#sir lucan the good

[heliabel]

Can we just take a minute to truely appreciate Sir Lucan The Good. Like this guy has known Arthur for YEARS. He knows what Arthur's temper can be like, yet he still tries to persuade him not to fight Mordred at the end of Camlann:

// Arthur: 'Now give me my spear', said Arthur (...)

Lucan: 'Sir, let him be,' said Sir Lucan, (...) 'for here, we be three alive,' \\

Of course, Arthur fights Mordred anyway, but (spoilers!) it's how Lucan dies that really gets me. When Lucan and his brother, Sir Bedivere go to lift Arthur up off the Chapel floor that they are sheltering in from battlefield thieves, he's observed only through Arthur's eyes; "he beheld Sir Lucan, how he lay foaming at the mouth, and part of his guts lay at his feet."

Which is an absolutely awful fate for anyone, but especially for this sweet man, who was so loyal and so genuine, which is hard to say for many knights of the round table funnily enough.

[sanddef]

Interlude | May as Rebirth

1100 words

It was almost May in Camelot, the weather was warming and the ebbs of wind were just beginning to cease. Flowers were blooming by the creek, water lilies, and daffodillies, and Mordred sucked a drop of blood from his finger. He placed the roses he picked onto a nearby grave, and kept walking. It was bizarre, mourning those he knew would hate that attention. Mordred could almost see Gaheris’ grimace, Gareth’s wet eyes, Agravaine’s empty stare.

‘They said your name a million times at the wake.’ Mordred told him, ‘Isn’t that what you always wanted? To be celebrated? You should have seen how the king held you. You’d think you were his very own son.’

Of course, Agravain didn’t respond. He didn’t snark, didn’t even humor him. He never will again.

‘Well fuck you too.’

It was almost May in Camelot, and the staff usually would be making preparations in a few weeks. Between May Day and birthdays to celebrate (though never Mordred’s, admitting the date of his birth only ever got him sympathetic looks and hard-to-answer questions) it seemed May was one big celebration. Of course, to any common knight, any of these supposed holidays were just pretense. Who gave a shit about Gawain’s birthday other than people trying to curry favor? By the end, knights could hardly tell you the day of the week if they were even sober enough to speak. The staff would be exhausted.

Mordred stopped walking, shook his head, and continued. He quickly steered his thoughts away from Gareth. Gareth, who always got him something for his birthday, despite Mordred’s wishes. He was utterly gone by May 31st last year, somewhere between the busyness and the merriment he had forgotten, or just forgone, moderation. Mordred had simply put him to bed, leaving quickly and letting his gentlest brother forget that he had borne witness to his momentary degeneration.

‘I knew no one could be perfect.’ He told no one at all. ‘You’ve always told me that.’

It was always about Gawain, but still.

Almost May in Camelot and where were all the people? The hall seemed empty, only a few straggling knights and servants. Lucan didn’t meet his eyes when Mordred waved him over, his face neutral and steady, he poured him a cup of wine. Mordred considered dropping the chalice, let him not react then, as wine spilled across the floor and over them both, let him wash out some red stains of his own. At least he still had his brother with him.

Gawain would be coming back soon.

‘God dammit.’

Mordred took another long drink.

He didn't remember Lot's death, being much too young at the time, but his brothers spoke about him like he hung the moon and stars.

“Don't be like that, Mordred.” Gaheris had told him one night, his gaze tracing the scar on Mordred's forehead, “He went to war for you.”

Mordred was harsh, he knew he was harsh, and he didn’t need everyone telling him all the time. In his opinion, he couldn’t be the worst of his brothers, how could he? Yes, their deeds far surpassed his own, but so did many of the ones they swept under the rug, overlooked, or wore as a public confessional if they were clever enough. Besides, Gaheris had funny ideas about a parent's love. Mordred had to discount his opinion long ago. Mother's death was regrettable, but Mordred followed everyone's example and moved forward swiftly. Why waste time thinking about something so unpleasant?

“Why waste time indeed,” Mordred muttered, leaning back on his throne.

“Ah, my lord?” Sir Brunor was looking uncharacteristically nervous, “Mordred?”

“I didn't hear you enter.”

I didn't invite you in.

“I just want to offer my condolences.” Brunor sat beside him, again uninvited, “I know it's hard. Losing Sir Galahad and then your brothers and the king.”

Mordred grunted, gesturing for Lucan to refill his cup. Why even bring up Galahad? It felt like eons since he had last seen that poor doomed youth. He had died, apparently wondrously and prettily. Holy. They used much nicer words for it than ‘easily.’ Mordred had imagined it dozens of times, his final breath of earthly oxygen as his hands grasped for what he had chosen above all else. All that effort in blocking Galahad out of his mind, and Brunor had to remind him.

“My father is dead. My brother too.” Brunor took Mordred's hand in his, “I know how it feels.”

“These things happen.”

“Doesn't mean we can't avenge them.” There was that cold fire in his eyes that got Mordred's attention when Brunor had first arrived at Camelot, “You know that. It was murder.”

“Yes. Yes, if I learn anything you'll be the first to know.” Mordred tilted his head upwards, examining the higher stonework of the walls, stone put in place only decades ago yet never touched by human hands. He was starting to feel dizzy when he moved too fast. “For now I need your service, Brunor. We’re at war.”

And where would Mordred be without his supporters? If there was one thing he was glad to have learned at this farce of a court, it was how to perform.

“Yes of course.” Brunor straightened, “There’s a fleet coming from the south. Just say the word.”

“From France?”

“We think so.”

“You know so. We can’t afford to allow enemies any closer.” He especially can’t afford for it to be Arthur. Mordred was confident that even if he did return, there were enough people on the court on his side to end the battle early. He hadn’t done the exact math yet, but even a handful of kings had plenty of men at their disposal. Even so, it would be simpler if Arthur just didn’t come back.

“Shall I prepare an offensive?”

“A man after my own heart.” Mordred smiled, crooked two fingers, and beckoned him forward, “Come here, Brunor.”

He didn’t miss Brunor’s sigh of relief as he kneeled before the throne and accepted Mordred’s kiss gratefully. He really was such a good marshal, fearing him just enough. He was a good friend too, when Mordred still considered himself worthy of such privileges. At least the loyalty remained.

Keep him close in hand and he’ll never learn what happened to Dinadan.

‘I should really get married.’

Mordred knew just the person, but for now, Brunor was set to sail for battle tomorrow and Mordred might as well give him a few more hours of his time.

Hopefully, Gawain and Arthur were already dead. If they weren’t, Mordred prayed they’d die easily.

[cynicalclassicist]

Gawain gets stronger as the sun rises.

Kay can become a giant.

Arthur had a nephew who got turned into a bird.

There are just so many utterly weird parts of Arthuriana, which is why we love them so much.

A few things which are “canon” somewhere for people who are worried they’re stretching it too far

Arthur was killed by a giant cat. 

Arthur killed the cat.

Arthur didn’t fight the cat. Kay did.

Kay and Bedivere use salmon as taxis. 

Lucan is half giant, half lion. (This Lucan, Lucano in the original Italian, is evil and not related to Bedivere). 

King Arthur raided the land of the dead.

The human knight Caradoc Briefbras has three half siblings: a dog, a horse, and a pig.

A large portion of Arthur’s troops was killed a while before Camlann by his nephew’s attack ravens in self-defense. Arthur and said nephew were playing chess at the time and neither did much to stop it.

Merlin retired peacefully and went to live in the countryside with Taliesin.

Wherever Arthur walks, plants die. They don’t grow back for years.

Arthur had a spunky (half?) brother who died in battle after making a mysterious oath.

Dagonet is more or less able to run the kingdom when Arthur is gone. His biggest error is overspending on mercenaries.

Guinevere has an evil almost identical twin half-sister.

Hector beat up all the best knights except for Galahad while possessed by a demon.

Gawain plays tennis.

Gawain has used a chessboard as a weapon.

Near the start of his reign, Arthur left Lot in charge of the kingdom and went on a quest with a sassy parrot.

Gawain or Galahad succeeded Arthur as king. 

[queer-ragnelle]

I saw your list of favorite Arthuriana authors and I can't help but ask for a few of them. What can you tell me about...?

Gerald Morris

Phillis Ann Karr

John Erskine

Marvin Borowsky

Hi anon!

Gerald Morris is the author of The Squire’s Tales, a 10 book children’s series that covers many points of view. A lot of lesser appreciated side characters get focus, like Gaheris, Dinadan, and Lunete. He also has another series written for an even younger audience called The Knights’ Tales. These are still in print and Mr. Morris alive, so I’ve linked to goodreads and you can decide from there if you want to get the books from the library or buy them.

Phyllis Ann Karr is the author of murder mystery Idylls of the Queen which covers the story of the apple poisoning in Le Morte d’Arthur and subsequent search for the culprit. It’s written from first person Kay perspective with deuteragonist Mordred. It’s excellent. She also wrote The Arthurian Companion (which is out of print, so that link is a PDF), The Follies of Sir Harald, and recently published a compilation of short stories that were previously included in now defunct anthologies called Arthurian Tales. They’re all wonderful.

John Erskine wrote two Arthurian books, one is Galahad and I actually haven’t read that one yet but have heard good things. He has another one called Restoring Palamede which is mostly from Palomides perspective and really goes a long way of handling his character with respect and dignity previously never explored. I loved it a lot! It’s an old book so it’s far from perfect in its depiction of a Muslim family (Palomides’ parents are both in it too!) but the effort comes from a good place and was enjoyable. Those links are PDFs where you can read them too!

