[Anguirel]

Right. My lords and mermaid-like sprigs of juniper, I bear solemn news from the East, in the depths of the forests.

Though I found none of the Wolf-kindred as yet, nor any pernicious sorts infected by the grim vice of Love, I did stumble upon the Chieftain of the Hedgehog Race, and after a protacted battle I had the better of him.

"Tell me," I growled, "where lurk your demonic were-hedgehog cavalry!"

The Hedgehog Lord was no craven, but my instruments of torture were ingenious and convoluted and at last he told all.

The varmint claims to have disguised a were-army of hedgehogs under green shells and hidden them in a turtle farm. What d'ye have to say to that, Empress Kath of the Dread Meerkat Wandering Horde? Ha ha!

I've noticed that there are several types in this place who seem to be completely out of their minds. You're going to have to trust in a dour, sensible sober man of arms like me. And I say, enemies oft lurk among clerihews. Ha ha!

For one, I don't like the stamp of that musician fella. The King must have kept him as a joke! His harping is terrible! I say we tie him up in a tree when we banquet in the evenings, sa-ha!

But seriously. The King be dead or fled, I don't know or care which, and this is no time for airs. As for yerrer gallantry...I sense the stench of LOVE!

As for the laundress, she makes a very wise point, and is a delightful codfish.