Richard raced down the stairway, seeing Lancelot disappear around a corner ahead of him. Richard reached the bottom of the stairs and ran through the corridors of the palace. People turned to stare at him as he passed, but he ignored them. He could hear Grace running after him, but he did not slow down.


    He caught up with Lancelot as the knight reached an ornate door. Two guards stood outside, staring wide eyed at the High Knight. Lancelot already held his sword in his hands, and he burst through the door without speaking to the guards. Richard, Grace, and the two guards followed him into the room.


    King Arthur Pendragon sat alone at a long table, a meal set before him. Muscles bulged beneath lavish robes, his blonde beard trimmed close to his face. His eyes of pure blue gazed in surprise at Sir Lancelot.


    Richard glanced about the room. There was only one other entrance, and Richard could make out a bed on the other side of the open door there. Rich fabrics and eloquent carpets covered every surface. In the corner of the main room, a magnificent suit of armour rested. Above the armour, the famous sword Excalibur hung from the wall. Richard couldn’t help but take a look at it. It was said the sword had travelled over with Arthur from the last life, the only weapon ever reported to do so.


    Lancelot approached Arthur, his sword still drawn in his hand. “My liege, where is Sir Rufus?”


    “I don’t know,” Arthur said. “I haven’t seen him since I sent him to fetch you for the meeting earlier. What’s going on, Lancelot?”


    Lancelot did not answer the King, turning to face the guards that had followed them into the room. More people were gathering at the doorway, to see what the commotion was about. “You, gather some soldiers and search the palace for Sir Rufus. Leave no stone unturned.” The guard left the room swiftly.


    “Lancelot, what is going on?” Arthur asked again.


    “You, get down to the stables and find out if Sir Rufus has left already.” Another soldier left.


    “Lancelot, talk to me. What is happening?”


    “You, close the gates. No one is to leave the castle-”


    “Damn it Lancelot, answer me!” Arthur roared, banging his fist onto the table. “Now, what is going on?”


    Lancelot turned back to face the King. “Sire, I think Sir Rufus is a traitor, in league with Aggravain to remove you from the throne.”


    “And why do you think that? You better have a good reason to be causing all of this.”


    “Sire, in Aggravain’s years as a High Knight, he only created nine lesser knights. Two of which joined in his initial treachery against you, another has died since then. Sir Rufus was one of them.”


    “You are not accusing Rufus of also being in league with Aggravain based solely on that, are you? Lancelot, please tell me there is something else.”


    “Sire, the other five are the exact five who have just been made lords after the assassinations.”


    Arthur’s face paled. “You can’t be serious?”


    “I am.”


    “Find Rufus. Now.”


    Lancelot turned back to the soldiers gathered in the door, sending more of them out to search for Sir Rufus. Sir Gawain pushed his way into the room a few moments later. He was a tall yet slim man, who Richard knew to be both a feared soldier and intelligent tactician. The blue cloak of the High Knights hung from his shoulders. Lancelot quickly explained his theory to him.


    Gawain laughed. “You cannot believe this, my liege? It is crazy!”


    Arthur paced up and down the room. “It cannot hurt to find the man and talk to him. We must be cautious in these times.”


    “Sire, Sir Rufus has been faithful to you for years. Will you turn against him so quickly?”


    “Gawain, I just need to speak to him.”


    A soldier ran into the room. The man glanced between the two knights for a moment before turning his attention to the King. “Your Majesty, the stablemaster said Sir Rufus took a horse a short while ago and left.”


    “See?” Lancelot said to Gawain. “Would an innocent man run?”


    “This proves nothing,” Gawain said. “How would Rufus even know that we were searching for him in time to escape?”


    The image popped into Richard’s mind of Sir Rufus leaving the library after them. He stepped forwards. “My lords-”


    Gawain spun around to face him. “Who is this?” he demanded.


    “He is with me,” Lancelot said. “Richard, carry on.”


    Richard continued nervously. “My lords, Sir Rufus was in the library when we were. He could have overheard us talking.”


    “Lancelot, bring me the master of messages,” King Arthur said. “Tell him to prepare five birds for Scriosana Castle, Gorkin Castle, Hesren Castle, Ionart Castle, Larhal Castle.”


    “Sire, are you now going to accuse the five of them of treason without any real evidence?” Gawain demanded as Lancelot left the room.