Marvin Borowsky has a single novel to his name and that novel is The Queen’s Knight. I thrifted this on a whim as I’d never heard of it. Anon, I devoured it in a single day. Enthralled, I tell you. It reminds me of Knights of the Round Table (1953) in that Mordred is an adult from the start as another warlord butting heads with Arthur. The majority of the book is in Lucan the Butler’s point of view, sometimes switching to Mordred or Arthur, and has omnipresent narrative at times too which occasionally dips into other characters’ minds. This book has a whopping four ratings on good reads (one of which is me) and no cover. It’s so niche. Mordred is gay in it (content warning for pederasty) and near the end of the book has a loving relationship with another knight. Agravaine also appears to be hopelessly in love with Lancelot the whole time. I like the characterizations of Orkney bros, Kay, Lucan and kin, Guinevere. Most of the characters really! The writing style is delicious. Lucan’s wife Jocelyn and Kay’s mother Margaret are both fun characters. I also find it endearing that this book has a newspaper article dedicated to it, published April 10, 1955!!! My friend @waleweinn was able to get it for me. Check it out!

[ladyilovepillows]

Grayson, formerly known as Sir Galahad, is the main protagonist in The Order 1886. He was a Knight of The Order before, I was seriously pissed off when order leader didn't believe a word Galahad told him(come to find out he knew all along) about there being a traitor(his son) and vampires being shipped out to pretty much start a vampire plague to kill off many people, I was angry when I found out who the traitor was who acted like a brother and friend to Galahad and his name is Alastair who puts his race before anyone else and Lord Hastings who is a vampire, ig lycan and vampires see one another as family/allies/friends.

Actually I can see why Alastair shipped off vampires as he probably just wanted to be able to feed them so they wouldn't starve but it was still wrong, still he saw both men,lycan and vampires as all being equally evil.

Lord Chancellor was the one who saved Alastair as a child and slaughterd Alastairs family and took him in as his own son,he couldn't bring himself to kill him because at the time Alastair was just an innocent child, after galahad returned to save Nikola and did was asked by chancellor to kill him as he couldn't kill his own son and asked him to never tell anyone... he still wanted to keep the order together.... Chancellor let Galahad go.

Honesty I was very disappointed in Isabeau as yeah Galahad kept her in the dark about what was happening, but he didn't want her involved or put her in danger and really I was thinking she should have put way more faith into galahad and a deeper trust....on the other hand I feel galahad could have confided in her about what he was looking into to but I'm not entirely sure she would have even believed him and that could have stopped him in the early stages of him trying to get the truth/proof. He was the one who brought her into the order and in her eyes he's abandoned it for a whorehouse or the rebels.

BUT ( Probably because it could be presumed that he had tried to make his case multiple times during the **month** between his capture and trial and no one had believed him, or it had been made clear that people close to him would come to harm if the truth came out. Accusing Hastings or Lucan would've been futile and potentially put his friends in danger, so the *loyal* thing to do was remain silent.

(Still I was surprised that nobody trusted galahad at all I mean he served them for so long and he's older then 100 years old but I'm not exactly sure how long he served them. There was one person who did think he had a good reason to side with the rebels and is fighting the order but I forgot his name but he didnt know anything... tbh thats how Isabeau should have been.)

Lakshmi was the one who told galahad about the order, she's one of my favorite characters along with

Nikola....

(Lakshmi the leader of the rebels I ship so hard with galahad Lol.)

Unanswered questions-

What will happen with lord hastings(jack the ripper), is he just gunna keep getting away with killing people/feeding off humans? Or will Galahad kill him as in the aftercredits video he gets his batman moment XD looking over the city as he's going to be some savior or something.

Will Lord Chancellor pay the price for allowing a traitor among them and allowing death to occure?

Will Isabeau ever find out the truth of what happend?

Will anything ever come to light?

Will we get a sequel?

I give this game a 7/10

[citrinedecades]

1312 - Dubious Parentage and Inappropriate Behaviour

With wintertime resulting in less chores to do around the farm and everyone staying inside more, tempers heat up again and the children get into a variety of arguments, despite Rosemary's attempts at mediating. Tired of being cooped up with all of her siblings, Stefanie visits her good friend Brandan Townsend, the local blacksmith's son. and his parents welcome her warmly, even offering to give her a tour of the smithy. With Stefanie and Brandan approaching their teenage years, it's clear his parents think the two of them might one day be wed. The two of them go ice skating, but Stefanie struggles to keep up and falls down, knocking out the last of her baby teeth.

Rosemary gives birth to a healthy daughter named Esther, and Gemma arrives from Henford to celebrate the birth with them. While in Windenburg, Gemma is overcome with nostalgia for the simple life she left behind and lingers a while, hoping she might meet Stuart, her first husband, by chance, even though she knows he remarried after her departure.

She returns to Henford later than planned, and nearly misses her oldest son August's birthday, which he had forgotten about. As her two sons grow, it's difficult to say with certainty who the father might be. Sir Lucan begins to pay special attention to August, and appears convinced that he is his son, rather than Sir Amis'.

Having less to do around the farm during wintertime, Frederik spends more time with his children and brings them out side to play and to do volunteer work at the local abbey, keeping them busy and helping them bond to avoid further animosity between them.

Meanwhile, Rosemary stays home with their two youngest daughters and is glad she gets to spend some quality time with them. As the year ends, Rosemary realizes that she is pregnant again, but with the house starting to become crowded, she begins to worry about how they will fit everyone in, especially with her older children on the verge of becoming teenagers.

Births: Esther Barrow Julien Verviers

Deaths: None!

[knightfighttourney]

OKAY the brackets for week one are done and up. Bracket F caused me many, many issues but we're good now. Hopefully. I think a poll went up set to 1 day but I won't know until they're hot + I can fix it then.

Also if anyone has images for the following characters that they want to send in, I'd be incredibly grateful! (art you made/own, something from a fairly popular piece of fiction, or art from like a manuscript or something)

Sir Hector de Maris

Sir Sagramore

Sir Tor

Sir Galeschin

Sir Ywain the Bastard

Sir Lucan

Sir Morien

Sir Cador

Sir Elyan the White

Sir Calogrenant

Sir Feirefez

Sir Safir

Sir Escablor

[thatonegreyghost]

"You know the hero is traditionally supposed to marry the princess, right?"

Cecilia looks at the knight, easily twice her age and definitely twice as heavy, and tries not to choke in disgust. Lucan, the prince from Corinth, was supposed to come rescue her from the monster- this one was a werewolf, she thinks? She never saw it- but gods forbid Lucan do anything helpful. He's too busy "sparring" with his personal guard, probably.

"Is that a fact, Princess?" The knight gruffs sharply. "Well, that's not going to happen here. You're hardly much older than my daughter. I don't think anyone should want a wife of you."

"I should hope not." Cecilia mutters. "I have no interest in merely being someone's wife."

"As you shouldn't. You're too young." The knight agrees. "Come on, then. My camp is over this way. You can stay in the tent, and we'll head out in the morning."

"And where will you sleep?" Cecilia questions.

Lucan always sleeps in the tent with her. Not next to her, not usually, but always in the tent with her. He'll always complain that it's too cold outside, and he can't possibly be made to stay in the cold. Of course, that's likely because Lucan is a complete wuss.

"I'll sleep by the fire, Princess. It isn't a hardship."

Speaking of, Cecilia thinks, this camp is wonderful. A small tent, soup bubbling over a small fire, and what looks to be the coziest blanket in the kingdom. The knight begins to take off his armor, placing his sword near Cecilia's feet. An act of trust, and honor.

"Oh, you're a much better knight than Lucan."

The knight laughs, shaking his head.

"Lucan? Lucan of Corinth? No wonder you were stuck in that lair for so long. Lucan couldn't fight his way out of a potato sack- just like his mother."

Cecilia might agree, but on principle, she has to defend Lucan. Even if he is a bit of a wet sock.

"Excuse you, sir, how could you say such things?" Cecilia scoffs.

The knight laughs a hearty laugh, shaking his head. His armor clangs as he sets down his breastplate, then, as he stirs the soup, he laughs again.

"Lucan is my son. My former wife, Queen Castella of Corinth, is his mother. She won't give him any money until he marries, so I work to get him out of that castle. Once I've gotten enough to get him some armor, I'll start taking him on jobs. He's not much good at fighting, but he's got a charming smile and he can navigate royals much better than me."

"You're..." Cecilia takes a small step back. "You're Galyn of Corinth. The knight of Corinth. You saved the queen from a dragon!"

"She saved herself. No one would believe her, so she picked up the scrawniest knight she could get her hands on. I worked hard to be a good knight, but I was no dragon killer. Not back then." Sir Galyn laughs. "Imagine our surprise when she was promised to me. I told her I could leave, if she wanted. She told me to stay."

"So... what happened?" Cecilia asks as she sits by the fire. "Everyone says you disappeared. But Lucan always says that his father is his favorite person, and you don't seem dishonorable."

"Well, it's simple. Castella and I outgrew each other. I wanted to mend things. She... didn't think we could."

"So you left?"

Sir Galyn shakes his head, gruffing and groaning as he dishes out soup for the two of them. He glares at nothing in particular, tossing a blanket towards Cecilia with a quiet "don't catch cold, now." and nothing more.

Cecilia eats her soup, quietly wondering about this man in front of her. Lucan has consistently praised him for being the best man he knows. Lucan is also about as smart as a basket of cottage cheese. And does the great Galyn of Corinth really have to stoop so low as to take lowly rescuing jobs? Those are for young knights who would be better suited to palace life- one grand gesture they can coast on for the rest of their lives. Most princesses are lucky- they get a kind man, an honorable knight. But this...

