The Arthuriad Chapter 5
The Tournament
Greetings gentle sentients!
I have returned bearing the next chapter of the Arthurian tale you folks have come to love.
In this chapter we meet Arthus’s half brother and get a better sense of the political situation since the death of Uthor. There will also be sword fighting and feuding barons.
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550 A.C.
As the time drew near unto Yuletide and the streets of Cantobar became stuffed to the brim with knights and squires and servants and cooks and people of all classes and ranks in society all the world seemed to be poised in anticipation of the coming tournament. Sir Ecthelion having been mustered by the levies of the baron of Umber wended his way to the city along with his son by his Cymric wife, a young unproven knight by the name of Kei and his adopted son Arthus who was serving his foster brother as a squire in order that he might learn the ways and customs of knighthood.
And Arthus had won himself great repute as the squire of Kei and Sir Ecthelion knew this to be a sign that the blood of Uthor and Aurelian flowed strong in the youths’ veins. The boy was not of age or of condition to take part in the tournament at that time but he would be attending to his brother’s needs during each day’s combats.
As the baron of Umber had a smaller retinue relative to the barons of larger cantrevs like Cameliard and Notumbra he was assigned a plot of ground outside the walls of the city near the old Reman hill fort. There the baron of Umber set up his great tent of azure and gold and Sir Ecthelion set up his smaller pavilion of scarlet and silver silks. There were in that company thirty knights of quality and their households along with the house servants of the baron. Of these knights fifteen, not including Sir Ecthelion on account of his age were to compete in the lists on the first day of the tournament.
Now Kei was the youngest knight of the baron’s retinue and though he had fought well in previous tournaments he did not have the impressive resume of deeds at arms that had accrued over the span of years to his more seasoned rivals. Nevertheless he had resolved in the days fighting to give a good account of himself for the glory of his house and the honor of his father.
As his half brother’s squire Arthus was responsible for making sure Kei was armed before each day’s combat. Kei would return with his father from mass in the great cathedral, his face aflame with the desire for battle and combat and Arthus would take the padded coat and prepare his brother for the ritual of arming then he assisted him in wrapping the silver coat of mail around his broad shoulders. Next came the greaves and then the gauntlets and then since Kei’s gloves prevented the finer motions of his hands Arthus fashioned with deft hands his brothers brilliant scarlet surcoat with the golden rampant dragon crest of the house of Ecthelion embroidered on the breast and back. Once Arthus handed his brother his long plain steel sword and his shield with his fathers crest carved into the thick wood Kei would be ready for combat.
Arthus had thought that the third day of that tournament would be like any other day. Since he had armed his brother and Kei had gone into the lists with his father there would not be much for him to do and he would watch the combats and trials of skill from the wooden seats that had been constructed at the arena ground for the purpose of allowing the people of the city to watch the skill of the flower of Alba’s chivalry. If his brother or his father in a break between bouts would need water or a rag to wipe the sweat from their ruddy brows he would be advantageously positioned to go down to the wooden picket separating the walkway for the audience from the trampled green verdure where the warriors fought and exerted themselves and serve them. He was not jealous of his half brother’s skill and new granted knighthood as is usually natural in such relationships and he loved to watch his brother ply the warrior’s craft. His father had promised Arthus that he would receive training in arms from his brother when he had seen three more winters and the thought of being able to join his brother in these tournaments filled the youth with a fiery thrill. For now though he was content to watch the affair before him and learn what he could from his half brothers’ prowess.
Ser Kei at this time was engaged in battle with Sir Bademagus one of the mightiest warriors who served in the retinue of the Baron of Gorna. That fight was a hard one and for a span of time Kei found himself in peril and forced to fight with all the strength of his mighty sinews against the crushing blows of his bigger adversary. Sir Bademagus had forced Kei to the edge of the ring and the young knight found himself pressed against the rough wood of the fence boards. With a yell Kei stabbed upward and the suddenness of this unskilled blow prevented Bademagus from bringing his heavy iron studded shield to bear as he had done many times when Kei had tried to penetrate his guard. The blow grazed Bademagus along his breast and though it did more damage to the already weakened mail over his heart the stroke drew blood.
