Guardians of Camlan

by A. T. Gilbert

  As soon as the healers die, the rest of the invading army begins to panic. Some of them back out of the entrance, as though trying to run away unseen. Some of them find themselves surrounded and simply stop fighting back, knowing they’ll just respawn again wherever their save point is.

  “Retreat!” calls MadMachine.

  “No!” SteelFeather yells, disappointed.

  I hadn’t even seen MadMachine join the battle; he may have been staying safe outside the gates, or maybe in Stealth like a rogue.

  “Retreat!” he calls again, and the group of players hasten to obey. The ones closest to the door lash out at whoever they are fighting and almost stumble across the threshold in their haste to get away.

  In the end, at least fifteen player corpses litter the floor of the entryway; their armor, inventory bags and any gear has disappeared, but the plain burlap-clad body remains for us, the victors, to deal with. I look away from the gore, grateful the game mechanics will vanish the bodies soon.

  A hand clamps down on my arm.

  “Well, then,” Captain Crowhurst says with a growl. “Let’s finish your trial.”

  Chapter 43

  It only takes a few minutes for Crowhurst and his soldiers to recapture the six of us. For whatever reason—laziness, kindness, inattention—they don’t shackle us again for our trek back up through the castle to the Throne Room. Yet, each of us has a soldier attached to each arm, with another three guards accompanying us, their weapons trained on us, but at least we’re not in manacles.

  “How can you do this?” I call to Crowhurst who leads the group. “We just helped you defend the castle. And the queen. None of you would still be here if it weren’t for us.”

  He ignores me. I’m only barely keeping my temper, I’m so frustrated by how we’re being treated. I continue shouting questions and complaints at Crowhurst as we wind our way through the corridors back to where our trial will be held. Finally, the captain turns and without saying anything, nods at one of the soldiers. That guard then pokes me in the back with his spear.

  “That’s enough,” he says.

  It’s not enough. I have a lot more to say, but I’ll save it for someone who might actually listen.

  We reach the Throne Room where Queen Vivian and Morgana are deep in whispered conversation at the throne. Again, the empty space above her head where we need to embed the Cambion Jewel taunts me.

  “Captain Crowhurst.” The queen greets him with a smile.

  “I trust this means you were successful in repelling the invaders,” Morgana says. “Well done. Thank you for your service. And were our friends here useful to you in the defense?”

  “You bet your ass we were,” TexBadass says. “He couldn’t have done it without us. Magical enhancements, protection,” he lists our contributions on his fingers, “identifying and taking out their biggest threat while the captain here just kept calling for more oil.”

  I step in to add, “We also learned why they attacked in the first place. The captain had no way to do that, but we did. We can provide you things to look out for in the event they attack again.”

  “Is this true, Captain?” the queen asks.

  He glares at me before turning to face her.

  “They were useful, yes.”

  “Useful? Or necessary?”

  “Well, that’s difficult to say …”

  Morgana leans over to the queen and says in a carrying whisper, “It’s only difficult for him to say.”

  Queen Vivian doesn’t respond but looks over the six of us standing in a supplicant line in front of her. She has a faraway look in her eye, as though listening to something the rest of us cannot hear. She stands and steps carefully off of the dais, her golden train elegantly following. I look down, trying to be respectful.

  “SirAsh3r.”

  I look up.

  “Do you believe your team did everything in their power to defend Castle Nennius?”

  “I do, your majesty.”

  “And are you and your team responsible for the crimes Captain Crowhurst has accused you of?”

  I glance to my right, catching Erinocalypse’s eye. I can’t read her expression, but somehow just her attention gives me strength and confidence.

  I return my look to the queen. “We are, your majesty.”

  She sighs.

  “Very well.”

  She turns and walks back to the throne.

  What just happened?

  Crowhurst looks at me, angry and confused, before stepping forward to the throne. “Your majesty …”

  “Stop, Captain. I have made my decision.”

