Guardians of Camlan

by A. T. Gilbert

  The female guard we had encountered earlier, Sergeant Lipton, doesn’t bother to give us a careful look. “Yes. The girl, and this one.” She points to Erinocalypse and me.

  “Madam Avery, I cannot allow these reprobates to wander around Castle Nennius any longer. We need to bring them to justice. They have attacked our soldiers one time too many.”

  “In the name of The Lady, whatever are you talking about? It seems that this sergeant is standing here in perfect health.”

  “One of my men assigned to guard the perimeter has been slain, madam,” the captain says through clenched teeth. “Another soldier was found dead at the foot of the stairs. Who else would attack our own guard other than these six who have no business being here at all. It can only be them.”

  “Really, Captain. Your bias against our guests is most unbecoming. What evidence do you have that these Guardians of Camlan have done anything at all?”

  “Her word.” He gestures to the jail guard. “Sergeant Lipton confronted them and they attacked her.”

  Morgana turns to me. “Is that true, SirAsh3r?”

  “I … well, yes, we did enter the castle through the jail. From the staircase and chambers below.”

  It’s difficult to tell in this light, but I could swear that Morgana pales at my mention of the chambers below the castle.

  “See?” Captain Crowhurst exclaims. “He admits it. Furthermore, the prisoner Dulock is now missing. Who else would have freed him?”

  “Please calm yourself, Captain,” Morgana says. “Don’t make me tell you again. This is most unbecoming behavior of a leader.”

  “I’m taking them. We’re taking them. They’ll be executed at first light.”

  “What?” I jump to my feet.

  “You will do no such thing.”

  How can she stay so calm?

  “This isn’t up to you, Madam Avery,” Captain Crowhurst says in a cold tone. “The queen granted me full authority to uphold the law here. I will do what I decide is necessary.”

  The woman smiles, taking a pause before responding. “Ah, yes. Of course, you’re right. The law, Captain. Which means I’m sure you will be holding a trial for these kind travelers, will you not?”

  “A trial?” He scoffs his disgust. “A trial. A trial?”

  I try to hide my smile. It seems as though Morgana has got him there if he has no coherent objection.

  “Fine. You’re right. A trial.” Captain Crowhurst’s gaze penetrates. “Let’s hold a trial immediately.”

  “Captain Crowhurst, it’s the middle of the night. Don’t be absurd.”

  “No, you said a trial. Let’s have a trial. I will wake the queen myself if I have to.”

  “Oh yes. What a splendid idea. Do that. Wake the queen. Explain that she cannot be allowed to sleep and her presence is requested at a trial to prosecute the infiltrators.” Morgana rolls her eyes. “Really, Captain, must we be so dramatic?”

  “Fine. You tell her. However you see fit,” he responds. “While you are doing that, my men and I will escort these criminals to the Throne Room to await the trial.”

  There’s a small ding in my ear and I realize Erinocalypse has sent our party a message.

  Erinocalypse: Don’t struggle. They’ll take us to the Throne Room and we can finally complete that quest.

  Yes. I suppose it doesn’t matter how we find the Throne Room as long as we install the Cambion Jewel as needed.

  “I’m not waiting any longer.” The captain’s cruel command cuts through my thoughts.

  Before we can stop them, more than a dozen of Captain Crowhurst’s men swarm into the study, pin us down and slap manacles around our wrists. I catch Erin’s eye as she is marched past me; I’ve never seen anyone so pleased at being captured.

  Without looking at a map, and being dragged along at a rapid pace, I can’t exactly identify the path we take to the Throne Room. It does seem to be in its own wing of the castle, as Brother Xavier told us, and up a few flights of stairs.

  Captain Crowhurst leads the procession. When we reach the tall double doors, he throws them both open with a forceful pull and strides into the room. It’s mostly empty space, a couple chests against the wall under the windows, with a smooth, polished stone floor and a dais holding a throne on the far side directly across from the doors.

  It’s still dark out when we reach the room; nearly the entire wall behind the throne is made up of tall windows, overlooking the surrounding forest. There’s a tiny glimpse of stars in the sky, but the moon is dark and without the artificial illumination of cityscape, the view is black.