In the interval of time in which his opponent was stunned by the force of that onslaught Kei pushed forward his armored greaves eating up the ground between him and his opponent. For a span they exchanged blows, blades locked with neither gaining an advantage over the other. Eventually though Kei broke free of Bademagus’s crushing guard and sent the point of his blade into his opponent’s sword arm. By the rules of engagement for a combat such as this one that was counted as a crippling blow and Kei had won the combat against a proven knight who was his senior by a score of years.
However in that last desperate stroke the point of Kei’s sword broke off and lodged itself in the brawn of his opponent’s sword arm. His blade was now devoid of the stabbing edge and though he could still employ the edge of the blade his abilities would be hampered by this weakness in the sword. Close examination on Kei’s part also revealed a crack as thin as a maiden’s hair running down the spine of the blade where he had blocked a fierce blow from Bademagus’s blade with the flat of his own sword instead of with his shield which would have been better technique. Knowing that there was but a little space of time before the next combat was set to begin Kei strode to the edge of the ring to where he could see Arthus waiting with a horn of spiced wine. He waved with his gauntleted hand gesturing for his brother to join him by the ring side.
When there was a lull in the fighting Arthus could see his brother Kei had made his way to the fence of the ring and was signalling to him with a wave of his hand. Arthus being a dutiful boy and devoted to his half brother, ran to the fence and drew up before his brother offering a horn of wine for his brother to quench his thirsts.
Seeing that his brother had answered his summons Ser Kei took the horn and after a long pull at the mouth of the vessel spoke. “Brother I have won much honor and glory for our house this day! But in the heat of this hard fought affray my sword cravenly betrayed me. I need a new blade before it is time for me to enter the lists once more.”
Arthur nodded. “I will go with the speed of the north wind and will return with a sword before you know I departed.”
With a bow to his brother Arthus departed and ran through the streets of Cantobar hurrying towards the camp where their tent and servants were. It was on the other side of the city and it took Arthus a full ten minutes at a dead run to reach the outskirts of the tent city where the knights of the various baronial retinues were encamped each sleeping under the banner of their lord and patron. Once there he was surprised to find that all of his fathers servants had been lured away by the pleasures of the combats and jousts and there was no one there to aid him in finding a sword for his brother.
The pavilions doors were bound with thick ropes and Arthus fought with the knotted cords of golden silk for several minutes before finally opening one of the pavilions great flaps just wide enough to admit his slender boyish frame. Once inside he searched every nook and crany of their silken abode. To his shock he could not find a single sword that would have been fit for his brother to use.
Arthus removed himself from the pavilion and stood outside its fabric walls racking his brains with the desperation of a cornered fox. Where would he find a sword for Kei? He reasoned that there might be spare blades within the tents of his fathers fellow soldiers but he felt a certain scrupulousness about taking a weapon from one of his fathers comrades in arms. Stealing a blade from a warrior of another barons retinue was out of the question. Then he remembered the great broadsword embedded in the stone outside the chapel. He ran pell mell back through the city diverging from his previous path. Soon he ended up by the church gasping for breath. His heart was pounding like a blacksmith’s hammer and he could barely stand. He could see the great sword embedded in the stone and wondered curiously if he would be able to pull the sword from the broad block of marble wherein it had been driven.
Drawing closer to the block Arthus braced both his feet against the edge of the block. Reaching out with both arms he grasped the handle of the sword and pulled upward with all his might. To his surprise the sword slid from the dead stone with a smooth easy motion. Arthus had no time to ponder the significance of this as he knew the time was drawing near for the next combat. Wrapping the bare blade of the sword in the rough cloth scarf he wore wrapped around his shoulders he took off like a bat and began flitting his way back toward the tournament ground in the center of the city his pace slowed slightly by the bulk of the blade he carried tightly in both hands.
After another short sprint Arthus returned to the field where Kei stood exactly where he was when Arthus had left. There was impatience carved all over Kei’s flint-like features and when he saw Arthus he opened his mouth to denounce his young squire for his tardiness. Arthus however simply handed Kei the sword from the stone and said nothing save. “I found you a sword brother.”
Kei took the sword from Arthus with the rough distractedness of the absentminded fighter. As he unwrapped the blade he stopped as the magical inscription became visible. He asked Arthus. “Where did you find this sword brother?”