"I didn't leave, Princess. She kicked me out." Sir Galyn reveals. "I couldn't stop fighting nobles for making lewd comments about young servant girls. I couldn't leave it that children were starving and freezing in the streets. She said I wasn't the man she married. I just never became the prince she wanted."

Cecilia eats her soup, not daring to look at Sir Galyn. She is more curious now, especially now that she knows this is Lucan's father.

"Why take Lucan with you? He is Corinth's only heir." Cecilia asks eventually.

"Well, see, Lucan has some specific preferences that Corinth won't tolerate." Sir Galyn mutters. "Were this my home country, it wouldn't be an issue, but his mother is starting to get nasty about it."

"So... You're paying to take him away?"

"It's as you said, Princess. He is Corinth's only heir. His mother will fight to keep him, even at the cost of his life."

Cecilia remembers, quite viscerally and suddenly, how she saw Lucan playing with a knife at a ball last year. He was drunk- most of them were, as the wine was quite strong and the weather was quite cold- but the ease with which he had settled that knife against his throat terrified her. He had spent two hours talking to her, during which time she confessed that she did not ever wish to marry, and would allow her younger brother to take the throne. She even detailed her plans to move to a convent.

A month later, he had begun courting her. At the time, she saw it as a betrayal of her trust. Now, she's not so sure.

"I hope you succeed." Cecilia blurts out. "Lucan can be a bit of an ass on occasion, but he deserves to be happy. Everyone does, I think."

"Aye, Princess, that we do." Sir Galyn says. "Sleep. I'll take you home in the morning."

The princess has been rescued, hooray! But to her dismay the hero isn't young and handsome, instead he's a middle aged divorcee who took the job to pay alimony and child support.

[commandchap]

UNTITLED STILL POST 3

Lycan War Council

The wind rushed past as I heard the thunderous galloping of Babe's hooves on the hard ground beneath us. As my body bounced up and down   my breathing was in perfect time with her run. Her near white hair and mane blew in the wind as a woman's hair, soft and long. I felt as if I only needed to nudge ER and there would be no limit to the speed she might run. Sucking beneath the branches on the apple grove  my hand ran along her smooth and muscular neck. But when I lifted my hand it was tinged with blood./ Babe! /I shouted! And sitting up I felt hands all over me, I opened my eyes and saw the grotesque faces of blood thirsty vampires! I started to struggle but my father's  voice sounded above all the others./ "Aleric! You're ok. It was a dream. / gasping I look and the vampire faces are gone, replaced by the familiar faces of family and attendants./ Then....then Babe is alright? I asked. /My father hesitated in a very uncharacteristic way...And the pain I suddenly felt in my face confirmed what I knew he would say.../ No my son. Babe is gone. Bit you are safe here with us at at home. /My mouth opened to scream but no sound came out, and my mother reaches to pull my head gently to her shoulder as my body heaved in silent sobs.

My fathers hand on my shoulder signaled that my time of mourning was now past./ Son, I need to hear from you what happened. And where is your ring? /He asked looking at my hand. I looked down noticing my ring was gone for the first time./ I don't know. I suppose it it either fell off in the fight or they stole it? /Father looked at me with a mixture of sadness and growing anger/ We've searched the  stables but the ring isn't there. We will find the ring and when we find the ring we will find your attackers. They were vampires? But  they took no blood? What were they free if not your blood, and Lucan blood is of no good use to a vampire anyway. /My father said while beginning to pace the floor./ I don't know what they wanted except for me to tell you that they wanted to destroy us. The seemed to hate us because of who we are.

My father stopped walking and looked at me. The Delvego family and the Lycans have known peace for generations. Surely they haven't  broken the covenant of peace between our species with an attack on a boy and his horse! After the moon rose my father summoned the council who arrived as a group/

I had already entered the lesser hall, a place of meeting/

and took my seat at the head table beside my fathers chair/ " I call this meeting to order" /my father announced in his thunderous voice!  "We have had an incident...an attack against my son and killing livestock. Vampires are to blame. The council could be heard mumbling to themselves... some voices rise above others and two shouted that they warned the vampires could  never be trusted/ "And they have stolen my son's family signet ring." /I looked down at my hand in shame. I couldn't save Babe...hell  I can't even protect a piece if jewelry. I grins my teeth and swear I will never fail to protect those I live again. I will die before  I fail!

My father passed a picture around of my ring because it also was an official seal and until it is recovered, no seal with my embossing  can be trusted >

/As the voices on the floor began to rise it was clear my father intended to bring order/ Order! We will have order! /A hand shot up/ Rise a Member of the Crowe pack stood. /Sir, I would move that we assembly our young Lycans and attack the Vampires by force at daybreak. A  voice quickly shouted a second and the den of voices rose again/ My father stood now "Are we prepared to commit to war now? Is that our next step? /From there the Lycan council quickly devolved into a council of war. My father labored to keep order and barely tables the motion for  war until an official communication could be dispatched to the Vampires and an answer received./ If we are going to commit our young pups  to fight we better damn well make sure we are doing the right thing!" /Those words seemed reasonable to the council and the vote for war  was delayed until word returned from the vampires/ I ground my teeth as I remembered their attack. It seemed to me we had the answer answer already..... My father wrote the letter demanding justice against the criminal vampires, the return of my ring, and a public  apology at a summit where a new treaty would be drawn with harsher measures for infractions As I walked out if the Leaser Hall I looked up at our crest hanging high above  our line is a line if history, power, and wisdom. Surely my father is wise....but my anger and desire for revenge will not be satiated by a new treaty. Blood will be required for blood.

[heliabel]

Farewell, Morgan le Fay. You never existed.

[temperedgods]

Part 1 Chapter 9

Part 2 is done, pretty much. Needs editing as does any piece of work I make. Didn't edit this one as much as I wanted to but I should get it out soon. Punch a senator.

Lawrence woke up first, or so he thought. He found Lucan downstairs drinking a cup of coffee.

“Mornin.” Lucan greeted him.

“Long night?” Lawrence asked.

“Not really. Ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while so we hung out for a bit.”

“Wonderful. Anyone follow you?”

“No. “Lucan said indignantly.

“You sure?”

“I’m pretty sure I would’ve noticed.”

Lawrence poured a cup of coffee. A few minutes later Riley found himself downstairs and went to Lucan for a pet.

“Is he usually the one to get up first?” Lucan asks.

“Pretty sure. I’m pretty sure he tries to upturn their place before they get up. Doesn’t do that when guests are around.”

Riley smiled as Lucan continued petting him. 

The old woman who ran the BnB came out from the kitchen and let the two know that breakfast would be ready for their group. Riley, smelling the prepared meal, quickly bolted upstairs to wake up the rest.

Lucan and Lawrence heard heavy footsteps upstairs and while Lucan looked up at the ceiling Lawrence asked.

“What’s her name?”

Lucan snapped his focus back to him and looked quizzical.

“You’re obviously very tired but you haven’t complained about it despite us running on empty for a few days now. So, you must’ve met a nice woman last night. Or someone else.”

Lucan peered to see if anyone was about to come downstairs.

“Look Lawrence, I’m not really sure if it was a one time thing. We didn’t make that clear before I left.”

“You should make that clear to them. If you’re even thinking about it I can safely say you want to see her again. You look more on edge than after the fight outside Kentshire”

Lucan thought for a moment before Riley came down the stairs with everyone else. Julia had taken Charlie’s bed so she joined them for the time.

“I’ll think about it.” Lucan responded.

Julia eyed the two but didn’t press on it.

The host brought out plates of breakfast filled with meats, breads, and yogurt. A coffee and tea urn were also set out to keep the demand in check.

It was a nice breakfast without a bar fight, and a quiet one. Everyone looked tired despite a full night’s sleep, with Malan only being awake in name only.

The breakfast was broken by a knock at the door. Lawrence immediately went up to get it, while pulling a gun out from under his coat. He looked through the peephole and put his weapon back.

“No one from Northwin said they would be here.” He announced and opened the door.

Outside was a Northwin soldier that was a few years older than a new recruit. A patch he had on his fatigue made it clear he was in a tank division, emblazoned with a tank in front of a shield. Standing beside him was a man wearing a leather coat and jeans while holding a camera.

“Good morning officer Mikael.” The soldier announced while giving a salute.

“It’s Lawrence. What are your orders?”

The other man stepped forward and held out a hand.

“Barry Alanos, I work for the Cherryville Tribune and was assigned to follow you after that fight you had in Harzenburg. It was only yesterday after that dragon came here that I was able to find you.”

Lawrence cautiously shook his hand.

“So you’re a war reporter? You look a little- inexperienced, to be a war reporter kid.”

“All of our war correspondents are already at the front lines in the south sir. I just got the job by chance.” “Because of that and a new policy with Northwin I am also here.” The soldier interrupted. “Lieutenant Gabriel Berkshaw, 8th tank battalion. We will be escorting you during your operations, and I will be personally escorting Mr. Alanos.”

Malan was holding herself up on Jordan’s arm who carefully slid her over to be held up by Riley. Jordan stood up and exclaimed

“Don’t we have a say if this guy comes with us?”

Lawrence turned back. Barry answered the question

“The people deserve to know what you do today.” Jordan nodded their head and sat back down.

“I would love to learn more about all the things that led up to this point here, actually. Possibly get some interviews as well if that’s alright?” Barry asked Lawrence

Lawrence cracked a smile.

“Sure, I imagine we can add another two spots at the table.”

