Chapter 5 [Caerleon]
Far to the northwest, the stars and Luna brushed the craggy, cliff-laden landscape with their pale light. Chill winds blew off the Great Western Sea. Waves egged on by Storm crashed against the sandy shores.
The calm broke down Diplomacy's efforts….
A lone emerald clad knight rode a brown and white spotted stallion out of the forest. Urgency and Fear bounced his eyes back and forth between the trail ahead and the forest behind. His breath pressed past his lips in ragged bursts. His sur coat hung onto him by fraying threads. Dents marred his chain mail. Bruises dotted his cheeks. Blood soaked the wrappings around his torso. Numbness had stolen any feeling from his fingers.
Given Morgana's and Odin's travesty back in Nemeth, he could not stop his desperate ride. He needed to alert his Prince. Indignation burned in his craw. When Sir Ulfraed ordered him to leave, he resisted. Their oath swore to stand to the last man against any threat.
Seeing the Witch drive Malodius from his post convinced him otherwise….
Prince Kay can find allies! We have to save the King and Princess! Pain stabbed from his wound. He rounded the last bend in the road. In the blur ahead, he beheld Annis' fortress atop a cliff overlooking the great plains below. "Not…far further, Geatchaser."
The horse grunted in protest. Still he saw the shelter ahead as well. He summoned up the last reserves. His legs devoured the last distance between them and their goal.
At drawbridge's edge, two knights raised their swords. "HALT!"
"A…at last." The knight grimaced. "I…I am Sir Winston…of Nemeth. I require…my Prince…" He wavered and leaned over Geatchaser's neck. Only the reins looped around his right wrist and his stirrups kept him in the saddle.
"Sir Winston!" Panic seized onto the former challenger's heart. "Sir Randolph, help me!"
"You know him, Sir Ethan?" Randolph assisted his superior with the wounded knight.
"Aye! He is a brave knight." Ethan shook his head. "For him to be like this, Nemeth is in dire straits." He pulled a rope next to them.
The warning bells rang throughout the fortress.
Three stewards in white rushed to their side.
"Bring the knight to the court physician immediately! And see to the horse!" Ethan instructed.
The two stewards carried the man into the castle. The third led Geatchaser toward the stable.
Bad Tidings were ahead…
[Queen Annis' Court]
Courtiers bustled about the large banquet hall. Servants set plates in front of Whitgate's Prince and his entourage. Wine flowed into the goblets. Conversation and negotiation pressed on.
Annis sipped on her goblet. Necessity demanded conversations with Queen Elena of the Amazons and Prince Kay. She'd rather have hosted King Rodor or Princess Mithian rather than her current guest. Still, Decorum demanded manners in all situations. "Is everything to your liking, Prince Kay?"
Kay sampled the spiced fowl. He forced himself to swallow it down. "This burns my mouth. Pity I'd heard your cooks were the best in Britannia." Revulsion deepened the frown on his face.
Her dinner seemed normal. She understood that he might not like the spices. Still, his exaggerated reaction unsettled her. Annoyance flicked in her eyes. "I apologize. I thought you enjoyed Gallic cooking. King Bors and I spoke recently. He told me you enjoyed this at his court."
Kay sighed. He washed the taste down with a big draught of wine. "I did. I do not know. There is something different. Thank you." He tapped his fingers on the table. The Gauls' food had not been so intense to be kind. To tell the truth, War not Politics or Diplomacy appealed to him. "I know your kingdom's woolen cloaks are quite durable and warm."
She nodded at his attempt to save face. "The wool merchants will be glad for your approval, Prince Kay. I am glad they can be of use. Speaking of being useful, I presume King Rodor would like to extend the treaty that he and King Caerleon forged? It would be mutually beneficial."
"Aye. My King holds you in high esteem as an ally. Certainly you are in higher regard than the Pendragons and Camelot or Meleagant and Cawdor." He ate a forkful of vegetable. "I had a request on my sister's behalf."
"Oh?" She rubbed her chin. Mithian's issues on the marriage market circulated around the royal courts. "Nobody has agreed to marry her yet? Pity. Meleagant, I hear, wants to. Best to avoid that one."
