12. Foxes, rabbits and a jackal
"What are you doing here?" Arthur did not trust his eyes; surely this was a fidget of his imagination.
Ravenclaw grinned while he bowed in the elegant, nonchalant way that was entirely his. "I was under the impression that Your Highness could do with some help."
"That's what I thought about you. Shouldn't you be in the King's dungeons?"
"I did not fancy a longer stay after the King had charged me with High Treason. It was annoying, though. While I had to dismiss myself from the King's service, your father set the others free on his own accord."
"What do you mean, set the others free?" This couldn't be true; this had to be wishful thinking.
"My most noble fellow Council members, the courtiers that had been arrested – the whole damned crème de la crème of Camelot are once more roaming the country side with their dopey faces, doubtlessly celebrating my downfall."
After a sly look at Arthur's barely hidden nervousness, the Baron's smile broadened. "But I don't think it was fear for their tender necks that made you stoop to Angus Dickhead as tamely as a lamb. As for the bunch of commoners you have made knights of the worm-eaten table and young Lady Guinivere - Uther has banished them, but otherwise they're perfectly fine. Gaius is with them, for some reason he's jolly well fed up with your father."
The Prince's gaze flew towards the castle's entrance before the Baron had finished speaking.
"Forget about the stupid boar, Arthur. He has no longer a hold over you" Algernon said, his ageless, fox-like face showing much sympathy under its usual mask of mild irony and worldly wisdom.
Right on cue, Bodmin started to yell impatiently outside, demanding an immediate answer to his claim.
"You know, Arthur, I have a squadron here, they met us only last night. Friend Angus did me such a favour when he slowed himself down that much. What say you, we could invite My Lord Earl to dinner?"
Only now the Prince was willing to believe that Ravenclaw had told him the truth; that this ordeal was really over. "Your Lordship is reading my mind" he agreed wholeheartedly.
"It's always a pleasure to serve the Prince, Sire."
Two minutes later a much relieved Bodmin saw Sir Gryffyd appear on the castle walls. "I beg Your Grace's pardon, but I had to make sure that you're speaking the truth" the old knight shouted. "You are most welcome, My Lord Earl."
With a triumphant grin, Branguard passed the drawbridge and the gates until he and all his men reached the castle's main yard. His nervousness returned only when his gaze flickered over the square in vain. Arthur was standing in a corner out of sight, together with Gryffyd and Algernon. As was their habit, the Druids had withdrawn from the place of the upcoming fight.
"Where's the prisoner?" Bodmin demanded to know.
"His Royal Highness is otherwise occupied" Ravenclaw said while he stepped out of the arcade's shadow. "This is between you and me now, Angus."
Outnumbered more than two to one and taken by complete surprise, Bodmin and his men stood no chance.
Finally, Bodmin and Ravenclaw circled each other, swords drawn and ready. On both sides the others ceased fighting now as the Bodmin and the Saltyre guards surrendered, giving the two main opponents the room.
It was Bodmin who opened the clash with a vicious cut that aimed at Ravenclaw's heart. The Baron evaded the sharp point, if barely, and blocked the other's blade with his own sword. Hitting and parrying they danced around each other without one of them gaining an advantage. Until Branguard suddenly slipped and fell to his knees. Roaring triumphantly, Ravenclaw went in for the kill.
Bodmin seemed to lower his head in silent acceptance, but suddenly his left hand came up and hurled something at Ravenclaw's face.
The Baron screamed in anger when the load of dust and grit hit his eyes and blinded him. In this same instant, Branguard passed his sword from his right into his left hand; and with one swift turn of his arm the blade came up and hit Ravenclaw's belly.
Bodmin put all his strength behind the momentum of his weapon, but somehow the blade was stuck. Stuck by a third blade's blockage. Enraged the Earl jumped to his feet and kicked at Ravenclaw's groin, effectively hurling his opponent out of the way.
Heavily panting, Branguard looked at the Crown Prince's determined face. For a moment the heat of battle, his wrath and fear ousted everything else. "We've got that appointment from the very beginning, my boy" Bodmin growled, before he struck.
Arthur said nothing. But every blow and every swing of his blade brought a part of the humiliation and the bitter anguish this man had given him back to Pendragon's mind, spurring him, driving him forward.