  I try to look around without being too obvious about it. There are tapestries depicting battles or coronations hanging on the walls that don’t hold windows. There are two wide columns spaced at intervals in the room, and a handful of uncomfortable-looking wooden chairs lining the walls and corners farthest from the throne.

  But the entire focus of the room is the single, iron throne on a small stage, guarded by a stern-faced soldier on either side.

  Its wide seat is upholstered in a luxurious red fabric. The same maroon the soldiers wear and velvet, maybe. Menacing bears are carved into the arms of the throne, just below where the queen would rest her hands, their jaws open as though lunging to swallow up any who dare disturb their mistress. The back of the seat soars high above her, at least eight feet up toward the ceiling. The intricate and decorative carving of the throne back is difficult to decipher from this distance, but if I’m not mistaken, there is a noticeable gap in the center. A perfect placement for the Cambion Jewel.

  I have no idea how we are going to get a chance to embed that jewel in the throne. Even if we weren’t prisoners and under suspicion, there’s no way the guards would let us anywhere near the throne. Even if the queen isn’t in it.

  My thoughts are interrupted by the creak of the wide doors as they open.

  Chapter 36

  As the door to the Throne Room opens, the soldier guarding me pulls me to the ground, forcing me to kneel with him. Around me the rest of my party and all the other soldiers do the same.

  I peek up at who has just entered. My breath catches.

  A woman who can only be Queen Vivian stands in the doorway to the Throne Room. She wears a luxurious gown of brown and gold silk, and her dark hair is braided and piled on top of her head, cradled and surrounded by the delicate crown. She wears an expression of utmost self-possession; an aura of magic surrounds her and there is no doubt in my mind that she wields whatever power had been necessary to imprison the sorceress Marilyn in the dungeon chamber.

  The queen is stunning. Even at this ungodly hour of the early morning, when any normal person would be sleeping, she looks more beautiful and put together than anyone I have ever seen. I wonder what Morgana said to her to convince her to dress and come to her Throne Room.

  Quest Completed: Save the Kingdom I

  Description: Locate and visit the Throne room of Castle Nennius

  Reward: +500 XP

  Quest Completed: In Her Presence

  Description: You have successfully gained audience with Queen Vivian and now have the chance to learn what happened to Lance Dulock.

  Reward: +200 XP

  Quest Discovered: Save the Kingdom II

  Description: Now that you have found the Throne Room, install the Cambion Jewel in the throne itself, saving the Camlan Realm

  Reward: +900 XP

  Congratulations! You have reached level 27!

  You have one attribute point to distribute.

  Name: SirAsh3r

  Level: 27

  Strength: 31

  Intelligence: 30

  Dexterity: 30

  Stamina: 30

  Magic: 31

  Skills: Woodcraft 3, Slash 2, Club 3, Paddle 1, Climbing 1, Stealth 3, Archery 9, Power Perception 3, Backstab 1

  Abilities: Initiative 2, Focus 1

  Professions: Cooking 2

  Affinities: 12% Earth; 16% Water; 10% Fire

 
Fame: 350

  Achievements: First Explorer of Lake Galavant, First Explorer of Foyle Forest, Friend of Water

  One more attribute point. I drop it quickly into Magic, so I don’t fall behind in my Alchemy training.

  “I believe you requested me, Captain Crowhurst?” the queen says, her voice like honey.

  He keeps his head bowed as he kneels, almost talking to the floor. “Yes, your majesty. Thank you for being available at such short notice. Your loyal subjects—”

  “What is it, Captain Crowhurst?”

  “Yes, your majesty.” He stands, raising his chin and stepping confidently into the role of enforcer. “With your permission, and participation, I would like to hold a trial. These travelers,” he gestures to myself and my party, “are accused of freeing one of your prisoners, incapacitating three of your soldiers and murdering two more.”

  Damn, it does sound bad when he puts it like that.

  I’m still kneeling, keeping my head down, when I hear muted footsteps come toward me. She pauses when she is in front of me, reaches down to put her soft fingers under my chin and directs me to look at her.