Lawrence turned around and let the two in. Before they got chairs, Riley got up and introduced himself as he usually does.

“Right, I almost forgot.” Morgan said while getting up. “This is Riley, he’s an anthu, that myself and Jordan” He pointed to his partner while they waved with a half asleep Malan on their shoulder. “Have had for a few years now. He loves to meet new people if you couldn’t tell already.”

Riley smiled and Barry gave a reluctant pet. Riley’s smile grew bigger from receiving the attention.

Morgan’s gaze turned to Gabriel.

“I think I’ve seen you somewhere before Gabe.” Morgan asked.

“We have. The field commander knew I had previous experience in Riverton with your group so that’s why I was ordered to come here.”

“Oh so you were at Riverton? Well I’m glad we could have you with us.”

Riley went back to his seat and Morgan ushered the two to their chairs. Barry pulled out an audio recorder and placed it in the middle of the table and began documenting the conversation. The group recounted their adventure thus far. From being almost shot in a back alley, meeting a witch, almost committing friendly fire, having a bar fight, partially defiling an ancient dig site, trying to stop an act of terrorism, and most recently seeing two ancient dragons emerge from their stone tombs.

“That’s the 15 minute version of the story.” Lucan closed out. “I didn’t know much about the stuff before Kentshire.”

Gabriel swallowed a hunk of bread and cleared his throat.

“Right. You mentioned you had another member since passing through there. I was led to believe it was Charlie Sigil? Some of the accounts from Harzenburg mentioned he was there despite being missing for months. Where has he been this whole time?”

“Oh yeah Charlie. He said he got captured by eagles and he’s a druid now. He’s also got a hot girlfriend now who looks like she could rip a tree in half.”

Everyone eyed Lucan.

“What?” Lucan yelped. “We all know that’s true.” “Doesn’t mean you have to say it.” Kracak said lightly.

“Ok well I am glad people will know he is doing well.” Barry answered. “Do you know if he has changed his allegiance since being a druid?”

“No comment.” Lawrence quickly answered, quickly eyeing everyone to not go against that answer.

“Okay, I do need to ask about your sleepy friend as well.” Gabriel pointed to Malan.

“Oh she’s just tired. We’ve all had a long day. Days.” Jordan answered.

Gabriel scribbled something in his notes.

“Wasn’t the wizard with you as well? My sources weren’t clear on if it was Nolan or Joseph.”

“It was Joseph.” Answered Lucan. “We’re not sure where he is now but hopefully he will show up later since he was pivotal to our last few successes.”

“He is a powerful spellcaster.” Gabriel scribbled some more notes down. “The dragon that was in Midlow park yesterday, where did it go?” “Oh I can actually answer that one!” Morgan chimed. “Before leaving Joseph brought me to go see some weird guy and his friend a violet Halcyon do a spell on the talisman.”

Lucan’s eyes went wide. Morgan didn’t see it but Jordan and Kracak did and both eyed him. He stayed quiet for the rest of the interview.

“The guy did some weird magic and now the dragon Corlyx is in this talisman.” Morgan pulled the item from his pocket and presented it to the two. It glistened even in the slightest bit of sunlight, making light waves as it moved back and forth from being disturbed.

It shifted its movement ever so slightly. Riley’s ears perked up and looked out the window. Kracak also had the same response.

“Something’s up. I felt something too.” Lawrence announced erupting from his chair, the furnishing flipping from his dramatic rise. 

What sounded like thunder hit like a blunt thud through the house.

“Artillery.” Lawrence bellowed.

The house shook as a shell hit a few hundred meters away.

“Under the table, now!” Lawrence screamed.

Gabriel and Barry scrambled under the table while the group rushed outside to scan the situation. 

The Dismayed had found a way to get enough artillery in range of Gregora to rain fire on the capitol. 

Lawrence pulled out a pistol and took aim at a shell. The shell exploded mid air as he fired.

“That’s not gonna get all of them, we need a better way to handle this!” He shouted.

A figure shot around the sky, hitting falling shells in fantastic fireballs. THe figure was shrouded completely in fire. Shockingly, it wasn’t Joseph as he also appeared in the sky and took a few out before landing.

“Sup guys. Odd weather.” He stated.

“Joseph! The Dismayed are doing this and you’re the fastest in the sky, take out the artillery!” Lawrence commanded.

Joseph sighed.

“Fine. I’ll go deal with it.”

He sprang back into the air and zipped off, missing the other flying figure.

The group scrambled to make sure people were safe and under cover, each taking a single street to keep the people inside.

Lucan barreled down a street, peering through windows to make sure their dwellers were safe inside. Out of a side street he saw two men carrying rifles who quickly spotted him.

“Your doom is near!” They belted out.

Lucan quickly dispatched them with his shotgun. He had as much adrenaline as blood running through his veins. This fight felt more real than the last ones.

“Lucan?” A voice rang out behind him. 

He snapped back to the real world and turned. It was Nijali, looking confused and horrified. Without much of a thought he pushed her back inside and slammed the door behind, pushing her under a table.

“Lucan?! What is happening!” She blared.

“Artillery. The Dismayed they’re trying to attack the city and-” “Dismayed? Wait, is that why you’re here? That means you’re hanging out with the wizard! Lucan, that guy is gonna get you killed!”

“He’s taking care of the artillery as we speak. We only got to this point with his help so I don’t think he’s gonna get me killed.”

“He's helping people?” “Yes! And he helped us get from Alberts to Harzenburg so we could stop that asshole from burning down 10 city blocks to find some shitty talismans!”

Nijali peered at the floor, another artillery strike shook the house.

“So, you’re going to help stop them?” She faltered.

“Of course. I’ve come this far, we can’t stop now.”

Lucan grabbed her hand, she squeezed tight.

“Y’know, being a hero is pretty hot.” Nijali broke the tension.

Lucan laughed but was interrupted by Nijali kissing him.

Nijali ended the kiss by pushing him away.

“You should go save the world now.”

Lucan smiled.

“Y’know you can come with me if you want.” “I think I can stay back here. If there are more of those weirdos like we saw, we’re gonna need to put a stop to them too.”

Lucan headed for the door.

“Lucan.” Niajli said as he was about to open the door. He turned back. “Come back okay? I want to see you again.”

“I’ll come back. I’d love to see you again.”

He went for the door again and right before exiting he said

“You do need to invite me over again, while we’re not in the middle of a war. You do have a nice place.”

Nijali chuckled and Lucan exited the rowhouse.

He jogged back down the street and reconvened with the rest of the group. Most of them were speaking with a man in a dull red fighting clothes commonly seen used by monks.

Lawrence was enjoying a cigarette and greeted Lucan.

“Talking to your girlfriend?” He bluntly asked.

“Yes, and I said what you recommended me to do.”

“Good.” Lawrence flicked his cigarette and stamped it out. “Think that girl will really like you.”

“Thanks. So who’s the new guy.”

“Ulfgar. He’s a pyromancer, son of Avignis.”

Lucan raised an eyebrow.

“The Phoenix?” “The exact one. Apparently has a half sister too. We saw her flying around doing the same thing. She’s a daughter of Dracis.” “Wow. Why didn’t we get them to help us out?”

Lawrence patted Lucan on the shoulder.

“Because the world doesn’t revolve around us, kid.” “I’m 33.” “And I’m much older than you, kid.”

Lawrence walked over with Lucan in tow.

Barry was getting pictures of the entire ordeal. Ulfgar was very interested in speaking with the entire group, and wanted to know what was happening.

“I saw the dragon yesterday but had assumed something that the college or the council was doing. Never a dull moment here with either of them. But there were a few of those, Dismayed as you called them, running around even after the bombardment ended. Me and my sister will try to round them up before they cause more trouble while you and finish up with the rest of them.”

There was nothing but smiles on the group, happy to see someone else helping out.

“When we’re done we’d love to keep in contact in case something else like this happens.” Jordan suggested.

“Absolutely!”

Gabriel called for everyone to follow him to the Northwin operations camp. By now any plans they may have had were pushed up to this very moment.

The camp was abuzz with soldiers moving out to aid in rescue and firefighting operations in the city. Others had been preparing for assaults and sweeps of the town to get rid of any Dismayed who wormed themselves in.

There was a garage near one of the city’s gates. The open bay doors revealed tanks preparing for an excursion.

“Stanley!” Gabriel barked. One of the men loading in shells turned and ran to attention.

“What’s the updated situation?” Gabriel asked in a much softer tone than his previous statement.

“Well the high command has ordered an immediate embarkmentattack. Aerial reconnaissance has shown some sort of structure these goons are coming from.”

“So we’ll find Naturius there.” Lawrence announced.

Stanley scrambled back to attention.

“At ease, I’m not in the ranks anymore.” Lawrence insisted. Stanley went back to his normal state.

“Apologies, you’re a legend around here.” “I’m just a man, no different from you.” “Of course. As I was saying, they wanted us to ship out there as soon as possible. We can get everyone situated on one of the tanks or the armored carriers. Expect heavy resistance. It's an opportunity to test out those new anti-armor weapons.” Gabriel eyed one of the tanks being equipped with a second front facing weapon. Rather than a barrel that fired shells, this one was a solid rod with a small hole cut down the middle. Tons of electronics were being installed in the tank and wired to control the weapon.

“It’s something to do with light. They explained if the sun could put all of its light and heat on one point in an instant. Burns a lot of power but can cut through solid steel they say.” “Wonderful. We can get everyone situated and head out.”

Gabriel turned around as Stanley ran back to his duties.

“Alright we got a compound where your Naturius is. We’ll escort you there. Get in, put a bullet in his head, and we get out.”

