Thanks to Knightmaiden for her review, much appreciated, believe me.
Chapter 7
Arthur, the knights and Akira thundered up to the gates of the Roman house.
"I am Arthur Castus, commander of the Sarmatian knights, sent by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gates." Arthur shouted in response to the challenge from the walls.
Akira glanced at the Roman who came out of the villa. He was a short, fat man who looked as if he'd never done a day's work in his life.
"It is a miracle you have come! Good Jesus, Arthur and his knights" He tried to pat the nose of Galahad's horse, but the beast shied away before he could touch it. Akira grinned. Clever horse. The man continued. "You have fought the Woads, vile creatures!"
Arthur ignored this. "Our orders are to evacuate you immediately."
"But that is impossible."
Arthur looked around. "Which is Alecto?"
"I am Alecto." Came the answer from the walls. Looking up, Akira saw a boy with dark hair and pale skin.
"Alecto is my son," Marius said, looking outraged. "And everything we have is here in the land given to us by the Pope of Rome."
"Well, now you're about to give it to the Saxons," Lancelot cut in, looking impatient.
"They're invading from the north." Arthur informed the Roman.
Marius looked surprised for a moment, then said matter-of-factly. "Then Rome will send an army."
"They have." Arthur told him. "Us. We leave as soon as you're packed."
"I refuse to leave." Marius looked about him. "All of you! Get back to work!" He told the serfs who had come to see the arrival of the knights.
Arthur dismounted and walked over to Marius. "If I fail to bring you and your son back my men can never leave this land. So you're coming with us even if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you there myself." He turned to the woman. "Lady, my men are hungry."
The woman touched her husband's shoulder, silently asking permission. He nodded curtly. "Go." He turned and stalked back into the house, Alecto not far behind him. Arthur turned back to his knights.
"Tristan, we need to know how far away the Saxons are. Find them."
The scout nodded and turned his horse. Akira looked at Arthur. "I'll go too."
Arthur looked faintly surprised for a second, then nodded. She turned her horse and followed Tristan.
Akira rode behind Tristan, her eyes scanning the surrounding land. Tristan held his hand up suddenly.
"Saxons." He whispered. "Over there." He pointed towards eight fast approaching specks in the distance.
"Scouts." Akira drew her bow and pulled an arrow out of her quiver. She caught Tristan's surprised gaze calmly. "What? There are only eight of them and we can probably pick off at least four before they even get close."
Tristan grinned and drew his bow. He barely took the time to aim before he let his arrow fly. It took the closest Saxon in the neck. Akira smiled. "Not bad."
She took longer to aim than Tristan, but the result was much the same. Four of the Saxons were dead before the group got too close to make shooting advisable. The remaining four threw themselves at the two Sarmatians.
Tristan and Akira dismounted and drew their swords. A few minutes later, the rest of the Saxon scouting party was either dead or dying. Akira went round plunging a knife into the necks of those who weren't already dead. Tristan raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I think it's preferable not to let them know we're here. If we did they'd go faster and we'd never get away." She said defensively.
"I didn't say anything."
Akira and Tristan rode back into the grounds of the villa to find most of the serfs gone and the rest waiting to leave with Arthur and the knights.
The scout rode up to Arthur and spoke with him for a few minutes. When he'd finished, Arthur stood in silence for a moment, then walked over to a small building that was being bricked by some monks.
"Move." Akira heard him say. "Move!"
She watched as Dagonet destroyed the wall and kicked in the door. Arthur, Lancelot and Gawain entered the building with him. A few minutes later Arthur came out, carrying a woman. Akira's eyes widened. She dismounted and ran over to where Arthur had set her down.
"Guinevere."
That chapter was really difficult to write. Please review, and if any of the people whose fics are on my favorites list are reading this, please update!
Carline