Arthus was frightened by his brothers halting voice and uncharacteristically sober demeanor. He spoke, the words spurting from his mouth in a fast rush. “I went to our tent but all the servants had departed and I could not find any of your spare blades. In complete desperation I remembered that there was a sword in front of the church and I pulled it from the stone and brought it to you because I did not want you to have to miss out on the next combat for want of a whole blade.”
Kei stood there in silence the wheels of his brain turning as he tried to grasp what he ought to do. His mind could not fathom the fact that his half brother the bastard son of his father had drawn the sword from the stone when no man of nobler birth had attempted the thing and succeeded. Clearly there was a mystery here beyond his powers to understand. He spoke. “Arthus wait here. I need to speak with our father.”
Arthus did not understand the look of concern that was carved all over his brother’s visage but he was obedient and remained at the edge of the fighting ring until Kei returned with Sir Ecthelion in tow. When the two older men drew up to where Arthus stood Kei made his half brother explain to their father everything that had happened.
Sir Ecthelion thought over these things for a moment. His stare was as penetrating as the stare of a great eagle and Arthus feared dimly that he might have done something inadvertently to have displeased his father.
He spoke. “Father, why do you stare at me so? Have I done ought to displease thee?”
Sir Ecthelion spoke in reply “I have no anger towards thee my son. However I am desirous that you should try the miracle of the sword again. I wish to see this thing with mine own eyes.”
And so the three of them wended their way away from the field of battle and came again to the courtyard of the sword before the great cathedral. Sir Ecthelion commanded Arthus to thrust the sword back into the solid iron and then pull it out again. Arthus stood before the broad block of marble and bracing his booted feet against the stone thrust the sword back into the stone and at his fathers prompting pulled it out again. At this Sir Ecthelion marveled. Even though he knew that the boy was the son of his late master he had come to see the boy as his own son and this had blinded him to the boy’s true nature as the son of the king . “Creator, what is this miracle that mine eyes have beheld?”
Arthus confused by his fathers wonderment and seeking answers to the questions that had been dogging him for some time now asked. “What does this mean father that I can thrust a sword into and out of a great block of marble. I would have thought that such a feat would be a trial that not even the doughtiest warrior would be able to perform. And I, a stripling of slight stature can do this thing like a man slices butter with a hot knife.”
Sir Ecthelion then took pity on the boy and he showed Arthus the inscription on the sword. Then Arthus marvelling asked his father, “Am I then the born king and heir to the island of Alba my father?”
“Truly thou art the heir to our deceased king and my former liege lord for I know of no other reason why you could have accomplished such a feat as the one these old eyes of mine have just witnessed.”
At this Sir Ecthelion knelt before Arthus.
Arthus exclaimed in great agony of spirit. “My father! What mean you by this gesture of fawning devotion?”
“My son, I have deceived you as to your true nature and parentage. Thou art the true born son of our good King Uthor and his lawful wife the Lady Ygraine. I have raised thee as mine own son after the death of thy father in the sack of Carmleon. Thy good mother is still alive and thou hast an older sister who remains with her on the isle of Serrena. Once thou art crowned they shall join thee at thy royal capital.”
Arthus gripped the shoulders of his sire. He was still in shock. “Father, what are you speaking of?”
“Thou hast a family my son and a duty to take the throne. Although thou art as dear to me as my own son thou art not of my blood but thou art of the lineage of ancient kings and it is thy destiny to ascend to the place of thy fathers.”
Arthus pondered this for a moment. Then he steeled his preternatural courage and asked. “Do you want me to do this thing father?”
“It would mean the world to me, my son. Long have I yearned for a lawful king to return to these lands in lieu of the petty anarchy of my current liege lord..”
“Then I will do as you have bidden me and seek to ascend to the throne of my royal father.”
“I will aid thee in this Arthus. All I ask is that you would remember me and your foster brother when you have come to power.”
“I will make you my chancellor and my brother Sir Kei I shall make my steward.” Arthus replied with decisiveness. “This I think is a fitting reward for the kindness and training you have provided to me.”
