in hand and turned it this way and that. "Whyyour Majesty!" he declared. "I have been reading this map upside-down! My apologies to both of you!"His Majesty looked at Conrad pointedly, "Do not do so again."

Then, with His Majesty's permission, did Lady Luxandra and thegood people of Greywinds come forward and address Conrad. "Yourexcellency, you asked for tribute and we are prepared to give itto you in three parts. The first will be now. The second beforethe banquet begins. The third before the revel begins. Theexplanation will come after that." With that she handed him sixshiny, new pennies.

Before the banquet began, she handed him a bottle, sometimes calleda hip-flask, filled with a brown liquid that burned the throat.

Before the revel began, she gave him a pie that made some very oddsounds, like "Chiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrppp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!Chiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrppp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

Then did she and her people begin to sing: "Sing a song of six pense.A pocket full of rye. Four-and-twenty black birds baked in a pie."Baron Conrad began to laugh and laugh. After he regained hiscomposure, he brought out his eating dagger and said, "I justhave to see these black birds!""Chiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrppp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"Conrad thrust his dagger into the pie."Chiiiiiirr ...." and the pie went silent.

Conrad looked dismayed and cried, "I think I killed it!" Hastily, he tore open the pie and discovered 23 blackvelvet, stuffed blackbirds and one mechanically operatedblackbird that had been stabbed directly through thebattery.

It was quite a while before he regained his composure again.