Sure enough, we did make it to the wall hours before sundown. Currently we are making our way to the great hall, or the round table, which I had no idea why. Well the bishop, Sir Arthur and his knights were, we would just be by the wall, standing and trying to seem like we don't give a damn about what he has to say or what they have to say. While we were waiting for all of them to come in, some of us decided to play in the room, but that was cut off shortly.
To be honest, the twins Emelia and Elisabet, were the most excited to be in the room. The round table originated from Greece when they were a republic, and because the Romans loved Greek culture and stuff, this was copied. All of us knew what it meant but for both of the twins, it was link of home, being Greek themselves.
I stepped towards a chair to see the designs, if it had any. On the back of the chair had a name carved in to it. I traced the letters slowly, mesmerized by the beautiful writing, thinking of how much time it must of took to look so beauftiful. T-R-S-I-S-T-R-A-M was the letters that I traced. Tristram. That name seemed so familiar, but how?
"Guys, check on the back of the chairs, it has names of the knights. Look, this says Tristram." I pointed at the chair I was at. By the time the last sentence came out of my mouth, Lyra came sprinting towards me.
She looked at the name and looked shocked and turned to face me. "Do you really think it's him?" By him, she means her brother Tristram. That's it, it was her brother.
"You can either hope or give up, but I do think it's your brother, until you find out what really happened, don't give up." I hugged her and looked to see what everybody else was doing.
Emmeline was on the floor, being hugged by the twins, gasping for breath and crying her eyes out. I guess Emmeline found her brother, Gawain, chair. I looked down to Lyra and found her crying as well, I held her, soothing her until the tears were gone and all she had was hope.
I looked at Mila and Myla and spoke, "Look and see if you find the names Lancelot and Dagonet." They both nodded. We had two girls by the name of Jorja and Jayda who served with us but died in combat. Jorja was Dagonet's sister and Jayda was Lancelot's sister. It was probably the worst time in service for me. I never felt sad when we had sisters who died but those two broke my heart, it really did. They were so tiny, they should have never seen war, but they had no choice and I could not protect them, none of us could.
Myla was the first one to nod and mouth me, telling me she found Lancelot, his seat was to my right. Mila nodded from across the room and knew it had to be Dagonet. We just hoped that they were alive.
We stayed like that the whole time; Lyra and I at her brother's chair, Myla at Lancelot's, Mila at Dagonet's, Emmeline and the twins at Gawain's, and the rest just standing in the back by the wall uncomfortable.
It was Ana who warned us of people making their way to the room did we get up from the floor and stand by the wall. Just when we settled by the wall did the first person come in, or more like two came in with four following after with the scout coming in last.
I knew that Emmeline was seeing if anybody was going to seat in her brothers' seat and so was Lyra. I wanted to see if anybody was going to seat in Dagonet and Lancelot's seat. Emmeline almost cried in relief when the knight that came in first sat down, he had lighter hair then your usual Sarmatian. The next knight we saw sit down that we were looking for was Dagonet, he was the tall giant of them all. Next was Lancelot who was the gorgeous one and had curly hair, just like the one who walked in with Gawain. I could tell that Lyra was getting anxious, but there was still one knight standing, walking towards the section I found her brother's name on the chair. When he sat down on the chair that would indicate what happened to Lyra's brother, I could feel Lyra bouncing in joy that he was alive, if it was her brother and not just someone with the same name.
Arthur came and took a seat, three seats away from Lancelot. All the knights that sat by each other chatted and a servant came and gave all seven men a goblet that most likely held wine. The chatter was cut off shortly when the door to Sir Dagonet's left opened and Horton stepped out.
"His Eminence, Bishop Naius Germanius." And the bishop stepped in looking down for a second but when he looked up, he stopped walking abruptly, looking stunned, with a man behind him who I never seen before. Obviously, he didn't work for the bishop, lucky him. All the knights and Arthur stood up for his arrival.
While Horton asked a question to the man, the bishop did not move, his smile fluttering, trying to compose his smile.
To cover his surprise, he spoke. "I was given to understand there would be more of you." Wow! Is he on crack? What kind of question is that?
"There were. We have been fighting here for 15 years, Bishop." Arthur spoke while looking at his knights.
The bishop chuckled, 'Bastard!' My mind yelled. "Oh, of course." Damn! Wish I could just kill him and watch the light drain from his eyes. "Arthur and his knights have served with courage to maintain the honor of Rome's empire on this last outpost of our glory." He continued, taking a goblet from a servant behind him. Horton went around passing the other goblet of wine to the rest of the knights. "Rome is most indebted to you noble knights." What are we? Dirt you can spit at and we can't do anything? "To your final days as servants to the empire."
Before Lancelot took at drink, he looked at the bishop. "Day. Not days." Ok, the bishop is up to something if Lancelot could catch that. All the bishop did was waved him off. Everybody took a seat after taking a sip and the bishop continued to talk. I swear he is so conceited; all he likes to listen to is his voice.
"The Pope's taken a personal interest in you. He inquires after each of you, and is curious to know if your knights have converted to the word of Our Savior or...?" Is this really the reason we were here?
"They retain the religion of their forefathers. I have never questioned that." I love this guy, protecting his knights yet so polite, maybe I should teach him how to not to be polite. The bishop looked like he really didn't care and that was why he was not there. Damn this guy, at least seem like that was really a question you were meant to ask, cause I know something is up.
