X-Calibur: The Trial (12 page)

Merlin laughed to himself. “You're the engine, and these are the controls,” he said, handing Arthur the first of two oars. “Slide the bigger end into the water and row!”

After a few minutes spent banging against the dock, and a further few minutes turning around in circles, Arthur finally got the hang of the oars and began to pull away from the coast. The light from the moon was enough to highlight the surrounding water, and Merlin looked to the starts for navigation.

“That way is north,” Merlin said, pointing out the Pole star. “If we keep heading west, we should be able to see the Isle of Corbenic come morning.”

“I have to keep rowing until morning?” Arthur asked incredulously.

“I'm but a feeble old man,” Merlin said wryly, a twinkle in his eye. “My old bones, my aching knees.”

“Oh, don't start,” Arthur snapped, though he was already smiling back towards the older man. “Just make sure we don't get lost.”

“Of course, my King,” Merlin remarked, his smile widening as he got comfortable on the wooden seat.

*****

The two Mori guards froze as Triltan stepped from the last stair into the dark corridor, flicking on her torch. She couldn't tell what they had been doing, but they both still seemed to be restrained. “Tell me how to access the security logs,” the scanner translated for her.

“To do what?” Sol-Dan asked.

“Access the security logs,” Triltan said again. “Tell me your access codes.”

“We don't have any,” Mir-Bir replied.

“No, we don't have them,” Sol-Dan agreed.

“I thought you were guards?” Triltan asked with annoyed confusion. “Security personnel for the hive?”

The two Mori remained silent, looking at each other and then back at Triltan. “We are,” Sol-Dan said hesitantly a moment later. “We're just, well, special guards, that's why. We have a special, secret mission. We were chosen.”

“A secret mission?” Triltan said with disbelief. “You two?”

“It's true,” Mir-Bir insisted. “He chose us, told us if we were successful we'd join the ranks of the Imperial Guard.”

Triltan remembered what Arthur had said about the Imperial Guard, the highly trained soldiers chosen to protect the Mori-Gran. They were the best of the best, and Arthur and the others had barely survived an encounter with one of them, the Imperial Commander, Ul-Dar. It had only been luck and teamwork that had allowed them to defeat him.

“Amongst all the Mori aboard this hive,” Triltan continued, still trying to understand what they were telling her. “You two were chosen for a secret mission that would see you join the ranks of the Imperial Guard?”

“Really,” Sol-Dan insisted. “He said we had 'hidden depths'.”

“And who is
he
?” Triltan asked.

“We can't say,” Sol-Dan replied quickly.

“That's part of the secret,” Mir-Bir added.

“Then I shall make you tell me,” Triltan remarked, raising her rifle as she took a step towards them. The two Mori winced as she moved, and she thought she heard Mir-Bir squeal and call for his mother. By the time she took her second step, Mir-Bir was already talking.

“Mor-Dred,” he stammered. “He came to us, chose us.”

“Shut up!” Sol-Dan demanded.

“Mor-Dred,” Triltan repeated. “Where is he? Tell me everything.”

Sol-Dan tried to kick out at Mir-Bir but the bindings made it difficult, and the words poured from Mir-Bir's mouth without delay. “After the slave revolt,” he began, “the Mori-Gran took to her chambers. Everything was chaos. My mother had our slaves executed in case they wanted to rebel, but then there was no one to do the work. There wasn't enough food, we had to start doing everything for ourselves.”

“And Mor-Dred?” Triltan interrupted.

“He chose us,” Mir-Bir said again. “Our father, he took us to one of his meetings with some of the other members of the Senate. They wanted to do things differently, make changes and get everything working again. We've always been ruled by a Queen, that's what they said, and there were always problems. Maybe it was time for something new, not a Queen but a male Mori to take charge.

“Most of the Senate were male, the soldiers too. Why should it always be a Queen?”

“And you met this Mor-Dred?” Triltan asked. “He came to your meetings?”

The two Mori exchanged another look before Sol-Dan sighed and began speaking. “Not at the meetings, no,” he said. “Mor-Dred contacted us after, said he knew of other hive ships where the males were in charge, called them Kings. He said a great change was coming and we'd been chosen to help him.

