Zala
The next morning was bright and smoky, with the morning fires smouldering in their brackets. The fort was bustling with activity but the noise and animation passed me by as I headed for the stables. I was not in the mood for appreciating the morning commotion. Some of my brother's were already there and they gave me a quick nod as I entered which I returned stonily, my face a mask. We didn't need to exchange words. We all knew what we were facing. My hair was tied in a bun, ready for battle, and to the knights it was a sign that even I was expecting a fight.
I set to work on my armour, polishing every inch with extreme care. I honed and buffed my sword and my daggers, cleaned and stringed my bow, sorted my arrows and wiped down my saddle. Nobody said a word through all of this. We just got on with our tasks, each one of us absorbed in our own world.
After my saddle was clean I took it to Jols who helped me saddle up my mare. She whinnied when she saw me and, seeming to catch my mood, nudged my hand gently as I gave her a treat. I stroked her mane; it was silky smooth beneath my touch.
"Sssh Nasrin. One last ride girl." I whispered to her and she nudged my hand again.
There was a noise at the door and I looked up as Arthur came strolling in. His face was grave as he paused and swept us all a glance. Galahad, sitting astride his horse, seemed to scoff and, as Arthur started forward, he spurred his horse in to a canter and circled round him; like a hawk circling its prey. I narrowed my eyes. There was no need for that.
I finished preparing my horse for the journey before joining Gawain and Bors on the other side of the stable. I didn't get a chance to speak though for at that moment, the Bishop sauntered in, as if he didn't have a care in the world. I glowered at him – even Dagonet pushed past him – making it clear he was not welcome.
"To represent the Holy Court, my trusted secretary Horton...Horton?" The slinking man came when his master called, like a dog being summoned to heel. "Will accompany you with your quest." Arthur stared at him as if he would like nothing better than to order him away, while Jols shot him a questioning glance, wondering what he should do.
"Jols, find him a horse," Arthur eventually replied. Gawain looked up with annoyance but I put my hand on his arm. It was no use arguing now.
"This way," said Jols reluctantly and the secretary followed him in to the stalls. I shared a glance with my cousin.
"Godspeed, as you fulfil your duty to Rome," continued the Bishop. I was rattled enough already that we had his little lapdog accompanying us but that nearly pushed me over the edge. It was Gawain's turn to put his hand on my arm as I made to rise. I glared at the man instead, refraining from spitting at him as much as I wanted to. Arthur confronted him instead, taking a slow, almost challenging walk towards him.
"My duty is also to my men," The Bishop nodded as if considering this then replied conversationally.
"Then get them home," I felt rather than heard the feral snarl that rumbled through my throat and the Bishop looked at me as if I was dirt before sweeping from the stables.
After what seemed like an age, we were finally on the move. Our horses thundered up the dusty pathways, heading to the great gate that marked the end of Rome's empire on this cold and wet island. We rode in silence; concentrating on our task and on the journey ahead of us. The booming noise of the gate being opened rang in my ears as we approached and despite my anger I felt a small thrill of excitement. Our timing was perfect. The gate had just opened when we went thundering through, into new territory, in to a new adventure. Soldiers on the walls saluted us as we passed under and we swerved to the left, embarking on our final quest. The wild countryside flew past us as we rode north, and we spurred our horses over hills and through woodland.
We were deep in Woad territory by the following evening. The forest was dark and eerie as we slowed our horses to a trot. A storm was brewing. The wind howled past us and the lightning flashed causing our horses to skitter. I bent forward in the saddle; slowly stroking my mare's neck.
"Easy girl, easy." Our paced slowed even further. Arthur led us in deeper and I could tell he was alert for any danger. We were forced in to single file as we edged through the trees and I was behind Tristram when I heard him mutter the dreaded words.
"Woads...they're tracking us." My eyes immediately darted to the trees and bushes surrounding us but I could see nothing. I looked at Arthur who paused, as if he too were looking for signs of our visitors.
"Where?" he asked eventually. I spurred my horse forward beside Tristram's as he replied gravely.
"Everywhere." I looked about me as the others filed in to the small clearing we had entered but still I couldn't see my enemy. My spine tingled with annoyance and fear. I didn't like not being able to see the enemy. Arthur gave the signal to press on but we were all on edge. Everyone looked back and forth between the trees and shrubbery as we continued slowly. The horses were increasingly skittish and Lancelot's stallion nearly collided with my mare as it shied away from something we couldn't see.
Gawain managed to inch his horse up next to mine and had opened his mouth to speak when there was a flurry of noise. Arrows whizzed through the air above our heads as ropes with small metal spikes were fired across our path, blocking our route. My mare reared and I just managed to control her before I was unseated. I gasped, shaken as I turned her away and spurred her to follow the others.
"Yah!" came the cry as we all fled from the danger but we had barely got a few feet down our next chosen path when the same happened again and Arthur was forced to pull up sharply. Lancelot spun his horse around and shouted up to us.
"Get back!"
"Get back!" repeated Bors, motioning with his hand as we turned to find a new route. My heart was pounding in my chest as I spurred Nasrin forward. She was close to panicking as we were bombarded with arrows and I cried out in horror as Dagonet had to duck to the side to avoid one. We were in disarray. I didn't know which way to go and I blindly turned my horse until I spotted Galahad making forward down a new path. I followed immediately, not letting my fear get the better of me. Suddenly a fence of wooden stakes was pulled up from the ground and it was all I could do to pull up before my horse was skewered. I exchanged a shaken look with Galahad who had only just pulled up in time too.
Again arrows rained down on us, narrowly missing their targets. I barely heard Arthur's voice crying "This way!" through the noise of the wind and the ambush but instinct seemed to propel me in the right direction. As we raced through the trees our way was suddenly blocked by a gang of Woads. They pushed us back in to the clearing and, realising there was nowhere to run, I drew out my sword. I glared in to the semi-darkness, my skin prickling at the sight of the blue bodies surrounding us. Suddenly, drifting through the air, came the sound of a horn – blasting out through the forest. I looked up and around, trying to determine where it was coming from but the wind made it impossible to judge the direction. The Woads had their arrows knocked and aimed straight at us but they hesitated at the sound. There was silence for a moment, a very tense silence. I locked eyes with one of the blue-men and felt my eyes narrow in a glare, as if challenging him to fire.
"What are you waiting for?" cried Gawain then another horn blast reverberated around us. I looked to Arthur as the Woad before me broke eye contact and followed his gaze to another blue demon before him. He hesitated again before reluctantly lowering his bow and slowly, almost as if they were never there, they melted away in to the forest. I was stunned at this reversal of our fortunes and couldn't help but look around me to see if we were being deceived; if there were more Woads ready to pounce on us. Slowly, I lowered my weapon.
"Inish!" said Dagonet vehemently. "Devil ghosts." I agreed wholeheartedly as I brought my attention back to my brother's. It didn't look like anyone was harmed.
"Why would they not attack?" asked Galahad.
"Merlin doesn't want us dead," replied Arthur shrewdly and I blinked in surprise, exhaustion setting in. How he knew this I didn't know but somehow, I believed him. But why would Merlin, our enemy for the past 15 years, suddenly have a change of heart and want to keep us alive? The answer swirled in to my brain and though it went unspoken I knew exactly why we had been spared. The Saxons were coming.