Early the next morning, King Allfire and the Knights of the Square Table were gathered in the courtyard at Camelhot. Cinder and Clinker were handing around cups of lemonade, while Sir Hotbreath recounted his experiences with the Puce Knight.

From the battlements above, Flicker and Flame looked down at the scene.

'I'm glad Sir Hotbreath decided to tell the other knights about his problem,' said Flicker.

'And I'm glad you managed to get him to open up in the first place,' said Flame.

'I didn't really do much,' said Flicker. 'He just needed someone to listen and… well, I was there.'

'Just like you always are, Flicker,' said Flame. 'And not everyone has it in them to really listen to what other people have to say… but you do.'

'Yes, well, I… to tell you the truth, Flame, I'm a bit worried about the advice I gave Sir Hotbreath,' said Flicker. 'I mean, King Allfire's Code of Chivalry does state that, "A dragon knight will always keep his word of honour"… but it also states that, "A dragon knight will always do everything in his power to help a comrade in mortal danger."'

'That's why you shouldn't try to follow the Code to the letter, Flicker,' said Flame. 'When you find yourself in a sticky situation, you should remember the parts of the Code that are likely to be helpful and not waste time worrying about the ones that aren't; it's just common sense.'

'So… does that mean I should help Sir Hotbreath or not?' said Flicker. 'Help him not to get killed by the Puce Knight, I mean.'

'Just listen to your heart, Flicker,' said Flame, placing a hand on the left side of his chest. 'What's it telling you?'

'Um… many things, Milady.'

'About Sir Hotbreath and the Puce Knight, I mean.'

'Well, I'm not sure,' said Flicker. 'No… no, I am sure. I want to help him, Flame… I mean, I want to save him… if I can.'

'Of course you can, Flicker,' said Flame. 'Surely you've got an invention that'll save the day?'

'But Flame, I haven't invented anything for so long,' said Flicker. 'Well, apart from my can spray, but I don't think that can help us this time.'

'Maybe not, but what about one of your old inventions?' said Flame. 'You've still got them all stashed away somewhere, haven't you?'

'Yes, I have,' said Flicker. 'I may not have used them for a while, but they're still important to me.'

'I'm glad to hear it,' said Flame. 'I must confess that sometimes, I've found myself wondering whether you might have given up on… inventing, Flicker.'

'Oh no,' said Flicker. 'Inventing is constantly on my mind, and so is knighthood. I haven't given up on my dreams, Flame. I haven't given up on any of my dreams - they mean the world to me.'

'And to me too, Flicker,' said Flame. 'Now, let's think; which invention might be able to help us get the better of the Puce Knight? What do we know about him?'

'Well, he's puce,' said Flicker, 'presumably. And he's a knight, which means he probably wears armour…'

'Your magic net!' said Flame. 'You remember the effect that has on armour, don't you?'

'All too well,' Flicker assured her. 'All right, then - I'll fetch the magic net and have it on standby, just in case we need it.'

'It'd be easier to carry with two of us,' said Flame. 'I'll go with you, Flicker.'

The drawbridge slammed down and the sound of clattering hooves filled the courtyard. King Allfire and the Knights of the Square Table looked up from their discussion to see a tall, imposing figure riding into the courtyard on a colossal charger.

'Egad, it's the Puce Knight!' said Cinder.

'At least he brought his own axe,' said Clinker.

'He doesn't look all that puce to me,' said Sir Blaze. 'He could do with a touch more lavender and a smidgeon less taupe.'

'You were right, Sir Hotbreath, sir!' said Sir Galahot. 'He knew where to find you, and he has come for you just as he promised!'

'Just what we need - a nice beheading to get up an appetite for breakfast,' Sir Loungelot grumbled, but nobody was listening to him.

'Puce Knight, I am King Allfire,' said King Allfire, as the rider drew to a halt, 'and these are my Knights of the Square Table. Have you truly come to Camelhot this morning to behead one of them?'

'I have,' said the Puce Knight.

'Then you, sirrah, are indeed a knave!' said King Allfire.

'Nay, sire; he is well within his rights,' said Sir Hotbreath, stepping forward. 'I gave my word that I would allow him to do this deed upon this day, and now the time has come.'