“I don't think it’s going to be that easy.” Morgan replied.

“Get what you need done. I’m not too interested in the details.”

They broke right before a private of the quartermaster detail arrived to speak with the group. He said that the armory was open to them if they needed anything for their mission.

Kracak, Lucan, and Malan were quick to jump on this and followed the private back to Northwin’s armory.

The lieutenant at arms welcomed the 3 into the front of the armory.

“Order’s are from the crown that we give you anything that will help in your mission. We got a few selections of rifles and shotguns you may find interesting.”

Malan had a wood finish bolt action rifle, but the composite rifle they had with a magnifying scope was enticing enough to get a replacement. Lucan had already been given his shotgun, but did like the armor piercing slugs they had for ammo. Kracak took a machine pistol as a backup weapon.

“Thank you.” Malan said to the quartermaster.

“No, thank you. My sister attends Altonia.”

“Oh.” Malan muttered.

“We’ll make sure they get the justice deserved.” Lucan announced.

The quartermaster nodded and the 3 exited. 

Jordan and Morgan were playing catch with Riley, something they were very behind on. 

One of the soldiers, an infantryman, stepped over to watch the game.

“Is that an anthu?” The infantryman asked.

“He is. His name is Riley.” Morgan answered.

“I’ve only heard stories about anthu.” He continued. “I heard that they’re great if you want some alone time and-”

Shocking pain screamed up the man’s shoulder. Gabriel stood right behind him, a steel grip on the infantryman’s shoulder.

“We should be courteous to our guests. Morgan, Jordan, and especially Riley are guests.” Gabriel asserted.

Gritting through pain, the infrantryman agreed. Gabriel let go and the soldier quickly fled, holding the shoulder in pain.

“Don’t worry too much about them. They’re mostly tough talk and don’t understand the concept of manners.” Gabriel assured.

 Jordan, after seeing the whole interaction from afar, walked closer with Riley in front of her.

“Well, thank you for that Gabriel. I can’t imagine what he was about to say about Riley.”

Morgan stuck a hand out to shake his. Gabriel shook his hand.

“Please, my mom calls me Gabriel when she’s mad at me. Barry only called me that because he wanted to be formal. You can call me Gabe. ”

“Barry didn’t ask?” “He’s a bit too scared. Seemed terrified when I said I’d be away for a few minutes to come and save the day over here. He’s new to this stuff so I don’t feel offended by it.”

JordaMorgan saw the ring of a seal hidden under Gabe’s cufflink. He could tell from the insignificant length what spellcaster he is.

“Sorcerer?” Jordan asked.

Gabe’s eyes shot left to right.

“Maybe? Who wants to know?”

“We’ve met a lot of spellcasters in our lives, Gabe.” Morgan added. “You’re family with the rest of us.”

Gabe’s heart skipped a beat.

“Have you had this since the last time we met?” Jordan asked.

“No, actually. I got it shortly after Riverton. It inspired me to continue that path.”

“That’s wonderful!” Morgan exclaimed. 

“If this is over.” Morgan corrected himself before even starting. “When this is over, we’d love to have you over. We could give you some notes and anything we can to help you however you need.”

“Well, thank you for the offer. If I ever get time away from my post I will have to take you up on your offer.”

The three who went to the armory made their trek back. Joseph also stepped back over after he did some basic illusion tricks to impress the soldiers. Lawrence and Julia had done some autographs for other soldiers, with Will awkwardly standing by.

“With everyone here we can get you situated on a tank or carrier.” Gabe announced.

He ushered the group back over to the garage bays. 4 tanks had their engines roaring and billowing foul exhaust. With them sat a 6 wheeled carrier, lighter armor than the tanks but more agile and a machine gun posted on top.

Lawrence and Morgan, Kracak and Will, Joseph and Julia, and Gabe and Barry posted themselves on tanks. Jordan, Malan, Riley, and Lucan found themselves sitting in the carrier. Once the door had closed they set off to their destination.

Over the radio Gabe had given them an update on their destination.

“Aerial reconnaissance tells us their HQ is some sort of castle that sprang up in the middle of the Gregoran pine barrens.”

Lucan grabbed the receiver in the carrier.

“Was there any sign of a giant shiny white dragon?”

“Not that I was told of but they faced some casualties on their reconnaissance. It sounds like that might be your answer.”

Lucan, or anyone, did not like that answer.

The escort saw some gunfire but with the armor it was harmless. That was until a stolen tank had found itself on the tail of the escort.

A fast acting Joseph popped from the cupola and cast a stream of lightning so strong the engine exploded out from the back of the tank making the diesel beast dead in its tracks.

More vehicles descended on the escort. Tanks opened fire as trucks had swathes of Dismayed soldiers open fire on them.

The tanks stopped and turned their weapons around. Blasting soldiers with shells, and trying the new light guns on the trucks and tanks.

The first shot a hole straight through the steel engine of the trucks, spewing gasoline and oil on the ground turning to an instant fireball. Another cut a vertical slice into a tank before the other tanks could try to return fire.

Morgan had jumped out and had summoned his shield as a means to draw fire away from others getting out of the vehicles.

Julia and Lawrence, on the same page, opened fire with heavy machine guns with efficiency. The Dismayed soldiers scrambled to find cover as Gabe erupted from his cupola and took out all he could with his rifle.

Will rushed and went to encircle their soldiers, quickly turning to his beastly form and running around them, splitting their fire into two ranks.

Joseph had also used an earth moving spell to cause the ground underneath the enemy tanks to rupture and boil, shooting dirt and rocks high into the sky and a tank into the depths.

The last two tanks took no time to act fast and fire on their targets.

Lucan had opened the back door to see a tank aimed right at the carrier, and slammed the door shut and jumped to protect the others from the direct hit.

The back of the carrier exploded, sending shrapnel and fire everywhere and hurling the other half on its backside. The 4 passengers crashed around inside, half conscious from their crash. Lucan, ears bleeding and only seeing in blurry vision, pulled his shotgun to his chest as he waited for someone to come and try to finish the job. One Dismayed sprinted and attempted to aim his gun at Lucan before being cut down by a shotgun slug to the chest.

Lucan could feel his consciousness slipping as more rushed him, but was pulled back as Jordan fixed their gun on the others and cut them down with a submachiengun.

A massive cut on their head and fleeting consciousness, Lucan knew that Jordan had given something to an affirmative as he heard Malan bust down the passenger door and Riley scampered out.

He trained every ounce of power in his body to heal Jordan’s head trauma and other injuries.

In that moment of healing, Malan readied to heal Lucan. 

“Follow Riley, I can take care of him.” Jordan ordered. Malan nodded, and quickly followed Riley’s path.

Lucan may have considered himself clinically dead for a moment there. That being said, Jordan definitely felt a pulse as they rushed a healing spell onto him.

Lucan felt his memories rush back. His most recent is seeing Nijali laugh at a joke he made while sharing a bed together.

“Nijali!” He yelped while quickly jumping forward.

Jordan looked at him oddly, before cutting down another Dismayed that tried to sneak on them.

“Is Nijali a friend?” Jordan asked.

“A bit more than that.” Lucan answered.

“If that’s the case you may need to bring her over sometime to our place. But we should go for now.”

Lucan agreed and the two slipped out of the passenger exit.

The second tank shell hit Lawrence’s tank directly. Its engine shattered and detonated. Lawrence had known the shot was inevitable and quickly closed to cupola and had himself and the crew brace for impact.

Lucan and Jordan saw the tank sail off the side of the road and down a gully taking a few trees with it. They both quickly looked at each other, and followed after the tank.

Lawrence hadn’t lost any consciousness during the explosion. He had some training on dealing with high impacts and what to do if you somehow survive them. The driver of the tank wasn’t so lucky, his neck turned almost completely around as he had tumbled around the tank. The gunner was strapped in his seat but passed out. Lawrence went to check if he was alive but felt an angry and burning pain sear up his left side.

A flathead screwdriver had wedged itself into his abdomen. While a short necked screwdriver, the pain was all the same to him.

He heard voices drawing close to the tank, and ones he didn’t recognize. He tried to ready a weapon but the flathead was forcing him to hold back. He gritted his teeth and removed the tool out of his body.

He grabbed a shotgun from under his trenchcoat and trained it on the cupola.

While muffled he heard two voices arguing on how to open the tank. He waited for one of them to be mid thought, and forced the cupola open. Blasting one away, pausing to rack another shell, and taking down the next. 

The last few drops of adrenaline ran out in his body and aching pain soon replaced fear.

He stumbled out of the cupola and steadied his gun for any others who wanted to take him down.

He saw Lucan and Jordan, the two best people to see in this situation, and waved to them.

“Gunner’s alive but needs attention now!” He yelled at them. Lucan wormed his way inside to tend to the soldier.

Jordan immediately recognized blood on Lawrence’s shirt.

“Show me where you got hurt.” Jordan ordered.

“I’m fine, worry about-”

“Show me it Lawrence.” Jordan ordered.

He sighed and pulled his shirt up. The wound was nasty, still bleeding and showed the screwdriver had rotated around in his abdomen.

Jordan quickly went to heal his wounds.

“You’ll be fine but not heavy lifting for a month or two. I know you like to carry Will to bed so maybe lay off on that.”

Lawrence stared daggers at Jordan. They however were unaffected.

“You two are lovely together Lawrence. There’s nothing to feel bad about.” 

Jordan cracked a smile and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Lucan pulled the gunner out and threw him over his shoulder.

“Guy should be fine, other than a few broken bones.” Lucan announced.

