Chapter 10 [Three Days Later]
After the all too brief visit with Accolon and Morgana, Nemeth's royal progress pressed on. They followed the Severn's shoreline. The forest thickened. Few people seemed to live in that stretch of woods. No structures dotted the roadside either. While they still wanted to visit with Boeve in his newly restored castle, Merlin and Mithian stayed with their purpose.
Cligés and Josiane however accepted some magical aid to make the visit. They vowed to return in a few days' time. While they knew Merlin and Mithian needed support, Family and Amor tugged them toward Hampton as well.
Merlin glanced about the clearing. As with other places along the trail, he noted the landscape. He saw every flowing brook, made a point of each clearing and hedge. He had insight about the road's potential tavern sites. He knew each place would have to be just under an average day's ride apart. The road would also need an armed presence for the supply wagons for said places.
All issues…Administration pressed down on his shoulders….
He listened to the surroundings intently. Silence smothered those words like a wet blanket. Not a bird's warbled note. Not a hint of breeze to rustle his hair. Not a deer loping from the brush.
All strange….
His hair stood on end. Despite the aforementioned lack of wind, his skin dimpled. His psyche discerned a crackle of energy burning throughout the place.
Merlin, Malodius cut in.
You feel it too? Merlin wondered.
Aye. The sorceress is close, the lion told him.
Figures. Merlin shook his head. He glanced around the clearing again.
"Trees getting to you, Merlin?" Gawain patted a thick oak's trunk. "One kind looks like another."
"They may look alike. An oak is different than a maple, Gawain," Merlin pointed out. "Still the woods is peaceful. It provides shade. It will give wood for a fire or maybe a tavern near here."
Gawain shrugged. "Maybe. You're overthinking it, Mate. They're pretty. Still I'd like the planks in a cask barrel or on the sides of a house. All in the needs. You know?" He frowned. "Could use some. Brit's driving me nuts."
Merlin chuckled. "Complaining about the drinking again, is she?"
"She's trying to make a bloody ascetic out of me! Nag! Nag! Nag!" Gawain continued.
"Might do you some good now that you're a family man now," Merlin sassed. An eyebrow raised. Sauciness glimmered in his eyes.
Gawain rolled his eyes. "Sure. Now you turn on me too? I thought you were my mate. Mith's really got you whipped. Doesn't she?"
"I just know where my priorities are. So should you. Maybe you might want to consider moderation?" Merlin supposed.
Gawain frowned. Bile burned his stomach. Indignation ate at him. "Maybe you might want to consider moderation?" he parroted. Sarcasm dipped from his tone.
"You really want that Ministry of Produce position. Don't you?" Merlin cleared his throat.
"Sure Gwen told us how you raised the bar of the rest of us like that. I mean we can't top you, Your Worship," the knight cracked.
Before Merlin could respond, a deep hissing came from cam.
MERLIN! Mithian called.
"Come on!" Merlin rushed back toward the camp.
"Now what?" Gawain narrowed his eyes. He hustled behind Merlin. He held his sword at the ready for the next threat beyond those peaceful trees…..
[Camp—A Twelfth of an Hourglass Turn Earlier]
Mithian tapped a quill against a piece of parchment. Her eye surveyed the latest clearing. Detail offered positives and negatives of said place for the royal enterprise. She definitely supported Merlin's initiative. It allowed for him to get his foot in the door so to speak. He could serve the kingdom and their people. He was reaching out to allies and other kings for connections and collaboration.
And Confidence bubbled up all the more.
All great things as far as she was concerned.
He's getting there. Relief broke Worry's chains binding her mind. She noticed that the progress was having its desired effect. She and Merlin bonded with their friends. Away from Whitgate's official eye, Protocol seemed to fall away. Perhaps it was Arthur's influence and example with his own knights. Still Merlin had some direction in that regard. He pursued it exceeding Rodor's comfort level.
Tradition had its place but Practicality did as well….
She scratched out a few observations onto the parchment. Her quill seemed to run away with a mind of its own. Detail quickly filled out a quarter of the surface. Imagination played with potential scenarios for a tavern in that place.
Perhaps this might be the place, Princess?
Perhaps. She turned to find Malodius regarding her. How is the perimeter?
Everything seems peaceful. Still I'd advise caution. Malodius looked about the area. Despite Serenity's bliss, he knew Trouble could blow up like a storm on the sea. The sorceress could be anywhere.
You'd have to bring her up. She frowned. Reality stung her.
My apologies, Lady. Everything should be a balance. We should enjoy our blessings. Still those with evil can ambush from anywhere, the lion reminded her.
I know. I will speak to Sir Ywain about the guard. Another threat. Will they stop? she lamented. She noted their friends pursuing conversation and cooking. They all seemed so at peace. She wondered why things couldn't always be like that.
Naivety had its heartbeat…and then another. Then, much as Sunset's colorful show, it faded into dark…
Nay. Challenges and tests seem to lie heaviest on the royal head it seems, the lion added. I say this because I care for Merlin and you. His tail twitched. His mane stood on end. We have danger!
Where? We…. Her eyes went wide. "Where'd they come from? TO ARMS! TO ARMS!" She grabbed for her crossbow.
From the trees' cover, three enormous serpents slithered across the damp ground into their campsite. Their dark scales plowed grooves into the damp earth. Their forked tongues flicked at the air. Deep hisses escaped their fanged jaws.
Malodius roared loudly. He charged the first serpent placing himself between it and Mithian.