    “The evidence is pretty damn good, Gawain. Now, we could have six traitors in our ranks, and you think I should ignore that? I need to be prepared.”


    “So what are you going to do, sire? Are you going to tell them that they are traitors and hope they hand themselves in?”


    “Of course not, Gawain! I am going to tell them to come here, under the guise of hosting a feast to celebrate their new lordships. Once here, we shall discover if they really are traitors.”


    Gawain sat down, unsatisfied with the King’s response. They waited in silence for Lancelot to come back, most of the soldiers already retreating to their posts. Arthur returned to his meal, chewing through it quietly.


    Lancelot arrived shortly, the master of messages in tow. He was a short man, and he looked unperturbed to be surrounded by so many nobles. After them came another two of the High Knights, Sir Percival and Dame Rayda. Four of the seven High Knights were now gathered around Arthur. Of the other three Richard only knew that Sir Bedivere was in the west preparing to deal with an invasion from Borgone.


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    “Sire, you will want to hear what this man has to say,” Lancelot said. He turned to the master of messages. “Tell him what you told me when I asked you to prepare the birds.”


    “Well, Your Majesty, when this knight came and asked me to prepare these birds for those castles, I said ‘Them again?’ Because, you see, I was just told to send messages to those castles by you. And I thought to meself ‘Ain’t that strange? Those castles again.’ Of course your knight here didn’t seem to know what I was talkin’ about, no offence meant to him.”


    “Who gave you messages to send?” Artur demanded.


    The master of messages scratched his balding head. “Um, dunno his name. One of those low knight people. Ruven…. Roful…. Lofur…. Ravush. I dunno, somethin’ like that.”


    “Sir Rufus?”


    The master of messages nodded. “Could be. Yeah, that sounds right.”


    “And he sent messages to those exact five castles I wanted?”


    “He did indeed. And one other message as well. To the Borgone Isles.”


    Arthur stepped closer to the man. “The Borgone Isles? Are you sure?”


    “Damn sure. I remember thinkin’ to meself ‘Borgone Isles? I dunno if I have a bird that can go there.’ But luckily, I found one. The message was sent away. I did think it was strange. But, like I always say, it ain’t my place to question these lordly matters.”


    “Please leave us,” Arthur said. The master of messages nodded and walked out of the room without saying anything else. Arthur looked at Lancelot. “Where did we get that fool?”


    Lancelot shrugged. “There aren’t many people who wish to spend their afterlife with birds.”


    “There has to be someone better than that.” Arthur sighed and turned to Gawain. “Convinced now?”


    Gawain nodded slowly. “It seems like there is no other explanation than treason.”


    “Indeed. And now Cyclops and Aggravain know we know about the traitors. They will start the war at once. What’s our next move?”


    “We can hope Sir Bedivere gets to the west in time to hold off an invasion,” Sir Percival said.


    “Are we able to get a message to Bedivere?” Dame Rayda asked. “We must warn him of the traitors.”


    “Rayda is right, sire,” Lancelot said. “Bedivere could be walking into a trap.”


    The King rubbed his face tiredly. “Organise it, Lancelot. And send word to each of our castles. We are now at war.”


    ***


    After the declaration of war by King Arthur, the palace went into a frenzy. Dozens of messages were sent out, both by bird and by riders. All soldiers in the palace and in the city made ready to leave, knowing most would be called upon to head west soon. Supplies were organised for the army, and the gold was scraped together by Arthur’s officials.


    Richard and Grace were sent away, the High Knights gathering at the Round Table with Arthur. Night had descended upon Camelot, but no one slept. Richard led the way to the courtyard of the palace. Already soldiers were leaving through the gate.


    He turned to Grace. “What now?”


    “I think we should join Lancelot,” Grace said.


    “He said we are free.”


    “I know. But Camelot is now at war, like it hasn’t been for many years. We do not know for how long. We should join them.”


    “You heard Lancelot. They have no money.”


    “I know. But we don’t have to do everything for the money.”


    “Hmm.” Richard thought for a long moment. “They say Aggravain is rich.”


    Grace looked at him in horror. “You are not suggesting we should join Aggravain?”


    “No, no, of course not. We all know what he’s like. But if Camelot wins, the gold will go to them. We can do this and still get paid.”