“Good, we should regroup with the rest.” Lawrence replied, sticking his shotgun back under his coat. They hiked back up the gully to find most of the Dismayed attackers dead or retreating. Joseph stood around checking for anyone playing dead.

While catching his breath from the hike, Lucan asked something he thought about while at the bottom of the gully.

“Lawrence, where the fuck do you store all your guns?”

“My trench coat has a pocket dimension so it all goes in there.” He answered.

“That’s how you got into my wizard dimension!” Joseph yelled.

Lawrence half grinned at the upset wizard.

“Well,” Joseph said deflated. “It is pretty impressive. You gotta show me how that works sometime.” “Mikael secret.”

After seeing Lawrence’s tank fly sky high, Morgan fled into the forest on the opposite side to get a moment to think of a plan. No such luxury was allowed as some Dismayed had followed him and he needed to deal with. 

A soul spear had cut through two of them as three more ran for cover. Not risking a forest fire, Morgan opted for briar entanglement. Two had gotten entangled allowing Morgan to bash them with his mace, as another had narrowly dodged the spiked vines from latching to his legs.

Disposing of the second one, the last Dismayed jumped Morgan from behind, attempting to choke him out with his rifle. Morgan swung his mace around, slamming it into the pits of his knees and goring his calves. These soldiers had a death wish, and saw pain as only temporary for the goal of apocalypse. He wouldn’t be letting go anytime soon. 

That was until a bullet was caught in his temple and the Dismayed crumpled over.

Morgan looked behind and up to see Malan hanging out in a tree, her rifle still smoking from the shot she had taken.

“You live up to the nickname ‘the whisper’ don’t you?” Morgan asked.

“Sort of, I just took the commotion as an opportunity to pick my target.” Malan answered, sliding down the side of the tree.

“By the way. Jordan really likes lavender, the smell and the flower. You should bring some to them sometime.”

“Sure.” Malan blushed. “Thanks for the advice.”

The two retreated back to the start of their skirmish. Everyone else still alive had rendezvoused already, Barry taking ample pictures of the aftermath. Riley was also desperate to get a picture of himself during the photography.

“Riley! Morgan!” Jordan exasperated. 

The two rushed to Morgan and Malan. Riley embraced Morgan, whining in relief Morgan was okay. 

Jordan and Malan hugged, glad they had both made it out alive. Jordan saw this as a perfect moment to finally kiss the other cleric.

Finished with their reunion, Jordan rushed to Morgan to also kiss him.

“You two work well together I see.” Jordan commented.

“Well, she did get me out of a tough spot.” Morgan retorted.

“Morgan is being bashful. He helped me out too.” Malan added. She winked at Morgan.

“As much as I enjoy a reunion,” Gabe yelled. “We still have a mission to follow through on! Pile on and we’ll be there shortly!”

From an outcropping across the valley, Erebos watched the entire fight go down through an anti material rifle scope. Darius stood behind him, seeing the fight clearly with Magic Eye.

“Y’know I can give them a leg up from here. None of those old tanks The Dismayed snatched would stand up to a shot from this.” Erebos said in a heavy Pentoran drawl.

“No,” Darius responded. “They can fight their own battles.”

Erebos turned back to him.

“So what would you call your meddling?”

“Pushing the pieces together.”

An explosion rattled the entire valley as the carrier flung upwards.

Darius turned back to Nijali, cautiously watching.

“Your boyfriend is fine. He’s in there and making it difficult to get rid of.”

Nijali’s stare went dead.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” “It’s been obvious since the first moment we regrouped. That and Thiala told me what her city watchers had to say.”

“You mean her pigeons?” “Yes, they are vital to our surveillance of the capital, and that was the least of the problems they had reported back to me.”

“Why are we up here anyways if we aren’t doing anything to help them?” Erebos interjected.

“To see what they really are capable of. If they manage to somehow fuck up with Naturius, I won’t hesitate to interrupt and fix the mess Joseph has failed to clean up.”

“You don’t think the most powerful wizard can stop this mess?”

“I think he can, but he’s too foolish to realize what it might mean if he fails.”

“You think that if this was a big enough deal, he would’ve brought that other wizard with him.”

“Nolan has his own problems to deal with, none of them involving the end of the world. To your left.”

A stray bullet ricocheted off the outcrop near Erebos. He did not flinch, but Nijali did.

Nijali got anxious and stepped forward.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to-”

“No! Stay. You go down there and the paladin will know something is up. Naturius needs his plan to fail mercilessly and with no one the wiser. Joseph sees you there, and all the tracking Kane and Thiala have done will be for nothing. And everyone, Joseph, you, me, your little boyfriend, we all lose.”

Niajli still looked like she was about to scramble down there.

“Your boyfriend will be fine. I promise.”

That appeased her for the moment.

A phone that Erebos had sitting beside him went off. Quick to answer it he relayed the message he had received.

“Thiala and Kane have found the Outsider. Somewhere outside of Lentrau, just destroyed an armored battalion. They’ll keep following it until we can get there.”

“Then we shall leave now to catch that demon.” Darius announced.

He cast a magic platform and stood on it and ushered the other two on board.

The road to the castle was short lived, and the castle was well fortified. The 3 tanks they had left would not fare against the units head on and they had pulled for cover and concealment to develop a plan.

“Our sneak attack we’ll have to spread thin so they can’t pick us all off at once.” Lawrence started.

“We should hit them with something to get them confused and panicked.” Jordan added. “Joseph that earth spell to open the ground underneath those tanks before, we could use that to-”

A war horn was sounded to their left, followed by the yell of a familiar voice. 

Kracak quickly popped her head beyond their hiding spot and reported back.

“Charlie’s back. And he’s brought all of his druid friends.”

Shocked, Morgan asked.

“All of them?”

“Pretty sure yeah. There’s a shit ton of them and they all look very angry and very ready for a fight.” Moments later there was an explosion followed by gunfire.

Jordan and Morgan popped their heads and saw an army of druids taking the Dismayed head on. They saw volleys of arrows, various large birds and other predators, battleaxes and hammers, and many many spells came down on the Dismayed. Even with their large numbers, they stood no chance to the numbers of the Druids. Riley saw this as an opportunity not only for more hands to pet, but to bite many other ones. He sprinted out to the battle with his bound staff that quickly found itself bearing down on the Dismayed.

The rest followed suit, all wanting to keep him safe.

In the middle of a breath Jordan said to Morgan.

“Y’know when you and Malan were gone for a bit, he did beat down like 5 Dismayed. I think that was the most he had ever fought at once.”

They both looked and saw as Riley, fighting beside Charlie, bashed one Dismayed and knocked him into two others.

What was a beatdown now turned into a nightmare for the Dismayed. Any ranks they had broke down as heavy armor and spellcasters joined the ranks of the Druids to break through to the castle.

Lawrence saw little use to utterly rout them and yelled for everyone to get into the castle as he gunned down Dismayed with dual pistols.

Will had turned to a beast and slashed the locks off the large wooden door and opened the door for everyone. Once inside he quickly jammed the door shut behind them.

Both Charlie and Shelly had joined the group for this final showdown.

“Hey guys!” Charlie exclaimed. “Glad you could make it out here!”

Morgan chuckled at seeing Charlie again and without thinking embraced the rockstar.

“Glad to see you again!” Morgan said back.

Lawrence cleared his throat and had everyone look to the middle of the atrium.

There was a large circular marble platform that clashed with the cobblestone flooring. Above it were two marble semicircles that slowly opened revealing some sort of elevator shaft.

Everyone just looked at it, not stating the obvious. Barry took the moment to take another picture of the group looking at this obvious trap.

“Y’know what fuck it.” Joseph announced. He conjured a flat magical board. “Everyone get on, we're doing this my way. Morgan, get that talisman ready for whatever they got planned up there.”

All of them walked onto the board and Morgan had the talisman in his left hand while everyone reloaded or prepared spells.

They slowly ascended 3 stories and arrived at a throne room where Naturius, some of his lackeys, a handful of spellcasters, and his general had sat.

 “I’m disappointed you did not take my provided transportation.” Naturius announced. The lift he had provided followed shortly after at a pitiful pace.

“You’re not the type to trust with anything.” Morgan snipped back.

Lawrence said nothing and pulled ahead everyone else and opened fire on the Dismayed king. The bullets bounced harmlessly off a ward he had set.

“Come now don’t you think I already thought of that?” Naturius admonished.

The castle shook violently as the dragon Garrick ripped the top off of the castle.

“Aw Garrick!” Naturius complained. “You just built this place, why do you need to destroy it?”

Garrick did not respond.

“Fine be that way. Kill them!”

Garrick trained his gaze on the group. 

Morgan held the talisman high above him.

“Stop! This talisman holds Corlyx, your half sister Garrick! You destroy us and this talisman destroys the entire continent in an instant!”

Naturius shifted his eyes between Morgan and Garrick.

“Well? Go on then, kill them!”

“Lord Naturius!” His general pleaded. “It would be unwise to let such-” “Silence General Rivers!”

Lawrence laughed.

“Rivers? You mean lieutenant Rivers? The one who broke a general’s daughter’s heart and was forced to languish at that rank for his own avarice? That’s your second in command?”

Rivers gritted his teeth.

“Kill them.” Rivers sneered.

Naturius grinned and readied to give the word.

“If you kill us then the continent goes away and so do you!” Morgan exclaimed.

“Why should I care? It’s what we’ve been wanting for a thousand years!”

“But wouldn’t lady death credit me for this? I’m the one who holds the talisman and I can as easily shatter it on the ground as well causing the same end! I hold everyone’s fate in my hands, and not yours!”

