Arthur

'Where is that rat?' demanded Cai. 'I will see him hung • upon the gates of Caer Lial.'

Bedwyr lifted my chain. 'What of the queen and the Emrys? Do they live?'

They are alive,' I answered. 'But, aside from the hostages, all the rest are murdered.'

'He will pay with his life for this!' declared Cador. He smashed his fist against his chest.

Arthur turned his eyes to his ruined city, then back to me. 'Where have they gone?' he asked softly.

'Lord, I am instructed to deliver this message,' I said. 'But please, remember these are Medraut's words, not mine.'

'For the love of Jesu,' cried Cai, 'get on with it!' I swallowed hard and began. 'I am to tell you that he is waiting for you in the hills. The Emrys and Gwenhwyvar are with him. You are to go to him alone, but for your chosen advisers, and Medraut will receive you.'

Cai snorted and Bedwyr muttered under his breath. Cador opened his mouth to speak, but Arthur held up his hand for silence and bade me continue.

'Medraut says that if you bring your war host he will kill the queen and the Emrys before ever you set foot in the crooked glen. He says that when the blood-debt has been settled, he will give up his captives – not before.'

'Blood-debt?' wondered Bedwyr. 'What blood-debt could there be between you?' he asked Arthur.

'For his mother's death,' I answered.

All looked at one another uneasily. 'Who is his mother?' asked Cai.

'Morgian,' I answered. 'So the Emrys says.' And I told them what I had learned from Myrddin regarding Medraut's unnatural parentage. Gwalcmai listened in stunned silence.

This answers much,' observed Arthur. He turned to Gwalcmai. 'You bear no fault.'

'I never did trust that schemer,' muttered Cai.

'What else can you tell us?' Bedwyr asked. _

'Only this: that you must come to him unarmed. If he sees so much as a single blade among you, the queen will die and the Emrys with her. So Medraut says.'

'How many are with him?'

Thousands – fifty thousand, at least. I cannot be certain, but there are more than I have ever seen before. All the Picti tribes are here.'

I thought for a moment that I saw defeat in the bold blue eyes. But I was mistaken. 'The crooked glen… ' he mused, searching the wave-washed pebbles at his feet. 'Camboglanna – Camlan?' He raised his head with a grim smile.

'Medraut is canny,' observed Bedwyr. 'If that is where he has taken them – a narrow valley with a fortress above. The place is a killing-ground.'

Indeed, I thought Bedwyr's appraisal only too accurate when later that day Arthur, Bedwyr and Cai surveyed the place from a nearby hilltop. I accompanied them and despaired to behold our ruinous position. For Medraut had moved his army east to a sheltered valley below the Wall. To the north rose a steep rocky ridge, and to the south an enormous hill, topped by one of the old Roman garrisons, the fortress Camboglanna, now called Camlan. The old word means crooked glen, and the place proved true to its name. Long and narrow, with a sharp-angled bend formed by the intrusion of the ridge, the desolate, rock-filled little valley appeared well suited to treachery.

The fortress, even in its ruined state, still commanded the region with its superior advantage. Medraut's forces could hold their positions with far less effort, while the Pendragon would be made to fight on two fronts from the beginning.

Cai observed the terrain and said, 'You cannot think of going down there to meet him unarmed.'

'I do not see that I have a choice,' replied Arthur.

'There is always a choice.' Bedwyr scanned the hillside and the fortress. 'They are waiting up there to ambush us – I can smell the treachery.'

'That I do not doubt, brother,' replied the Pendragon evenly.

Cai burst into laughter – a loud whoop of mirth. Bedwyr turned in his saddle to regard him. 'Fifty thousand Picti waiting for us – each with a thirst for our blood. You find this funny?'

'Na, na,' Cai replied, 'I was only thinking. Remember when Cerdic took Bors prisoner?'

Arthur smiled. 'Of course.'

'You crushed his hopes quick enough when you said: "Kill him if that is what you intend… " Cerdic never expected that.' Cai indicated the valley before them. 'Medraut would swallow his tongue if you told him that!'

He laughed again and Arthur laughed with him. I realized I had never heard the Pendragon laugh aloud before. 'That I would like to see!'

Bedwyr regarded them both with contempt. 'You cannot take this red-haired bull-roarer seriously, Artos. It is Gwenhwyvar's life we are talking about.'

'Never fear, brother,' Arthur replied lightly. 'I know my wife – she will appreciate the jest.' He cast his eyes to the surrounding hills. 'We will take the high ground – here and here – ' he said, indicating the twin hilltops above the valley. He had become the War Duke once more.

'Cador will lead the right flank, and Ban the left… ' The Pendragon turned and began walking back down the hill to where the war host waited hidden in the valley. Cai and Bedwyr joined him and I hurried after, as the three began making their battle plan.

Upon reaching the waiting army, the Pendragon's orders were conveyed to his battlechiefs, and the warriors began moving into position at once. Arthur donned his war shirt and high-crested helm; he strapped Caliburnus to his hip, and slung Prydwen, the white battle shield with the cross of Jesu, over his shoulder. He took up Rhon, his spear, stout veteran of many fierce and fiery combats.

Each of his great captains dressed themselves for battle as welclass="underline" Bedwyr, Cai, Gwalcmai, Gwalchavad, Bors, Llenlleawg and Rhys. Champions all, helmed and armed for the fight. It made my heart soar to see them flaunt Medraut's challenge.

When the High King was ready he mounted to the saddle, and the others joined him. They rode together into the crooked glen – Camlan, valley of death.

I stood on the hilltop beside Cador and watched, my heart beating in my throat. I knew not what would happen – feared the worst, but prayed for the best.

At first, it appeared my prayers would be answered.

As the Pendragon and his men moved down into the glen, Medraut appeared from his hiding-place in the ruined fortress. With him came Keldrych and the hostages, together with at least thirty Picti warriors – naked and blue-stained with woad, their long hair stiffened with lime and pushed into white, spiked crests. They had also limed their shields and the heads of their spears.

Halfway to the stream coursing through the crooked valley, Medraut halted. He had seen that the Pendragon rode forth armed, in contempt of his command. Medraut whirled round, his arm went up and he pointed to the hostages.

But Keldrych stepped close, and after a quick consultation they advanced as before. No doubt, Keldrych had explained to the hot-headed Medraut that killing the captives removed any advantage they held over Arthur. However it was, the Pendragon's iron-hearted defiance had proven true again.

The two parties met a little apart, the stream between them. Arthur dismounted, but the others remained in the saddle. Arthur and Medraut advanced to meet one another alone. I would have given my right hand to hear what passed between them, but from my lofty vantage I saw its outcome right enough.

They talked for a time, whereupon Medraut returned to where the hostages waited, surrounded by the Pied warriors. Gwenhwyvar stepped out from among the others; the tyrant took her arm and pulled her with him back to where Arthur stood. Cai's hand went to his sword. Bedwyr put out a hand to steady him.

Upon reaching the stream where Arthur waited, Medraut seized the queen. He shouted something – I heard its echo, but could not make it out. He struck the queen cruelly on the face and she fell to her knees.