Arthur; The legend and myth Chapter 13

13.

Sir Kay tossed aside the spear in frustration. He was coaching ten of the villagers in the art of fighting with it. He walked away towards the make shift shelter by the side. He took a gulp of the water there in the jug before he sat down on the available stool. His breath heaved in hard not from the hardship but of his emotions.

“We are not gladiators, Sir Kay.” Peter spoke on behalf of the group. “We are fisherman and these spears are heavier in weight.” 

Peter placed the seven feet in length spear with the iron head where the edges were sharpened. It was not their weapon but acquired from the discarded warriors in the arena. Sir Kay looked at those men who were seated on the hard ground ignoring him. His frustration was not of their skills but their reluctance to be with him. In the arena, comradeship matters for it will mean one less to kill. He may have fought them in the arena but in the end, they saluted each other for their comradeship. Then at the village, despite his rough handling he tried to be with them. After two weeks, they still regarded him to be a stranger among them.

“It takes times to be a friend and easier to be their trainer.” Percival had joined Sir Kay there. “I have been training the Legion for years, and trust me, nothing build up comradeship than the actual battle.”

Percival took a drink himself and then leaned on the pillar of the makeshift shelter. He then continued on.

“I have trained them harder and even force them to share my meals but the real bond came in battle. When we are against the enemy, we became one.” Percival smiled and then picked up the spear. “Its heavy and they may not be used to it. Work with their preference. That way they might fight better.”

“I am used to the trident and net.” Sir Kay replied.

“And were you not taught by the trainers in other weapons? The gladius? The dagger? Or even the axe? Teach them what you know.”

“And what of your side?” Sir Kay asked.

“Me? We only trained with the round shield. They will use their own weapon to kill but I will teach them first to defend.” Percival laughed. “They may last longer in the battle.”

Sir Kay sighed. It was a tedious two week when Arthur had taken on the advice by Merlin that they needed more men to fight. So the suggestion was to train the villagers was given to Percival and Sir Kay for both were former trainers. The others with Arthur were assigned to the reinforcement of the village. He then approached the ones he was to train.

“Tell me of your weapons?” Sir Kay asked. Peter stepped up and smiled.

“We are fisherman. We hold no weapons but we have our fishing tools. You spoke of the trident and net. We have that in our boats.” Peter called on his friends to bring forth the net and trident. The trident was lighter and short but its edges were sharp with the serrated cuts. The fisherman then demonstrated the use of it. The target was twenty feet away and with one throw, the trident hit on the center.

“Do the fishes bite back?” Sir Kay asked.

“Only if they have serrated teeth.” Peter replied with a smile. “Then we use this one.”

In Peter’s right hand was foot long serrated curve blade. He demonstrated the use of it with a series of slash and then the final thrust on the target. He then looked at Sir Kay.

“Pardon the moves but we took offence to stiff target.” Peter kicked at the tree trunk that was used as the target. “More so when they place the Picts face on it. We are on friendly terms with them. We marry their sisters and killed their mothers.”

That drew some sick laughs from the others and even Sir Kay drew a smile himself. He nodded to Peter and then told him to get more of those weapons. He watched the others joined Peter to retrieve their weapons.

“Are you sick? Those Picts are also ….” Gawain spoke when he stepped next to Sir Kay.

“Picts are Picts. If you have spent time in the pits, you will see it my way too.” Sir Kay looked at the other. “Tharcian, Turks, or even Welsh; it does not matter to me. They are all dead when I am through with them.”

Gawain stared at the ex-gladiator. He regretted having vouch for that man. He shook his head and moved back to his own tasks. He then saw Percival standing some distance behind. The former Roman Legionnaire stepped up.

“You have not been long in battles like myself and even Sir Kay. Once you have seen it like we did, you will understand his thoughts.” Percival replied. “And mine too.”

Gawain walked past the other and rejoined his brothers. They were building the village defenses on the village edge. It was to be a high wall to protect the villager. Gaheris was holding the long pole in his hands and was looking upset. Galahad was seated on a pile nearby with the same exasperated look. Gawain walked up past the group of villagers who were to assist the brothers.

“Where is my wall? “Gawain in his upset mood ranted on at the brothers. “We were to build a wall and not play fencing with each other poles.”

“Gawain, we have not the poles we need. These are not…” Gaheris motioned to the poles at his feet. “These are not poles. They are branches.”

“They are not the poles which you are used to. These are their poles given.” Gawain glared at his brother. “These poles will do for the defenses we are looking to build.”

Gawain picked up the pole discarded on the ground. It measured ten feet in length and was shorter than the ones they were used to in the last village. He looked to the group assigned to the wall.

“We will build the wall low but reinforced. It will hold back the enemy.” Gawain spoke up. He then looked to Galahad. “Add on some stakes.”

“It’s a good idea.” Gawain heard the encouragement from the one he regarded as the leader. He walked over to speak but Arthur had moved on. He was joined by Gaheris.

“Gawain, what kind of stakes do you want?” The elder brother looked to his other sibling.

“Sharpened and hard. You are going home with me and Galahad.”