Bodmin, many years older, out of exercise and a shrewd rather than a gifted swordsman, had nothing to set against this cold, single-minded determination.
Finally a last set of intricately intertwined blows took his sword out of Bodmin's hand and he slipped again; this time it had nothing to do with deliberation.
His eyes wide and terrified, Branguard lay on his back while the point of Arthur's blade pressed into his throat.
For a very long moment, they seemed to be all alone in the court yard.
Every instinct in Arthur called for his weapon to press home, to cut through this neck, to wash off his disgrace with blood, like he had been taught since childhood. And yet something prevented his wrist from making the final push and twist that would take Bodmin's life.
"Get up" he finally hissed. "Once we are finished with you, you can crawl back to King Uther on your hands and knees and tell him that he has counted me out too early!"
Gryffyd closed his eyes in silent gratitude, for Arthur's sakeas much as for all their sakes. Ravenclaw, his hand on the superficial cut in his belly, smiled in a most gratified manner at the Prince's last words.
"He's everything we'd hoped he'd be" Algernon said when they both watched Arthur vanishing inside the castle with Sir Gryffyd, while the old knight's and Ravenclaw's men made sure that the devastated Earl and his escort found their way into the castle's vaults and dungeons.
"And yet he has far to go before this is over" the Baron replied softly.
"You still do not want to tell me what you've seen of the future?"
"No!"
"As you wish, High Master. It's not for a simple Druid to question the likes of you."
"Algernon, if you tell Arthur anything…."
"I won't. My responsibility is my people's future. You've swindled your way into the magic-blinds' precious nobility; I gladly leave their Royalty to you."
"I have been a Prince of the Blessed Isle long before I became a Baron of Camelot."
Algernon grinned "And how lucky you've been that nobody ever found out."
"It's in the Druids' best interest too if Arthur someday reinstalls the temples of the ancient Gods."
"Oh yes, these will be glorious times indeed. We can finally rebuild our huts and cottages while you rebuild your palaces. We can toil on the Isle's fields, give our children to your temples, bow to every embroidered robe that comes our way – I am pretty much looking forward to it. I really am."
Angrily Ravenclaw watched the Druid leader stroll away. Not for the first time the Baron wished that he could do without the Druids' support. Alas, he couldn't. Sighing, he turned to follow the Prince inside.
Somewhat later, Arthur gratefully imposed on Gryffyd's gracious hospitality. Most tactfully the old knight had let him know that he didn't smell exactly of rose petals, as Pendragon still wore the clothes that had first been bloodied and torn during the fight against the bandits in the forest. He had neither washed nor changed in almost five days. Bodmin had clearly seen no need for that and his prisoner had been too proud to beg for some water and fresh clothes.
The Prince was munching through the last crumbs of a big meal when a young servant furtively peeped through the door, the whole lean, skinny half-grown figure almost vanishing behind some big towels and a heap of clothes. "Your Highness?"
"And who would you be?"
"Sim, Sire. My name is Sim. Sir Gryffyd sends his compliments, Sire and would Your Highness kindly put up with some of his late son's clothes. Sire."
Frowning at the repetitive use of his title, Arthur took the bundle of shirt and breeches and other stuff while he strode towards the folding screen in the corner. "You can tell your master I feel most honoured by the offer."
"Yes, Sire!" Scared stiff Sim stared at the opposite wall as hard as he could while Arthur's rags flew over the screen.
"Dear Gods what a meek little mouse" Pendragon thought; no longer aware of the fact that not all servants in the world behaved like a certain young warlock around their masters.
"So you work for Sir Gryffyd usually?" he tried to break the ice, glad for the opportunity to have a little chat while he washed and dressed.
"Yes, Sire."
"Do you like your work?" Arthur Pendragon wasn't easily discouraged.
"Yes, Sire."
The Prince's shoulders fell a bit. "And where do you come from?"
"It's called rabbits' den, Sire."
"Aptly named!" Arthur couldn't help but think. "Have you been here long?"
"No, not really. I came from my village almost a year ago."
