"You are his guardian, but you cannot guard him alone. There are still those loyal to King Uther, and therefore, those that can become allies. Vortigern will not allow them to remain under his rule. Find them."
Making her way out of the village, the young mage shook her head to refocus as she walked past eerily silent markets. Glancing around her, she noticed that there was a Black Leg, a royal guard to King Vortigern, on every corner, ready to crush any who dare challenge or rebel against their king. The villagers were so terrified that their fear saturated the air and words never fully made it out of their throats. Those with wares to sale, gingerly held the items up to those passing by, and if interested, sales were conducted through hurried whispers.
'Their fear is the reason is the reason they walk with their heads bowed and their mouths closed. They accept all that comes to them, because they have no hope that it will ever change.' Shaking her head in anger at the open display of power by King Vortigern, she continued on her way. Although she had found some supplies to stabilize the campsite she was currently utilizing, she did not find the person she came to town searching for. Her charge. She had attempted to go to him in his dreams, so that they could talk freely, but something was not allowing her to get to him. 'Why are his dreams blocked to me? I cannot tell if he is able to do so on purpose, or if it is a sign that something has gone terribly wrong.' Although, considering that fact King Vortigern was still unable to use the sword, some comfort was given. Her charge may well be expertly hidden from her, but at least he was still alive.
Sighing in disappointment, she did not notice the two villagers on side of her until their voices began to raise in ire. Brows furrowing, the young mage stepped to her left put space between them as they passed each other, but kept her ears open.
"They took Billy yesterday Mum! We can't just sit here and do nothing!" The younger of the two hissed. Glancing at the two, the young mage noticed that it was a mother and her son. The young lad quickly glared at the Black Legs posted at the corners, lifting his lip up with disdain. His poor mother appeared to be quite frazzled by the conversation, as her pale face was beginning to pinken with frustration, and as her sons' voice began to raise at the end of his sentence, she gripped her sons arm like a vice. Fear entered the woman's eyes as she yanked the lad toward her. "You will do as I say or the black legs will have your hide up on the boats early," she growled. "Billy will be fine. Long as you don't get to starting trouble in his name! He'll fail the test, receive his brand for the castle, and they'll send him home. Just like the other men. When the leggers come around, we'll pay the protection fees and everything will be fine." The woman visibly began to pull herself together, as she took a deep breath. She placed her hands on her sons' shoulders. "You'll see," she stated, pulling him into a comforting hug. She stroked his hair for a moment and placed a kiss on top as she deemed the conversation over. As the young boy opened his mouth to continue his rant, his mother yanked the arm she held and led the boy to their destination. Unfortunately, as they turned down an alleyway, the last thing the young mage heard was the young boy's irritated call of his mother's name for being ignored.
'That doesn't sound good. Vortigern's performing tests on men at the castle?' The young mage's brow furrowed as she began to ponder the news. 'Whatever it is, if they fail they mark them and send them home to their families. What would happen to one who passes?' The sounds of the village was beginning to be replaced by the chattering of animals when she felt it. A wave of power so strong and pure, it took her breath away. The trees began to dance in excitement as the power rolled over her almost lazily. Closing her eyes as contentment flowed through her, she savored the moment. It was as if everything had been set right in the world. Unfortunately it only lasted a moment. She staggered, knees nearly giving, and almost dropping her supplies as the feeling abruptly left her. As the final caress of power left her, she gasped as she realized just what that power was. "Arthur." Borderline frantic, the young mage began to quicken her steps to her campsite. 'The sword has revealed itself, yes, but it is still being held...at the castle.' Her mind wandered back to the conversation she had just overheard.
'He'll fail and get his brand'
'They'll send him home, just like all the other men'
'I wonder what would happen to one who passes?'
The young mage let a string of curses fly as she reached her campsite. She was too late. Vortigern had created a system to force his nephew to claim the sword surrounded by his army, and it had worked like a charm. Running her hands through her dark hair, she took a cleansing breath, and sat down at the campfire determinedly. Just because she could not penetrate Arthur's dreams, that did not mean that she could not reach inside someone else's. 'Merlin said to find Arthur allies. Now was the time. Bedivere was King Uther's general. He was also the first of many to disappear after the coup. Let us see just how far he got.