"Of course, of course. They are pagans, hm?" All the knights looked like they wanted to give him a piece of their mind, but they would just have to wait after me. I needed to do this for years now. "For our part, the Church has deemed such beliefs innocence, but you Arthur, your path to God is through Pelagius?" He turned to look at Arthur himself. "I saw his image in your room." Probably in the fire, again that bastard, though he's turning into a douchebag now a days.
"He took my father's place for me. His teachings on free will and equality have been a great influence. I look forward to our reunion in Rome." Was he not told that he is died?
"Ah." He doesn't even tell him? Douchebag! He gulped, ha! "Rome awaits your arrival with great anticipation. You are a hero." What are we again? "In Rome, you will live out your days in honor and wealth." He said looking at the knights pointy at the end. "Alas...Alas, we are all but players in an ever-changing world." Am I the only person getting a horrible vibe from this man? "Barbarians from every corner are almost at Rome's door." Horton comes over to the bishop with a case I knew held their release papers.
"Because of this, Rome, and the Holy Father, has decided to remove ourselves from indefensible outpost, such as Britain." The knights started to get up from their seats. "What will become of Britain is not our concern anymore. I suppose the Saxons will claim it soon." He opened up the case containing six scrolls of paper.
"Saxons?" Questioned Arthur.
"Yes. In the north a massive Saxon incursion has begun." I would gladly fight them damn Saxons if it let me get away from this bishop.
"The Saxons only claim what they kill." Spoke up Lancelot.
"And they only kill everything." Gawain spoke so softly I had to strain to hear what he had to say.
The one who was still seating, the one who came in with Gawain spoke up. "So you would just leave the land to the Woads." He was getting mad at the bishop, we could get along just fine, and I love his anger. "I risked my life for nothing?" Ha, with this guy, you kill cattle because he peed on him.
All the bishop did was give a small hm. "Gentleman," He raised the case and displayed the scrolls. "your discharge paper with safe conduct throughout the Roman Empire." All the knights, especially the younger looking one, look anxious to hold the paper.
Putting down the case, he looked at all of them at the table, "But first, I must have a word with your commander." When no one moved he spoke again while sitting. "In private."
"We have no secrets." Arthur looked at his knights. The bishop took a deep breath but did not speak, closing the lid with a big bang.
"Come. Let's leave Roman business to Romans." I was surprised that Lancelot was the one to speak.
They all walked out, but the man that came with Dagonet seemed mad, "Let it go, Bors." Said Dagonet to the man, who is Bors, while walking out to the door. I love Bors, he better scare the bishop, he needs one and needs to teach me how to intimidate this man, or anybody for that fact.
Tristram left with the goblet in his hand, so did Bors and the young guy. When they left, the bishop finally looked at Arthur.
"Rome has issued a final order for you and your men."
"Final order?" You could tell that Arthur was surprised.
"You are to travel north to rescue the family of Marius Honorius and return, in particular, with Marius's son, Alecto." Arthur had a look of disbelief and looked around the room. I have no clue if they didn't even notice us but I needed to know what the Roman Empire is making them do, other than what he just said.
"Alecto is the Pope's favorite godchild and pupil. It is his destiny to become a bishop, perhaps even pope one day." Right then, I think Arthur could not keep his anger no more, and I thought he had no anger, but boy did he, and he did a good job of composing himself.
"On this day you ask this of my men. On this day." I know, Arthur, but he is a hopeless case. Arthur got up from his chair and took a deep breath, his anger was too great for this bishop, and he could not stay seated next to him. "They have risked their lives for 15 years for a cause not of their own. And now, on the day they are to be liberated, you send them on a mission which is far more dangerous than any other they have undertaken. You tell me, Bishop, how do I go to my men and tell them that instead of freedom I offer death?" The bishop just stared at the table.
"If your men are truly the knights of legend, perhaps some will survive." That is so low; I could just stab his cold ice heart. If they're not Roman, they have no life. That man is so infuriating. "If it is God's will." Finally looking at Arthur, what a pussy, he should have done that from the start and be a man.
"Your men want to go home, and to get home they need to cross the entire breadth of the Roman Empire. Deserters would be hunted down like dogs. Will you defy the Pope, Arthur? Rome? God himself?"
"Everything I've done has been for the Church and for Rome. Do not mistake a loyal soldier for a fool, Germanius." Does that make me a fool? I believe in God but screw the Pope and Rome. Yes! Arthur's anger and snappy polite talk made the bishop stand up.
"Would you leave a defenseless Roman boy, destined to lead our church at the hands of the Saxons? Fulfill this mission, and you man will receive their discharge. Their papers will be waiting here the moment they return. You have my word." The bishop was walking away when Arthur spoke up.
"You think very hard upon that vow, Bishop, for I will hold you to it. Break it, and no Roman legion, papal army, nor God himself will protect you. That is my word." You have got to love this man. Wish I could say something like that but Dominika always holds me back. And with that, the bishop left the room, and Arthur left after the bishop when he took ten deep breaths, muttering about how to tell his knights.
I turned to look at Dominika, "You need to find a way for us to go with them." All Dominika did was nod and we all left to our rooms, hoping tomorrow would bring excitement.