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Disclaimer: I own nothing save characters not appearing in King Arthur. This story is not meant to insult, impugn the dignity of, or otherwise cause difficulty for the reader. Flames will be used to heat my house, constructive comments will be welcomed and used to improve the story.

Author's Note: I am so sorry that I'm taking so long to update. My normal writing time is being beaten into oblivion by the fact that my two-year old daughter Michelle doesn't want to sleep in her own bed, won't sleep if I don't go to bed at the same time, and is going through the terrible twos. I'll try to update as quickly as I can but I can't make any promises. Thanks for being so understanding. And, as always, responses to your wonderful comments are at the end of the chapter.

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Anywhere's Better Than Cleveland

Chapter Ten: Devastation

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"The Woads are restless," offered Tristan, his tone measured and careful.

Arthur nodded, his near-perpetual frown deepening. It was to be expected. As surely as the seasons changed the Woads always attacked in the warmer months. And the spring was almost upon them. "Bishop Germanus will arrive in three months. And all of you will be able to go home."

Tristan hesitated before nodding. There was no point in advising Arthur that it was likely that none of his knights would survive to receive their papers.

Arthur straightened behind the table strewn with maps and scraps of parchment. "We ride at dawn. There is a rumor of Saxons near the coast."

Tristan stilled. Saxons. "I shall prepare the others."

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Vanora whimpered, pressed against the brick of the alley. Why, oh why, she wondered, didn't I have one of the stable boys take out the scraps? But she hadn't, which was why she was now at the mercy of this very drunk Roman.

"Come on, love, give us a kiss," crooned the Roman.

Vanora winced and turned her head away. Blood already dripped from her mouth and her cheek was swelling.

"Oh, so good enough for a Sarmatian but not good enough for me?"

A feminine clearing of the throat interrupted whatever other thoughts the Roman had. "Vanora, you're needed inside," announced Faith, dark eyes watching the Roman.

Vanora nodded and tried to move away from the wall, only to be shoved back hard.

"You're not going anywhere, Sarmatian whore. And you," he pointed to Faith. "You can come and suck my cock."

Faith raised an eyebrow and started towards the Roman, hips swinging. "Tempting offer," she replied, brown eyes sweeping from head to toe down the Roman before slamming her fingers into his neck, stopping blood flow to the brain. "But we'll both pass," she added, watching as the Roman slumped to the ground.

Vanora stared wide-eyed from the Roman to Faith. "What did you do?"

Faith shrugged. "Knocked him out." She stepped to Vanora, her manner suddenly that one would use with a scared child. "Come on, Van. Let's get you cleaned up."

Both women hurried from the courtyard behind the tavern, the drunken, and now unconscious, Roman forgotten in the mud.

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Kennedy flopped onto the bed beside the witch, her eyes closed as she listened to Willow's pen scratching against the surface of the notebook she kept beside their bed. The witch at least wasn't using her laptop in their bedroom but she was still pondering how to retrieve Faith from wherever the slayer had been sent.

"Any clue how to get her back?"

Willow looked up from the spell she had been writing to meet her lover's eyes. "None," she admitted softly. "But we will."

Kennedy nodded, rolling onto her side. "Will, what if she doesn't want to come back?"

Willow arched an eyebrow. "Why would she not want to come back?"

Kennedy shrugged. "I don't know. But what if she finds a mission? Look, there are millions of slayers now. Wherever she's at, that's not the case. She's still looking for redemption."

Willow nodded.

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"Saxons," muttered Galahad.

"They claim only what they kill," murmured Lancelot.

"And kill everything," added Gawain, blue eyes sweeping over the devastation that they had found. Villages burned. Bodies hacked to bits. Any man, woman, or child who could ever hold a sword slaughtered.

The only person left alive had been a decrepit old woman, grey hair hanging in ropy strands and eyes white with blindness. She'd told the tale of the Saxons invasion. A raiding party intent on taking whatever was of value and slaves. Then they'd disappeared back to their ships and the sea.

"They're getting bolder, Arthur."

Arthur glanced at Bors, the eldest of the knights shifting in his saddle. "I know, Bors." Turning, he caught the dark gaze of the scout. "Tristan, ride ahead."

Tristan gave a curt nod and kneed his horse away.

The other knights watched as the silent scout rode away, their thoughts on the destruction that was the order of the day in the southern coastal villages.

"They keep this raiding up, there will be nothing but ashes on the coast," murmured Dagonet. He'd been the one to tend to the old woman since he was the most adept at the healing arts. It had drawn the scarred knight from his usual quiet.

Bors nodded.

TBC...

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To My Wonderful Reviewers:

BleedingTwilight: Thank you. And I'll try to be better about updating. Really. I just have to convince my daughter that she needs to sleep in her own bed and also that Mommy doesn't have to go to bed at the same time as a two year old. Now, poor Faith is right! I think you've nailed it that Bors won't give the slayer any peace about that particular topic. Thanks for saying that Gilly's behavior was spot on. Yay! And so glad that the scene between Gawain, Galahad, and Faith was fun. As to Bors procrastinating on the naming of the children, I think you're right--he's got a better shot of remembering with more time to memorize. Again, thank you.

Saxongirl345: So glad you liked the dream sequence and the naked twister conversation. Yay for enjoying the Gawain, Galahad and Faith scene! Thank you!

Anime Princess: So glad that you enjoyed Faith's lighter side. And how she seems to fit in with the boys. I think that I'd pay to see Faith and Lancelot duke it out. Don't know if she'll be around for the battle. More is coming though it's coming slower than usual since the move. Here's more, though. And loving your story.

Anghel Ni Kamatayan: So glad that you enjoyed the scene between Faith, Gawain and Galahad. And I wish it reminded me of high school--bless you for saying that it rang true. And, yes, I'd whack Bors upside the head as well. So glad you're still enjoying. Thank you.

Ariel DeLoncray: So glad you're enjoying. And here's more.

HellCat's Punk: Yay! So glad that you liked the naked twister bit. And it just means that you have a creative mind that you immediately could picture that particular activity. Here's more and I'll try to update as quickly as possible.

IzzyBeaver: So glad that you're enjoying. And so glad that this has caught your attention. More is coming and so glad that this is a good read. Yay!

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