Arthur walked on.  It was a long walk to the bay but he was actually looking for Lamorak The giant was there in his naked form with the other strong villagers. He was shoveling the ground to create pits.

“Dig in deep!” Lamorak hollered to the five others digging with him. He was standing deep to his waist. He looked around and saw the five other pits they had dug behind them towards the bay. It was dug in a random position and the ones dug will soon be filled with tar.

“I had seen it done by the others. They will set it on fire when the riders get trapped in there.” Lamorak told Arthur. “I will dig more of them that you can stop a Legion.”

Arthur studied the pits and frowned. In the Legion, the riders are known as the auxilia. They formed the wings on the Legion movement, and could range from five hundred to seven hundred. The riders were armed with the round or hexagonal shields and their long lances or kontos. Not all the riders carries the kontos; some prefer to be archers instead.

“Lamorak, I think the depth needs some digging. The horses could easily jump up.” Arthur added his two bites of comments.

“Ye, they could but besides the tar, we will inlaid it with wooden stakes.” Lamorak laughed. “I ain’t dense in the head but smarter than some.”

Arthur nodded and then continued on his walk. He saw then Lancelot digging up one of the pits. The later looked up and smiled while wiping the sweat off his face.

“Why are you digging alone?” Arthur asked. Lancelot looked up and smiled.

“No one wants to join me. I have been digging the same pit when we started. They done up to three pits but I am still here.” Lancelot smiled. “But my pit deeper and lengthy.”

Arthur looked at the pit dug by Lancelot. It was not rectangle but elongated like that of the serpent movement. Arthur measured the distance mentally, and it was about twenty feet. The depth was at about four feet and the slope steep.

“Why is your pit different?” Arthur asked.

“I liked this design. It reminded me of the dragon.” Lancelot smiled. “The one I would like to slaughter.”

Arthur smiled at the other and rode on towards the bay. He was more concerned on there for it was handed by Merlin.

Sir Kay looked at the departing Arthur standing at Lancelot’s pit. He was not against the other but Lancelot was to him an untrusted ally. He had seen the likes of Lancelot with their fighting skills. Once in the pit, they are not your allies anymore but the dreaded foe. He was once betrayed by one and held the scar on his chest for it. The betrayal had paid for it with a severed left upper limb.

“Sir Kay, I know that knight.” Peter voiced out. Sir Kay looked to the fisherman. The other spoke on about Lancelot.

“Aye, he was a Roman; the son of a Senator. His father died from self-poisoning to preserve his honor, and Lancelot was ostracized soon after. He rejoined the Legion and planned his vengeance. Marius Theodilus died in combat where Lancelot also served as Centurion. It was rumored that he killed the other but it was not proven. Lancelot soon served his notice to leave the Legion. The Senator could not kill Lancelot although there were attempts.”

“You know a lot for a fisherman, Peter.” Sir Kay remarked back. “Tell me are you one of the assassins sent to do the task?”

Peter laughed out and then shook his head.

“I am a poor fisherman. All that I knew was from my cousin who once served as house servant to the Senator. His mouth was sealed then but his ears remained ever vigilant.”  Peter smiled. “He returned to us once many moons ago, and he spoke of it.”

Sir Kay looked at Lancelot who was back at the digging while Arthur rode on. So the other was a killer and like all killers, they have no reservation to kill anyone. He will be a worthy foe one day in the thoughts of Sir Kay.

Merlin was hard at work on the bay. He was among some fishermen who was carting over some loads to Merlin. The loads looked to be some foul items which emit strong stench. Meanwhile Merlin was seen concocting some potions in a large pot. He was stirring the potion with a large spoon and muttering some incantations which sounded strange to Arthur.

“Tell me, soothsayer. What are you cooking there? Some dead frogs with severed limbs of the insects perhaps? The stench of it could reached the far noses of the villagers.” Arthur mocked him. Merlin looked up from his stirring and frowned at the one he had chosen to serve with.

“The Legions fought with strength and discipline but of the soothsayers, we fought on their fears. I am making my powerful potions to fright the enemies.” Merlin smiled. “The potion will bring forth their fear.”

“God invoking spells? I like that. Make sure you do not carry the devils over. I heard they loved soothsayers more than warriors.” Arthur mocked him once more.

“Away you be off, disbelieving patron. I am risking my life for a noble cause.” Merlin snarled back and then returned to his task.

“Druid, where do you want this?” A fisherman with a basket load on his right shoulder queried Merlin The later asked the basket be lowered and examined the content.

“Salt peter? I am impressed. Where did you find so much?” Merlin asked.

“In the common area where we placed the droppings of the creatures. It’s also used for farming.” The fisherman replied. “We preserved them well.”

“Ye, it’ s good. That will mix well with sulfur and coal.” Merlin instructed the fisherman to place the load nearby. The fisherman could not curb his curiosity and asked of Merlin.

“What foul concoction is that?” The fisherman referred to the pot. Merlin stopped his stirring and looked at the fisherman.

“It’s the foul material that will invoke your ancestor’ to battle for us.” Merlin replied. And then he added.

“I can call on your father if you want me to.” That made the fisherman took to his heels.