Chapter 55 [Meleagant's Chamber—Two Turns of the Hourglass Later]

Malice squinted in Meleagant's eyes. Tapestry adorned one wall. Painting hung on a second one. A small table sat in the corner. Rug covered part of the granite floor.

Comforts for the soft and weak….

The tyrant scowled. Disbelief spun his head over not only Defeat's latest beating. Rather the method it had used. For a decade, he had gone over and over in his mind. He wanted to know who the sorcerer was. He'd hunted down every potential source. Denials chorused in his ears.

Now Answer solved a long thought over puzzle in his mind. Now Magic stood revealed in its own right and the perpetrator…

…Arthur's bootlicker? Really?...

Does the Brat Prince know? Irony shook Meleagant's head. That one practiced magic right under Uther and Arthur's noses. I wish I could have seen Uther's face when he found out. HAH! His greatest triumph came because of MAGIC! He chortled. Camelot is no better than Cawdor. His teeth tore a piece of bread from his meal. The boy at least has ambition. If only I had known. I'd have made it worth his while. He shook his head. And a dragon lord too?

The door unlocked. The knights flanked the door. Lancelot and the royals strode in next.

Meleagant gulped a mouthful from his goblet. "Well now! The servant is now royal! Mithian, you certainly picked well for yourself."

"Merlin was only a servant by choice, Meleagant." Resolve met Mithian's glance toward the tyrant's. "He has a clear tie to Nemeth and the throne."

"Aye. A dragon lord and a sorcerer! Now I know who bested me at Shalott." Meleagant scowled. "I am forced to say well done." He raised his goblet.

"I do my duty, Meleagant." Merlin curled his lip. "I nearly lost my arm to your sword. I protected Camelot and Nemeth. If I had to use magic from the shadows, so be it."

"The ends justify the means then? How self serving of you." Meleagant gulped down a few more mouthfuls.

"Merlin is more self-sacrificing and patient than any of us." Morgana frowned. "Morgause or I would have left you impaled and been done with it. Nay."

"We have another way to deal with you. Prince Merlin has defeated you in battle. Twice. By Cawdorian law, that means he is now the King of Cawdor." Satisfaction spread the smirk across Mithian's face. "And by now, the stories of your uncle's malice against Robert d' Arbourne's family should be known to the generals."

Meleagant coughed. "You are bluffing!"

"Am I?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Gawain and Princess Josiane are his descendants. They wish for our two kingdoms to be one. You do remember what happened to Sir Robert?"

"He died from helping this worthless land. My uncle had no need of a widow or useless brats! What does it matter?" Scorn dripped from Meleagant's tongue. "You do not have the spine!"

"I suppose we find out." Merlin called. "Gawain! Princess Josiane! Count Boeve!"

"Yeah, Merlin?" Gawain strode into the chamber. "Look what we have here! The Big Red Can!" He shook his head. "You sold my sister into slavery! That's a crime too!"

"MY MOTHER!" Josiane got right up into Meleagant's face. "Do you have any idea what you do? Do you care?"

"Do I care?" An indelicate snort escaped Meleagant's lips. "My knights will not! They are loyal!" He shook his head. "I knew I should have dealt with you at Riversmore."

"Yeah. And I should've taken your head." Gawain ground his teeth. "Guess what? The knights are finding out the real story. They are waiting right outside the walls. You know what that means?" He drew his sword. "We are taking a walk."

"The knights wish to speak to you, Meleagant." Boeve pushed his blade's point into Meleagant's side. "With your leave, Sire?" He bowed to Merlin.

Merlin sighed. Regret panged in his chest over Gauntlet's upcoming brutality. Still, he understood Justice's role in it. "Boeve, aye. Gawain and Princess Josiane, you too. Let Meleagant face his own kind." He took Mithian's hand. "We will bring a new day to Cawdor."

Protest formed on Meleagant's lips. He struggled as Gawain tied his hands. "THIS IS NOT THE END! YOU WILL SEE!" He fought with the aforementioned knights as they dragged him from the chamber.

"I hated to do that." Melancholy lingered in Merlin's heart. "We should be better than that."

"You are letting Cawdorian justice play itself out, my Prince." Mithian rubbed his arm. "Those lords will respect you more for allowing them their customs. Now come. We should deal with our own traitors."

Aye. Them. Merlin shook his head. He followed Mithian and the knights from the chamber and toward the waiting throne room.

Responsibility had a heavy cost….