Chapter 1 – The Samatian Knights of Britain
The Woads fought with monstrous viciousness and cruelty.
Wild and savage, they seemed to not care whether they attacked knight, villager, or one of the own people.
Gawain stood and surveyed the carnage as the screams of men, women and children mingled with the howling gale.
The attack had come suddenly upon the village, and when Arthur and his knights had finally arrived, the Woads were already over-running it and destroying everything in their path. Gawain rode to the battle without hesitancy, and jumping from his horse, landed in the middle of a group of blue-faced devils and commenced in ploughing them down relentlessly. Nearby, Bors and Tristan were also deep in combat; the former throwing a Woad over his head like a bag of grain, while the latter stood calm and composed, striking with such precision and elegance it was like watching a performance art.
Soon after the battle commenced, the Woads began to retreat, for though they were greater in number they were no match for the superior fighting skills of the Samatians.
As it looked like yet another victory, Bors turned to Gawain and grinned.
"Looks like we'll be home in time for supper!"
"Not quite," said Tristan, looking at the hill top behind them. Bors and Gawain followed his gaze and both groaned as a large re-formed group of Woads gathered and charged down the hill towards them.
"You were saying?" Gawain said turning to Bors, who spun his knives in his hands.
"Well, it was worth a shot."
And the three of them charged at their enemies….
"Yet one more day of massacre to add to the rest," said Lancelot glumly as the knights surveyed the damage. It could have been worse, the majority of the Huts still stood, however there were a great many dead villagers mixed with the dead Woads.
"Gather the wounded and put them in wagons," said Arthur, mounting his horse, "we'll take them back to the outpost to be healed."
Gawain clapped Galahad on his shoulder as they moved to help with the wagons.
"We live to fight another day, young Galahad," he said encouragingly.
"Yes, but for how long," Galahad replied. As the youngest and most idealistic of the knights he was always the most affected by the battles. "The Woads are becoming more daring – this is the fifth attack in two weeks – we can't keep fighting like this: eventually we'll tire out."
"They're more daring because of the news that Rome is withdrawing and they're pressing the advantage, but this won't be as bad as it will be in a year's time, when our outpost will be the Rome's one and only standpoint, but by that time we will have done our duty, and we will be free – Hold on to that Galahad – Only one more years!"
Galahad said nothing, but silently helped villagers into the wagon.
Once the wounded were loaded, the knights remounted and they began their journey slowly back to the outpost.
They rode silently at first, the memories of the battle haunting them for a while, until Tristan rode up beside Arthur.
"How is Callandra?" he asked, returning Arthur from his dark thoughts with a jerk.
"She is better," Arthur replied with a smile, "the physicians have finally allowed her to go outside, though she was still not well enough to join us today."
All the men seemed to pick up at the sound of Callandra's name.
"When will she be well enough to go with us again?" Galahad asked.
"The physicians say another few weeks to be sure," Said Arthur, "though how they'll keep her in the grounds for that length of time I don't know – I had to have Jols distract her to guarantee her not following us today."
They all laughed, with Bors roaring the loudest. "Yeah, she ain't half fierce once she gets riled up. It'll be good to have her back – Damn that bastard Merlin for poisoning her with his potions! We're goin to make pay for doin' that, right?"
"I'm not concerned about revenge at the moment, Bors," said Arthur, "I just thank God that she's alive and with us. At the appropriate time, Merlin will get what he deserves for hurting her; I promise you."
Gawain was silent throughout the conversation, nursing a cut on his arm he had received from a Woad that had caught him off guard, though upon hearing of Callandra, a small smile appeared on his face and his heart swelled with relief and happiness. Lancelot rode up beside him and grinned.
"No doubt you will be making a visit to our fair Callandra the moment we arrive back, eh, Gawain?"
Gawain glared at him but said nothing. Lancelot glanced down at his arm.
"You have the perfect excuse," he continued, "I wonder if you allowed yourself to be injured so as to avoid suspicion and to heighten her attentions towards you."
"Such deceit is only used by you Lancelot," Gawain replied through gritted teeth, "as it is only through such means you are able to get the attentions of a woman."
Without waiting for an answer, Gawain spurred his horse and galloped on ahead, as the great wall and the outpost loomed ahead in the near distance.
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