'It certainly has, you wretched little ninny,' said the Puce Knight. 'You may have defeated me in battle, but I tricked you, didn't I? Let's see your precious Code of Chivalry help you now, you stupid dragon! Tell me - why shouldn't I kill you where you stand?'

Sir Hotbreath did not respond.

In a secluded corner of the courtyard, Flicker turned to Flame.

'Something's not right here,' he said.

'Well?' said the Puce Knight. 'Will you not beg for your life, dragon knight of Camelhot?'

'Nay, sir - I will not!' said Sir Hotbreath. 'If you intend to strike me down then go ahead and do it, for I shall not play your accursed games any longer!'

'All right then, you pathetic fool!' said the Puce Knight. 'You asked for it.'

'That can't be the Puce Knight, Flame,' said Flicker. 'Sir Hotbreath told me of a true and virtuous warrior, who would never gloat over a defeated adversary and… well, that's not him.'

'I agree with you, Flicker,' said Flame. 'It must be some kind of impostor.'

'In that case,' said Flicker, 'we have no choice; we must deploy the magic net!'

Flicker pulled and Flame pushed, and they pointed the magic net straight at the Puce Knight. Then they each picked up a length of wire from the ground.

'Oh no - we don't have a source of potatolectricity!' Flicker realised. 'Blazing dragons, how could we have forgotten that?'

'There must be something around here we can use,' said Flame. 'What about one of those lemon things?'

'I don't know if a lemon would work like a potato,' said Flicker. 'Wait, though; what did Sir Burnevere say about lemons yesterday?'

'He said they taste bitter because they're overly abundant in citric acid,' said Flame.

'Citric acid… yes, that just might do it!' said Flicker. 'Oh, but where's the Lemon Tree of Leominster?'

'It's been moved over there,' said Flame, gesturing across the courtyard. 'I'll nip across and fetch you a lemon, Flicker.'

'Let's just hope Cinder and Clinker haven't pulped them all!' said Flicker.

'All right, Puce Knight,' said Sir Hotbreath, 'let's see what you've got!'

'An axe!' declared the Puce Knight. 'And it's got your name on it, dragon knight.'

The Puce Knight raised his axe. Sir Hotbreath bent his head forward. King Allfire and the other knights gasped. And then the Puce Knight's axe was dragged from his grasp. It went flying across the courtyard, followed by his helmet, then the rest of his armour, and finally his horse's armour.

'Huzzah!' declared Flicker, deactivating the now armour-strewn magic net. 'It turns out that lemons are an excellent source of potatolectricity… and it turns out that the Puce Knight isn't quite what he seems to be.'

'Or you could say that the Puce Knight doesn't seem to be the Puce Knight at all!' said Flame.

King Allfire and the Knights of the Square Table transferred their gaze from the magic net to the point where the Puce Knight had been. Count Geoffrey and his Evil Knights were now lying there in a crumpled heap.

'Count Geoffrey!' said King Allfire. 'You were the Puce Knight all along?'

'Um… er… yes!' Count Geoffrey declared, formulating a new plan very quickly. 'Yes, I am the Puce Knight… I've always been the Puce Knight… and Sir Hotbreath has given his word that he'll let me cut his head off, with or without my puce armour on, so if you dragons know what's good for you…'

At that moment, a hunting horn blared through the courtyard. Hooves clattered upon the drawbridge once more, heralding the arrival of another rider in Camelhot. The mounted figure was at least eight feet tall, and carried a colossal broadsword. Its gigantic warhorse snorted steam into the cold morning air.

'Ooh,' said Sir Blaze, 'now that's a puce knight if ever I saw one!'

'Ladies and gentlemen, presenting… the real Puce Knight!' said Cinder.

'You can tell he's the genuine article; he really knows how to make an entrance,' Clinker added.

'Who dares?' a chilling voice echoed around the courtyard. 'Who dares to impersonate the Puce Knight?'

'He does, sir!' said Sir Galahot. 'Count Geoffrey!'

'Well, I… that is to say I, er…' Count Geoffrey stammered.

'You will pay for this outrage, Count Geoffrey!' said the Puce Knight. 'You will learn what happens to those foolish enough to incur my wrath!'

