Chapter 28

Radegund narrowed her eyes at Kay. "Do you plan to tell your King about your crimes, Prince Kay? Or shall I? Elena, go with Prince Accolon. Lady Elaine has suffered enough today. Even now, misdeeds pile upon misdeeds! Gaius, I trust you can help her?"

"With your permission, Sire? King Rodor?" Gaius bowed to both rulers.

"Go on." Uther narrowed his eyes at Bernard and the others. Kay's miscalculations created a bigger mess for both kingdoms. He agreed with the conspirators. Timing, however, remained less than desired on all accounts. George's report of Arthur's conversation with Gwen disturbed him. Kay's suggestion seemed to offer an opening. He would get Arthur a proper wedding. Ambition lusted after Gedref and Nemeth. He'd stamp out sorcery in Nemeth.

Miscalculations and bungling, however, exposed such maneuvers. Popular unrest ruined any chance of acceptance. Rodor's exile of Kay sent another signal. Failed Coup provided Coup de Grace.

"Aye, Sire. Thank you. Prince Accolon, pardon me. I could use your help." Gaius assisted Elaine to her feet. "Can you walk, Milady?"

"I…I can. Thank you." Elaine offered but a whisper and weak nod. She staggered a couple of steps. "I…make a scene. D…Do not trouble yourselves…over me. Not worth it."

"Do not worry about that." Elena slipped Elaine's right arm over her shoulders. "Prince? Can you get the other side?"

"Aye. We will return, King Rodor. Prince Kay and the others conspired against you." Accolon nodded toward the table's head. "I will explain later. Queen Radegund was there as well. Malodius?"

The lion stomped into the chamber. He bowed to Rodor. Then, he lowered himself to the stone floor. A purr escaped his snout.

"Keep her away from that thing!" Bernard glared at Malodius. He stepped between the trio and him. Hate burned in his eyes. "You will not…."

"Go on, Prince Accolon." Radegund stared Bernard down. "Your King has told them to take the lady for treatment. You fail as a father and a subject as well?" Disdain arched an eyebrow. Snort pressed from her nostrils.

"I concur." Rodor shook his head at Bernard. He watched Accolon and Elena help Elaine onto Malodius' back. The quartet followed Gaius from the chamber. "This has been a truly infamous day! Oh, the shame! My friend! My most trusted advisors! My own son! Lord Blumenwald!"

"Aye, Sire!" Blumenwald stopped Quill's scratching across Vellum's surface. His eyes watched about the chamber. Disappointment sagged on his spirits as well. Betrayal tainted much of the royal court. Who will govern besides King Rodor and Princess Mithian? I know Prince Kay was unhappy but to betray his father?

"Make sure we record this moment." Rodor motioned toward the accused men. "Lords Wulfstan and Aethelwald, Master Wyngate, and Prince Kay, you stand accused of treason. I will deal with you formally in court. I will speak to you however now. Words cannot express my disappointment and sorrow in each of you. For now, Prince Kay, you are confined to your chambers until further notice. Lords Aethelwald and Wulfstan…Master Wyngate, you are to spend time in the dungeon."

"Sire! Count Bernard conspired with us as well!" Wulfstan pointed at Bernard.

Bernard ground his teeth. He shook his head. "YOU COWARDS! CAN YOU NOT GET ANYTHING RIGHT?"

Anger streaked Rodor's face in Crimson's darkest shades. "And you as well, Count Bernard? Bad enough you poisoned your own daughter! BAD ENOUGH you betrayed your wife! Now, you betray Nemeth as well? Join the others in the dungeon! We will speak as well! You had best pray that Lady Elaine survives this ordeal! That goes for you as well, Master Wyngate! Master Gaius and Elena work to heal her. Pray hard!" Uncharacteristic Fury brought his fist down on the table. He wheeled around on Uther. He clenched his fist. Calming breaths held him back. "Lady Morgana, Guinevere, I need a word with Queen Radegund, Prince Kay, and King Uther. Pardon me. I shall have one of the guards escort you back to your chambers."

"Aye, Your Highness." Gwen bowed to Rodor and Uther. Is this what Prince Arthur deals with? She bit her lip. Frankly, Uther's smoldering eyes and attitude unsettled her.

"Thank you, King Rodor. Sire." Morgana nodded to them both. "Come along, Gwen." A wary glance advised her to clear out. "Queen Radegund." She nodded to the Amazon Queen as well.

"Thank you, Sister. Be strong." Radegund nodded in turn to Morgana as well. "Wyglif! Escort Lady Morgana and Guinevere to their quarters. Be alert."

"Aye, my Queen!" A tan skinned blonde woman tapped her hand against her chest. She guided Gwen and Morgana from the chamber. "Shall I close the door?"

"Aye. You have my thanks. Take care, Sister." Radegund watched them depart. "I can have these…men…taken to your dungeon, King Rodor."

Rodor held up his hand. "Nay…not yet. Thank you however." He sucked in another deep breath. "Truly this is a day! Betrayal seems to be the theme of this fortnight." He set his jaw. "There are things we will talk about in your hearing, Sirrahs. There are several matters which have violated the peace. One of them, I admit, I will live with until my dying day. There is Lady Elaine's condition. Count Bernard, how I wish you would have seen the error of your ways. Master Wyngate, there are laws protecting sorcerers from such abuses."

Uther took a draught from his goblet. Abuses indeed! Restraint held his reply back. Still, he'd order Gaius to do the exact thing to anyone in Camelot. "Who protects us from sorcerers, King Rodor? We must be vigilant. Their evil is everywhere. Their abuses of power must be dealt with."

