In days of olde ... when knights were absent [Three word week]

Victoria turned from the turret window, from which the pluming dust of the Crusade-bound cavalcade, led by her liege lord in response to the king’s summons, could now barely be seen.   Disbelievingly she regarded what lay on the pewter dish, the canescent globes unappetising in the extreme.   One raised eyebrow was sufficient to permit the waiting varlet to speak.

‘My master asseverated that your chastity could only be assured if you ate these especially selected mushrooms daily – on pain of death I am to make sure.’

Victoria smiled – her lord could hope, but she knew that neither her chastity nor the varlet’s death would be an issue  – unless issue became one instead.

This is my first post for Steve Isaak's three word week challenge http://readingbypublight.blogspot.com/2012/02/3-word-week-31.html

where you will also find definitions of the relevant words:  asseverate, canescent and varlet.