[Doctor Gabriel]

“Here, here!” Saber spoke up, relaxing his stance while still ensuring he was between the rest of them and Erik, “Tis a rare opportunity to meet thine adversaries face to face before a noble war such as ours!”

The old knight failed to notice any hint of sarcasm or insincerity in the man’s words, due to his idealistically naive trusting nature. He searched the table before them and found a bottle of what he believed to be called sody-prop. He struggled with the concept and removal of a twist-off cap for a minute then grabbed the nearest glass. Styrofoam goblet in hand, he raised the glass to his fellows in a toast just as he finally noticed the new woman who had seated herself at the end of the table.

“May our battles be honorable! May thy cause be just!” he cheered, grinning like an idiot to all of them, “And may my Lord be merciful when I triumph in our duels!”

Don Quixote raised the cup to his mouth and drank deeply before promptly spitting it out again in surprise. Having never encountered carbonation before, he had not been prepared for the fizzing bubbles and sweetness that had assaulted his tongue and throat. He hacked and wiped his mouth, staring in disbelief at the cup he held hand through watering eyes as though it had betrayed him. He was able to recover his composure just before the next woman arrived and asked for Ruler’s whereabouts.

The idiotic, senile expression returned to his face and he bowed to the room.

“I present ye thine ruler and sovereign: King Eric, First of His Name!” announced Don Quixote, completely misundering whom she was referring to, “May thee serve him with devotion and honor! Long may he reign!”