Prince Joseph mounted Saturn and rode with haste to the magic mirror of the Commonwealth, where he summoned the spirit of the guardians of T. Rowe Price.
"Good day, my master and prince!" bade the guardian known as Nathan. "Is is possible by any means beneath the stars that I may be of service to you this day, in any of a thousand ways?"
The prince was taken aback cheerily by such a passionate refrain of servitude, having recently jousted with the demonic knight Todd of the castle PNC Bank on College in an attempt to satisfy the quest of his mother the queen.
"That you may, sir Nathan," explained the prince. "I am in possession of one of your customary scrolls inscribed with 'Change Account Owner' upon its head, and am making attempt to have my signature inscribed with the Medallion seal as demanded by the guardians. The task is of such smallness that a child should have more difficulty pointing out the sun than this. Yet the dark knight of the castle which must affix the seal has denied the possibility due to the great expanse capable of holding three signatures, rather than just mine own."
"Such tragedy! Pray tell, has this tale of woe been wrought by the castle of PNC Bank?"
"You read the stars well, my friend. By no less a creature than the knight Todd himself," Joseph spat.
"Well, be strong in this, valiant knight. For the guardians of T. Rowe Price are protective yet familiar with the whimsies of life. You may without consequence simply cover the remaining space with inky blackness from your pen."
"Ye gods, 'tis exactly what I said! Except that my tongue uttered 'quill' rather than 'pen.'"
"I see no quarrel there. Seems quite a trivial difference, really."
"Agreed! The knights of PNC Bank and their Book of Decrees must succumb to such truth. O fair Nathan, you have the heart worthy of your guardianship. The royal family shall esteem your name and retain the deepest loyalty of our accounts with T. Rowe Price."
"Fare thee well, prince Joseph," said Nathan.
As he parted with the magic mirror, the prince and his Saturn sped more rapidly than any western gale. Yet Wisdom conferred upon him to return not to the castle of PNC Bank on College, but rather to pay visit to the castle of PNC Bank on Empire. This castle was no less sinister than those of any other under its lordship, yet these knights would be without memory of the battles fought thus far, availing an advantage in knowledge to the courageous prince.
The baleful knave at the castle entrance sat behind a thick pane of glass which neither sword nor lance could likely pierce. Such defense gave every impression that brigands had stormed the castle in ages past, and thieved its treasure with force. As the sullen notes of nearby minstrels flowed softly through this area as Joseph awaited the knight, he envisioned such a raid being led by Todd against his very own unfortunate knights, a curse against his own castle. Then he quickly perished the thought, as such images surely carried nothing finer than the disease of melancholy.
At last the knight Jerry appeared from the mist, bearing a most peculiarly bright manner considering his employ.
Making no mention of his prior encounters, the prince explained his simple quest to add prince John as joint owner to the family inheritance by means of Joseph's signature and the Medallion seal. The innocence with which he carried himself mesmerized Jerry to a spirit of gleeful helpfulness. The spell of the lordship could not be entirely swept away, tho.
"Your tale bears truth," said Jerry, "your scroll has space for but a single signature, and you have account with us."
"It is well to hear agreement on such matters," said the prince with a broad smile.
"I need only to consult our Book of Decrees, since I am rarely called upon to affix, and take care to do right by the ways of our lord in every respect."
The prince reclined easily in his seat as Jerry consulted the Book, trading tales of family and mirth.
At once, Jerry's face grew stoic, as he looked up to meet Joseph's gaze.
"I'm afraid that there are bad tidings to share," he began. "The Book of Decrees of PNC Bank demands your account."
The prince nodded.
"It also requires the presence of all persons involved with the transaction, and further, that each also have account with PNC Bank."
No words could be formed from Joseph's lips which properly conveyed his sentiment, yet held the civility of a sane man.
"And so, the decree of this bank, this national bank, is that in order to merely add a name to to account, I must summon my ailing mother from across the plains, and my brother from the most distant edges of the hinterlands of California to bear witness to this act of a few blinks? And as well, to expend coin in deposit with you? This is the wisdom of your lord to satisfy the villagers which you serve?"
Genuine sorrow was Jerry's clouded countenance.
Joseph suppressed the instincts of rampant destruction.
"Good day to you, dear knight," he wished, and strode with regal dignity from the castle.
So it was that the prince was defeated, but not an inch disheartened. "On my mother's honor," he declared, "her quest shall yet prevail this day!"
No comments:
Post a Comment