"My Lady!" Britomart dropped the skewer of venison. Her eyes narrowed. She ran toward another of the intruders. She swung her blade several times with little effect; the metal clanging off of the scales.
The snake wrapped its coils around the fire haired maiden. It on the other hand could squeeze the breath and life from her.
"Britomart!" Mithian fired several bolts from her weapon. Somehow she just managed to evade the third snake's lunge. MERLIN!
"Lady, be careful!" Ywain called.
"I'd say the same of you." Mithian bit back further comment. Instead she focused on the link. Where are you?
Gawain and I were talking. We're coming! Merlin called. At that moment, he reached the scene. His eyes went wide. Where did they come from?
Obviously they were conjured. When we see the sorceress next, you can ask her, Mithian retorted. Her eyes sparked a 'do something already' glare.
"Where'd they come from? I wasn't gone that long!" Gawain wondered.
"Perhaps you'd care to assist us?" Ywain suggested with an edge to his voice. He battered at his adversary with continued little effect.
"Don't let your mail bunch up, Y-Whine! I'm on it!" Gawain frowned. "Maybe you can whammy something up, Your Princiness?" With that, he rushed toward the second snake. "You'll have to wait, Y-Whine. Big Red's in over her head as usual!"
"Take…your…time, Oaf," Britomart groused in a pained whisper.
"Everyone's a critic!" Gawain considered the situation. He tried to stab at the dark coils but met with the same results as the others. "Even when she can't breathe, she nags. Seriously?" He stuck his blade between her and the coils. Then he pulled against the coils. His teeth ground against each other. His arms felt the strain. Yet he wouldn't stop his efforts.
The snake, stuck between Surprise and Disdain, loosened its coils for a half of a heartbeat. Granted it didn't do that much. Its tail flicked just missing Gawain but snapping the oak behind him like a twig.
In the process, Distraction allowed Britomart to free herself. She somehow staggered away from the large predator and toward Mithian. She ached. Still she forced herself to hold her sword at the ready. "M…milady?"
"You need time," Mithian asserted.
"I can't…leave…" Britomart grabbed at her side. Her eyes narrowed. Her mouth twisted in a frown.
Mithian caught her friend as the latter's legs collapsed under her. "Lie down. That's an order."
Britomart shook her head. "Sorry…." She accepted the Princess' help to recline on the grass.
"Just relax. We have this under control," Mithian assured her. She looked across the clearing. Merlin! Come on!
Malodius jumped over the first serpent's lunge at himself. His paws pressed down on the coils. His teeth snapped down just beneath the snake's head. He spat obsidian blood. Merlin!
Now I know how Gawain feels! Merlin shook his head. His eyes glowed canary yellow. "Aag èirigh!"
The remaining two serpents floated into the air. They thrashed about to no avail. The spell held them both fast.
Merlin drew Excalibur from its scabbard. He stalked up to the two snakes. Twice the rune-marked blade stabbed forth dispatching the two assailants. Then he waved his hand once again. Once more his eyes glowed.
The snakes or what remained of them vaporized in a puff of brimstone and smoke.
"Are you all right?" Merlin asked Mithian.
"Now I am. I'm glad those serpents didn't catch Sir Gawain or you, my Prince." Mithian motioned to Britomart. "Her side's hurt."
"That's what she gets for jumping in. I tell her to be careful," Gawain insisted. Irreverence failed to mask Concern's overtones in his voice. He leaned close to his fiancée. "You can't stay out of trouble."
"And…you…can?"Britomart rasped between coughs. "My…lout…in dull…armor."
"Even now she can't resist." Gawain rolled his eyes. He pulled up the side of her mail shirt. He grimaced at her bruising and the dark stain under the skin. "Great! Just great!"
"We'll wrap it." Merlin assured them both. He touched the wounded area. Again his eyes glowed. Magical energies flowed from his finger into her.
The bruising and darkness faded ever so slightly. Britomart relaxed and fell asleep.
"Hopefully that did some good." Merlin stood up. He walked back over to Mithian's side. "Now we wait."
"You did all that you could," Mithian assured him. That time.
I had to think. I had to get away. Merlin slumped his head. "I did run over. I tried. I got rid of the snakes." He frowned. "Two of them anyway. And Gawain was talking with me. That's my fault."
"I'm…sorry," Britomart whispered her apology.
"I know." Merlin smiled. "Gawain needs some guidance. You're good for him. Maybe give him a break this time? He was being a good friend. You are too. When he goes for the cask…."
"I HEARD THAT!" Gawain snapped.
"DON'T! Don't…push…your luck, you Oaf…." Britomart scolded. Still the words came out less forcefully than they might have. "Our Prince has a point. Are you all right, Lady?"
"I'm fine. It seems this sorceress knows when to strike." Mithian winced at the snakes' ashen remains.
"We need to be more careful." Merlin squirmed. How can I get away to think?
We must all be on guard. Nobody can do it all alone, Malodius assured him.
And we support each other, my Prince. Mithian embraced Merlin. As he just said, we all have to be watchful. Her eyes sparkled into his. Just another rough edge.
Rough edges. Merlin sighed deeply.
She simply smirked. No further response was necessary.
"Maybe before we get to Rafton, we should rest?" Merlin suggested.
"I'll stand watch, my Prince. You need your time," Ywain volunteered. Getting a nod from Mithian, he started into his rounds.
"As you suggested, we should all get rest." Mithian took Merlin's hand. She walked with him back across the camp.
It seemed there were other issues to consider….