“After the accident, when the external doors opened all on their own, he directed us to the birthing chambers but told us not to enter. He knew the Mori-Gran-Ra would come after him, try to place another Queen in charge. He even knew she'd use the rogue slaves against him, so he had us set a trap for them. We weren't to kill them, that's what he said, but we were to place them in the pods until he could deal with them himself.”

“He saved us,” Mir-Bir added. “After the external doors opened and people were fighting he made sure we were safe, because we were special, important to the future.”

“And he was right, about the rogue slaves,” Sol-Dan continued. “We put them in the pods, just like he told us to.”

“And what then?” Triltan asked. “What were you supposed to do next?”

“We watch over the traps,” Sol-Dan replied. “We keep the birthing chamber safe until it's time.”

“Time for what?” Triltan prompted.

The two Mori looked at each other again, not sure how to respond. In truth they hadn't really been told what they were waiting for, just that they would be an important part of it when it finally happened. They imagined the people would emerge from the pods and Mor-Dred would rule the hive as its first King, the two of them at his side.

Their story sounded bizarre, but the two Mori before her didn't seem like the brightest aboard the hive. Whatever was really going on inside the pods, the two young Mori before her seemed to believe what they had been told. Whoever or whatever Mor-Dred was, they were just mindless pawns tricked into doing his bidding. She still needed to access the security system and try to work out how to free her friends from the pods.

“You don't know, do you?” Triltan said. “You don't know what happens next.”

“Mor-Dred will tell us when it's time,” Mir-Bir replied, a believer to the end.

“Then in the meantime,” Triltan continued. “I want you to take me to the nearest security station. Maybe I'll be able to find out what I want to know there.”

*****

Gwen was startled by the sound of the lock opening on the door to the cell. Lance was still sleeping, his head resting in her lap, his blackened, twisted left arm held tight against his chest. Easing out from under him was far easier than she expected; he barely stirred as she lifted his head and rested it on the cold stone of the cell floor.

The guard entered first, followed closely behind by the jailer, his mocking smile sickening. Gwen took up a position between them and Lance, intending to do whatever she could to stop them taking him again. Every time he was taken by the jailer he came back sicker, more broken than before, and she wasn't going to let them hurt him again.

“Stand aside,” the closest guard said, his voice monotone and matter-of-fact. Gwen remained where she was, planting her feet slightly apart, body tense and ready to fight.

“Stand aside,” the guard said again.

“No,” Gwen replied. “You're not taking him, not again.”

“No?” the jailer said mockingly. “The King gave him to me. I can do as I please as long as he don't die.”

“If you take him again, you'll kill him,” Gwen stated. “Look at him.”

She tried to remain calm, controlled, but on thinking about how bad he was she couldn't stop the tears building up in her eyes. As she stared defiantly at the jailer, a single drop trickled down her left cheek, betraying her composure.

“Listen to you,” the jailer continued with a chuckle. “Are you some sort of slave doctor? You know for a fact he'll die, do you?”

“He's barely conscious,” Gwen pleaded, her tears slowing as her anger grew.

“Then I'll make sure to wake him up,” the jailer sneered. “He won't scream so loud if he don't feel it.”

Gwen moved in a blur, stepping forwards and lashing out, her palm moving directly towards the jailer's face. The guard was faster though, reaching out and catching her wrist mid-movement, twisting it as she lost her balance. By the time the jailer realised he was in danger, it was all over.

“You're fast, aren't you?” the jailer said. “Good job my guards are faster. It's a shame though, really. That little act of defiance, it can't go unpunished. I think I'll have to make your friend scream twice as loud.”

“No!” Gwen cried, writhing against the vice-like grip while the second guard picked up Lance and took him from the cell. The jailer followed, turning back just once to smile at Gwen, the anticipation of what was to come clear upon his face. The guard holding her tossed her casually aside before leaving too, closing and bolting the door behind him.

“No!” Gwen screamed again as the threw herself against the door. She ignored the pain in her wrist as she hammered her fists against it, blow after ineffectual blow. “Leave him alone! Take me instead! Take-”

A sudden flash of light in her vision was followed by a searing pain behind her eyes, forcing her to her knees. She staggered as she tried to stand, falling sideways, her vision giving way to darkness as her thoughts succumbed to the void.

