Chapter 15

"Ancients, spare me."

Gwen tried not to laugh at Mordred's dismayed mutter as they approached his keep, but she couldn't suppress the snicker that escaped. Through the open gates she could see tents set up inside the main outer wall, and several dozen more set up on the field outside his home. Smoke from fires drifted up into the air from the makeshift army that had set up camp.

"It'll be nice to have company. Maewenn is either ecstatic or pissed, and I can't guess which." Gwen smiled. "Come on, your home needed a little life in it."

"The life I could put up with. It is the odor I am more concerned about."

"Lighten up. It'll be fine." She smiled up at him, her expression turning into a grin at how dour he looked. "You're going to just hide in your tower like the spooky bastard you are, anyway."

"I am not going to hide." He paused. His lips twitched as he fought his own smile. "I am going to brood."

That got her to laugh again, and she faced forward toward the keep with a lingering smile. She knew this was going to get ugly, and soon. But for now, she had her friends and the man she loved. They rode in silence until they were a few hundred feet from the keep.

Distant barking told her they were about to have more company. The pack of hounds, eight in all, were tearing across the field toward them, with Eod in the lead.

"This, I do not mind."

"Mom! Dad! Mom! Dad!"Eod barked as he jumped around the horse. The stallion snorted angrily but knew better than to kick at the animals.

Gwen unceremoniously jump-slid off the horse to greet the dog, ruffling his ears and kneeling so the big creature could lick her face without jumping up and likely knocking her over. "Hey, you silly doofus. I told you I'd be back."

"I protect! I good!"

"You're the best pup." She smiled.

Mordred dismounted the horse a bit more gracefully than she did.

Eod jumped up to greet his master, tail wagging frantically. "Dad! Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad?—"

"Yes, yes." Mordred petted the animal but allowed the ecstatic creature to get a few licks in before urging the animal back to all fours. "It is good to see you as well."

Eod sat, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth.

"Oh, tell the dog he's a good boy, will you? It won't kill you." Gwen stood, brushing the dirt from her knees.

Mordred rolled his eyes. "Good boy, Eod."

"Yes!"Eod shot back up to his feet and began running around gleefully. The other dogs were far more subdued in their excitement, but they all seemed thrilled they were home.

Mordred took the reins of his stallion as they headed through the encampment toward the keep. The villagers paused to stare at them as they passed. There were people of all shapes and sizes—there was even a damn centaur. Some people were normal-looking, but most had something unusual about them. Well, unusual to Gwen. They were probably perfectly average for Avalon.

They had armor and weapons, but most of their equipment looked like it had seen better days. Most of it didn't even look like it was made out of metal—it was wood, or leather, or even stone. Right. Iron nullifies magic. Sometimes, it was hard to remember that. She was usually around Mordred or his iron army. For everyone else, it was dangerous and unusual.

Mordred was quick to comment on the state of the army. "Look at their equipment. They will be lambs to the slaughter." He didn't bother lowering his voice. One woman nearby gasped.

Gwen shot him a look. "Well, it's too bad we don't know someone who can just summon armor and weapons. That'd be super useful right about now, wouldn't it? Where could we find one of those…"

"Yes, yes. I see your point." He sighed. "It will take time to create enough for everyone. But it will take less effort than it would to raise a larger iron army. The mortals will be faster and more agile in the field. There may be some sense to this mad scheme, after all."

She'd take that as a win. "I've been working at making armor for them the past few weeks. We've got a good start, but we're not there yet."

"But they will all still die," he added.

Slapping a hand over her eyes, she walked beside Mordred as they headed through the courtyard. He put his stallion back in the stable before they went inside, Eod happily leading the way.

It was Tim she saw first. The broken iron guard was standing by the wall, holding his lance with his better arm. His posture changed upon seeing them, shoulders relaxing.

Walking up to the soldier, Gwen hugged him. "Missed you. Glad to be back."

With a squeak, he turned his head to glance nervously at Mordred before returning the favor.

"You would befriend a candlestick if given the opportunity, I swear." Mordred kept walking without her.

"Maybe you could stand to befriend a few more candlesticks." She waved goodbye to Tim as she jogged after the Prince in Iron. "Or are you giving up on that, now that you've sworn to kill everyone who gets in your way?"

Mordred smirked. "You continue to say that as though it is a bad thing. I will convince you in time, when you see the inevitability of my actions."

"Whatever." There would be time for an argument. This still wasn't it. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn't eaten in a while.

When they entered Mordred's study, they weren't alone. Sitting at the table were Bert, Lina, and Mirkon. Maewenn was busy placing platters of food down on the table.

"How'd you know we were back already?" Gwen laughed as she walked up to the cook, hugging her.

"Pah. I haven't stopped feeding hungry mouths since this rabble arrived!" Mae hugged her back before quickly going back to fussing over the plates of food. "It's wonderful."

That answered that question. "I was worried you'd be pissed."

"Me? Angry? Hardly! I have scores of people to feed who are grateful for my talent. It is nice to finally be thanked for my work."

"Careful, Maewenn," Mordred warned as he reached forward to spear a roll with the end of one of his claws before taking a bite from it. "I am standing right here."

