Our brave knights were rewarded for swearing fealty to the Boy King by becoming honour guards for Clarent, the Sword of Peace, the sword Arthur pulled from the anvil and stone.
Making a protective circle around the sword’s altar at St Paul’s, they waited alertly during the night. Hearing a noise in the shadows of the great cathedral, Sir Evrain and Sir Avalloc go to check on the guard stationed outside the northern doors.
Tapping at the door to get his attention, they are ambushed by wild naked men with blue sigils tattooed on their skins. Two knife wielding Caledonians try their luck against the armoured knights. The knights make short work of them. Sir Avalloc goes to check on the knight posted at the doors and finds him lying on the ground, his throat slit.
Sir Evrain heads back to check on the knights guarding the sword. There he finds Sir Asterius, Dame Cwenhild and a young knight ambushed by six Picts wielding spears and battle axes. A bloody melee ensues with the young knight being overwhelmed and knocked down. Cwenhild deals bloodily with a Pict with her great axe before going to check on the knights guarding the western doors.
As Sir Evrain joins the fray, Sir Asterius sees one of the Picts grab the sword from its resting place. Despite his heavy armour, he charges past the other naked northmen and leaps over the altar to close the distance. Sir Evrain busies the other Picts with his sword and Sir Avalloc soon joins him.
Sir Evrain’s squire is called and the guard on the southern door alerted to the thief, blocking his escape route. Sir Asterius makes a heroic lunge and brings the sword-stealer down.
The next morning the buzz around Londinium is all about the events at St Paul’s. Questions are raised about how the Picts got to the town and who may have been behind their midnight raid.
Our knights earn themselves some glory for their splendid foiling of the plot. Then continue their guard duty over the next few weeks as loyal subjects of the King.
Come Candlemas, Arthur is hailed in front of an assortment of barons. There are fewer in attendance than expected but amongst them is Count Salisbury and Duke Ulfius, the famed Roman warlord.
Sir Avalloc heads back to serve his lord in Carlion whilst the others take lodgings at an inn in Londinium until Easter. Sir Asterius picks up rumours that King Lot is gathering an alliance of northern lords against Arthur.
Pentecost arrives and the loyal companions are amongst the noteworthy to be given pride of place at Arthur’s coronation. Some note that attendance was less than expected but the ceremonies were lavish. The Bishop of Londinium performs the sacred duties.
The banquet afterwards is a triumph of indulgance with the normally temperate Sir Asterius given too more undiluted wine than his Greek sensibilities could handle. He embarasses himself and demeans his honour by vomitting explosively at the dinner table.
The next day word spreads that there will be a royal procession to Carlion to meet with the Archbishop of Britain. Our loyal knights are amongst those who will go with the King.
The journey takes some fifteen days stopping at Kingstown, Staines Castle and Silchester. There Duke Ulfias makes much lively entertainment and Sir Avalloc takes time to confer with the Boy King. He counsels the King to take his troops and face King Lot in the field now. But Arthur is adamant that without being crowned by the Archbishop and elected by a council of the lords, his legitimacy will forever be in doubt.
The procession continues through Buckleburg, Donington, Wandborough and the ancient city of Corinium. When it reaches Glevum, the Duke of the city puts on such a lavish celebration for the new King, he is bankrupt before they leave.
Eventually, they arrive at Carlion where the Supreme Collegium elects Arthur High King, Caeser and Imperator. But doubts are immediately cast as to whether there was enough of a quorum to do. There are whispers about whether the title of Imperator was earned given he has conquered nothing. Regardless, the Archbishop crowns him and there are more celebrations.
It is during the feasting that Sir Evrain and Sir Avalloc notice Arthur depart to receive a messenger. Word has arrived that King Lot has encamped a huge army of northmen at the gate of the city and lain siege.
After a few days of the siege and watching the outlying villages sacked, orders arrive from the King to muster and rally forth to face the enemy on the field. Our loyal knights form a conroi that will fight under King Leodegrance in Arthur’s own bataille.
As the forces assemble and ready to take to the field, Sir Asterius is plagued by the shame he brought upon himself at the banquet some weeks back. Soon the doubts rise into a crescendo and he madly throws his sword away. Mumbling unintelligibly to himself he runs off into the woods, not to be seen again.
The others spurred on by their own sense of honour, mount their horses and make a charge for the company of one of the northern kings, hoping to steep themselves in glory. Although valarous they find cutting through the bodyguard more ardous than expected. Still, they conduct themselves well and capture one of the bodyguards for ransom.
Remounting their horses they face a group of approaching Knights of Lothian. Sir Avalloc takes a beating but manages to remain conscious until the end. Sir Clarion joins the conroi and fights splendidly. Sir Evrain fights like a savage but fells his foes in his furious hatred for the Picts. Alas, he too succumbs to the enemy’s blows.
After capturing several knights and basking in the glory, the knights turn their attention on the Knights of Malahaut. However, all eyes turn to Arthur who has drawn Clarent as a beacon of hope. It gives courage to all on his side and our loyal knights fight well gaining the best of their foes. Dame Lynelle joins the conroi and proves a capable warrior.
Bouyed by the grace of the Boy King, the citizens of Carlion rush out of the city and surround King Lot’s army. Soon the sound of retreat echoes amongst the northerners. Arthur has managed to gain a stalemate and hold his ground.
The loyal knights tend to their wounds, basking in the glory of their role in this historic battle. Over the coming winter they ransom their captives and prepare for a new year’s adventure….