'Look, can't we talk about this?' said Count Geoffrey. 'I mean, we both came here today to kill a dragon, didn't we? Why don't we join forces and take over Camelhot, hmm?'

'You're a snivelling coward, Count Geoffrey!' said the Puce Knight. 'I'm going to show you what happens to snivelling cowards who cross the path of the Puce Knight! And I don't think you're going to like it.'

'What do we do, dread Count Geoffrey?' asked Evil Knight Number Two.

'Um… run away!' Count Geoffrey decided. 'Run away, run away!'

With that, Geoffrey shot back across the drawbridge at top speed, followed closely by his three knights. The Puce Knight did not pursue them, but got down from his horse and approached Sir Hotbreath.

'Good day, good knight,' said the Puce Knight. 'Do you recall that one month ago, you gave your word to allow me to behead you on this day?'

'I do,' said Sir Hotbreath.

'And do you have anything more to say to me on the matter?' asked the Puce Knight.

'Only that I ask you to do the deed quickly and cleanly,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'There is nothing else to be said.'

'Very well, then,' said the Puce Knight, drawing his sword. 'Let us proceed.'

King Allfire and the Knights of the Square Table looked on in stunned silence as Sir Hotbreath lowered his head again. Flame grabbed Flicker's arm.

'Ooh, Flicker, what do we do?' she said. 'Shall we use the magic net again? There may be some potatolectric power left in this lemon!'

'No, Flame, I… I don't think we should do anything,' said Flicker. 'Sir Hotbreath is honouring the Code of Chivalry, and so should we.'

'But the Puce Knight is about to kill him!' said Flame. 'If that doesn't make him a comrade in mortal danger, I don't know what would!'

'I know, Flame,' said Flicker. 'But like you said, we can't follow all of the rules all of the time; we just have to listen to our hearts. And my heart is telling me that because Sir Hotbreath has shown the courage and fortitude to honour his word as a knight, everything has to work out for the best. I believe that, Flame; I really do.'

'Then I believe it too, Flicker,' said Flame, slipping her hand into his.

The blade of the Puce Knight's sword swung downwards.

Sir Hotbreath looked up. The Puce Knight was in the process of sheathing his sword, while the Lemon Tree of Leominster - which had somehow contrived to appear between the two of them - had been severed at the base of its spindly trunk and was lying in a crumpled heap next to its pot.

'You… you didn't kill me,' Sir Hotbreath said to the Puce Knight.

'Nay, sir,' replied the Puce Knight, 'I did not.'

'Huzzah!' said Flicker. 'I had hardly dared to hope it might be true, but this was a test of chivalry all along.'

'Indeed it was,' said the Puce Knight. 'A true knight will always keep his word, no matter what the circumstances. You have proven, Sir Hotbreath, that you are a true knight indeed.'

'Ah, so this whole sequence of events was just an elaborate ruse, then,' said Sir Burnevere.

'Not a ruse, sir knight, but a test, just as the young squire said,' the Puce Knight insisted. 'After all, any knave may play fast and loose with his word of honour, and make a promise that he has no intention of keeping. But no one who makes a promise to a man he is about to slay has any suspicion that he will be called upon to keep that promise. When he finds himself in that most unusual situation, only a true and noble knight would accept his fate without question or argument, and not try to weasel out of the arrangement.'

'I think you would find, sir, that any knight of Camelhot would have proven themselves as true and noble as Sir Hotbreath in the same situation,' said Sir Loungelot.

'Any knight, Loungelot?' said King Allfire, raising an eyebrow.

'Loungelot would probably have tried to offer you in exchange,' Flame whispered to Flicker. 'And I think Daddy suspects as much, don't you?'

'Oh, I don't know, Flame,' said Flicker. 'I wouldn't like to guess what the King is thinking.'

'I have heard many tales of the noble and chivalrous knights at the court of Camelhot,' said the Puce Knight, 'and I can see that these tales have neither been falsified nor exaggerated. You have my respect, my good knights, and - should you find yourself in need of it - you have my loyalty also. I shall be on my way now, but I shall spread the word of Camelhot's greatness to all I meet!'

'Hey, wait a minute!' Cinder objected. 'What about the Lemon Tree of Leominster? It's been slashed; butchered; cut down in its prime!'