Later that day Sir Ecthelion informed the arch primarch of the miracle that had been performed by his foster son Arthus and explained to that reverend personage that he had been one of the five knights who had brought the child away from the sack of Carmleon in order to provide proof of the child’s royal parentage. After that worthy ecclesiastic had consulted with Myrdwin who had appeared in the city earlier that day as if in anticipation of these marvelous events he reappeared before Sir Ecthelion and informed him that Myrdwin had provided proof of the knights story and that he, the arch primarch believed them both to be sober witnesses of good report. Nevertheless for the sake of proving this thing before the assembled multitude of barons and soldiers it was advised that the great horde should be assembled before the church to bear witness to the miracle in order that the validity of Arthus’s birth might not be questioned by any. This Sir Ecthelion and Arthus agreed readily.
The next morning father and son stood before the church with the arch primarch and Myrdwin. Before them stood the kings and chiefs who had been summoned to that location three score and ten in number and the courtyard before the cathedral was filled with their bodies. At the prompting of the arch primarch Arthus braced himself against the block as he had done on the day previous and with a swift smooth stroke drew the sword from the stone and then replaced it with the same ease of motion. The crowd went mad with a startling array of reactions. For a moment there, everyone of the assembled chiefs could not believe what had been shown to them. Then when the significance of what Arthus had done finally penetrated their dimmed awareness there was outcry.
The arch primarch called for quiet and reluctantly the chiefs all stilled their remarks of shock, outrage, and fury. Then the question of Leodegrance rang out from the feeble silence. “Myrdwin what is the meaning of this miracle which our eyes have just beheld?”
Myrdwin stepping forward with Sir Ecthelion explained to the assembled throng the tale of how Arthus had been spirited away from the castle at Carmleon the night that city fell to the forces of the rebel barons. Then Sir Ecthelion provided a brief exegesis of his care and fostering of Arthus.
Arthus acting on a signal from Myrdwin stepped forward and said, “Barons of Alba and Mercu you have seen the miracle which I have performed that marks me as the true born son of Uthor Pendragon. Now I command you to kneel before your king.”
King Leodegrance was convinced by the words of Arthus and Myrdwin for the mage was not unknown to him and if a man of Myrdwin’s wisdom said that this boy was the lawful heir to the dragon throne of Alba then he would with pleasure unite the forces and powers of Cameliard to the cause of the born king. Several other barons and dukes from the lands south and east of Cantobar also bent the knee to Arthus on that day.
But there were some among the multitude chief among them Ryence of North Umbra and Lot of Orknea (who being the brother of Uthor and near kin to Aurelian felt he had by his seniority a better claim to the throne) who decried the decision of the arch primarch and Myrdwin to elevate this youth above many knights, barons, lesser kings who had more of the practical experience proper to a king. They complained collectively in a loud strident voice saying, “Why should we let this strippling rule over us?”
There was discord in the company and that assembly broke up in an acrimonious dispute. The barons refused to believe the evidence of their eyes and insisted on repeated performances of the miracle. Within a month Arthus performed his feat of drawing the sword a full seven times before the arch-primarch put a stop to these repeated performances arguing that the barons were being unconscionably stubborn in refusing to accept what was evident to the multitudes of the city. The next month a full fifty of the barons left the city of Cantobar in disgust. There were two main factions among the barons, some who wished for no king and for the land to remain as lawless as it had before in order that they might glut themselves with their debauchery and wicked pleasures and others who wished their to be a king in the land but one of their own number. The primary candidates put forth by this faction to be king in Alba were Ryence of North Umber, Uriel of Gorna, and Lot of Orkna who was favored by the lesser nobility for his kinship to Uthor Pendragon.
In the meantime Arthus on the advice of his foster father and the arch primarch established a base of operations in the old hill fort outside of the city of Cantobar. With the aid of military engineers from the loyal barons and the magecraft of Myrdwin he rebuilt the fort into a place of residence. His first act as overlord of the loyal barons was to pick a levy of troops from the barons who had sworn loyalty to him and establish a house guard in order that he could be protected within his new palace. The actual wars that the arch primarch and Myrdwin feared did not come to pass until several months later for it took the barons who had risen in arms against Arthus some time to marshal their forces against him.
Hope you all enjoyed. Do we like the posts being the whole chapter instead of me drip feeding y’all? Next month I will release the last chapter of the sword in the stone arc. Then I won’t be posting much, though hopefully I will have some news about the directors cut of my serial by then.