  Her eyes are piercing. I’m afraid to look away, but I don’t like what I see in her direct gaze. It’s not accusatory, but it is questioning. It’s a look that makes me reevaluate our actions. My actions. It’s a look that makes me want to do everything I can to get her on my side.

  “Very well, Captain,” she says, her voice gentle yet commanding. “Let us have a trial.”

  Throughout this exchange, Morgana remained behind the queen, at her elbow, at her beck and call like any competent adviser would. She has been there the whole time, but as long as Queen Vivian is in the room I can’t take my eyes off of her.

  The queen walks past me without any more acknowledgement and regally walks up the several steps to take a seat on her throne. The gap in the decor above her head taunts me. How can I get there?

  The moment the queen takes her seat, there is a bustle of activity all around and I am yanked back to my feet and turned to face the throne. The six of us players are lined up in a row, each manacled, subdued and guarded by at least one soldier.

  And yet we still wait, anxious, almost leaning toward Queen Vivian, waiting for her go ahead to begin.

  She nods, barely.

  “Your majesty, ladies and gentlemen of the court of Castle Nennius,” Captain Crowhurst begins. “Before you stand six accused travelers who are suspected of assault, murder and freeing a prisoner. SirAsh3r, Erinocalypse, TexBadass, Balderdash13, SteelFeather and Callidus.”

  This is a surreal experience. I glance again at the spot on the throne that is just crying out for me to place the jewel there, before I lower my eyes to the ground again. We need to figure out how to get out of this. Will we be able to free ourselves and beat back the soldiers? Or will we need to go through the whole trial and hope we are released?

  Captain Crowhurst is fuming, pacing back and forth in front of us, using both hands to demonstrate, point and angrily gesture.

  “Not only did they brazenly commit these crimes against Castle Nennius, with no remorse, they had the audacity to ask me to let one of my soldiers go. They had the temerity to try to weaken the defense of the castle even further.”

  Madam Avery steps forward from where she had been hovering at the queen’s side. “Captain Crowhurst, they were doing that because I asked them to. Are you implying I was mistaken in my request?”

  “No. Well … Maybe. But they certainly did not present their request as coming from you.”

  Crowhurst pauses in his attack and in the short silence I hear what must have interrupted his thoughts. Someone is coming. Someone is running up the stone corridor, rushing to get here. They throw open the door, and a tall, dark-skinned soldier seizes our attention.

  “There is a mob of travelers outside our gates, sir,” the soldier gasps out. “Castle Nennius is under attack.”

  Chapter 37

  Immediately the soldiers spring into action; half of those who had been standing guard over us simply run out the Throne Room door, presumably to take up defensive posts elsewhere. Amidst the chaos, I sidle over to one of the windows to see what is happening outside the castle gates.

  The sun is just beginning to rise, light breaking over the forest to the east of Castle Nennius. The gate on the north side of the castle has become the target of a small army of what looks like an unorganized mass of characters. Wait. Players?

  As the light slowly increases, I realize what I am looking at.

  Though too far away for me to read any of them, above the heads of the people that are gathered outside the gate words hover in a translucent blue. Those are players. Toterra Online customers. Players like us who only just entered the game yesterday. What are they doing attacking this castle? Is there really a quest chain for that and could they be at that point already?

  As I watch, I identify which player seems to be in charge of the assault. A mage waving his arms around, seeming to yell instructions at the group. It looks like … I’m almost certain it’s MadMachine, who we ran into outside the forest after the varg attack.

  There is something about that guy that I didn’t like, and I can’t understand what he would have to gain by taking this castle.

  “SirAsh3r.” A calm voice behind me jolts me back to where I am.

  I turn to see Queen Vivian looking out the window with me. I drop to my knees in supplication.

  “I’m sorry, my lady. I just wanted to see … Um.”

  “What is it, your majesty?”

  I am saved from trying to explain myself by Morgana also joining us at the window. I’m fairly certain the look she gives me is a warning to stay quiet. As if she had to tell me that.

  “Oh, yes,” the advisor says when she sees the crowd below. “Another group of travelers seeming to do us harm. Should we put these on trial as well?”

