Chapter 7
Merlin and Gaius pondered over the mountain of books on the table in front of them. They had been looking through them for any information about an infectious mist in Gaius' old sorcery books, to see if it could help them create a cure for the fever and quick death of all it touched. But they searched in vain, at least until Gaius turned a page and there it was (as always).
"Merlin, look at this." He cried.
Merlin walked round the table, so that he could see the book as well. "What is it then?" he asked.
"In the old religion, the mist was seen as a sign of great evil and danger. Even sorcerers feared it. It was said that only the most powerful of sorcerers could create and command it, but it took an even more powerful one to destroy it." He read aloud.
"Why is it so dangerous?" Gaius looked up at him; he already knew the answer to that. "Aside from the killing people part."
Gaius turned back to the book and read some more. "The mist is said to have been originally created by the ancient sorcerer, Kirahn, who made it in order to kill his enemies without laying a hand on them; whilst also keeping others far away."
"So what happened to this … Kirahn?" Merlin asked.
"He used the mist one night to kill three hundred soldiers of a powerful king's army, leaving the King powerless to defend himself as he had never fought before." Gaius turned the page. "With his army dead, Kirahn simply walked into the King's tent and killed him where he stood. Thus taking over the throne and his kingdom, without being hurt himself."
Merlin stood back for a moment, thinking through the information. "So this mist is actually a way to get rid of armies quickly and efficiently?"
"Yes. And it seems that Morgana has used it to rid the city's grounds of everyone and at night."
"She's definitely planning something bad." Merlin scolded himself. Morgana planning something "bad" was the understatement of the century. "If it was originally used to kill the King … she is definitely planning on killing Arthur." (Yet another understatement)
Merlin grabbed for his jacket and headed towards the door. "Where are you going?" Gaius asked.
"To tell Arthur that he's in danger."
"Merlin." Gaius said, standing up. "Arthur is the King of Camelot, he's always in danger. You can't go to him and tell him that Morgana plans to kill him using magic."
"Why not?" Merlin enquired.
"He's going to ask where you found out about the mist. And are you prepared to tell him that you found out from an old sorcery book." Merlin realised his decision, it was foolish. Going to Arthur and telling him he was in danger wasn't going to change the fact that the mist was killing innocent people in Morgana's quest in killing Arthur.
He took off his jacket and sat down at the table again. "So, how are we going to make a treatment to those caught in the mist?"
"I don't know, Merlin. All we know about the illness is that when it touches the person a sharp pain infects their body and then a strong fever takes over their body." Gaius closed his book. "To create a treatment, I will probably have to get a sample of the person's blood, sweat and temperature changes throughout the sickness."
Merlin's head dropped. "So all we found out was that Morgana is trying to kill Arthur, which isn't a surprise." Gaius nodded. "Great! We're back to square one."