Arthur gave the youngster a closer look. There was something in these wide, innocent eyes and in the way he talked... "You're a Druid" the Prince stated. "Why on earth should a Druid be a servant? With your magic, it's ridiculous that...a sorcerer should play the slave when he could be the master" Arthur wanted to add, before he remembered his father's fears of Merlin's alleged sinister motives.
"I don't have magic" Sim said, his face a burning shameful red.
"Why ever not? Have you done something wrong? Didn't you want to learn or what?"
"I was born without it. It happens. Your people are sometimes born with it; my people are sometimes born without." He looked so very brave while he tried to lift his chin as if he didn't care at all that Arthur took him into his heart instantly.
"But even without magic, you should have stayed with your own people. Camelot is dangerous for the likes of you."
"Not here, Sire, not around the Devil's Claw, thanks to you and Sir Gryffyd and the High... the Baron of Ravenclaw. And I couldn't have stayed with my folks. We are five tribes here now and I heard only yesterday from Master Algernon himself that a sixth tribe is going to come here, from the borderland between Camelot and King Cendred's land, now that it is no longer safe for Druids there.
Arthur let the wash cloth fall. Six tribes? He had been planning for two larger groups at most!
Meanwhile Sim continued talking. "My mother was very glad she got me this place, we were ever so hungry back home; there were seven of us children, and my invalid father, when my eldest brother got married my mother said I could not stay at home, I'd take the food out of their mouths, so she brought me here, you see….Without magic I'd be useless anywhere but among the magic-blinds, she said….."
Arthur stared art the youngster, dumbfounded. The concept that a person should be expelled by his folks because he had no magic was a bit too alien for Uther Pendragon's son.
Suddenly Sim remembered whom he was talking to. He broke off in mid sentence, his face flaming red again and more than a little fearful. When Arthur made a sudden movement, grabbing a towel from Sim's hand, the boy shied away as if he had been beaten.
At once, the Prince felt ashamed and as always, it made him snappy. "Hey, what's the matter; got your tongue stuck in your mouth again or what?"
"No…..no… Your Highness; it's just that Lord Gryffyd says I talk too much and he says I must be very careful with you, Sire."
"Careful? My own servant is never careful with me, and I haven't killed him yet…."
Arthur broke off; unwanted memories of his warlock friend whom he had left behind with his kind's most mortal enemy silenced him.
A part of his fear left the young peasant and a bit more trusting now, he shuffled somewhat nearer to the folding screen that separated bathing tube and washing stand from Sir Gryffyd's bedroom. However, Sim jerked away again when he had a closer look at Arthur's body.
"Who has done this?" he asked aghast. "And why?"
"Done what?" Lost in memories, absent-minded and very far away from Devil's Claw Arthur hardly heard the servant.
"These…injuries. You've been tied up. And someone has beaten you!"
"Oh, that. That'll heal."
"But you are a Prince. I thought Princes don't get hurt, never. I mean, it's okay when I am beaten, but you….."
"Does Sir Gryffyd beat you?"
Sim pulled back from the sudden anger in Arthur's voice and face. "S…s…s…sometimes he had me flogged; it's all right though, I deserved it…"
"No, you did not! Whatever you did, he had no right to tie you to a pole and beat the living daylights out of you. Nobody has."
Now where had that idiotic thought come from? A knight, the Lord of the castle, had no right to have a servant flogged? Arthur almost heard his father and the other nobles roar with laughter and he clenched his jaws.
Sim didn't understand anything of this, except that he shouldn't be here, having this conversation with a half naked Crown Prince. "Your shirt, Sire."
Arthur dressed with curt, angry movements, combed his wet hair with five fingers and declared that this would do. "What are you gawking at?" he asked when Sim stared at him with his mouth open.
Only when the boy let his shoulders fall and made himself as small as possible, panting with obvious fear, Arthur jerked out of his miserable reveries. This wasn't Merlin. This was a perfectly normal servant, the kind of servant his father liked to have around, submissive, gentle and always afraid, always terrified because every step and every word could bring about another punishment, another day in the stocks or something worse.
Arthur had watched his father and the others coercing peasants and servants into submission, persecuting Druids and killing alleged sorcerers all his life and he had not given a damn about the poor wretches.