*****

The faint glow of the rising sun cast a long shadow on the water as Arthur continued west, following Merlin's direction. “There!” Merlin exclaimed, pointing. “That way, Arthur. Land!”

Arthur turned and looked over his shoulder, taking in the faint distortion on the horizon that signified the end of their journey. “You're sure that's the correct island?” he asked.

“I suspect there's only one island,” Merlin replied. “This is all part of Mor-Dred's game, so I doubt he'd get much satisfaction sending us on a wild goose chase.”

“A wild what?” Arthur asked.

“An ancient Earth expression,” Merlin remarked. “It means doing something pointless or futile. The route from Camelot, the jetty and the boat, we've been following Mor-Dred's path all along. Everything has led us here, it's exactly where we're supposed to be.”

“You really think he'll free Lance and Gwen when we find the Grail?” Arthur continued.

“Not for a minute,” Merlin replied. “But we need to play along, just for now. Caran Doc and the Ardent Dawn will be here any minute, and we'll be free of this madness once and for all.”

“I hope-” Arthur began as the pain gripped him, burning behind his eyes.

“Arthur!” Merlin yelled, leaning forwards as Arthur screamed, hands to his head as his body slumped forwards. The boat rocked and swayed as Arthur fell to the deck, limp and lifeless, as an oar fell over the side and floated away.

Chapter 8

Communication

Earth Year 6239

Arthur opened his eyes slowly, the early morning sunlight making him wince. As he groaned, Merlin's face was suddenly there, obscuring the rising sun.

“Arthur,” Merlin said with relief. “You're awake.”

“What happened?” Arthur asked groggily, the pain in his head increasing as he sat up.

“We were on the boat,” Merlin explained. “You complained of a headache and then you blacked out. It wasn't easy getting us here, especially with just the one oar. Do you even realise how heavy you are?”

Arthur chuckled and instantly wished he hadn't as the sound seemed to bounce around inside his skull. “How long was I out?” he asked.

“An hour, maybe a little more,” Merlin replied. “How are you feeling? Have you still got the pain?”

“It's better than it was,” Arthur said, rubbing at his temples. “What caused it?”

“I don't know,” Merlin said, his voice betraying the anxiety he was feeling. “There was nothing around us but open water. Whatever caused it, I saw nothing before you collapsed.”

“It's not your fault,” Arthur said, trying to reassure the older man. “It sort of feels like- hey I know what it feels like!”

“Arthur?” Merlin asked with concern.

“The capsule!” Arthur continued. “It feels like it did when the Teleri inserted the capsule!”

*****

Gwen awoke to find the cell empty, the early morning sunlight streaming in through the window high up in the wall. “Lance?” she said as she sat up, holding her throbbing head. “Lance?”

Once her vision had cleared, she was able to make out her surroundings. The cell looked just as it always did; bleak, barren, depressing. What made it worse was that she was alone, Lance most likely still the plaything of the jailer.

As the pain began to subside, she got slowly to her feet and took a tentative step towards the door. She remembered the guards taking Lance away, trying to stop them, the guard grabbing her wrist. She didn't remember him hitting her, but what else could have caused her to black out so completely?

Once she was upright and steady enough to take her hands from the wall, Gwen slowly explored her scalp, looking for wounds. There was no blood or swelling, nor any tender spots to make her wince. Her wrist still hurt from the guard's grip, but as far as she could tell she was otherwise unharmed. What could have caused her so much pain it made her black out?

Gwen?
Arthur's voice said.
Gwen? Can you hear me?

“Arthur?” Gwen replied, turning on the spot as she looked for him. It took her a moment to realise what was happening, a moment for her mood to change from fear to joy.

Arthur
, she thought to her capsule.
I'm here. It's so good to hear your voice
.

Yours too
, Arthur agreed.
I've missed you so much. Are you okay? We're close to the Grail, we're close to getting you and Lance out of there.

They've taken him again
, Gwen explained.
The Jailer, he's been taking Lance, hurting him just for the sake of it. He's not good, Arthur. His arm, all of him. Please, you have to hurry.