"Neither Father nor I would agree to that Butcher. Aye he has pressed his request. Repeatedly." He narrowed his eyes. "Even Arthur Pendragon would have been better." He clenched his fist. Anger seethed within himself. "Princess Mithian has forgiven him and his servant Queen."
"Pendragon did surrender any right to the Gedref. Still, it does not make up for the humiliation." She still recalled Arthur's incursion into her realm. She chafed over her husband's death. And then there was being Morgana's pawn. "I remember what happened before, Prince Kay. Perhaps you might take something from your sister's and father's outlooks?"
"Perhaps." He coughed.
"I have one suggestion. Sir Regald of Domesbury is from an established family. His father's manor is right on the border between our kingdoms. He's fought in several battles. Perhaps your father might approve?" She shrugged.
He kept a straight face. Regald and he had nearly come to blows on a recent campaign. His boasts far outreached his deeds. Impatience streaked the young knight. In addition, Regald had disdained Mithian openly for being the "Prince in Petticoats". "I shall pass that along to King Rodor. Thank you."
"I would like to help." She raised her goblet.
At that moment, a knocking came from the door.
"Aye?"
An elderly man stuck his head into the chamber. "Pardon me, Your Highness." He bowed to her. "Sir Winston of Nemeth rode in to see Prince Kay. He is sorely wounded. He says Nemeth has fallen."
"Nemeth has…?" She turned to Kay and then back to the servant. "Was there any sign?"
"None, Queen Annis." Kay nodded to her. "Might I go and see Sir Winston?"
"We shall go. Lead us to him, Yeardsley." She and Kay followed Yeardsley toward the Physician's Chamber. "Who is with him?"
"I left Sir Rodrigo and Margaret with him, my Queen." Yeardsley limped on his staff as quickly as he could manage. He poked the door open. "I have returned with the Queen and Prince."
"His wounds are dire." The young woman curtseyed to the two royals. "Sir Rodrigo has spoken to him. I fear he does not have much longer."
"Sire! Hear him." Urgency called to the Prince through Rodrigo's eyes. "Sir Winston? Prince Kay is here." He held a goblet of water to the injured man's lips.
"Thank…thank the god…dess." Winston gasped in a low whisper. The water quenched Thirst's arid hold on his throat. His side wound burned. He could not feel his arms or legs. He shivered despite the blazing fire in the corner. "My Prince?"
"Sir Winston? What happened? We have only been gone four days!" Kay grabbed the dying man's arm.
"I…am sorry. Odin…and Morgana Pendragon…planned well. They waited for you and knights…to leave. Their army crashed over us like an…enormous wave. We…we had no chance. They had…prepared for everything. The Witch had a sword. It was unlike any other sword. Sir Ywain's companion…she wounded the lion with it. It retreated into the woods. Sir Harold…sent me away to…give you word. I…am sorry…" Winston's eyes rolled back in his head. He slumped onto the bed. His last breath hissed from his lips.
"Winston? WINSTON?" Kay shook the deceased knight.
"Sire. He's gone." Rodrigo put his hand on Kay's arm. "I cannot believe that. Surely we would have known about Odin's plans."
"Father focused on Camelot and Tintagel. He turned a blind eye to Mercia." Kay pushed a terse breath through clenched teeth. He covered Winston's face with the blanket. "Rest well, Sir Winston. You were a valuable knight and friend to Nemeth." He shook his head. "A sword to make that creature run away?"
"Malodius has never run away in three generations of service to the court." Rodrigo shook his head.
"So the chronicles say. I do not hold much stock in them where that creature is concerned." Kay rubbed his chin. "Make preparations. We will return to Whitgate. I must see the state of affairs for the kingdom."
"Perhaps I could accompany you with a squadron of knights?" Annis offered.
"We would appreciate that." Kay nodded. Gratitude and Appreciation, while absent earlier, now warmed his tone. "Sir Rodrigo?"
"I shall let Sirs Galahad and Ywain know immediately." Rodrigo bowed to them both. He hustled from the chamber.
"Milady, unless there is something else, I need to speak with my knights. I appreciate it." Kay nodded to her. Then he left.
She shook her head. Will Morgana Pendragon's hate ever wane? How much damage does she have to cause?
That was the million pound question….