Arthur II Chapter 24

 

24.

Meleagant was frantic when he heard the invaders were at the wall. He sent for Belvedere.

“My master, you sent him with the Prime on the patrol.” The servant reported back. “I have his aide here.”

“How fares our guards?” Meleagant looked at the mercenary he given the task as the aide. “What is your name, guard?”

“I am named Henry.”

They had met at the Hall where he meets his visitors. He had the place adorned with the curtains and on the sides was the armored suits lined up on the wooden frames with the weapons. He liked the feel of the armored warriors although devoid of life, it added prestige to the Hall. More to it, those weapons on the suits are sharp and can be used in case of emergencies.

“We have more than twenty guards. They are good men. We may have over a hundred among the other Lords and Masters.” Henry replied.

“You mean the Marcellus and the Augustus.” Meleagant looked at the appointed aide. “I do not want to have my men running to protect them when we are attacked.”

“They won’t be for we are spread out in force,” Henry replied to the Master. “We have the First Cohort at the wall.”

“Tell me of the Wall. How fares it?” Master Meleagant changed the discussion.

“It’s almost complete. The Legion have installed in these huge arrow machines. It can pierce a wagon from afar.”

“I ask its readiness.” Meleagant took his tone higher.

“Most of it has the rocks inlaid and some parts held ….” Henry was cut off.

“So, it’s not ready. I hear the invaders marched onto us. How do you think we will fare?” Meleagant did not wait for the reply. He motioned to his house servant. “Fetch me the ink and paper. I will write to the Senate for some reinforcements.”

Henry was dismissed and the leader of the guards took to his patrolling of the grounds. He was upset at being dismissed by the master for that. He looked to the distance where the wall was erected.

On the wall, the readiness of the First Cohort was in place. It was commanded by the Optio Lamorak.

“You may not have heard but the invaders are near us. They may attack the wall as early as today.” The Optio turned his attention to the Legionnaires. “Manned that bow. We shall fight them all.”

“Optio, I counted about two hundred of them. They are barbarians.” One of the Legionnaires on the wall called out. “Shall we charge at them?”

“With our numbers, I would but I will prefer they attack us.” Optio Lamorak weighed his options. He held more men at the wall but he worried that what he was told may not be the entire strength of the barbarians. They are known to hide their main force behind undercover.

“They are coming!” The call was heeded and it rang down the wall. Optio Lamorak looked over the wall; he wished that they had done up the wooden palisades but it was not the time to dwell on the shortcomings.

“Draw your pilum and gladius. We will battle them when they reached the wall.” Optio Lamorak called out. “Archers be ready.”

It was the Auxiliaries which were armed with bow and arrows. The thirty Auxiliaries gathered in a group and pulled taut the bowstrings with the arrows notched. By concentrating their numbers, the release of the arrows will akin to a swarm of bees on the barbarians.

“Now!” The arrows went out in a cluster and landed on the forefront barbarians. Some had drawn their shields to protect themselves from the arrows while others braved its onslaught. The arrows impacted with many wounded and some dead.

“Move faster!” Horsa was in the front with the barbarians. “We got to get closer!”

The barbarians holler their battle cry to garner their courage. They moved on and the second wave of arrows arrived. More were wounded and some cried of fatal wounds. Horsa had held up his rounded shield to protect himself. The shield was impacted by three arrows but the wooden surface held its strength against the arrows.

“Don’t stop! We are almost there.” Horsa called out. His front line was down by thirty or fifty warriors but they were resolved to fight on. He praised the druids for their potion that granted his warriors the will to fight.

On the wall, Optio Lamorak saw the barbarians were near to the wall. He hollered that the Legionnaires braced for attack.

“Hold no quarters for none will be given to you!” The call went out and it was then the first wave of barbarians reached the wall. The legionnaires thrust the pilum at the climbing barbarians. They deflected with their shields and fought with their gladius.

Horsa swung the long handle mallet with the sharp pick at the legionnaire who was in his way. The blow landed on the other’s shield and caused the legionnaire to fall back. Horsa went forth with the mallet swinging at the fallen legionnaire but the other had rolled to the right. The mallet missed the legionnaire.

Horsa raised his mallet but was stabbed in the thigh by another with the pilum. He cried out in pain before he fell to his knees. He was saved from the swinging gladius aimed at his neck by another barbarian who deflected the move.

“We have to retreat, Horsa. Our warriors are in trouble.” Horsa heard the barbarian. He saw the attack had not breached the wall. His warriors were at a disadvantage climbing the slope.

“Call the retreat.” Horas sighed and limped off the wall.

Back at the castle of Lord Pendragon, the scream of Lady Igraine was alerted and the Lord himself rushed to the chamber. He found Igraine seated on the bedding in tears. He held her into his arms and asked the matter that was affecting her.

“I dreamed of Gorlois. He haunts me here.” Lady Igraine looked to Lord Pendragon.

“Gorlois is dead. I killed him. Why do you trouble with the past? You are safe here.” Lord Pendragon soothed the lady he loved. “I will be more powerful than Gorlois. I will rule a kingdom worthy of a King.”

“Then kill the Augustus for me.” Lady Igraine placed forth her request. She knew in her vision that the attempt had failed. The stable-hands were killed by the Equities.

“I will, my dear. I have my men to attend to it.” Lord Pendragon assured her. He left her to meet Lord Bors in the corridor.

“Lady Igraine is alarmed. Nothing to be concerned. I am thinking of Augustus.” Lord Pendragon looked to his aide, Lord Bors.

“As it failed, I will do it myself. Auric Augustus shall not live beyond the next sunrise.”

“In good time, Lord Bors. When it’s, I will let you know.” Lord Pendragon retreated to his chamber.

Back in Lady Igraine's chamber, she was surprised when he looked at the full-length mirror. It was Morgause.

“I trust you had thought it will work but no thanks to the riders, we lost that opportunity.” Morgause voiced from the mirror.

“How did you…”

“Get into your mirror? I never left your chamber. Charming place, Lord Pendragon have.” Morgause replied. “Do you know we were childhood friends? Me and Utter. I used to come to the castle then to play with him. Sadly, when he was older, he left for wars. I do miss him.”

“Get out of my life, you witch!” Lady Igraine called out. “I ….”

“Regretted our earlier liaison. I trust not. You were satisfied then. More than you ever did with the man. I am adept at that.” Morgause laughed. “That was why Utter did to me. He left me with other choices.”

“Bitch!” Lady Igraine cursed again.

“Bitch? Witch? Aren’t we all? Don’t forget, Lady Igraine. I am always near you. Or above you.” Morgause laughed and then her image vanished. Lady Igraine grabbed the goblet by the bedside and tossed it in the mirror. It shattered and brought Adele her maid.

“Remove the mirror. And all the other mirrors.” Lady Igraine told her maid.

Across the land and far within the mirror distance, Morgause stepped away from the mirror in her chamber. She was a tall slim lady dressed in the red long gown with the beaded bodice and the skirt trailed to the rear. Her headpiece was similar in red pinned to the top like an open hand fan with the motifs of the early blooms of the season.

“Temper…. Temper. Such emotions in that lady.” Morgause muttered out. “She is not …”

“Compose to be a witch like us.” It was the voice of Morgan le Fay, the twin sister of Morgause. Morgan was dressed, unlike her sister. She was equally slim and tall but her dressing was more masculine with the tight bodice and leggings tucked into the knee-high boots with a short cloak over her shoulder. Her preferred shade was black as the night. She wore a gnome hat on her head.