Why the hell did he care now? Because this time the lash had not hit some insignificant stranger but some people the Crown Prince of Camelot cared about? Or was it something else? Were his father's cruelty, hypocrisy and carelessness so very important all of a sudden because, for the very first time, their full force had hit his son?
"My Lord, please….I….I beg you. Please. If you tell Sir Gryffyd anything about me being cheeky he'll sure chuck me out. I need this place, I cannot go to my mother, she won't have me. I'll starve."
"Don't worry, Sim. I won't tell him anything. Besides, you've done nothing wrong. I'm sorry I yelled at you. You're a very good servant."
Sim, this time with his mouth gawking like an open barn door, looked after him when Arthur went to the door, and the young Druid's face wore an expression of utter adoration. In this brief spell he had found the hero of his life.
Arthur, on the other hand, was as dissatisfied with himself as he could possibly be. How on earth could he have been splashing in the bath tube most happily? He had never asked for details of his friends' fate, never asked after Gwen's well-being, never asked for Merlin, Gwaine, Gaius, the others' situation, nothing. Ravenclaw had only told him so much; in his profound relief he hadn't thought of asking for more news. He had to find the Baron. Now!
However, before he even reached the door, someone knocked once and entered immediately, without any further ado. Algernon's triangular fox-face folded into a friendly grin. "Your Highness. It's good to see you're your old self again. I want a word with you. Now!"
"Not now, Algernon, I have to see the Baron about…"
"About your men and the woman. No need for that. She's fine the Baron said; they're on their way here, Ravenclaw invited them; he made sure that they would not arrive prematurely. We'll fly a signal banner from the battlement as a sign that all is well. You'll meet them tomorrow morning. Anything else you'd like to know?"
"You never cease to astound me" Arthur said, shaking his head. "No further questions."
"Good. That's good. Sit, I must talk to you."
The Druid sat down cross legged on a cushion he had thrown to the floor and Arthur followed suit. When Algernon wanted to talk, he would talk, and if Pendragon didn't listen, the loss would be on the Prince's side. The Druid leader was not in the habit of repeating himself.
"You know, you never strike me as a Druid" Arthur opened negotiations – there was no other kind of talk between him and Algernon – "the age-old spiritual wisdom, the mysterious talk, the presumptuous aura of moral superiority, the lofty talk of pacifism – you don't sport any of it."
The Druid grinned merrily. "Never had much time for these soul things. Too preoccupied with saving my body from your father. Sim!"
The boy hurried into the room from somewhere behind the folding screen with wide eyes. "Is there anything you wish, master?"
"Wine! And don't forget to pour a glass for the Prince!"
"I am most grateful to you, dearest Algernon" Arthur was chuckling now. He was exhausted enough to lie down and sleep for a week and yet this man never ceased to lift his spirits. "How very considerate of you. Especially as the boy as well as the wine were sent to me by Sir Gryffyd."
"The boy belongs to my tribe. And the wine is bad anyway."
"If the boy is one of your own, why did you allow his mother to dumb him here?"
Sim's cheeks flushed once more while Algernon shrugged. "The wine maybe bad but the food is good. He's growing again since he's here. Back home he first stopped growing, then he started starving."
"Why didn't you take care of him?"
"Because we are too many for that kind of caring."
"And that's what you wanted to talk to me about."
"No! Read this!" Algernon threw a role of parchment into Arthur's lap.
Knowing better than to pester his counterpart with superfluous questions, the Prince opened the parchment and began to read. When he was through, he was very pale. "How did you get that?"
"Your Gaius gave it to Ravenclaw. Your father's speech is very revealing, is it not."
Arthur jumped to his feet and began an angry pacing. "A second purge! I can't believe it."
"He's after your sister and the Most Revered Lady Morgause; that much is obvious."
Never before Arthur had heard someone talking of Morgause as "The Most Revered Lady". It confounded him as much as anything else he had read or heard.
"What do you mean?"
"Your father wants his Kingdom back and he wants to keep it. He wants both their heads."
The Prince's stomach turned at the thought of Uther wanting to kill his own daughter. Nagging painfully the question of what his father had wanted to do with him came back, until he shoved it to the back of his mind with a will.
"What have the Druids to do with the two women?"