'And we were getting so good at making lemonade,' added Clinker.

'Well then, my fine fellows, take this in recompense,' said the Puce Knight. 'The Orange Tree of Oxford!'

The Puce Knight raised his right arm in a gesture of power. As the dragons watched in awe, the limp lemon tree was supplanted by a magnificent orange tree, overflowing with ripe fruit.

'You'll find that, although they're not the only fruit, oranges are much sweeter than lemons,' said the Puce Knight, 'and that orangeade is far more refreshing than lemonade. You can also make orange squash or orange barley, or just drink the orange juice neat - it's delicious!'

'Camelhot thanks you, Puce Knight,' said King Allfire, 'for reminding us all what true knighthood is, and for gifting us this marvellous orange tree.'

'Farewell, my friends,' said the Puce Knight, spurring his charger. 'I feel sure we'll meet again someday, but for now, farewell to one and all!'

With that, the Puce Knight galloped away and was soon lost to view.

'Is it time for breakfast yet?' asked Sir Loungelot, breaking the ensuing silence.

'Indeed it is,' said King Allfire.

'With orange juice?' said Sir Blaze.

'Yes indeed,' said King Allfire. 'Orange juice for everyone!'

'Huzzah!' cheered all the dragons.

Count Geoffrey and his Evil Knights ran into Castle Threadbare's tumbledown throne room and skidded to a halt. They leant against the walls for support, panting heavily.

'So, Geoff, when do we move in to Camelhot?'

Geoffrey looked up to see that his throne was occupied by Merle the Wizard, who was smiling in a superior manner.

'Spare me your scathing witticisms, Merle,' said Count Geoffrey. 'I'm not in the mood.'

'I take it that all the dragon knights still have their heads, then,' said Merle.

'Yes, they do!' said Count Geoffrey. 'Unless the real Puce Knight has decapitated Sir Hotbreath, of course, but somehow I doubt that he will have done.'

'The real Puce Knight, huh?'

'Yes, Merle, the real Puce Knight showed up - we didn't stand a chance against him!'

'Well,' said Merle, 'you didn't factor that into your little plan, did you?'

'No, I didn't,' said Count Geoffrey. 'But next time, things will be different. Next time, Camelhot will be mine!'

'Maybe,' said Merle, 'and maybe not. In all our little chin-wags, Geoff, have we ever discussed the benefits of moles?'

'Moles, Merle?'

'Moles, Geoff. A mole can be an extremely efficient weapon, as long as you can find one who's going to be welcomed with open arms into the burrow.'

'What the heck are you babbling about, you insane old witch?' Count Geoffrey snarled.

'Just pin back your ears, Geoff,' said Merle, 'and I'll explain.'

Taking great care not to hit or scrape it against any of his other inventions, Flicker pushed the magic net into the space he had cleared for it and then stood back to admire his handiwork. He heard a belch and a whoosh of flame from the doorway behind him, and turned to face his visitor.

'Ah, Flicker, there you are,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'Loungelot told me you were around here somewhere. Say, what are all these contraptions?'

'My inventions, Sir Hotbreath,' said Flicker. 'This is my workshop. I haven't been in here very much recently, but I intend to spend more time inventing from now on.'

'You were right all along,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'Following the Code of Chivalry was the right thing to do, no matter how desperate the situation seemed. My faith in the Code wavered for a while back there; I'm very glad that yours didn't.'

'But it did, My Lord,' said Flicker. 'Despite all my lofty ideals, I used my magic net to help you, even though you yourself had accepted your fate gracefully.'

'Ah, but you only used it against Count Geoffrey, not the Puce Knight.'

'I didn't know that at the time.'

'But you suspected, didn't you? Something tells me that you don't miss a trick around here, Flicker, and that means that we all have a lot to thank you for.'

'Oh, well, I…'

'The King was asking me just now how I found the courage to keep my word to the Puce Knight, even when all hope seemed lost,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'I told him what you'd said to me, Flicker; I mentioned you by name.'

'Did he know who you were talking about?' asked Flicker.