We are
, Arthur promised.
Merlin and I, we're so close now. And remember, the Ardent Dawn should be here any time.

Have you heard from Triltan?
Gwen asked.
Did she repair the capsules somehow?

I wanted to speak to you first
, Arthur told her.
I'll contact Triltan now. Please, Gwen, be safe. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you.

You too
, Gwen replied.
Be careful.

I will
, Arthur said.
I'll contact Triltan, try to find out what's happening on the hive.

Wait, Arthur
, Gwen said hurriedly.
I love you.

I love you too
, Arthur replied happily.

*****

Sol-Dan walked ahead, his hands tightly bound but his feet free. Mir-Bir walked a few steps behind him, followed by Triltan, her rifle raised and pointed directly at them.

The small map in the top right corner of her vision displayed the layout of that section of the hive ship, the flashing dot in the centre highlighting her position. The two young Mori did appear to be leading her towards the nearest security station, but Triltan couldn't help but suspect that they were lying to her, leading her into a trap.

“How far now?” Triltan asked impatiently, though the output from the scanner was unable to match her exasperated tone.

“Just a little further,” Sol-Dan promised. “We're almost there.”

They had been walking for almost ten minutes, the dark corridors of the hive ship blurring into one another as she tried to recall the route they had taken. It was nothing like the interior of the Ardent Dawn or any of the Teleri ships she'd encountered. Where the Teleri ships were bright, open and welcoming, the hive felt claustrophobic and intimidating. As soon as she stepped out of the large open space of the birthing chamber, the dark walls began to close in around her. If not for the light from the barrel of her rifle, the dim red glow from the walls would have done little to illuminate their path.

The walkway began to slope upwards, leading them to the next level. The lifts were all shut down, just like most of the hive, and they were lucky to have atmosphere as far out from the birthing chamber as they were.

“Is it this dark all over the hive?” Triltan asked, anything to beat back the rising fear she was feeling.

“Not usually,” Sol-Dan explained. “King Mor-Dred diverted all the power to the birthing pods.”

“And he just left you two, alone?” Triltan continued, hoping to catch one of them out in a lie.

“We are his hands while he sleeps,” Mir-Bir said, almost dreamily as if he had rehearsed it many times. “His eyes in the darkness, his watchful protectors.”

“That's what he told you, did he?” Triltan clarified.

“Once the time is right, we shall be greatly rewarded for our vigilance,” Mir-Bir continued.

“And you believe that too, Sol-Dan?” Triltan asked.

“Of course,” Sol-Dan replied, though something in his voice suggested he wasn't quite as confident as he had been.

Of the two of them, Triltan suspected that Sol-Dan was the smarter, but that wasn't really saying much. If they were among the more intelligent members of their species, able to question and think for themselves, Triltan suspected Mor-Dred would never had approached them. They had been easy targets, primed by their disillusioned fathers to need to believe in something, anything. All it needed was for someone to give them a purpose and they had been willing to do whatever was asked of them. Triltan felt sorry for them in a way, knowing as she did that whatever they had been promised had been empty.

The walkway turned sharply, rising more steeply as they approached a solid metal door, black like the surrounding walls. Two thin red lines ran down either side of it, flashing intermittently. Sol-Dan walked straight up to it, but it remained firmly closed.

“What's wrong?” Triltan asked. “Why won't it open?”

“I don't know,” Sol-Dan replied. “We've never been this far away from the birthing chamber.”

“Mor-Dred provided everything we needed,” Mir-Bir added.

“Stand aside,” Triltan said. “Let me see what I can do.”

Triltan stepped past the two Mori and turned her scanner towards the panel on the right side. The panel remained dark, but the scanner quickly told her all that she needed to know. Just like the lifts, the power to the door had been disabled and it would be simple enough to restore functionality.

As Triltan leant closer to the panel, a sudden high pitched noise rang out in her ear, making her drop the scanner as she cried out and reflexly put her hand to her head. The momentary distraction was all Sol-Dan needed. Lowering his head, he braced his shoulders and charged.

*****

“Still no response?” Merlin asked.