    Grace nodded. “So it is settled. We will find Lancelot and join him.”


    In the end, there was very little searching needed to find Lancelot. He strode out of the palace and into the courtyard only a few minutes after their conversation. He saw them and turned away from the stables.


    “I said you are free to go,” Lancelot said as he approached.


    Richard glanced back at Grace. “Sir, we would like to join you,” Richard said.


    “I am sorry Richard, but we do not have the gold. Arthur is already borrowing from some of the traders and merchants to fund our troops.”


    “We hear that the coffers of Aggravain are full. We only ask for our share of the loot after we win.”


    Lancelot laughed. “The mind of the mercenary always knows where the money is. All right, prepare to leave. I have been dispatched along with Dame Rayda to go west at once. We are going to see to these traitors.”


    A small contingent of soldiers joined them and Rayda as they left Camelot. Richard had not met the Dame before, but she was famed across the island for being a cunning soldier. Her skin was a deep brown, her eyes a piercing blue, her black hair flowing freely down to her shoulders. Her armour gleamed, and she wore a cloak of deep blue identical to Lancelot’s.


    Sir Harris rode with them again, having returned to Camelot before them. They arrived at Eldton Castle a few days after leaving Camelot City. Quite a few lords had gathered there with their soldiers. More lords and lesser knights came with Lancelot and Rayda, all the soldiers setting up camp outside the castle.


    Koda, Lady of Eldton Castle, met Lancelot in the courtyard of the castle. To Richard, she looked more like a bear than a person. She was easily seven feet tall, and all muscle. Her clothes were light and her arms bare despite the cold wind that blew through the courtyard. She was older than the High Knights and the King, and had been one of the first nobles to join Arthur’s cause.


    “Sir Lancelot, Dame Rayda, it is an honour to welcome you to my home,” Koda said as they dismounted.


    “Lady Koda, it is good to see you again, despite the circumstances,” Lancelot said.


    “Don’t worry, Lancelot. We will teach these traitors a lesson. If you would follow me, you can join the war council.”


    Koda led the way into the castle. Richard and Grace went with them, no one seeming to notice them. In what would have been the dining hall of the castle, the war council was gathered. There were over a dozen nobles seated at the table, some lesser knights and other soldiers around the outside of the room. Richard recognised quite a few of the people there from encounters over the years.


    Lady Koda took her seat at the head of the table, Lancelot and Rayda sitting on either side. Richard and Grace claimed places along the wall, out of the way. The conversations in the room stopped as the High Knights took their seats.


    “You all know why we are here,” Lancelot said. “King Arthur wants this war over with as soon as possible, and the traitors dead or captured. Koda, tell us what you know.”


    “Well, firstly, Sir Bedivere is dead.” Some muttering began throughout the room. Richard understood their anxiousness; a High Knight dead and the war only days old. The muttering stopped with a glance from Koda. “Bedivere was ambushed by the traitors before we could warn him. Much of his force was wiped out, but some survived to bring us word. They also say that Conil, one of those new traitor lords, was killed.”


    “Have the common soldiers of the five castles resisted joining Aggravain?” Rayda asked.


    “Nay, my lady. At least not enough to be noticed. It seems the traitors have been planning this for a while, and made sure to have loyal soldiers with them.”


    “Where are they gathered now?” Lancelot asked.


    “Our scouts report that many have gathered their forces at Ionart Castle. Anything west of that is now in their control, or almost. We have heard that Castles Roint and Ordale are under siege, and Castles Dargam, Welorth and Afgul have already fallen into the enemies’ hands. The traitors Lawrence and Oslan are in Ionart.”


    “Why Ionart?”


    “Ionart is the closest one of their castles to Camelot. It provides the best option for a strike against the city. We cannot move our forces without leaving Camelot unguarded.”


    “Koda, tell me, what are our options?”


    “As far as I see it, sir, our only option is to take Ionart. And soon. Already some Lorrics from Borgone have arrived to reinforce the soldiers, and their number will only grow. Once we take Ionart, we can move on to taking back our ports and stopping the influx of Lorrics into our land. Also, if we want to get help to our besieged comrades, we must get rid of Ionart.”


    “All right.” Lancelot stood up. “King Arthur is set to arrive here with more troops in five days. I want a full plan for the assault of Ionart ready to go when he arrives. Let’s get to work.”