'Certainly he did,' said Sir Hotbreath. 'He said, "You mean that young squire of Loungelot's," and I said, "Yes, Your Majesty," and then he told me I was beginning to sound just like Princess Flame.'

'Is somebody talking about me?'

Flicker and Sir Hotbreath looked to the doorway, where Flame was now standing. Flicker's eyes darted uncertainly between his two visitors. Sir Hotbreath smiled.

'You can rest assured that King Allfire knows who you are, Flicker,' he said, 'and he knows what you've done, or some of it at least. I'll leave you to get on with your business now… but not before I've thanked you once again for what you did for me.'

'It's nothing, Sir Hotbreath,' said Flicker. 'I mean, it's my pleasure.'

'I'll bid you good evening, then,' said Sir Hotbreath, turning to leave. 'Your Highness.'

'Sir Hotbreath,' Flame acknowledged him as he passed. 'Well, Flicker, you've tidied up a bit in here, haven't you? The place was in a terrible state this afternoon.'

'Yes, well, I thought I'd better give it a spring clean,' said Flicker. 'After all, seeing as I'm going to be spending so much more time in here…'

'Ah, so you're planning on getting back to it, then,' said Flame. 'Inventing, I mean.'

'Yes, Flame. I know that without inventing,' said Flicker, 'my life would be meaningless.'

Flame smiled at Flicker, then she started poking around the workshop.

'Ah yes, I remember this one,' she said, fondling a strange-looking tool. 'Oh look, and there's your Sir Loungelot puppet. I'll never forget the time you were making that thing dance around the throne room with Stepmother Griddle; it was so hilarious!'

Flicker watched Flame examining his inventions and listened to her reminiscences, not entirely sure where to put himself.

'Um, Flame,' he said at length, 'I really should go and run Sir Loungelot's bath soon, so perhaps, if you've quite finished looking…'

'I see you've brought your bed in here too,' said Flame. 'Hoping to pick up a little late-night inspiration, are you?'

'Um, yes,' said Flicker, as Flame sat down on his bed. 'Look, Flame, I really think…'

'Why don't you come over here and sit with me?' said Flame, patting the bed next to her.

Flicker's heart missed a beat; he was unsure quite how to respond to this suggestion.

'Is that a royal command?' he heard himself saying.

'Yes,' said Flame, 'it is. So you'd better obey it, hadn't you?'

Flicker sat down next to Flame. She fixed him with a searching expression.

'Sir Hotbreath was right, you know,' said Flame. 'Daddy does know quite a lot about you, Flicker; he's got eyes in his head after all, and he can't help but notice some of the things that go on around here. I'm sure that with another little push here and there, Daddy will be knighting you before long.'

'I can't be the one to push him, Flame,' said Flicker. 'It… well, it wouldn't be right.'

'Is that what your heart tells you, Flicker,' said Flame, 'or what the Code tells you?'

'Both,' said Flicker.

'My heart is telling me something at the moment,' said Flame. 'It's practically shouting inside my head… and I'm going to listen to it.'

She closed her eyes and kissed him on the lips. For a moment, Flicker forgot himself and allowed his own eyes to slide shut. Then he drew back sharply, and jumped to his feet.

'Flame, we can't; we mustn't!' said Flicker. 'King Allfire's Code of Chivalry…'

'Oh, hang that stupid Code!' said Flame. 'Listen to your heart, Flicker, just like you did when the Puce Knight was about to decapitate Sir Hotbreath; what's it telling you now?'

'It's telling me… it's telling me that I know what I want, Flame,' said Flicker, 'but that I have to wait for the right time before I can have it. It's not that I want to wait - goodness knows, it isn't that. It's just that… that… well, it's just that it's the right thing to do.'

'Oh, Flicker,' Flame sighed, rising to her feet. 'What am I going to do with you?'

She smiled fondly at him, before pecking him on the cheek. He flinched slightly, but made no move to stop her.

'Well, whatever I am going to do,' Flame continued, 'I suppose I'm not going to be doing it now. You'd better go and run Sir Loungelot's bath, hadn't you?'

With that, Flame left the room. Flicker did not go to run Sir Loungelot's bath straightaway. He sat down on his bed, brushed his cheek, and stared wistfully at the spot where Flame had been standing. A short time later, he stood up and left the workshop.