Arthur" The Legend and myth Chapter 54

54.

“Garwlwyd, fight me like the true man that you are.” Cai challenged the one who had betrayed them. “Fight me, Mad Dog.”

The later was the nickname for the Lord who was known to slay one Briton a day and two on the Saturday to avoid killing on Sunday. The battle was then at Tribuit where the army under Arthur had surprised the retreating invaders. The battle was brief but the leader of the invader was still alive. He stood there bloodied from the battle with his own wounds and the blood of those he killed. He was a huge and tall figure with a sword in each hand.

“Who dares to call my name?” Garwlwyd challenged back. “I will do my battle with the puny King of yours. Bring me Arthur and let us end this like warriors.”

Arthur then wanted to take the challenge but he was held back by his good friend. Cai stepped forth and faced the other. He was holding his own sword with the rounded shield.

“We are equals in height and frame. I stand here to fight you.” Cai replied to the other. “You are not worthy of the King but not for me. I am a killer of mad dogs. When I kill them I do it with my bare hands.”

With that, Cai tossed his sword and shield before he challenged the other again.

“Fight me….” The challenge was taken but the other came slashing with his swords. Cai stepped side and then used his fists to slam hard on the right wrist of the other. His blows made Garwlwyd to drop the sword before screaming in pain but Cai had moved his body forward and using his elbow he smashed the other’s face. Garwlwyd reeled back in pain but Cai had resumed his next move with the clenched fists to club the other on the back of the head. Garwlwyd fell onto the ground and Cai grabbed the fallen sword to sever the head.

Arthur’s army roared alive then with their rousing voice at the death of the Lord named as Mad Dog. Arthur was stunned by the raw ferocity displayed but the victory had his army confident to fight on. Arthur shook his head and then approached Cai who was then still rejoicing in his victory.

“Hail Cai the Victor.” Arthur joined in the celebration. More accolades were showered on the tall warrior that he felt then he was alike the King himself with the mass saluting him. That was the start of the new list of battles with Arthur in the lead and with no obligations to none. His next battle was then the deciding one that made Arthur the name which many will remember as Arthur’s greater achievement.

“Badon Hill.” Lamarak sighed. “I hate this place.”

“Nothing pukes us than the sight of defeat. What ails you, Lamorak?” Cai asked of the other whom he had befriended during the short time they were together. They made a pair although one stood taller but both were brash with their manners more so when drunk. Lamorak did not reply then but his mind took on a view to the sad memory then. It was a sad night thirty years ago.

“Lam, we must flee.” Lamorak then a child of eight years of age looked to his elder brother, Sean. They were hiding in the woods when told by their father then. It was a ritual for them when the strangers came around. Lamorak then was a scrawny child clad in the ragged tunic had never argued with that command. Both Sean and him were there by the old tree trunk saw the three rode up. It was not something new then for traders do come over when they were need of their father’s skills. Those three were there before and Lamorak had recalled their features. It was one thing his father taught him. The traders followed their father in and then there were silences. It was expected for his father’s skills focused on the selection of the swords that he made.

“It’s taking too long.” Sean was right and Lamorak felt the nervous feel then. Lamorak then felt the sword thrust towards him. It was his father’s cache kept there. Lamorak picked up the sword and then felt it. His father taught him that that the sword must be a part of you if you are to wield it. He had learned that since then, and at times, his arrogance was displayed in his kill. It was like him telling the sword that they had done it together.

“You must be one and only as one with the others not of you. Then when you win, you must show it to them.” It was taught to Lamorak. He had then to showcase his first kill. It began with the three men that stepped out with armful of swords. That scared the two boys and more when they did not see their father then. They ran to the house and soon fell over on the knees. Their parents were no more alive then. They were hung over the roof beam with their limbs restrained and their throat slit. The sight was gory to the young boys; watching the pair that was to protect them but then was dead. The begged their parents to see them but the eyes were there without the sight on them.

“Mother…” The words uttered from Lamorak were harder with his saliva constricting in his throat. He was on his knees and soon buried his face in his hands. The grief was hard but the harder was when Kay held the sword. He looked at Sean.

“We will kill them.”

Lamorak never did it on those three men but in his rage he killed many of that to him resembled them. For each kill, he gloated on it with these words ‘one more I am to find the murderers’.

“Lamorak, You have not told me why you hate Badon Hill?”Cai interrupted the other who was still watching the city.

“I was here before and kill my parent’s killers.” Lamorak told Cai. “I killed them when I met them here.”

Lamorak sat in the far corner of the tavern with his sight focused on the three figures seated in the middle. They have aged after twenty years but they still harbored the trading spirit. They were negotiating with the obese trader who was trailed by Lamorak for weeks. It was one of his extensive works to be in the trade but he was more of the user of the weapon than its trader He had moved from traders to trainers but his focus was to find the killers. He followed them and then had them cornered in the alley.

It was perfect.

It took Lamorak ten moves to kill the three traders. The three traders were in their advance age and the younger agile gladiator had used that to advantage with his fleet moves and cuts before he killed them. His last move was to thrust the blade into the heart of the trader but the later moved and the blade missed it. The trader scream of pain brought attention to the fight but Lamorak was determined to end it. He pushed the blade from the shoulder downwards and past the ribs into the heart. He then took to his escape with the trail of blood. But Lamorak was pursued by the Vigiles then; the enforcement officers then were on his tail. He ran to escape and soon found himself cornered. There were three of them then.

“Surround him.” The Vigiles in the middle then had called out the command. The leading Vigiles was dressed in the purple shaded tunic and carried the wooden Roman shield was also armed with wooden truncheon but the other two was holding gladius

The one on the left charged forth but Lamorak was prepared for that. He sidestepped before he cut the Vigiles across the right shoulder. He moved his body to the left and kicked the wounded Vigiles in the knee. He followed through with the swinging cut at the back of the head. He then turned his body to avoid the downward swung truncheon but his move was then to move his sword for a low cut on the leading Vigiles on the back.

The last standing Vigiles stood there panting when he saw the others were brought down. He shown fear in his eyes for before that night all his fighting was on drunkards and petty thieves armed with daggers without the skills. He turn to run but he fumbled and fell. Sir Kay had then charged at the Vigiles and grabbed the hair of the later. He sword thrust in from the right severed half the neck before he pulled it back with the bone crunched.

“Ya….” Lamorak shouted out in glee as if he was in the pit with the blood thirsty crowd cheering him then. He dropped the dead Vigiles and ran on before he found a horse that was unattended. He rode it for the gate but he was to find his regret then. He kicked at the horse heading for the gate and it was then a kid ran into his path.

Lamorak pulled at the rein but was unable to stop then and the kid went under. He heard the child screamed but he was also in need to escape. He did not stop then and galloped for the gate and passed through it until he was in the clear in the forest. It was then he rolled off the horse and his legs were coated with blood. Not was his but the kid’s was on the hoofs.

Lamorak sighed then and walked into the forest to complete his escape on foot. Soon he joined the Legion to start a new life but the dreams of the kid prevailed. His muttered words were it was not his fault.

“So when do we fight?” Cai was getting impatient and had interrupted Lamorak thoughts. “Do you know? Fighting makes me feel better.”

Lamorak nodded and then laughed out loud

“Kill them!” Lamorak shouted out.