Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Tamura

Chapter 7

Evening crept in on them. Tamura's unease seemed to increase. As they sat around the Round Table, she could still feel it clinging to her skin like oil. Dagonet sensed it as well, and quietly grasped her hand in hopes of easing her anxiety. Arthur made the toast to the fallen, and they waited a bit impatiently for the Bishop to join them.

They all stood when the Bishop entered. It wasn't out of respect for him, but for Arthur that they stood. The Bishop was condescending and flashed their discharge papers are them, but then asked them to leave. Tamura wasn't surprised and was happy to make a quick exit before he could say anything further. She was the first to stand, and drug Dagonet out with her.

"A woman, Arthur?" She heard the Bishop comment as they walked out into the night.

"Yes, and a worthy knight. It is not yours to question why or how she is here, only to give her a copy of her discharge papers, just as you will give the other knights theirs." Arthur answered, as the door closed behind them.

Tamura settled against Dagonet, once they reached the tavern. Vanora passed them two mugs and quickly moved around the tables. Bors was holding his newest child. She briefly wondered about her and Dagonet not yet having any children of their own. She wanted them, but knew until they could leave, the timing was all wrong. The knights joked, and laughed and played about. They were content in their belief that they would soon be free. Tamura had voiced her discomfort to Dagonet, and while he was silent as ever, she knew he felt the same unease as she did about the Bishop. He simply hid it better.

Bors pulled Vanora into singing. She could feel the longing for home overwhelm her. Dagonet held her tight to his chest. They were each other's home, but the desire to see the land they came from once again had never left either of them. Arthur came up to the edge of the platform and watched. She could see the sadness in his eyes, and knew that their celebration was soon to come to an end. She tried to enjoy the rest of the song, to capture the moment they were in, but Jols called out to Arthur and broke the spell that had been descending on all of them. Arthur's next words brought a chill to her heart that she had rarely felt.

Bors reacted violently to the news of their last mission. Tristan was as willing as ever. Gawain, light-hearted and accepting nodded his ascent, and answered for Galahad as well. Dagonet simply stated that he would prepare and although she wanted to follow Arthur, as Lancelot had, Tamura knew she would need to prepare as well. They would have a long road ahead of them.

That night as she lay in Dagonet's arms, she thought ahead to what was going to happen. They could meet the Saxon's or they could safely get the people they were going for and leave before they ever made it to the wall. She hoped the second option would occur. She felt Dagonet tighten his embrace, and slid her leg over his to press herself as close as she could. She could feel his erection pressing into her hip. Their love making was gentle and soft, but with a slightly desperate edge to it.

Morning dawned faster than either of them wanted it to. They were quiet as they saddled their horses. Vanora had obviously cooled Bors anger, as he sat cleaning his sword. Only Galahad still seemed agitated, especially when Arthur walked in, He spurred his horse harder around their small inner yard. The Bishop entered a few moments later, to tell them to take his secretary with them. Horton was the man who had introduced the Bishop the night before. Jols found him a horse, and before the sun was fully over the horizon, they were riding north to the home of some Roman family that needed rescue.

As they passed through the forest, Tamura could feel eyes on her, and sense the movement in the trees. She knew the Woads were watching. She was surprised that they did not stop them. Perhaps they knew of the Saxons invasion and were not keen to fight two enemies. Perhaps only time would tell with them. They reached their destination midday the next day only to be stopped at the gate. Arthur announced who they were and they could all finally see his anger with the situation as he lost his temper with the Roman. Once he had his way he ordered the people who were able to pack and start moving south. The others he gathered together in wagons. Tamura knew that if they didn't hurry, they would never be able to leave in time.

Arthur spotted to guards standing over two men, walling up a doorway. She knew his mind and knew that he would want to investigate, even though they had no time for it. When the men would not say what was behind the door, he nodded to Dagonet, who placed the reins to his horse in her hand, and grabbed his axe. He quickly knocked down the wall and kicked in the door. She dismounted and followed him and Arthur into the underground room. It was like a dungeon for tortured souls. Lancelot quickly killed one of the priests that tried to attack them. Gawain stepped out, no longer able to stand the stench and the cruelty he was seeing. The rest of them continued to check the cells over the protests of the remaining priest. Lancelot held the torch, and Arthur found one woman alive. Dagonet found a boy. They were each scooped up and taken out into the fresh air. The priest begged that they be returned, that it was the only way to save them. Tamura whirled quickly and killed him. She hated liars, and anything cruel done in the name of religion. The boy and the woman were quickly wrapped in warm clothes, and placed in a wagon, the last of the people to be loaded so that they could leave. The drums of the Saxons could be heard echoing off the hills around them.