Arthur; The legend and Myth Chapter 23

23.

Pendragon raised his back to view the unfinished castle. He had ridden in with a huge army of over a hundred knights. There were also about five hundred foot soldiers and archers. He was met by Arthur and the six knights at the farmlands. Arthur approached the other Lord and his master as acknowledged by himself. 

“King Arthur? I hear more of that daily.” Pendragon was clearly upset at the fame that Arthur had garnered for himself. He was fighting a war to protect the people and then within his own vassals, one had carved a name to the people. 

“It’s a name that the people called me. I did not asked for it,….my Lord.” Arthur tried to sound reasonable to the other. “I am still your …”

“A fine castle you are building.” Pendragon spoke out in a cold manner. “I did not know permission was …”

“You did, my Lord. I told me to defend the land. I could only do so with a …” 

“Fortress was what you needed. Not a …castle.” Pendragon controlled himself. “Where is the druid?”

“I am here, my Lord.” Merlin appeared from among the riders. Arthur and his knights were surprised by the druid as he was not seen then when they rode out. “I am to heed your call.”

“Have you a hand in this castle?” Pendragon asked the druid.

“Nay, my Lord. I am a mere servant of the alchemy. I did dabble in the designs but the works are done by Arthur’s servant.” Merlin grovel to the questions of Pendragon. “What ails you, my Lord? The castle of …”

“There is nothing wrong with my castle. It stand tall and well on its foundation.” Pendrgagon defended his castle. It was at the end of his statement that he realized that Merlin had entrapped him there. “Why do you ask?” 

Pendragon drew back on the question. He knew that it was with Merlin’s guidance that his castle got built with the moat. He looked back at the castle. Then he asked Arthur.

“No moat for you castle? It’s unheard of.” Arthur turned on his horse and looked to the castle. There was no moat there as expected of one in most castles. He was to speak when Merlin cut in for him.

“There is no grandeur castle than yours. How could this one overshadowed yours?” Merlin injected in and then did a mock of the castle. “It sits there more like a retreat home for the weary.” 

“Are you weary, my Lord?” Merlin stretched himself there. Pendragon was surprised at the invitation. He was tired from his rides but the idea of resting in an unfinished castle did no appeal to him. His own castle was days of rides away but it was his own castle. He shook his head and then looked at Arthur.

“You are my vassal and I expect no less. Your castle will be my bastion onto the sea here. Do protect the lands here.” Pendragon looked to the farmlands. “I will need it for my growing army.” 

With that, Pendragon turned his horse to kick at it. Just as he was to ride off, he stopped in mid-stride. He looked at Merlin.

“Know your place, druid. I expect no less and more.” It was a veil threat. Merling merely nodded and then watched the arrogant Lord rode off with his army. He then saw himself faced by the one he had earlier swore to serve.

“I did it out of concern for your safety, my Lord. You are not his peer.” Merlin looked to Arthur. The later ignored the reply and rode back to Camelot. All the knights followed him except for Percival. The later then spoke. 

“You rear a fox in the lair of the lion. Are you sure it was the right move?” Percival looked at Merlin. He then continued on without waiting for reply. “It’s a bold move but one that I can see you had it covered well. You may milk with the litter but when it’s old enough, the fox must leave or fight for its place with the lion.” 

“Nay, the fox you mentioned does not exist. Instead in its place is the dragon. That dragon still needs nurturing although its talons are getting sharper.” Merlin replied. He then asked back Percival. 

“Why do you run with the …. Fox? You came from the ranks of the lions before.”

“The fox as I knew is not really a fox. He may be the dragon you claimed. I was with the lion and now I will seek the dragon.” Percival smiled and then rode on. Merlin still on his horse smiled. He was glad that the knights may be on his side. Now the crack had appeared between Arthur and Pendragon but there was more than what was seen. 

Arthur and Pendragon may battle one day but it may not be with swords. 

Kins of the same blood does not do battle with death in the end. 

Unaware of the mind in Pendragon, the aging Lord was in deep thought on his ride. He knew that Arthur may be a threat and the castle was its sign. He saw the castle was not as huge like his but he had let his enemy stationed on his land. He had fought many of these from landowners to bandits that dwelled on his land. It was also troublesome when he had to dig them out. It was like looking for the hare in the holes where the creature could burrow out from other holes. He then called out to his knight.

“Send me Sir Kay.” The knight that was summoned rode up to the Lord. H met Sir Kay at the borders fighting for the other side. He was a good fighter and Pendragon favored good ones. He had Sir Kay pledged his allegiance to him with the promise of coins. And gold with land. It was the simple needs of such fighters. 

“I want you to rejoin Arthur.” Pendragon told him. “Be my spy among them. I need to know when the man will strike. Be good and you may get your own castle.”

“Perhaps at Camelot.” With that Sir Kay rode off to Camelot. Pendragon looked at the knight riding off. He was surprised that the later did not argue or reject the move. Maybe the earlier promises was more than he could afford to lose. 

Sir Kay rode on his horse without looking back. He disliked the idea of meeting Arthur. He was a proud person and skillful. He need not look to anyone for help. He has his own manor in the Midlands but he chose to travel and fight. He was always a fighter since that day. He was a landowner but the event of the night when his family was killed by the outlaws changed his life. They chanced on his home when he was away. 

“No!” Sir Kay recalled that moment when he held his wife’s body. He laid her back on the ground and then looked at the two servants who followed him on the trip. They were his first killings and soon one of the many. He hunted those men and killed them all. Then he tried to join the Legion but the recruiter rejected him. 

“You are too old to teach.” Those words hurt him but he was adamant on killing. He paid his way to be trained as gladiator. He then took to the smaller fights and with his wounds and pride, he horned his skills. He soon became known as Sir Kay. 

A fight was all he knew. 

“I am glad to see again, Sir Kay.” Arthur looked to the knight who rode in to fight with him at some Picts that had strayed into the land. Arthur was with Percival and some guards of his. They ambushed the ten Picts in the forest. 

“Have at them!” Arthur called out. He drew out his long sword and charged. The Picts were on the cliff edge and Arthur outnumbered them by two more extra men. The Picts fought hard but Arthur was triple the efforts of three Picts. It was in the middle of the fight when Arthur saw more Picts had arrived. The reinforced Picts were another group of ten and they came prepared for the fight. The tides of the fight were turning around and Arthur was to call for a retreat when he saw another person joined the fight. The last fighter was covered on his face with a red cloth and he wielded the twin sword like a gladiator. The mode of the fight was the same; the feigned move to get the other to come nearer and then the deadly thrust to end the other. 

“I am too, my Lord.” Sir Kay swallowed the bile in his mouth. He disliked the name but he was under obligations. Arthur approached the errant knight. He was still wary of the man but Sir Kay had saved his life. He was to speak when Percival overtake him.

“You will ride out now. Tell me where I can send the coins. Now leave.” Percival glared at Sir Kay. The later lowered his hands and then turned to move. Arthur told Sir Kay to stay.

 

“You can come back.” Arthur muttered out the words. He was surprised at his reach to the errant knight but he knew Sir Kay was a good fighter. And then he needed men like Sir Kay. One of Sir Kay was worth ten of the guards he hired.