Sir Perditus lay long in his miserable prison. All he could see was darkness, and all he could feel was pain from his grievous injuries, and shame at his ignoble defeat.
Sometimes the giant would come and visit him, and taunt and mock him. The knight must have spoken his heart in the depths of his delirium, for when he began to come to his senses, he found that his enemy knew of his sweet princess, and of his broken heart, and it was this with which he taunted him most.
"I know of this princess," he would say. "I have heard of her fame, and that she receives lovers and suitors from all the lands. It seems that she will receive anyone. Everyone, that is, except for you. Even now, she mocks you, and laughs at you with her lovers."
"Liar!" the knight would reply, with all the strength and vehemence he could summon. "She is pure and sweet as the first light of a spring day. If she was unkind to me, it was my own failing; I should have been more courteous." And the giant would laugh.
"If that is so, then why does she not send you word? Surely, she knows your suffering. I will offer you a bargain: if she sends for you, then not only will I allow the message, but I will release you, free of all bond or condition." And then he would laugh again, and leave his prisoner to brood over his words.
And though Sir Perditus knew the giant to be a liar, he still could not help but suffer the anguish of the images his words created in his mind. What little sleep he had was troubled by dreams of the cruel, scornful, and haughty coquette, dancing with her lovers, laughing with them, touching their hands, giving them the smiles that he craved for himself like sunlight, and the piercing glory of her eyes, which was to him as food and wine. And when he awoke, he would wish that the giant would simply beat him or torture him, for this torment was worse by far than any atrocity the cruelest mind could devise.
And also, part of him hoped in vain that she would see; that she would take pity, and send for his release. But whether she did not see, or did not care, or was unable to send for his relief, or whether she did but the giant lied and did not allow the message through, Sir Perditus could not know. And this, too, was vexation and misery for him.
At other times, the giant would mock and revile him over his devotion to the Grail King. He would call him a false king and and delusion of weak souls, and ask him, if he were so good and powerful, why he did not come and rescue or ransom his vassal. And this, too, struck deep into Sir Perditus's heart, for truly he wondered the same thing himself. But he would say, "It is his will for now, that I suffer; he will save me when he deems the time is come to do so."
One day, or night--he had no way of knowing which it was, after he had been left long alone with the lies and fears of his enemy, king Sarx came to him again, and this time his manner was friendly.
"You have earned my respect, Sir Knight," he said. "You have suffered manfully, and though you lost, you fought very well: no one has ever wounded me like that before. Your faith and devotion are admirable, but neither your lady nor your lord have come to your aid, nor sent word, nor shown the slightest concern over your plight. Therefore, I say this to you: renounce them both, and serve me. Swear to me, that this so-called king is either a false king, or too weak or cowardly to save those who call on his name, or too cruel to care what pains and dangers they suffer for him; and swear that your princess is naught but a vixen and a jade. Do this, and I shall release you, and make you my first knight, my marshall, constable, and steward over all my kingdom and whatever further realms I conquer. And furthermore, if you still so wish, I will get for you your princess, to do with according to all your desire, and add her father's kingdom to my domains."
Sir Perditus hesitated, considering his reply, and the giant smiled slyly, for he thought that his words had had their intended effect.
"Do not respond now; I know that what I ask is a hard thing. Take time, and consider, and I will send for your answer in time." And with that, he left again.