"Morgause is a High Priestess of the Blessed Isle. Morgana is her only living blood relative. That makes your sister an adept. Under the laws of the old religion we Druids owe a …certain allegiance to the Acolytes of the Old Religion."
"We did not find a single Druid among the fallen or the captives we made of Camelot's enemies. Otherwise I'd never have spoken to you; I'd killed you on sight."
"I thought that much. And the allegiance is not as strong as it once was. We are our own masters now. Isn't that so, Sim?"
"Y…ye…s" the boy said, incredulous that he should suddenly be a part of this high and mighty conversation. He yelped softly when Algernon pulled him down to the floor at his side. "There are many like him among us today, Arthur Pendragon. In former times, the Isle would have made sure that he never fathered magic-blind children, not even if they had allowed him to live as their servant. So you might say that his mother followed an old custom when she dumped him here. And I dare say Gryffyd did the boy less harm than some High Masters of the Isle would have caused. But your father never cared much for such details."
"So King Uther believes that my sister and Morgause have come to your people for protection. If he kills the last Druids, he will find Morgana too."
Algernon nodded, making a mental note of Arthur's stubborn refusal to call the King 'father'. Ravenclaw was much interested in such things. "It's nonsense of course. We wouldn't know where a Most Revered Lady of the Isle would hide. Only her adepts or blood guards or another Prince of the Isle would know and even under torture they'd rather die than spill the beans."
"Is that why the sixth tribe is coming here? Because they've heard of the planned purge?"
"Yes. I notified their elders the moment I had set eyes on this" Algernon nodded his head towards the parchment. "We will have to make do with even less food, even less room and old Gryffyd is tearing his hair even now while we speak but at least my brothers and sisters will be safe. As long as Uther does not know we are here."
"Presently he does not. Bodmin's brother Malcolm made sure of that."
"If your father did know, he had not sent you here but to any other dungeon he saw fit." Algernon's voice was hard and Sim flinched a bit, looking at Arthur and his reaction to this.
But for the moment, Pendragon had other things on his mind. "Thank heaven Bodmin is still alive. As long as he writes regularly to the King, reporting him everything about me and my most humble submission, His Majesty will never suspect that Devil's Claw is now the centre of the biggest Druid Community in all of Camelot. That'll buy us precious time."
Algernon let go of the breath he had been holding. Great Mother, for once the Druids had saddled the right horse. What a King this young magic-blind with the obnoxious family name would make one day. If only Emrys could have been here to see the seed he had sawn at the peril of his life bear fruit.
"I had hoped Your Highness would come to this conclusion. Do you think you could persuade the Earl to….cooperate?"
"King Uther would take it out on Angus' brother if he were to learn that Bodmin has failed him. Besides, I could always tell the Earl that I'd leave him to Ravenclaw's tender mercy if he refused me. The Baron owes him a disgraceful dismissal."
"It's more than that" Algernon said. "You surely know that there is a blood feud between the two houses."
"I know the two of them are rivals but nothing whatsoever about a blood feud. It's a big word, don't you think?"
"It's perfectly appropriate!"
"Do you know any details? I was too small to see or hear much of it and the King never told me much either."
The Druid settled down more comfortably and pushed Sim gently into his ribs. The youngster jerked out of his fascination with a jump. '"Fetch us some more wine, will you? You can as well do us a favour while you are here."
The young servant ran to fetch the wine and Algernon rubbed his hair thoughtfully. Gods, he liked this Prince, and for a moment the temptation to tell Arthur everything and let him be the judge of what to make of it was overwhelming. And yet, the High Master could still be right. Only a complete breach between father and son, without anyone's interference brought about by Uther alone, would ensure the future safety of the magic community and the Druids.
"I know the background of the feud, yes. We all do, as the Ravenclaw lands have been settled by Druids for many a century. Frankly, Arthur, it's a somewhat messy story. You may know that the Baron of Ravenclaw is not a native of Camelot. It must have been somewhat after your father had levelled the Isle of the Blessed and burnt its temples to ashes, that he came to the Citadel. A knight of high rank once, he had lost all his family, his land and title, even the claim to his name, or so he said, when his clan's stronghold had been destroyed by a brutal attacker."