  “But I didn’t even—”

  “I have made my decision,” she repeats. “We must weigh all of the evidence. I find these six defendants guilty as charged.”

  “Ha!” the captain crows triumphantly. “I told you that you wouldn’t get away with it. You can’t just come in here—”

  “For their punishment,” Queen Vivian says over him, “they are hereby sentenced to fight alongside the soldiers of Castle Nennius, to defend us from invaders, and shall be freed upon successful dispatching of said army.”

  I feel a grin spread across my face.

  “What?” Captain Crowhurst asks. “The next invasion, correct? Your majesty? Queen Vivian? Please, tell me I can lock them up until they are needed for a new attack.”

  “Now, Captain, how is that fair at all? They have paid their debt to Castle Nennius aptly, don’t you think? They may have freed one prisoner and killed two soldiers, and yet in payment have helped spared all our lives.”

  Captain Crowhurst takes a deep breath. “Excuse me,” he says, bowing briefly. Then he strides through the Throne Room doors at double speed, letting them bang shut behind him.

  We hear an anguished roar come from somewhere down the corridor.

  “Poor Captain Crowhurst,” Morgana says with a smile. “Let’s celebrate, shall we?”

  As soon as Queen Vivian nods her agreement, a man dressed like a butler exits the room to fulfill whatever unspoken order was just placed.

  “I always knew that man had a bit of a temper,” Morgana says. “I should have guessed he would be difficult if I sent you to fulfill a mission that involved him.”

  The man returns with three serving girls, including Daphne who we met earlier. Each carries two trays of what looks like champagne, with a fourth server hovering behind carrying extra bottles. As the door swings open, Captain Crowhurst reenters, looking livid but staying silent. He leans against the back wall by the door, glowering.

  “Serve my guests first, please,” Queen Vivian instructs with a wave of her hand.

  I take a glass of champagne from the first tray closest to me and, with one eye on the queen, down it quickly.

  “Whoa.”

  Admittedly I’m not much of a drinker in real life, but I’m sure I have never tasted anything as light and … the word I want to use is magical. Is it magical? Is it actually magic-infused champagne?

  “Whoa,” Erinocalypse says as she drinks her own. She turns to me with wide eyes and a giant smile.

  “I know, right?” I set my empty glass down and take a second full one.

  “Asher,” Erin whispers as the serving girl moves away. “Don’t forget the quest.”

  “The jewel? I know. But what am I going to do, climb on the queen’s lap to stick it in there?”

  She laughs and blinks at me, as though unsure what to even respond to. “What? Nevermind. I’m not— No, I mean the quest for Dulock. The truth potion.”

  “Ohhhhhhhhh. Yeah, good call. I’m on it.” I quickly down the last half of my second glass of whatever alcoholic magic this is and hand the empty to the closest serving maid.

  With my back turned to the throne, I pull out the bottle of Alithia Potion, uncork it and hold it carefully in my hand, careful to keep it hidden under the cloak.

  “I’d love to take that,” I tell the girl. “It must be difficult to carry two trays. Give me one. Let me wait on
the queen to show my appreciation of her forgiveness.”

  Daphne shrugs and doesn’t argue as she carefully hands over the tray of champagne glasses. There are only two left. Under the guise of regaining the balance of the glasses and offering one to Erinocalypse, I briefly turn my back to the throne. I wish there was a way I could just put my arms under Stealth to hide their action.

  “You’ve got this,” she whispers to me, while also watching out for any interruptions over my shoulder.

  I quickly, hopefully subtly, tip the contents of the small bottle into one of the champagne glasses. I fumble, shoving the now-empty bottle at Erinocalypse and turn back toward the throne. I adjust the placement of the glasses, hoping I’m not drawing attention to it, and make sure the potion-laden glass is closest to the queen.

  I bow a little as I approach her dais.

  “Your majesty, some champagne?”

  “I’d be delighted.” She waves me up the steps to bring it to her.