Naturius cautiously looked at the amulet, carelessly dangling from Morgan’s hand.

Everyone stood in silence, bracing for what would happen next.

“Fine!” Naturius relented. “What do you want?”

“A battle between both dragons. Like fate has always wanted. If you win you get to destroy the world like your people have wanted for so long. We win and well, what happens won’t really matter.”

Naturius refined his gaze at Morgan.

“Then have at it.” Naturius announced.

Morgan said some words at the amulet as it glowed and erupted the dragon Corlyx above the castle.

Both dragons floated atop the castle, the forest, the continent. Not looking at each other but through one another.

Garrick roared and bared his teeth down onto Corlyx. She swiped at him, tearing through one of his wings.

A holy fire erupted from Garrick’s mouth and blasted Corlyx as she erupted in blinding darkness throwing her half brother through the sky. 

Garrick strafed and swiped her with his tail. She snapped at it with her mouth and nicked the end, sending pain through Garrick.

Something strange went through Corlyx. She felt invigorated, like the power of 20 suns were in her. She could not stop herself as she dug her claws and fangs into Garrick and flew high into the sky.

Everyone watched in terror as the champion of darkness shined brightly and in an instant, the two dragons exploded sending shockwaves that were felt even by those in Atrocostas an ocean away.

Tears welled in Naturius’s eyes. He dropped to his knees.

“My work! A thousand years! All for nothing!”

“Well shit.” Joseph muttered. “Didn’t expect that to happen.”

Morgan snapped his look at him. He grabbed Joseph by the robes and pulled him in.

“You didn’t know this was gonna happen?”

“What? No of course not! I was hoping they would fight long enough for Lawrence or Will to take down Naturius!” “Joseph is right, I was gonna maul him if that fight kept going.” Will added.

“Don’t encourage him Will!” Jordan scolded.

“Look, we can still get Naturius.” Joseph looked over to the broken king.

Lawrence stepped forward and pulled a machine gun to his ready.

General Rivers stepped forward along with the sorcerers.

“We’ll take things from here. Men!” 

The sorcerers revealed grimoires that opened themselves as they chanted a spell shifting the air and encasing the throne room inside a reddish fog.

“We will take care of these foolish heroes. This fool's reign is over!” Rivers proclaimed.

Lawrence pulled his gun and aimed for Rivers. It went *click* and no bullets came streaming out of it.

The others tried their weapons and even spells, none had worked. Shelly had tried to raise her battleax but felt as if she was lifting the world and to no avail. Even Will could not feel his beastial form haranguing him like it usually does.

Rivers pulled out a heavy caliber handgun.

“Of course my men did make a carve out for my own personal armory. So that all of you can watch in fear as I personally execute every one of you. The last two of the Mikael family and the ever powerful wizard.”

“Try me bitch!” Joseph sneered.

Lawrence slipped his weapon away and raised his fists.

“Try me too!”

Rivers laughed.

“Oh? Are the rumors about the fragility of Rivers’s wrists actually true?” Lawrence speculated aloud.

Rivers growled, and holstered his pistol and raised his fists.

The two engaged in hand to hand combat.

“So, we’re gonna just watch them fight?” Lucan asked.

“We should come up with a plan to get rid of this field.” Jordan answered.

“We should kick the shit out of the sorcerers.” Shelly proposed.

No one was ecstatic about the idea, but Gabe agreed.

“Most sorcerers, at least the ones who are way too interested in cults, think they’re safe behind their wards and spells. We can show them that’s not the case.”

Shelly nodded and they stepped forward. Seeing no other good plan, Morgan and Jordan followed suit with Riley en tow.

Rivers had seen the plot being brought into action and tried to lift his gun to fire, but Lawrence countered by slamming both fists into his wrist and elbow.

The sorcerers tried to counter but had quickly realized their foes were much faster than they anticipated. They saw their quick and brutal end as the 5 kicked or punched their heads into the hard cobblestone floors and walls. 

With concentration, and in more cases their lives, broken, the red fog quickly subsided.

Lawrence reacted to the fog subsiding, leaving Rivers to use his non-dominant hand to grab his gun to bear on Lawrence. Lawrence grabbed his hand and pointed upwards with the gun going off on the unstable roof. Cobblestone bricks fell and quickly shattered what foundation was left beneath them. The marble lift shuttered and collapsed, sending the two men falling down the dungeon at a terrifying pace on the platform.

“Lawrence!” Morgan yelled looking down the shaft. He heard the dull thump of the platform hit the dungeon floor. 

Gabe took no time to waste and prepared ropes for everyone to follow. Will took less time and descended viciously to the bottom in his newly regained form.

Lawrence’s everything hurt. He looked for a gun to protect himself and noticed a handgun was missing. He grabbed another and stumbled through the torch lit dungeon following a blood smeared path.

He saw Rivers pulling himself across the dungeon with one arm and holding Lawrence’s gun in another.

“You could get away faster if you used both arms.” Lawrence announced him.

“I do not wish for cowardly retreat, only glorious victory at any cost.” Rivers staggered

“Now you know why I left Northwin. You and all the others felt blood spilt was more valuable than anything in the world.”

“Indeed it is.”

Rivers pointed his gun and pulled the trigger. Nothing came out.

“And you really are just like the rest and never check what really matters.”

Lawrence drew his gun and fired at Rivers. Brain and skull splattered out of the back of his head, and he slumped over dead.

He stood there for a moment and slumped over on the wall, the adrenaline now retreating in his body.

“Lawrence!” He could hear through the ringing in his ears.

He kept hearing it over and over again until it was loud enough to be on top of him.

He felt the warmth of a healing spell for the second time that day, and the face of Gabe, providing him with the healing. Lucan stepped forward and provided him a hand to get back up.

“Wish I could’ve helped you but he had one ready on hand.” Lucan claimed.

“Well, thank you soldier.” Lawrence grimaced.

“I’d hope you would help in my time of need.” Gabe replied. 

Morgan stepped forward.

“We heard a gunshot, did he shoot you?”

“No no, he grabbed a gun I hadn’t reloaded yet and didn’t check to see if it was good to go.”

“Wow. That’s quite some luck.” “Not really. He was just less lucky than I was.”

Lawrence caught his breath and was ready to leave.

They ventured back up and opened the door.

“I can fly back up and grab our little prisoner.” Joseph declared. “Maybe a nice look at the forest will cheer-”

The doors opened and they saw Naturius standing outside. Some of the rubble had cut him up and he’s bleeding from every extremity.

His arm shook as he pointed directly at everyone.

“You!” He snarled. “You took everything from me!”

“Kid,” Lawrence implored. “You’ve lost. At least keep your dignity.”

Naturius’s other hand revealed a ceremonial dagger that he slammed into the palm of his other hand. Blood gushed onto the ground, filling a seal he had made into the dirt around him.

Joseph took no time to explain anything, casting a fireball right at the broken king.

A dark green and black form caught the fireball shielding Naturius from damage. It erupted from the seal with a long neck and hulking body. Its roar had chilled everyone’s blood.

It returned with a green fireball as everyone dashed to safety.

“What the fuck is that thing?” Jordan asked a nearby Joseph.

“Guardian dragon! The enforcers of the deep pits of Ykasha!” He easily answered.

“Hard to kill, got it.” Lawrence said from afar. Under his jacket he revealed a long rocket launcher and aimed for the beast. The rocket slammed into the side of the beast, only angering it.

Everyone else had opened fire on the creature as it rampaged around a ravaged battlefield.

Lucan unloaded shell after shotgun shell into the beast while Kracak and Malan aimed for the eyes. Joseph called upon deep rocks in an attempt to skewer the dragon. Riley distracted the creature and dodged its breath attacks. Will unleashed the beast and jumped onto the neck of the monster. Morgan and Jordan combined powers for a magnificent soul spear.

Gabe tried to keep Barry safe as he took more pictures of this fantastic battle. But the more pictures he took the more he saw a fruitless battle.

Lucan was reloading when he saw the dead body of a Dismayed soldier, followed by the rest of their little army all as corpses.

“Joseph! I have an idea!”

Joseph flung himself to the necromancer to hear his idea. Lucan showed his grimoire tattoo and the spell he had.

“Damn, didn’t expect you to be that proficient.”

“That’s the thing, I don’t have enough strength to summon a damn dragon.”

An explosion cracked near them as they both braced.

“Well, I can help but it would still be some time to get it going.”

“What about Morgan’s sword?”

Without responding Joseph grabbed Morgan and also brought him to their idea circle.

“Need your sword for some energy.”

Morgan didn’t hesitate.

“Use what you need!”

He popped up and cast a frost javelin at the demon.

Joseph put his hand on Lucan’s shoulder and concentrated deeply. Never before did Lucan feel this much magic surge through him as he watched the nearby corpses glow with a black fog.

Joseph yelped and Lucan was lurched into a different plane.

It was bright but gray black and red. He saw a cave in this tarry fog ahead of him. A great dragon emerged from the cave, angry at the disturbance.

“Who dares disturb me?!” The dragon shouted. It had purple scales with a red stomach

“I am Lucan, a necromancer and-”

The dragon pulled his head right in front of Lucan. His eyes were a deep crimson, and filled with rage.

“A necromancer? Could find himself here? Preposterous!” “I had help from a wizard.” Lucan muttered. “Which one? The one who plays pranks or the one who sits atop mountains all day? I find either a laughable ally!”

Lucan had enough of this.

“Listen, I don’t care what you think about wizards. My friends are probably being slaughtered by a guardian dragon and I-”

“A guardian dragon?” The dragon slinked back and eyed Lucan from afar.