Sim came back, delivered the wine and settled down again at his fellow Druid's side, as if it was the most natural thing to do, his meekness completely forgotten.
"Your father took an immediate liking to him" Algernon continued. "Uther was short of men; the Purge had cost Camelot dearly, in soldiers, money and in allies. You might well say that your father drove himself out of the High Kingship when he drove magic out of Camelot."
Arthur winced slightly and Algernon paused. "I never said you'd like the story much."
"Go on with it" the Prince said. "Just spare me the jibes, will you?"
"Any road, there was much fighting to do in Camelot back then and the young Sir du Lac – that was the name he had given himself – won them all. He climbed up through the ranks and in your father's favour, stepping on many a toe. There was another family at Court, ancient nobility of the realm, and also much accomplished, albeit their warriors were not the same class as Sir du Lac." Algernon suppressed a grin. Small wonder when the one had only his sword and shield and the other had magic at his disposal.
"The Branguards hated the newcomer with the kind of envious rage only you magic-blind aristocrats can feel – no offence to you, My Prince. For a while they settled down to bickering and spreading nasty rumours. But then Angus, the eldest son, became head of the family and his eight years old brother's guardian at the age of only eighteen, when their parents, their uncle, his wife and children were killed in an ambush in the forest. There were no survivors and the murderers were never found.
The new Lord Branguard was devastated for all I know, almost killed by grief and anger. He succeeded in keeping some of the family estate, but most of the fortune was seized by greedy human vultures, one way or the other. Soon Angus began to suspect Sir du Lac of the murder, and he said so, publicly. Your father forbade any further accusations but Angus didn't care. Finally Branguard challenged Sir du Lac to a duel. They fought and Angus lost. King Uther banished Angus from Court and kept young Malcolm, officially as his ward, unofficially as his hostage, in case Angus would kick up a breeze."
Algernon emptied his glass and turned it musingly in his hand. He wasn't lying; he just kept a few details to himself. Details like du Lac's real name and origins.
"When Angus came of age he requested permission to come back to Court, to claim the hand of his betrothed. The Lady of Ravenclaw was an orphan herself; however she was the richest heiress in the land. With her the highest place in Camelot's nobility would come to the Branguards. Angus' family had arranged the match, but the two young people also liked each other very much.
Well, your father granted the request, Angus' banishment was lifted and he came back to Court just in time to see his betrothed being married off to du Lac, by King Uther's order. Malcolm was du Lac's page boy at the wedding. Then and there Branguard swore revenge on du Lac and had it not been for your father having him and Malcolm arrested he would have tried to kill him on the spot. So du Lac became the Baron of Ravenclaw and Chairman of the Crown Council to anyone's dismay. Angus settled down at least outwardly after a while, because, without your father's support and protection, he and Malcolm might well have perished.
Some years later King Uther and Ravenclaw fell out with each other temporarily about the issue of Duke Gorlois' mysterious death on the Northern border. I doubt that anyone knows what the quarrel really was about and it is idle to repeat the nasty gossip here; you will have heard it well enough when you found a foster sister in your chambers."
Indeed, Arthur had heard it. Back then he had hated the people who had slandered his father, of having forsaken Gorlois, and maybe for a very private reason, although the term 'private reason' had not meant much to the little boy back then. Now the Prince wondered how much of it might have been true.
"Well, the rest is easily told. As a reminder of who's boss King Uther gave Bodmin, title and fortune, to Angus of Branguard, together with a seat in the Council. Ravenclaw got the message and publicly submitted to the King's higher wisdom. Angus and Ravenclaw hate each other bitterly and your father had his peace from both of them.
In the years Ravenclaw held his office, the Purge died down slowly but surely. While you were growing up, Council and King were distracted by more worldly affairs. Finally Uther strove for peace at least with his fellow Kings. Albeit he did no such thing with the magicians of Albion, his persecution of magic became less preeminent. Until now."
"Do you think it's true?" Arthur asked softly. "Did Ravenclaw murder Branguard's family?
"You bet he did. Three dozens of men, many women and the three children he had cut down to become the richest peer of the realm and head of the Council. Hundreds, maybe thousands he has saved since then" Algernon thought and shrugged dismissively. "We will never know, My Prince. Anyway, it's all in the past."