  I pick up the potionless glass and offer the tray to Queen Vivian with only the one option for her. This is respectful, right? This is a totally not suspicious, completely reasonable way to serve the queen, with only one glass and nothing else for her to potentially knock over.

  “Why are you holding one?” Morgana asks

  Queen Vivian takes the glass from the tray.

  “Wait!” Morgana cries.

  But she’s too late. The queen has already drained her glass of champagne, including the Alithia Potion.

  Chapter 44

  “What did you do?” Morgana demands of me. She seems panicked, watching Queen Vivian finish off the glass of champagne I just served her.

  “Champagne?”

  I place the second glass of champagne on the serving tray and offer it to the queen’s advisor. I only just have time to jump out of the way as she knocks it out of my hand, spraying broken glass and alcohol all over the floor of the Throne Room.

  As soon as Morgana screams her accusation, the soldiers try to subdue us. Behind me, my teammates have mounted their own attack to overpower the queen’s guard. Without even looking, I can hear SteelFeather’s and Balderdash13’s steel on steel as they beat back the soldiers who had been holding us captive. The shouts in the room diminish and, as a bolt of energy flies past me and freezes Morgana, I realize Erinocalypse is using Petrify to incapacitate many of our enemies.

  Enhancement received: Bubble of Protection

  Description: You will sustain -5% damage for the next sixty seconds

  Enhancement received: Arm of Monmouth

  Description: You will +5% Strength for the next sixty seconds

  As the potion takes hold in the queen, the game gives me a red timer counting down in the corner of my vision. The potion’s effect won’t last forever. I seize the moment of calm while my teammates gain the upper hand and hold off the soldiers to begin my interrogation. This truth potion is the only way we will be able to find out the details and complete the quest for Lance.

  “Your majesty? Queen Vivian, do you know who I am?”

  She looks slightly dazed, but fully lucid. She smiles at me before answering. “You are SirAsh3r, one of the travelers that showed up in my castle, killed a soldier and helped defend against attackers.”

  Okay. Yes, accurate. I need to be careful how I word these questions. I should take this as slowly as I can in the time limit. Under the influence of Alithia Potion, she will be compelled to tell me the truth, but she will not be forced to volunteer any information she doesn’t want to.

  “Can you tell me who this woman is?”

  “That is Morgana Avery.”

  “And what is her role in your court?”

  “She is my advisor.”

  “What kinds of things does she advise you on?”

  “Oh, things like how to deal with the cook’s requests or what gift to send to another royal leader in Camlan.”

  “Do you know who was imprisoned yesterday, in your jail below the chapel.”

  “Lance Dulock.”

  “What did he do to be jailed?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Can— What? You don’t know? How is that possible? You sentenced him without knowing why?”

  “I don’t know what he did. I merely agreed that he should be.”

  “Why?

  “I had to.”

  “You had to? Why? Were you blackmailed? Was it an issue of physical safety or something else?”

  She hesitates before answering, and I see her glance toward Madam Avery. “It was a magical mandate.”

  “Okay … A mandate. You were magically forced to make the decision to imprison this man? I don’t understand. Like mind control?”

  “Yes.”

  “And,” I glance around the room, double checking that Erinocalypse and the others are keeping Captain Crowhurst frozen and at bay. “Who was forcing you to imprison Dulock?”

  “Morgana,” she answers, gesturing to the frozen woman on her right.

  Quest Completed: Whose Idea Was This?

  Description: Lance Dulock had been imprisoned because Morgana Avery wanted him to be and not because he committed the crime he was accused of.

  Reward: +750 XP

  Quest Discovered: Whose Idea Was This? II

  Description: Morgana Avery suggested that Dulock be imprisoned, but why?

  Reward: +950 XP

  Even while under the Petrify spell, the sorceress manages to glare at me. I have so many questions, so I stop trying to be gentle with the queen and begin the rapid fire.