“They think themselves high and mighty as Ikos’s guard dogs! What business do they have on the surface world?”

“A warlock who wants to destroy the world summoned him?” “Oh and now they get first right at destroying the world?” The dragon huffed smoke through his nostrils. His head snaked back down to Lucan.

“I’ll cut you a deal necromancer: I will help you in fighting this nuisance provided you help me with something in the future of my choosing.”

Lucan had no other option.

“Deal!”

It felt like some time had passed for Lucan but it was only an instant.

The dragon had formed itself from the bones of the dead and revealed a terrifying bone dragon that Lucan sat atop of.

He yelled at the top of his lungs as his new ally rained destruction on the guardian dragon. 

Natruius was angered, but quickly had his leg injured by Lucan firing his shotgun atop the dragon.

“I am the great and terrible Grymbzx!” The dragon roared as it slashed at the guardian, taking a chunk of flesh with it.

“Your domain over the underworld has no power to the living!” The skeletal beast commanded through purple fire.

The guardian’s scales melted under the high temperature of the fire and fell as Grymbzx dug his claws into it. It let out one angered screech as life bled from its eyes.

There wasn’t any bombastic celebration, just deafening silence as everyone looked at the dead dragon as Grymbzx fled back to Ykasha. 

Naturius had fled, crawled, into the nearby forest as the two dragons fought. Lawrence saw it happen, but realized he’d been beaten and couldn’t ever stage an assault like this ever again.

Lucan collapsed to the ground, heart beating out his chest. Malan approached and held out some water for him.

“Thanks for the save.” She complimented as he grabbed the bottle. “We probably would’ve died without that.”

Barry snapped a picture of the two. Gabe, cleaning his gun, asked him.

“Does everything need to be captured for your story?”

“No. Pictures like that they’ll get to keep for their own memories.”

Gabe raised an eyebrow.

“How very noble of you.”

Will hadn’t gotten the chance before but with the fight now over, he embraced Lawrence. 

Barry raised his camera but Gabe put a hand on it.

“While this is a very sweet moment, a picture can be found by someone else. A memory can’t be found like that.”

Barry looked at him upset, but complied. He instead trained his camera on Riley who had gone to everyone else excitedly hugging each person. He got a few of those, and decided it was enough once Riley came to him for attention.

[thepastisaroadmap]

[A slideshow with eight slides, titled "Best and Worst Arthurian Names to Give to a Child, In no Particular Order" by yours truly <3. Each slide is illustrated with paintings of the characters discussed.

The Basics: Elaine, Erec, Florence, Mark. These are just normal-ass names and the characters aren’t cool enough for it to be worth it. sorry. Apologies to my cousin mark. Also apologies to my great grandma florence.

[all caps] Do not name your child this: Bleoberis, Blamor, Anguish, Agravaine, Mordred, Uther, Ambrosius, Vortigern, Herzeloyde. Self Explanatory. I would bullied an Ambrosius if we had gone to middle school together. If you name your daughter Herzeloyde I think she has the right to disown you. I love sir Mordred but don’t name your kid after someone famous for patricide. bad omen.

Cop-Outs: Gavin, Jennifer. Just name your kid Gawain or Guinevere at this point. Cmon man.

Some deep cuts that I think would make good names: Brunro the Black, of the Ill-Tailored Coat (you have to include the whole thing), Dinas, Clarissant, Lyonesse/Lyonors, Safir.

Special Cases. Lionel: Cool name but people will just think you like soccer. Balin: Cool name but people will think you’re making a Tolkien reference. Same with Meriadoc. Gareth: Cool character but do you really want to name your child Gareth? Lancelot: Please don’t name your child Lancelot. Does the name appear in the 1292 Paris census? Yes. But we don’t have to return to the past.

More Special Cases. Constantine: Cool name but people will think you are pretentious. Merlin: Cool name but people will either think you write fanfiction or think you are weird for naming you kid after an old wizard guy. Isolde: Cool name but didn’t fit with my other slides. You should name your kid this. Ygraine: Also a cool name but also didn’t fit with my other slides. You should name your kid this.

My suggestions: The Basics 2. Morgan, Arthur, Tristan, Owain, Laurel, Anna, Vivian. These are pretty common names but they’re common for a reason. I know cool people with these names. I like these names. Good names.

[all caps] My suggestions: These names are cool. Percival, Hector, Lynnette, Kai/Cei/Kay/Cai, Lucan, Elyan. La creme de la creme of Arthurian names, if you will. I would name my kid these.

End image description]

My apologies to people named Gareth.

[mementovivimus]

❛ pleasuring you should be considered an honor. ❜ for Delia, from @mementovivimus

iincantatorum answered::

"Is it? Well, could you return the honor by giving me your name, good sir?" Not long ago the demoness greeted him with a kiss, already thrilled to meet the new person. It certainly did help that he was heart-breakingly handsome, and the possibilities were endless.

@iincantatorum

It was impossible not to notice the graceful brunette. She was undeniably lovely, and by far the most vivacious person in the room. Perhaps in any room. It went a little farther than that, however. His his magi sight latched onto something different about her, made more palpable when she kissed him on the cheek. Giving a true name was breaking rule number one, here but it seemed more than a fair bargain in this case. "Lucan," he smiled, tempted to reach out and hook her slim wrist as it dropped to her side. Oh, but she was lovely. "And you are?"

[waldmaerchen]

A hug helps

[citrinedecades]

1307 - Gemma's Interlude

After fleeing from her family in Windenburg, Gemma returned to the small tavern in Henford where she had been staying for the past three years. Over the years, she had gotten increasingly dissatisfied with her status as a peasant and began dreaming of a more comfortable life.

She began to concoct a plan to marry a rich man who would be old enough to pass away quickly and leave her with a sizeable inheritance. While gathering information from the merchants and travelers coming through the inn, she learned about Sir Amis Verviers, a retired knight who was granted a manor by the king himself.

Thanks to her machinations, she managed to be hired to take care of the animals on the manor and meet Sir Amis. Though he is a strict and reserved man, she managed to slowly get into his good graces by feigning to share his love of horses.

A few months later, the people of Henford gathered at the manor for a wedding celebration.

Sir Amis Verviers married the enigmatic "Emma Farrow", whose mysterious origins fuel the curiosity of the townsfolk.

Just when she believed her life was finally in her own hands, however, two special guests arrived.

Sir Amis' sons, Lucan and Tobias, have returned to their father's home to meet this secretive new wife.

Young, dashing and dangerous, the two men are an obvious threat to her carefully crafted plans.

[everemore]

She had thought she heard a commotion from outside the room, but the thick castle walls made it hard to hear unless she pressed her ear to the door. As soon as she steps out and sees exactly who it is however comes as no surprise.

"Oh.... Good afternoon Sir Kay." She wasn't worried when she saw Arthur's brother, at least not in the way Lucan might think. In the past she was certainly intimidated and often disagreed with the knight, but she had learned despite his temper and severe lack of manners he was one of the few who had stood up for her. The shame of witnessing him get kidnapped while trying to save her from her own kidnapping was still burned into her memory.

"That is good, I'll trust your judgement then Sir Lucan. Sir Kay if you wish to accompany us if you would like." She spoke with a bow of her head to signal the butler to lead her to the King's office. She will remain silent the whole walk and once they make it she does her best to remain quiet and let Sir Lucan lead the conversation.

Lucan waited outside the room for Guinevere as she freshened up, standing diligently outside the door as he turned over the previous events in his mind to find more information on just what had happened while he was gone. "Lucan!" His thoughts were cut short by the shout of his name at the end of the hall. Green eyes closed for a moment as the butler sighed before turning his gaze to where Kay was certainly striding down the hall with a cloud over his face.

"Kay, keep your voice down."

"Like hell I will!" With a sterner look the butler rose a finger to his lips before gesturing behind him, and making another gesture to let the Seneschal... No Lucan supposed this was purely Arthur's brother right now, either way the gesture would have let the other man know that the room behind him was occupied. Kay face twisted in annoyance as he stopped next to Lucan, looming over the brunette enough to make him realize the other had grown his height.

"Is Arthur in his office?"

"He sure as hell is. The brat wandered in looking like someone shot one of his dogs. What happened, I was gone for two hours-!" This time Lucan reached out and covered the elder's mouth as his voice started to raise again.

"I don't know, but I'm working on it. If you don't keep your voice down though my efforts will go to waste." When the other didn't say anything else Lucan removed his hand and continued in a quiet voice. "Make sure Arthur doesn't leave his office. I'll be back soon." Kay clicked his tongue as he looked away, clearly not please or impressed, and Lucan couldn't help but smile. "You know I won't hurt him on purpose." The door behind him started to open and Lucan made a shooing motion with his hands. Though he couldn't send the Seneschal away fast enough before Guinevere was stepping out and asking about Arthur's location.

Kay's eyes narrowed dangerously at the woman, "You?"

"That won't be necessary Lady Guinevere." Lucan intervened smoothly, turning so that he was physically between the other knight and the lady. Lucan was confident that Kay wouldn't harm a lady, but that wasn't always known to the ladies themselves these days so it was more for Guinevere's peace of mind than to actually restrain the looming man behind him. "Sir Kay has already confirmed that the King is in his office."

There was a moment's pause before the butler added, "When we enter, would you mind not saying anything until I announce you?" Behind him Kay made a noise somewhere between confusion and indignation that Lucan ignored as he smiled at the Princess, "If His Majesty is in the mood I think he won't notice you right away, and I think you'll hear something interesting."