It was a strange phenomenon, seeing these two powerful individuals seated together like this. Only in times such as these would I even consider asking them to join me.
"I'm honored that you both found it possible to accept my invitation," I told them. "These are trying times, full of uncertainty. I wished to consult with the two of you and ask you to provide whatever guidance you can relate. I don't think I need to inform you of the grave situation we face."
Gaeth shook his head slowly. "No, King Caside, there is no need to tell. For many days I have felt a force growing, ever growing. Its power is great, unlike anything I've ever felt."
Syeira murmured in agreement. "I, too, have felt this force. For days the omens have appeared before me. The weather has been wildly unpredictable; the animals have fled in fear. Great stone monuments which stood for countless generations have crumbled with no apparent cause."
I was troubled by this. Of course I did not expect pleasant news from either of these two powerful beings, but I had hoped that they would convey assurance in their tone. On the contrary, I had never heard either sound so anxious.
"King Caside, I have seen a distinct being making its way toward your kingdom. It is no longer just a force, or a power. It has taken the form of a great, black dragon. It is possessed of great hatred, and a single-minded focus on bringing you and your kingdom crumbling into dust. It intends to destroy all dragons, until there are none left on the earth. I have never felt such deep, dark fury before." The intensity of Syeira's gaze as she spoke reinforced her words.
"What is there to be done? Have either of you seen anything that would give me direction?" I looked from one to the other, nearly desperate.
Gaeth looked apprehensive, and hesitated before he spoke. "Highness, the one image I come back to, time and again, is one of war."
War. I had dreaded the thought. While in normal circumstances I wouldn't hesitate to stand against any man or beast, this was different. This was black magic.
Syeira nodded in agreement. "I, too, have seen this. I have seen much loss, much bloodshed."
"But how does Arthur have an army of his own? He is but one, not the leader of a kingdom or an army."
Syeira's deep, smooth voice was considerably strained when she replied, "It is an army of his own making, conjured from the restless souls that wander the earth. He makes them appear at will, and they are a fierce foe indeed."
Gaeth interjected, "The only way to stop them is to stop him. But … " he trailed off, looking helpless, " … that will be a tremendous task, indeed."
After the two wise ones had left, I sat alone and stared into the fire. War. They had both seen it, and both assured me that there was no way to avoid it. All that could be done was to end the war as quickly as possible. How, they couldn't say.
I bade them stay within the walls surrounding the castle and village; I wanted to keep them close at hand should any further developments arise. Syeira's band camped just outside; they weren't accustomed to living within walls and preferred to be aware of their surroundings.
I felt a keen sense of disappointment as I sat and watched the flames leap and dance. I had hoped they could grant me answers, but all I had were more questions.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Later in the morning, I related the tale of the beggar and Arthur's message to the council, which also included Morgan, Rhiannon and Anabelle. I also told them that we'd be hosting new guests both inside and outside the castle walls. I chose to keep the news of my secret meeting to myself for the time being.
The men of the council looked up in surprise when the two women entered the room, but I bade them hold their protestations back. "This does concern them as well, might I remind you. My Queen was one of the figures in the flames, after all. The dowager Queen is the mother to two dragons, which puts us both in danger. They deserve to be kept abreast of the progress we've made."
The men saw the truth of this soon enough, but had nothing of substance to report. They had spent many hours poring over the scrolls in the library, along with any servant who knew how to read. They had uncovered nothing yet, however. "We haven't given up hope, your highness," Seamus assured me. "There are many, many more scrolls and books we have yet to explore."
"But how many? How many more? How long will it take?" I said, and Seamus saw the truth behind my words. His eyes fell to the table, where they stayed.
I fought against my tendency to explode in temper, for the sake of my queen and mother. Instead I thanked the men for their hard work, and implored them to keep working toward finding some clue that would help us. I knew that my temper would only hinder their work. The dragon roared within me, but I tried to ignore it for now.
The members of the council left the chambers, leaving just my small family behind. We looked at each other, wordless, our eyes conveying our fear without the need for words.
"Gods!" I finally bellowed when the tension had become too much. "I cannot sit here and feel helpless, waiting for the hammer to strike. I must take action, but I know not exactly which path to choose. It feels as though there is nothing but danger and destruction down every road."
I looked to my mother, who had always given me such strength and assurance in the past; even she, in this moment, looked strained. I knew that her nerves had been frayed to near the point of breaking as a result of everything that had transpired in the last weeks. I had become so accustomed to leaning on her for support that it seemed foreign to be trying to stay strong for her sake, yet that is exactly what I was going to have to do.
"Mother, when is the last time you rested? When did you last eat?" I realized how gaunt she looked, and rose from my chair to take a seat closer to hers. She leaned back in the tall, wooden chair and patted my hand.
"Caside, my own welfare means little to me at this moment," she murmured.
"But you matter to us," Anabelle asserted. She took Rhiannon's other hand, and I silently blessed her for the gesture. It warmed my heart, even in moments such as this, to see the bond that had already grown between my mother and my wife. This was just another reason why I was certain that Anabelle was the ideal woman – not just for me, but in all ways.
"My dear, you must take care of yourself as well," Rhiannon told Anabelle. I saw the truth of this when I heard the words from my mother's lips; my Queen looked fatigued, with dark circles ringing her eyes. The bloom was still in her cheeks, but it was not as vital as it had been just a week earlier. I knew that she was trying to be strong; both women were. But the strain was taking its toll.
I hated to add more to the burden, but I felt as though I had to be honest in regards to what I had been told that morning. I looked at Morgan, who was seated to Anabelle's left. "How ready are the men for the possibility of battle?"
"Battle? My lord!" Anabelle cried out. I heard her, but could not attend to her fears at the moment.
Morgan's jaw clenched. "Not nearly as ready as they could be, Caside; that can be remedied."
"Son, why do you speak of battle?" Rhiannon asked as she comforted Anabelle.
I sighed. "I met behind closed doors with Gaeth and Syeira this morning. Both have seen many visions of a great war to be fought between Arthur and our kingdom. They tell me that it is a certainty; I still hope, however, that we can find a way to defeat Arthur without resorting to war."
The room fell silent as my words were absorbed. I looked, again, to Morgan. His eyes met my own and I knew that he knew I was merely trying to soften the blow for the sake of my wife and mother. In reality, war was a certainty unless we found a solution to rid ourselves of Arthur permanently.
I suddenly had an idea. "Perhaps it would be best, Anabelle, for you and my mother to visit your family. If you wish, Morgan and I could fly you there personally. Your belongings could follow; at a time like this, I'm not sure that we should be concerned with possessions, at any rate. Your safety is what is paramount at this moment."
Rhiannon looked perturbed, as indicated by the furrowing of her brow. "Do you not think that such a journey will be tiring for you and your brother? What if Arthur were to learn of this, and wait for you to see us safely to Castle Flannery, in order to attack you when you are at your most vulnerable?"
I frowned; she made a solid argument. However, I was willing to risk anything to see my wife and mother safe in Scotland.
Anabelle, however, did not look as convinced that this would be the best course of action.
"My King," she said slowly but clearly. "While I do not doubt that you could protect us all from the evil that is threatening us, I fear for the safety of my own family. It frightens me to think that my presence in their kingdom could possibly draw the evil there. What if something were to happen to you? Or perhaps Arthur would come for me first, to weaken your spirits? The bravest and strongest of my father's men – and they are very brave and quite fierce – would be no match for black magic such as this. My very presence could bring death and destruction, needlessly, to a people I love very much."