Chapter 13 [Camelot Side of Border—Not Even a Quarter of an Hourglass After the Group's Departure]

Luna's light washed over Camelot's finest squadron. Their western trek crossed meadows and forests. The horse lengths devoured the leagues between the citadel and the border. Purpose pressed them to insure Mithian's safe arrival.

Uther pulled up on his reins. He beheld Battle's remnants just shy of the bridge. He saw the six dead Cawdorians lying about the area. Ash and Soot stank in his nostrils. Blackened grass lined the trail. Dynwald still slept where Merlin left him. "Sir Leon!"

"Aye, Sire." Worry sparked in Leon's heart. He stared at Carnage's handiwork all around them. He dismounted and drew his sword. Caution prompted him to keep watch around himself. "KNIGHTS, ON ME! LOOK AROUND! WE DON'T WANT ANY SURPRISES!"

Uther curled his lip at Dynwald. "I know this man! He's Meleagant of Cawdor's lieutenant, Dynwald of Rathsburg." A tortured sigh escaped his lips. He turned Dynwald over. He shook the sleeping man's arm hard. "Wake up! WAKE UP!" He pried open Dynwald's eye. "Look!"

Leon hustled over to Uther's side. "What is it?"

"Dynwald's been entranced." Uther smacked the ground. "Sorcery! Only magic could do something like this!" Prejudice burned at his brain. He stood up straight. "We'll have to be more vigilant! I've been getting too lax!" He shook his head. "Who knows what happened to the Princess and her procession?"

"Sire, with due respect, I'm concerned about Princess Mithian as well. Still, if we cross the river, we're in Nemeth. Perhaps Kay might consider it an act of war?" Arthur looked across the Severn. In the dark, he couldn't make out anything else in the woods beyond."

Uther nodded. "Sir Leon, I know you speak from experience and concern for Camelot's well being. I do appreciate that. In this case, I think Kay will understand if we are crossing the border for the Princess and the knights' sake. Tie Dynwald up and put him on a horse. We'll see what Gaius can do for him when he returns." Uther stormed over to his horse.

Leon wrenched Dynwald's hands behind his back. He waited for Hector to bring rope with him. "Tie his hands and get him on one of the horses." He glanced ahead into the dark woods. "Given how Dynwald is, I don't want to take any chances."

"Aye, Sir Leon." Hector bound the Cawdorian's hands. He motioned to the other knights. "Walter, Raymond, help me to get him on horseback. "We will take care with him."

Leon climbed up on his own steed. He shook his head. He urged his horse on in the King's wake. And now magic as well? He shook his head. He knew Meleagant hated magic almost as much as his father. The dead Cawdorians' chain mail bore tears like those from a wild animal. So who or what would do that? He glanced back over his shoulder to find Leon and the other knights right behind himself.

Torches flickered through the trees ahead.

Uther signaled to Leon. He veered left of the trail and stopped his horse by a nearby tree.

What is he doing? Leon waited for the knights behind himself to catch up. "Denis, Bralburt! Go with the King! I'll take the others ahead."

"Aye!" Denis rode after Uther. After the scene at the bridge, he didn't want to leave the King unattended.

Leon dismounted and tied his own horse to a tree. He drew his sword and motioned for the others to follow him. He crept through the shadowed-cloaked trees toward the Nemeth camp. His boots carefully stepped on grass underneath. He made sure no stick or branch would break in his way. At the camp, he beheld Uther's worst nightmare. Memoria reminded him of his encounter with Cenred's knights several leagues from their current location. He and that patrol had not fared much better than these poor Nemethians…

…he'd be with them if not for the Cup of Life…

Someone, Cawdorians probably, had attacked the camp. Emerald clad knights stared at the sky through dead eyes. Rifled Through Possessions lay scattered across the ground. The royal tent smoldered.

"Unbelievable!" Urgency pushed Leon into the open camp. He squatted beside each Nemeth knight. He found no pulse or trace of life in any of them. He shook his head. He glared at the other knights. "LOOK FOR THE PRINCESS! SHE MUST BE FOUND!"

"You heard him!" Uther motioned the other knights into a wider search pattern. He recognized Rodrigo and some of the other dead knights. "Unbelievable! Kay will want blood for this." He frowned. Anger burned in his eyes. "Meleagant found out about our plans." He arched an eyebrow. "Unlike Prince Arthur, he understands the Princess' value! Blast!"

A stick broke in the woods beyond.

"KNIGHTS! GET READY!" Uther held his own sword at the ready. He saw Leon and the knights moving back toward himself.

Mercian warriors spilled into the clearing. They encircled the Camelot patrol. Their own armor glinted in the dim light. Menace waved their swords in the air.

"I would tell you the same thing, Uther!" Cenred strutted into view. "I would never have expected to find you here! I'd hoped to ambush the Princess." He shook his head. "She's not here. I checked. Still you will be prize enough! I must admit I expected Prince Arthur! No matter! I will run him through soon enough!" Triumph sparked in his eyes. "My Lady, as I promised."

"Thank you, Cenred." Morgause efforted herself into the clearing. A restorative spell had boosted her abilities. Vengeance and Hate glowered in her eyes. "I have waited for this!" She waved her hands at her sides. She sauntered forward. "Poor Uther…so trapped by his hate and self-loathing! Did Arthur not tell you? I revealed your secret!"

"YOU LIE!" Uther spat on the ground. "You tried to set him against me with your foul sorcery!" He pointed the sword at her. "You're coming back with us…one way or another!"

Sarcasm pushed a pronounced snort through her nostrils. "I believe you have that in reverse. It is you who are coming back with us." She pointed at the Camelot soldiers. "Cadal!"

Uther wavered on his feet. He shook his head. "I WON'T LET YOU!" He charged with labored steps toward her. He forced his sword into position despite Drowsiness overwhelming him step by step.

Meleagant stepped between Uther and her. His sword buried itself in the old king's chest. "You mean…over your dead body?" He coughed. An extra twist tore a bigger hole in Uther's midsection. Then he yanked the blade from his victim. "That has been too long in coming."

Uther gasped. Death numbed his limbs. His breaths rasped. He fell into the mud. His deflating lungs hissed their last breath.

"S…Sire?" Leon watched his knights fall like so many colored leaves from the surrounding oaks. His hand could no longer hold his sword. He fell to his knees.

"Too late!" Melegant backhanded Leon across the face. "Sleep it off!"

Leon collapsed to the mud. The spell closed his eyes. Trance had him in its power.

"And so falls the King of Camelot." Morgause smirked. "That leaves Arthur and Morgana. I will deal with them." She curled her lip.

Cenred nodded. "We will deal with them. I hope you understand. I did not want anything to happen with Uther."

"He is dead. Sir Leon will be enough of a prize. I am sure you will find a way to use Uther's corpse." She brought out a rope. She wrenched Leon's hands behind his back and tied them there. "That will keep our guest from trouble."

"Indeed!" Cenred motioned to his men. "Make sure this one is secure. I will not lose them!" He grabbed Uther's hood. His hand pulled the deceased king behind himself toward the horse. "Kill the others!"

"My King!" One of the Mercian knights led Hector's horse into the camp. He bowed before Cenred. "Forgive me."

Impatience narrowed Cenred's eyes. He stalked over to the knight and horse. "WHAT? THIS HAD BETTER BE…." He saw the entranced Cawdorian knight across the horse. "Well!" He relaxed for a heartbeat. "GET WITH THE OTHERS! I WILL DEAL WITH THIS!" He raised the prisoner's chin. "Meleagant's cur." He frowned. "They beat us to the Princess! ARGH!"

More setbacks….