“No, not yet,” Arthur replied.

After trying to contact Triltan, Arthur and Merlin had crossed the pebble beach, making their way further inland. The beach gave way to tall grass, easily as tall as Arthur's waist, flowing in the gentle breeze. They trudged through it slowly, the rising sun shining down on the open fields as it dappled through the distant trees. There were no signs that the island was occupied, and not for the first time Arthur wondered if they were in the right place.

“Which way?” Arthur asked, shielding his eyes as he looked all around for the castle.

“There,” Merlin suggested, pointing towards a distant hill. “If we can get to higher ground, we should be able to see where we need to go.”

Arthur nodded his agreement and pressed onwards, Merlin's long robes getting caught up in the long grass and making him fall behind. As he pressed on, he allowed his mind to wander.

Why hadn't Triltan answered? He knew his capsule was working, Gwen's too, so why hadn't Triltan replied? What if she couldn't reply? What if Mor-Dred had done something to her? Arthur knew he was capable, he'd shown them the image of her in the birthing chamber to demonstrate that fact. What if bringing her with them to the hive had got her hurt, or worse? How could he face Caran Doc again? Or Lance?

His morbid thoughts were pushed aside as he reached the crest of the hill. Below him in the far distance he was able to make out an enormous stone wall, behind which stood a country house unlike anything he'd ever seen. While the stone buildings of the virtual Camelot were drab and grey, the house had large windows and was bordered by immaculate grounds. A winding marble staircase led to what looked like a large wooden door.

“See? I knew we were on the right track,” Merlin said as he reached Arthur's side. “The grail must be there, hidden behind those walls.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Arthur exclaimed as he charged down the hill towards the house.

The tall grass slowly gave way to a gravel strewn path, leading all the way to a pair of large metal gates set on the south side of the large wall. It was only as he got closer that Arthur was able to appreciate the true magnitude of the construction. The wall was at least three times his height, impossible to climb without a rope or ladder. It went left and right as far as he could see, and the only entrance appeared to be the wrought iron gates which grew before him.

Arthur paused, waiting for Merlin to catch him up. Though the older man never grew tired, he couldn't match Arthur's pace, especially on the flat gravel road. As they reached the gates, Arthur asked, “Is this really what it looked like? It's incredible.”

Merlin paused, inspecting the gates. They were twice as tall as him and equally wide, made of cold iron bars. Where the gates joined in the middle, a cut-out section made the unmistakable shape of a goblet. “I must admit, my King,” Merlin replied. “I didn't join you on that particular quest so it's hard to say for sure. Mor-Dred must have built this from my memories, so it seems likely.”

Arthur pushed open the gates which swung inwards, noiselessly. The world around them was equally quiet. With no birds or insects to break the silence, the only sound was the faint rustling of wind through the long grass. Arthur felt himself whispering as they followed the wide gravel path towards the main house.

“What sort of tests will we have to pass to reach the Grail?” he asked.

“Knightly tests of courage and valour, strength and bravery,” Merlin suggested. “If I recall correctly there was something about
the penitent man
, oh no, wait, that was someone else. No matter, whatever trials we're made to endure I'm sure they'll be no match for you, my King.”

“I hope you're right,” Arthur said as they climbed the marble stairs towards the main door.

As they reached the front of the house, Arthur raised his fist to knock, though the door swung open before his fist could connect. A man stepped from the darkness inside. He was human, not Mori, and he was as tall as Arthur though not quite as broad. He was older too, though not as old as Merlin, and his grey hair was cut short, close to his scalp, while a neatly trimmed beard framed his face. What struck them most about him though was his eyes; deep blue and intelligent. Merlin's eyes.

“Welcome, Arthur and Merlin,” the man said. “I am Joseph of Arimathea and I've been expecting you.”

*****

The high pitched sound stopped as quickly as it began and Triltan looked up just in time to see Sol-Dan charging towards her. She reacted without thinking, sidestepping right as she swung her rifle towards him. The butt of her rifle hit home, knocking him backwards as a viscous black fluid oozed from between his facial ridges. Sol-Dan screamed in pain as he staggered and eventually fell to the floor.