"Will you do it?" Sim said excitedly, utterly oblivious of the impropriety of his interference. "Will you keep your father away from us?"
An angry reply already on his lips, Arthur swallowed it. Wrong place, wrong time and wrong servant for the usual trade of insults. "Yes, Sim. I will give it a try. Effective immediately."
The Prince found the Baron in Gryffyd's office. As Arthur had half and half expected, he flew into a rage as soon as Pendragon mentioned the possibility of striking some kind of a bargain with Bodmin.
"I will not let the imbecile go and call me a coward to anyone's ear" the Baron roared. "It's inappropriate."
"There is something else that is inappropriate here" Arthur replied coldly. "May I remind you that the decision is mine and mine alone." By now Pendragon was incredibly tired, sick to the bones of intrigues, double-games and old grudges. His voice sounded all the more sharp and commandingly for his lack of patience.
"You cannot possibly..." Ravenclaw shouted, but then he stopped himself. "As Your Highness wishes, of course."
"Indeed I do wish, My Lord Baron. I wish not to broaden the rifts between two of Camelot's greatest families. This childish vendetta is unworthy of two grown-up men who both held – hold as far as I am concerned – the highest offices the Crown has to give. I wish my realm to have a future. I will not allow such foolishness to meddle with it!"
My realm. My realm. To the Baron's ears the one syllable was the sweetest music. "Oh, Uther, when I'm finished with you, you will not know what has hit you" he thought. His anger completely vanished he bowed politely and with honest respect. "Your wish is my command, Your Highness."
Arthur thought he had heard a false tone in that. "I'm serious, Ravenclaw. I will not tolerate an accident or anything else of the kind. I will speak to Bodmin. Now is that clear?"
Ravenclaw cocked his brow. He had heard the outright distrust in that and distrust between them would not do. "Arthur, your father has declared me an enemy of Camelot; surely my escape has made him seize my wife and fortune. You are my only asset. If for no other reason, you should rely on me because of that."
The Prince felt a pang of guilty conscience. The man had done so much for him….
Algernon, who had strolled in unobtrusively in the Prince's wake while Sim had naturally stayed back in Arthur's rooms, came to the rescue. "That's settled then. Oh, what a great time we Druids are going to have. A dog's kennel for a castle, a captive Prince for a guest, an honoured Earl for a captive and the pictures of a banquet instead of food."
It had never before struck Arthur as peculiar that the most self-confident Druid played the stupid fool in Ravenclaw's presence whenever he met him. However, nobody had anything to reply to that and after some awkward moments of silence, Ravenclaw bowed once more and took his leave.
"Well roared, lion" Algernon said while he rummaged through the documents on Gryffyd's desk.
"Thanks" Arthur said, desperately trying to make up his mind whether to speak to Bodmin at once or to call it a day. He didn't feel his legs anymore and his head was so empty.
Algernon slammed some other parchments against the Prince's chest and reflexively Arthur took them.
"You should study those, too" the Druid said. "They will make a wonderful read. Very enlightening."
Pendragon surrendered. Leave the talking to Bodmin for tomorrow.
Half an hour later, Sim left his newly found object of adoration and hurried towards his own bed near the kitchen, glad to have an evening off so unexpectedly. Dashing around a corner he halted in the very last second before he reached the stairwell when he heard Ravenclaw's voice in the corridor below.
"Have you told him all that was necessary?" the Baron had just said.
"I have" Algernon replied angrily. "And I have made sure that he sees his father's orders. Exactly as you wished, High Master."
"Do I hear some criticism in your voice, dear Algernon? What do you really think of me, I sometimes wonder?"
"In general or right now?"
"Both of it, if it's not too much to ask."
"In general I used too think that I despise your methods, but I see the beneficial effects of what you did, for all of us."
"So what has changed? What do you think right now?"
"That you are a filthy, brutal pig that should be extinguished from the face of this earth!"
Sim recoiled from the stairwell and hasted back. Tonight he would sleep on the cot in the servants' quarter adjacent to Sir Gryffyd's chambers. He would just check on his new master; then he would dive into the bed and pretend that he had never heard anything.