"Oh? Abuses of power? You mean like yours?" Rodor shook his head. "Nay. There is vigilance. There is also oppression! That is oppression! The Sorcerers' Code, just as with the Knights' Code, keeps them in check. I speak not just as a King but as a father as well! You are a father! We have to balance the two sides! Thanks to you in part, I will have to do that now." He pointed at Kay. "His eyes met Uther's. "I gather you two spoke? I set my own policies, Uther. I would never try to negotiate with Prince Arthur behind your back." A pained sigh escaped his lips. "Rest assured, Queen Radegund, I would not go to Matilda or another of the Amazons to undermine you."

"I know that, King Rodor. That is what pains me about the Prince's actions." Radegund eyed Uther. "There is unrest in your land. Hatred stirs it. There are those who look to your example, Uther of Camelot. We see it in this chamber." She pointed at her chest. "You see the hole? That is from his sword! He tried to murder me!"

"I challenged you! That was in fair combat!" Kay scowled.

"SILENCE!" Rodor barked at Kay. Indignity seethed in his face. "She is a Queen! She merits your respect! I have taught you better than to raise arms against a monarch. Have I not? What Cawdor and Mercia do is their concern. I have taught you better! She caught you in an act of sedition against me! She acted in my behalf. Did you go to King Uther with the proposal for Princess Mithian's hand?"

Kay ground his teeth. "I…did. Sire! Nemeth needs that! She will never get married! We…."

Uther cleared his throat. "King Rodor has a point, Prince Kay. Whether I agree or not, I would never allow Prince Arthur or anyone else in Camelot to undermine my own policy. I will deal with my servant who spoke to you. I believed you were bringing the proposal to me in good faith. And now, you would involve me in a coup?"

"And you did not think your actions instigate that? I know that these men's thinking aligns with yours about sorcery! Count Bernard sacrificed his wife! He was willing to sacrifice his daughter! Prince Kay sought to urge an alliance between our kingdoms! Princess Mithian has earned the right to choose her suitor. Nor would I talk with Prince Bors about his father either. Yet you do not show me the same regard! You take advantage of our mutual danger! I lament your fallen knights. Still, you shame them with your schemes!"

"HOW DARE YOU?" Uther bellowed. He leapt from his seat.

"NAY! HOW DARE YOU?" Rodor held up his hand. "THIS IS NEMETH! NOT CAMELOT! This is not the first time you pressed your weight here in Nemeth! Our friend, Sir Balinor, fled lest your threat came to pass."

Uther scoffed. "Rubbish! He was a Dragon Lord! You give them too much regard! No matter! His beast is chained. Balinor is no further threat. I have exterminated every other one."

"You would brag about such things!" Disgust curled Radegund's lip. She restrained herself. A nod let Rodor know to keep going with his point.

Rodor nodded in return. "Your actions set a precedent! I owe Kilgarrah a life debt. I regard him for his service. There are others who feel the same. They would be horrified if they knew the truth." Rodor raised an eyebrow. "This is why I do not trust you or Camelot. I appreciate your aid and sacrifice. Ambition, however, can overwhelm common sense. Master Wyngate betrayed his oaths as physician, counsellor, and subject. Besides, I know of other things. I know how you used a sword forged from the Dragon's breath! I know of the circumstances behind Prince Arthur's birth! Situational Ethics destabilize the political landscape. Another dark day is to come."

Uther nodded. "I keep certain things from sorcerers! Occasionally such things have their uses. I know you are not this naïve."

"Oh, such as a healer healing your servant? Or Malodius assisting said servant into the chamber?" Rodor flicked an eyebrow at Uther. "I am well aware of what I am doing. You might learn some gratitude as well. Merlin has earned my regard in several ways. Pity you talk of him as you do. I know what I would do with such servants."

Uther discerned Rodor's interest in mid-lecture. His host's statement about a King and Subject would apply to such sentiments as well. Circumstance, however, presented a method of solving multiple problems at once. Reyna's execution still justified itself (to him at least). Aredian's priorities aligned with his own. "I had considered the boy an ally until now. Still, I would have a more conventional servant around Prince Arthur. The girl, Guinevere, is accompanying Lady Morgana to Tintagel. Very well. I grant Merlin to you to serve as you see fit, Rodor. His outlook would serve you far better than Camelot."

"Thank you. Indeed, Merlin shall serve Nemeth well. Queen Radegund, Lord Blumenwald, you are witnesses to Uther's grant." Rodor motioned toward Blumenwald. "Have that drafted. I would sign that before Camelot's departure on the morrow."

"Aye, Sire. It shall be ready by Dawn." Blumenwald bowed to Rodor. "King Uther?"

"Aye. Thank you. I will sign and seal it as well." Uther relaxed. Granted, Bile and Disgust still ate at him over this situation. Objectives, however, came to fruition. Arthur's new servant would conform. Proper guidance would keep Arthur on Uther's desired track….

…Kay's disgrace reminded him of such things…

"One day, I hope to see Kilgarrah freed from that cave. I pray that happens." Rodor sucked in a deep breath. "Queen Radegund, I believe these men are ready for the dungeon. Prince Kay is under chamber arrest until I am ready for him. That will be all."

"Sire! SIRE!" Kay struggled against the Amazons pulling him from the chamber.

"Come with us, Count." Matilda yanked Bernard to his feet. "You will not be abusing your daughter any longer! My Queen?"

"Take him to the dungeon with the others. King Rodor will deal with them." Radegund nodded. "I go to see about the servant, Merlin. King Rodor?"

"Aye. I would go as well. I hope Master Gaius will be able to deal with that news." Rodor stalked out of the chamber.

Blumenwald noted the events. Documents awaited his quill. Turning points awaited reaching.

Warning Bells signaled Alarm from without….

Changes were happening….