Thank you so much sarahnater and wild-vixen for reviewing! I love to see that you've reviewed twice now, wild-vixen. Consistent readers make me feel good. It helps me to know my story is still okay and haven't let anybody down! Here is the next chapter. Enjoy it, and please leave lots more reviews. Ideas, suggestions, and comments are always welcome.
The scene outside was already getting started when she and Dagonet arrived. Beers had been passed all around. Roman soldiers and Sarmatian knights were mixed. Gawain and Galahad appeared to be having a dagger throwing contest. Bors stood in the bar with a baby while a young woman with fiery red hair, apparently his lover, served. Tristan was sitting on a stool, carving up an apple, and Lancelot had started a game of poker with some of the Roman soldiers. Music was being played from somewhere; she couldn't tell where.
"Kyla!" Bors called. "Glad you could join us. Dagonet, where you been? We've got plans to make."
Kyla smiled and found a spot leaning against to post to watch the rivalry between the two brothers grow into an amusing game.
Lancelot had seen her come in with Dagonet. He kept stealing glances as she watched and laughed at Galahad and Gawain. Tristan had also joined the game by now, but he always won.
It was not like Lancelot to be unable to keep his mind off a woman, even if it was because he was suspicious of her. The women could usually not keep their minds off him and would flock to him wherever they went. He had a boyish charm that appealed to them, is what Arthur said. Lancelot wasn't sure, but he didn't mind the attention. He had never met anyone like Kyla before, though. She was so much more mysterious then anyone he had ever met, so much hidden beneath the surface.
A Woad, he thought bitterly. Of course she was not any woman. She was from Britain, the very place he was trying to escape. She was most likely a warrior who had been fighting them for years. He should hate her, be wary of her, stay away from her. And yet, as she leaned there against the wooden post, he could see no malice in her heart, no disgust toward these knights.
After he had lost his third consecutive game, unable to keep his mind from spinning, Lancelot finally excused himself. He was still pondering whether he could trust this woman. Apparently Arthur did, but Arthur found it in his heart to trust everybody. Lancelot was much more cynical and suspicious.
He found a seat in the tavern to watch the festivities from a more distant place. Gawain and Galahad were getting awfully drunk to be playing with knives. Tristan had retired himself and was once again sitting on the stool, finishing off his apple. Kyla was standing in front and to the left of him, still enjoying the merriment. He eyed the back of her and eventually decided whether to trust her or not was no judgment of his. He would be leaving first light tomorrow morning for his home and would never see her again. Lancelot thought this decision would make him happy, and yet, strangely it didn't.
Kyla had watched him leave the poker game. He had been losing horribly anyway. But he had also been looking at her…a lot. She could tell what his thoughts were. He was wondering if he could trust her, a Woad in their encampment. She understood his predicament but wished he knew there was no cause to worry. She would do no harm to Arthur and his knights, not after the kindness Arthur had shown her.
Kyla had a newfound respect for these men, but in her heart she also questioned if she could trust them. Arthur had promised freedom. Could he deliver such a promise? And the knights, mere servants to Rome, and yet who had still killed her people for so long, could she really ever know what their true thoughts were? Lancelot was especially mysterious in so many ways. She and the dark knight were alike in many ways. Two people from two different worlds, and yet both held slaves by the Romans. So little and yet so much in common.
Her thoughts came to an abrupt end by Bors.
"Shut up!" he was screaming. "Vanora will sing."
"No, I'm trying to work," Vanora, his lover, argued.
"Sing!" Galahad yelled, followed by many choruses from all the men for her to sing.
Finally Vanora gave in and began a song. It was a beautiful song about going home, meant just for the knights. Kyla was also moved by it, for although she finally was home, she was not allowed to live freely. She watched the knights' faces as they sang along. Galahad closed his eyes, apparently dreaming of his homeland. Gawain became serious, his eyes cast downward. Dagonet looked solemn as well. She could not see Lancelot unless she turned around, which she could not do without him knowing she had looked at him. So she stayed facing the front.
Kyla saw Arthur walk up in the background. He stood there for a moment, listening to the song, then turned to leave.
"Arthur!" Jols called, snapping back his attention and causing all the knights to look in his direction.
"Arthur!" Galahad grinned.
"Rus!" Bors cried out, thumping his chest.
Arthur walked somberly up to them. What could be wrong? This was the night he was released, his knights were free. Kyla waited with anticipation growing in her stomach.
"Knights, you all have served well and fought bravely, and you have earned freedom. But tonight, I must ask of you one last mission," Arthur began. Kyla listened curiously as all the knights gathered around. They laughed as if they didn't believe him, but the look on Arthur's face was completely serious.
"North of the wall there is a Roman family. They are trapped by Saxons. Our orders are to get them and bring them back safely."
The knights' faces fell as they realized Arthur was not kidding.
"Let the Romans take care of their own," Bors muttered.
"North of the wall is Woad territory," Gawain said.
"Our duty, whatever duty it was, is done. Our pact with Rome is done," Galahad practically spit out.
Bors shook his head angrily. "Every knight here has laid his life on the line for you. For you," he repeated, pointing at Arthur. "And instead of freedom, you want more blood? Our blood? You care more of Roman blood than you do of ours?"
"Bors, these are our orders. When we return your freedom will be waiting for you, a freedom we can embrace with honor."
"I am a free man! I will choose my own fate!" Bors yelled, fury spreading across his face.
"Yeah, yeah, we're all going to die someday. If it's a death from a Saxon hand you're afraid of, stay home," Tristan replied.
"If you're so eager to die, you can die right now," Galahad shouted. "I have something to live for!"
"Enough," Lancelot said, quickly stepping between the two.
"The Romans have broken their word. We have the word of Arthur. That is good enough," Dagonet said. "I'll prepare." Kyla smiled. Dagonet seemed to be a man of few words, but the words he did say were extremely meaningful.
As he walked off, he stopped where Bors was pacing. "Bors, you coming?"
"Of course I'm coming! I can't let you go by yourself, you'll all get killed!" Bors hollered in return. "I'm just saying what you're all thinking!"
He stomped off muttering, and Kyla heard him mutter softly, "Vanora'll kill me."
Arthur turned to the others still standing with him. "And you, Gawain?"
"I am with you," Gawain answered. He looked at his brother. "Galahad as well."
Gawain walked off as Galahad angrily shook out the rest of the wine from his cup and threw it on the ground.
The only one left was Lancelot. Arthur looked at him a moment before turning and heading towards the stables. Lancelot stood there for a moment, looking after him. Then he opted to follow.
Kyla still stood where she was. She felt sorry for these knights. They had been promised their freedom, and now they were to be sent on a mission which could be deadly for all of them. The Woads would surely attack. Arthur and his knights would never survive. She also realized that her freedom had been promised when the knights received theirs.
So it's either help or be stuck in servitude, she thought. And she knew what she had to do. Picking up the skirts of the beautiful green dress, she chased after the two men.