  It’s not until she offers me a quirked smile that I realize she is teasing. I think she’s teasing. I’m not totally clear on what it is Morgana wants from us, or from the queen.

  “Alright. Get back, you.” One of Crowhurst’s guards approaches me with a spear aimed perfectly at my heart. “Apologies, your majesty. We won’t let this one get out of line again.” He punctuates this promise with a none-too-gentle prodding in the ribs with the tip of the spear.

  [-500 HP!]

  I shuffle back to where my party is still standing, waiting for our judgment. One I’m not sure will come now that the prosecutor is so distracted.

  I open a private message to the group and tell them what I saw out the window.

  SteelFeather: It’s other players? Damn it. I thought we had such a head start in this game.

  TexBadass: They better not get in. This loot is ours.

  SirAsh3r: This could be good for us.

  “Your majesty.” Captain Crowhurst has returned to the throne room, standing in the doorway to catch his breath. “Your majesty, do I have your permission to—”

  “Yes, of course, Captain.” She waives her hand dismissively. “Do what you need to do to defend our walls.”

  “Thank you.” He kneels hurriedly and dashes out again, this time taking more of the soldiers with him, leaving us with the queen, the advisor and a small retinue of staff to fulfill their whims. Once we are left alone, I notice Morgana watching the queen, waiting for something, watching.

  Neither of them speak to us, and with the captain gone the trial has ceased. Am I allowed to speak to the queen without first being spoken to?

  Across the room, out of our hearing, Morgana whispers something to Queen Vivian. She then returns to her seat on the Throne and stares straight ahead with an almost vacant expression.

  “Your majesty,” I begin. “Is there something we can do for you?”

  “Your majesty.” The captain of the guard has returned yet again, interrupting me. This time he looks overwhelmed and frazzled. “My apologies, your majesty. I seem to be having difficulty … that is to say,
this force of intruders is rather, well …”

  “What is it I can do for you, Captain? What do you need?” Queen Vivian asks patiently.

  “I, um …” He clears his throat. “I need more ranged damage dealers, your majesty. Do you think you could spare Madam Avery to—”

  “We can do it!” I shout over him. “We can do it. We can do ranged damage. Or, like, two of us can at least, and the others can help in other ways. We can do it.”

  The room goes silent, except for the small ding in my ear.

  Erinocalypse: What are you doing??????

  SirAsh3r: How else are we going to get out of these manacles?

  Erinocalypse: But we literally spent like a whole day getting to the Throne Room and now you want to leave????

  SirAsh3r: Trust me

  Erinocalypse: I HATE WHEN YOU SAY THAT

  I close out of the message and don’t take my eyes off of Queen Vivian. She can override whatever Captain Crowhurst wants; it’s her I have to convince. That we can be helpful. That we are not going to be dangerous. That they need us.

  They need us. The six of us have gone through so much already, leveling up still more since defeating the sorceress Marilyn. Of course the people of Castle Nennius need our help.

  “SirAsh3r is right,” Erinocalypse says, stepping forward. “He is a skilled archer; I myself can offer a number of ranged damage spells, as well as further magical protection to your men. TexBadass,” she nods to the man on her right, “is a gifted healer and eager to help support your troops.”

  Queen Vivian’s face is expressionless, but a quick glance at Captain Crowhurst tells me he is furious. His face is all but turning red in the effort to keep himself from lashing out. Whatever danger the castle is in, he doesn’t think it bad enough to let us out of our imprisonment.

  “Ma’am,” TexBadass ventures in his heavy drawl. “Your majesty. It would be our pleasure to help defend Castle Nennius from these ruffians.”

  She smiles. “Ruffians?”

  “Well, now. You know.” He hedges. “Enemies at the gate, so to speak.”

  I turn my attention to Morgana, the queen’s advisor. What does she think should be done? The woman stands far to the side of the Throne Room near the window I viewed the attackers from, just watching, sizing us up, paying attention to every twitch of a finger, every syllable we utter. I don’t want her to notice me watching her, but she looks directly at me. I smile; she’s been so kind to us already, I’m pretty sure she believes in us. But there’s a tense moment before she returns the smile when I’m not at all sure how she feels.