Chapter 5

[Throne Chamber—A Third of an Hourglass Turn Earlier]

[A/N: Alys is Chretien de Troyes' creation. Mustafa is from the Boeve. Now back to our regularly scheduled battle….]

The occupied throne chamber languished in enemy hands. While several dozen Eastern Romans and Africans guarded the entrance, only three Egyptians watched the expanse. One Romani centurion flanked Alys in his purple robes of state and chain mail. Mustafa stood off to the side simply preferring to watch the proceedings.

Arthur kneeled on the floor. His wrists and arms struggled with the ropes binding them behind his back. Defiance blazed in his eyes.

"Can't you stay still?" Alys groused. He sniffed at the throne. "Crude backwater boy. What a disappointment!"

"Untie me and back those words up!" Arthur challenged. "Kill me and my knights will avenge me!"

The Egyptians grabbed him.

"Nay! Let him rant! It will not matter!" Mustafa shook his head. He coughed. "Are you speaking of the knights lying outside for the crows perhaps? Those children fell like so much wheat before the scythe!" He grabbed Arthur by the hair. "Where is your Queen? Perhaps I will let you live after I take her for my harem."

Arthur spat in the Sultan's face. "NEVER!"

Mustafa wiped the offensive spittle from his face. "It will not matter. We will find her. Obligation is a harsh mistress. I do appreciate the so-called Princess' humiliation here."

"That was the witch's creature, Mustafa," Alys reminded him. "Still let the boy think on how he's been played." He squirmed to fit in the wooden chair.

"The point remains, Roman." Mustafa sniffed at both ally and captive.

"She's far away by now." Arthur grinned at him. "Boeve leads her away."

Alys laughed. He drank from one of Camelot's best goblets. "You have nerve, Pendragon. Your boast is sure to vex him as much as this vinegar does me." He strutted down toward Arthur. "Have it then!" He threw the rest of the goblet's contents in Arthur's face.

"My warriors sweep the forest. They will bring that dog and your Queen to heel." Mustafa groused.

"Kill me first." Arthur curled his lip.

Before anything else could be said or done, a Roman soldier rushed into the chamber. "EMPEROR!" He fell to the ground before Alys.

"You dare!" Alys ground his teeth. "I gave orders not to be disturbed! You are to bring this city to heel!"

Malodius' roar echoed to their ears.

Twins roars rattled everything in the chamber.

"Those creatures." Arthur winced. Irony stabbed at Pride. He shook his head. "Camelot has friends. They'll make you pay yet!"

"Then they'll find you our hostage!" Alys backhanded Arthur across the face. "I will enjoy watching you being a slave, Boy!"

A portion of the outer wall glowed. The stone glittered and turned to so much porridge. It flowed away from the growing breech.

"THE WITCH!" Mustafa drew his scimitar. Anticipation lit his eyes. "Come, Bitch! Meet your end!"

"Prester John and I are here, Usurper. By our god, Justice will be served well today!" She drew her scimitar. "Cligés, Your Uncle awaits!"

"Aye." Cligés jumped off of the carpet's expanse. He drew his sword. "Beliphon, step away from there!"

"Take the Pretender and be rewarded!" He shoved his subordinate toward the Prince.

Cligés met the other man's sword with his own. Sword clanged against sword. "Stop this! Alys is the liar! You served my father well! Stop!"

Beliphon pushed back. "Alexander changed his mind! He disowned you!" He turned toward Alys. "That is what you said, Emperor!"

"AYE!" Alys spat.

"LIAR!" Cligés brought his sword's hilt down on his opponent's head. "Forgive me." He turned toward Alys. "Those are Father's robes, Uncle!"

"Come and get them, BOY!" Alys spat. "I will have your head. Doun will have the girl." He motioned with his dagger. He saw one of the guards moving in on his nephew from behind.

Before the ambush could strike however, another blade intercepted the would-be attacker.

"Be more careful!" another voice chided.

Cligés wheeled about to see Arthur now free and standing over the now-deceased warrior. "King Arthur!"

"A true warrior doesn't attack from behind, Cligés." Arthur motioned toward Alys. "Want some help?"

"Thanks but nay! My uncle is mine! Help them!" Cligés turned toward Alys. "You shame Father and our family name!"

"Insolent Whelp!" Alys rushed at the younger man. He lunged with his blade.

Cligés ran Alys through with his blade. Then, the blade flashed back out. "You will shame us no longer!" He shoved the dying Emperor down to the floor. He rasped. Rage and Vengeance, having been served, dissipated like so much fog before Sol's early light. His eyes drifted about the chamber.

Arthur and Prester John fought back to back. Their swords flashed through the air. Each clanged off the enemy's blades. Within a dozen more heartbeats, the Egyptians were disarmed. They surrendered.

Josiane observed the goings-on. "You're alone, Butcher! Surrender!" She raised her scimitar to meet Mustafa's.

"A bastard like you has no place!" Mustafa retorted. Indignation stiffened his resolve. He stabbed toward her.

"Bastard, am I? I am my father's daughter, Traitor!" She parried his attack with her own blade. She saw his dagger flash toward her side. She managed to evade it with nary a scratch. Her boot met his chest shoving the other away from her. "Just like you!" She coughed. "Meet me with honor!"

"NEVER!" Mustafa spat. Malice dripped from his shark's grin. A throaty chortle billowed up from his chest. "I would see you dead!" He brought his weapon to bear once again and struck out at her.

Her armored elbow met his face. Hard. A loud crack could be heard.

Her scimitar flashed once more through the air. It stabbed through his chest.

"Father and our people are avenged! We are free!" she hissed.

"Go…to Hell, Witch….Take…your fellow spawn…with you." Mustafa spat at her. Then, he slumped to the stones below.

She exhaled sharply. "Our true worth is known by he who judges. Praise be to him!"

"Indeed so. God be praised," Cligés assured her. "Sultana."

"Thank you, Emperor." She admired the purple robes and crown now on his head. "Your father's robes suit you. Now perhaps we can end this?"

"Aye. Together?" She turned toward the door. She stopped cold.

The Egyptians and Ethiopians now held their former compatriots back.

"Cligés," she urged.

"Aye!" Cligés strode past Arthur and the others. "BRAVE ROMANI! IT IS OVER! I COMMAND YOU TO CEASE THIS FIGHT!" He frowned.

The Eastern Romans beheld their Prince in the Imperial colors. They saw Alys lying cold on the stones underfoot.

"S…sire?" Beliphon managed to bow. "Pardon us. He lied to us."

"Bear word to the others! Peace is my first objective!" Cligés instructed. "Take the others with you! There's been enough blood for today!"

"My warriors! Go with them!" Prester John told his own troops. He motioned toward the passage.

"Now we go down below to tell the others." Josiane called her carpet back to her side. "Shall we?" She looked to Arthur. "King Arthur, there's a place for you as well." She motioned toward the magical transport.

Arthur stiffened. He took a halting step and then another toward the woolen expanse.

"For the love of God!" Cligés yanked Arthur onto the carpet. "Now, Sister!"

Josiane took the assembled rulers out the hole and back down toward the fray below.

May Peace be so achieved….