Parmenie – Local boy-wonder Tristan, the orphan son of Lord Rivalin and his Cornish wife Blancheflor, whose return to Parmenie last month surprised and delighted everyone, plans to marry Isolde of the White Hands, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Arundel. Tristan, whose skill with sword and bow is surpassed only by his talent as a musician, left his rightful position some years ago as head of state in Parmenie to pursue life at court across the sea in Cornwall. His decision to return, sources say, is undoubtedly connected to an illicit affair Tristan was carrying on with another Isolde, the stunningly beautiful wife of Cornwall’s ruler, King Mark.
Indeed, few people in the Isles of England and Ireland have not heard stories of Tristan and Isolde’s carrying on, and the young Parmenian hero is once again mightily lucky to have escaped with his life intact.
Magic Potion at Work? When questioned about Tristan’s hasty departure from Tintagel castle last month, the Queen’s maid, Brangane, said “It’s not milady’s fault at all, but mine.” The maid, who has been in her lady’s service since before the Irish princess left home to wed King Mark, was entrusted with a magic potion by Isolde’s mother -- a philtre which Isolde was supposed to drink with her husband on their wedding night. “Only it didn’t work out like that at all. On our way to Cornwall, while I wasn’t around, some twit found it and gave it to Isolde to drink with Lord Tristan instead. It’ll be the death of us all!” …