After that day, things got better. Of course we did not get overrun with people eager to learn something new in order to get out of here, but we got at least a dozen new students and, most importantly, the bullies that harassed those who decide to come stayed clear of us after being embarrassed like that the other day. That day was the definite proof, that ‘intelligence’ can beat ‘raw strength’. Of course, if those who had trailed after Martha in defeat, having been told that they cannot attack her, had used their brains, they easily could have defeated us after all, simply by blocking off the paths to the arena. After all, the same rule applied to us as well. We were not allowed to attack them and, depending on the strictness of the present referee, even ‘pushing someone aside’ could well have counted as ‘attack’. Meaning that Martha would have had to put on her blue headband to push through, making her fair game in turn. But fortunately they didn’t think about any of that and I sure as heck did not tell them. For one, because I didn’t want to add (even more) insult to injury, because that would have been highly detrimental to my long term health within the small village, for another because I wanted to keep that trump up my sleeve. Just in case, they would demand a rematch, which they never did. Ah yes, I believe it worth to mention that the royal court was apparently very impressed with the event and arranged for it to become an annual thing, completely with spectators and everything. Last I heard, the royal guard formed one team, whereas the champions, supplemented by volunteers, formed the other team. Apparently, the winning team got to look forward to some perks and those who really distinguished themselves, especially from the ‘champion’ side, got a chance to leave the compound and serve the royal family instead. As such, without intending to, I had created a realistic means for all those who came after me to escape imprisonment. Completely legal. But I am getting ahead of myself again.

About two weeks after the event, during one of the lessons, Robert suddenly came barging in, completely out of breath.
I was currently teaching basic calculus and as he stood there in the door I said, “And if we add a negative concentration coefficient of -100% by people who apparently forgot, that they are supposed to knock before entering instead of startling everyone and making Jacob tip over his ink barrel, how much concentration of the matter remains?” before turning to him, “You’d better have a good excuse for interrupting us like this, I’m trying to teach here!”
Still out of breath, Robert huffs, “H-he’s here!”
I put down the piece of chalk and clapped off the dust from my hands as I asked, “Who is ‘he’? You’re not going to tell me that the demon king decided to drop in for a little chat, tea and cookies, are you?”
Slight laughter went through the class, which I silenced immediately with a stern look, but at least I was somewhat convinced, that Robert did have a rather good reason.
“N-no! But...but the king is! His royal highness is here!”

It was a good thing that I had put down the chalk before, because I would have dropped it for sure after processing his words. My students were way ahead of me though and everybody rushed towards the door, almost trampling me and Robert down in the process. And I can’t even blame them. After all, a genuine VIP visiting our Ghetto was not an everyday occurrence.

After everyone was out, I looked at the mess my classroom now was, sighed and started picking up the remaining ink barrels, the stained pieces of paper and the discarded writing feathers.
“A-are you not going to go see?” Robert asked from the door.
“Oh, I will. After cleaning up this mess. Did they state what they want? I mean, they must want something, right?”
“Oh, um...I...only heard about it through the grapevine myself. And I came to tell you.”
I sighed again and asked Robert, “So, you interrupt my class with completely unverified information then? I swear to God, if this ends up being some sort of joke…”
Robert looked like he was about ready to sink into the ground, but I don’t have a habit of shooting the messenger. Didn’t back then, still don’t now. After all, good messengers who actually have the guts to convey bad news are hard to come by.
After a few more seconds, Robert started helping me clean up and I asked, “You’re not going to go see?”
“Only after helping you clean this up. Chances are, he’ll want to talk to you anyway, so we’d best not keep him waiting, am I right?”
“Oh? What makes you think he’d be here for me?”
“Excuse me?! Whom else could he be for, Mister ‘Devising a plan to steal the flag, bending the rules to fit your needs and distracting a whole company while his girlfriend steals the flag?’”
“Martha is not my girlfriend, despite whatever the rumor mill may say.”
“Sure, whatever you say...alright, that should be all, right?”
I raise the last toppled over chair, look over the now empty classroom and nod, “Yeah, looks good. At least not much worse than before you came in. Alright, let’s go then.”

As it turned out, the news of ‘the king’ having arrived was, in the end, much like playing ‘Telephone’, the actual truth getting distorted and exaggerated until the visitor was his royal highness, King Adelbert XXI himself. In reality, it was ‘just’ some Count who was currently visiting the royal court, when we held our game. But people just heard ‘royalty’ and the rest is word of mouth doing what it does best. Still, for any sort of nobility to visit our village of outcasts was a first and naturally the entire town had come to see. Furthermore, as it turned out, Robert was right.
They did come to see me. Well, they didn’t call out for me by name, but much rather they demanded to see ‘the minstrel strategist, who single handedly bested a far superior force in a military maneuver of unprecedented dimensions’. I guess it was not just the people of the village playing telephone regarding the matter. Needless to say, seeing how I was the only ‘minstrel’ around, they still pushed me to the front, until I stood before a wall of heavily armed soldiers in shiny armor. A bunch of others had manned the perimeter, their bows and crossbows trained on me. One wrong move, and there’d be blood flowing through the streets. At the very least my own.