  “Did Morgana request Dulock’s imprisonment or was she just passing on someone else’s suggestion?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Damn it. Wrong question. I glance at the countdown and see I only have a few minutes left before the potion’s effect wears off.

  “Okay, let’s try a different question. How did Morgana suggest that Dulock be imprisoned?”

  “She informed me that Captain Crowhurst had captured a dangerous man and asked for my approval to have him placed in a cell.”

  “Had you heard of Dulock before this conversation?”

  She blinks at me in surprise. “Why, yes. Of course. Morgana does nothing but talk about him.”

  “Really?” I can’t help but look at the enchantress. “What does she say?”

  “She, says …” Queen Vivian blushes. “She says things that are not appropriate in mixed company.”

  “Well well well.” I can’t help but shoot a grin at Madam Avery. “What do you mean, your majesty?”

  “Morgana has been in love with Lance Dulock for years. As long as I’ve known her. She is often very complimentary of him, shall we say, and informs me of her wishes.”

  “Including imprisoning him?”

  “Yes. Apparently.”

  “Do you have any guess at all why Madam Avery would want this man imprisoned?”

  The queen glances at her advisor. “Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  “Yes, I have a guess.” She bores into me with her stare, deliberately not saying any more than she has to.

  “What is your guess, Queen Vivian?”

  “Well, while Morgana has always been infatuated with Dulock, he has never, to my knowledge reciprocated. I believe she was hoping that by imprisoning him and keeping the man under her control she would have a better chance at winning his affection. Perhaps she might even magically command his affection.”

  “Oh god.”

  “Wow, that’s sad,” Balderdash13 whispers.

  “Yeah, I—” I stop myself, seeing the countdown clock flashing red. Only thirty seconds left. I need to focus. I shake my head to clear it.

  “Queen Vivian, I just need to clarify … Was it Madam Avery who put you under this spell to control your behavior?”

  “Yes.”

  Quest Completed: Whose Idea Was This? II

  Description: Through use of the Alithia Potion, you’ve discovered Morgana Avery has been using her magic to control
Queen Vivian

  Reward: +950 XP

  Quest Discovered: Guardians of Camlan

  Description: Queen Vivian is in danger. Release her from the hold that Morgana Avery has over her.

  Reward: +1200 XP

  My eyes dart to where the sorceress is still frozen, but I walk back up the stairs of the dais, kneeling in front of Queen Vivian. “We want to get you out of this. How can we help you?”

  But as the Alithia Potion effect countdown approaches the final fifteen seconds, the Petrify spell effect is at zero. I turn to see Erinocalypse firing off spell after spell, to Crowhurst and the other soldiers, casting the same spell to refreeze them.

  She whirls around to cast at Morgana.

  But Erinocalypse misses her moment. In the half-a-second after the Petrify spell wears off, Morgana conjures her own spell, throwing up a protective wall in front of her, barricading herself in a corner of the Throne Room and leaving us helpless to stop her.

  Chapter 45

  We are in a stand-off. The sorceress Morgana has barricaded herself in the corner of the Throne Room, behind a transparent wall of magical protection, and we find ourselves unable to do anything to thwart her. Erinocalypse fires off spell after spell, each one hitting the clear guard a few feet in front of the sorceress and fizzling out ineffectually.

  “I’m going to find the weak spot,” she says, determinedly casting several more times.

  Callidus has again slipped into Stealth, while SteelFeather and Balderdash13 rush across the room to try to break through the magical protection with sheer force.

  Enhancement received: Arm of Monmouth

  Description: You will +5% Strength for the next sixty seconds

  I rush to the queen’s side. She still seems a bit dazed, but I see a resolute will in her eyes. “She’s been controlling you? I mean, did I understand that right? You are under her mind control?”

  She looks at me intently, neither nodding or shaking her head.

  “How can we help you?”

  She shakes her head, pursing her lips as though she is having a hard time physically forming the words. I realize the Alithia Potion effect is over. It’s done. She has returned to the control of Morgana and I won’t get any more answers from her.