I cleared my throat and said, “Good morning. I believe you asked for me?”
The guards stepped aside with military precision and made way for a guy wearing expensive garments and more gold than I had ever seen in both of my lives.
He stepped forward, making sure to stay outside of arms reach and asked, “Are you the one they speak of so fantastically in the capital?”
“I assure you, whatever you may have heard, it was an exaggeration,” I started, because whatever else could it have been?
“Oh? So it is not true then, that you assaulted my carriage after overcoming my guards about three months ago? Or that you burned down the Hall of Justice after being imprisoned? Or that you—“
“Hold it right there. I didn’t burn down anything. I mean sure, I was there when the thing burned down, but I was just as surprised as anyone else, and...wait, that was you in that carriage?”
“Yes, that was me and my darling wife and daughter. I’ll have you know, we feared for our lives!”
“Look, I’m sorry about startling you, but it was really just a big misunderstanding. I was fearing for my own life at that time!”
Toby, who had stepped behind me, asked, “I don’t think you ever told us that you burned down a hall of justice. Never thought you had it in you.”
“That’s because I didn’t!” I cried out, making the guards ready their weapons, apparently fearing that I’d lunge at their Lord, but of course I do no such things and after a dangerously long moment of nothing happening, they relaxed again.

I turned back to face the Count and asked, “So, what brings you here? As you can see, I am already locked away and if you wanted to press additional charges against me, I’d rather be talking to an emissary instead of you, am I right?”
The Count nodded and replied, “You are correct, I did not come to press charges against you. On the contrary, I have come to relieve you of any charges my guards have raised against you on my behalf. After all, nobody was hurt and you have already served your time for the assault. That, and after making a few inquiries, I have learned, that there indeed is a monstrous beast roaming the region you came dashing from. As such, I have reason to believe that you, in fact, spoke the truth.”
“That’s nice, thank you. But that doesn’t mean I get to walk out of here, am I right?”
“No, it means the exact opposite. That you get to stay here. After all, you are a Champion, as I have also learned in the meantime. And this is the den of Champions.”
“Gee, thank you,” I replied sarcastically, though I guess it was still better than the alternative. The alternative being an actual prison with no fresh air, or daylight, that is.

“Very well then, with that out of the way, I am curious. Word has it, that you are quite the singer. If you manage to convince me for this to be true, I may well be able to make use of my influence to maybe ‘get you out of here’, as you have phrased it. In my services, naturally. I believe this to be quite a step up from your current position, would you not you agree?”

I don’t know how long I stared at him, my mouth open. I mean, I knew that my singing wasn’t all that bad, but to think that of all the things I’ve done ‘singing’ would be my ticket out of here was just plain ridiculous. However then something happened I never had thought possible until that very moment.
I said ‘No’.
Now, before you think me entirely bonkers, much like just about everyone listening at the time must have believed me to be, allow me to recite what I told them as well.

“I appreciate your kind offer, but I cannot be your servant. At the very least not indefinitely. Besides, these people here still need me. I kinda promised them to help them get out of here and I would betray the trust of every single one of those who attend the classes I’m giving if I just up and left the instant I see a chance. I wouldn’t be able to face myself in the mirror if I did that. And yes, I realize that is a terribly stupid decision and that I’ll likely regret it the instant those doors close behind you, but it is what I feel is ‘the right thing to do’ at this moment.”
“I...see. That is most regrettable. I had assumed you would be smarter. It appears I was misinformed about your mental capabilities then.”

Just as the Count wanted to turn around and leave, I called after him, “Doesn’t mean I won’t sing though.”
The Count turned around and smiled, “You must greatly enjoy it then, hm?”
“It would be quite a waste to not use the gifts you are given by the Lord, wouldn’t you agree?”
“...I have no idea what that means, I am afraid.”
“Never mind me, please. Just let me think for a moment.”
“No, no, no, that won’t do. An impromptu concert like that is below my standing. I will return in three days time with the proper equipment. I demand, that you seek out a proper venue for the concert in this time.”
“Will do. Thank you for understanding.”
“I will not claim that I do understand your reasoning. However I can respect it. Know this though: If I go through all this trouble for you, you’d best be the best singer I’ve ever heard. Or else.”
Before I got to object, he turned around and the curtain of soldiers closed and within mere minutes, they all were gone, leaving me and the others behind.

‘Just what did I get myself into now.’ was the one dominant thought on my mind.