"Yes, and it is fantastic to see you, prince." Maewenn put her hands on her hips with a clank. "And I see your mood has been left intact after your stay in the Crystal." She paused. "I am glad that you are safe, my lord."

Mordred's smile was soft. "And I am happy to have returned. Now, shoo. Get back to your starving masses."

"Eagerly." She huffed in fake indignation and headed from the room.

Gwen shook her head at the exchange. Mordred was difficult, they all knew that. It was part of his charm. If she could call it that. "I see you were successful in raising an army," she said to Bert.

"More or less. This is half what we should have. But since Thorn has rallied her own forces and declared war on all those who've refused to join her…well." He leaned his elbows on the table, the weight of the deaths clearly burdening him. "This is all that's left."

Mordred sighed as he walked toward the window, gazing down on the field of villagers as he idly ate his roll. "It is best to leave them here to defend the keep, while I face Lady Thorn alone."

"We have a right to have a hand in saving ourselves." Lina glared at the back of Mordred's head. "We are here to fight for our own future."

"And die for it. Thorn and her minions will tear through you like wheat. Better that I dispose of her personally." Mordred rested his hands on the windowsill.

"What if you fail?" Bert sat back in his chair. "You had the chance to kill her a dozen times before, and you didn't."

Mordred laughed. It sent a chill down Gwen's spine. It wasn't a mirthful sound. Judging by the pallor that came over Lina and Mirkon, they understood what it meant.

"She lives purely by my own folly. This is an error I seek to rectify. Immediately."

Gwen's jaw twitched. She shut her eyes. "Let's back up and take a second."

"What is there to discuss?" Mordred turned from the window to face them. The setting sun cut him as a stark silhouette against the amber sky.

"I don't know, like, maybe there's another way to stop Thorn without killing her." Gwen threw up her hands in frustration. Her stomach grumbled, and she gave in to the temptation of the platter of food. She slumped down into a chair and began to gather a few slices of cheese and pieces of cured sausage.

"How many times must she work to end our lives before we return the favor? How many innocents must die?" The Prince in Iron paced back and forth near the wall, reminding her of a caged tiger.

A caged, rabid, bloodthirsty tiger.

"I don't know." She rubbed her eyes. She was exhausted, and this wasn't helping. "Can't we lock her up instead?"

"I have tried that," Mordred snapped.

"I mean in jail, not a torture chamber," she snapped back.

Mirkon did his best to try to calm the situation. "I—perhaps—we put it to a vote?"

Mordred laughed again, just as unkindly as the first time. "A vote? You sit in my home. I am the rightful King of Avalon—heir to Arthur's crown. I have not taken that which is mine by right out of respect. But that does not mean that I will entertain any notion that I am one of you."

"Great, is everybody fucking going after the throne now?" Gwen wanted to rip her hair out. "First Thorn. Then Zoe. Now you. Maybe I'll throw my goddamn hat in the ring! Why not? Queen Gwen. Fuck it."

"I'd vote for y—" Mirkon kept his voice quiet. But it didn't matter.

"There shall be no vote!"Mordred roared. He clenched his fists at his sides, positively shaking from rage. He took a deep breath, held it for a moment before slowly letting it out. "I leave at midnight. Alone. Thorn's head will be on a spike adorning my walls by dawn. There is nothing any of you can do to persuade me toward another course of action. No one shall stop me." His gaze met Gwen's, and she shrank back at the intensity there. "Not even you."

He stormed from the room then, slamming the large wooden door behind him. The echo of the impact made them all jolt in their seats. With a wavering breath, Gwen folded her arms on the table in front of her and put her forehead on them, wishing to crawl into a dark hole. "Fuck."

"That sums it up nicely." Bert pushed up from the chair. "I don't drink, but it seems like you need to." He headed over to Mordred's bar and fished around for a bottle of wine. Gwen wouldn't argue.

"What do we do now?" Lina frowned. "I mean, I don't—for the record, I don't think he's wrong. Thorn needs to be stopped."

"And what about Zoe? What about everyone who'll come next?" Gwen accepted a glass of wine from Bert as he passed the bottle to his friends.

Everyone was silent as they considered what was coming.

"You said you'd stop him, if he tried to go too far." Bert's tone was quiet, obviously not wanting to rub salt in a wound, but needing to say it all the same.

"I know. I know. And I'll try." She wanted a long, hot bath. And another whole bottle of wine to herself. "And if it comes to it, I'll…" She gritted her teeth. "I'll do what I promised to do. I'll drop him."

"How?" Lina furrowed her brow.

"I have a way. I just…I can't talk about it." She'd kept her powers over iron a secret until now. She wasn't about to blow her cover just yet. Standing, she went and fetched another bottle of wine and uncorked it. "We'll talk about this in the morning. If we agree Thorn has to die, I say we let him do what he has to do. Then…then I'll see if I can talk him down. And if I can't, so be it."

She wanted to be sick at the idea. But she knew this was the mess she was getting herself into.

"Sounds like a plan." Bert paused. "I'm going to go see if Maewenn needs any help."

There was something in the way he said it. "Wait." Gwen stopped and turned to face the scarecrow. "Wait. Are you crushing on the cook?"

"I—I'm—no." It was clear the answer was yes, yes, he was.

Gwen grinned. "I'm not sure how it'd work between you two?—"

"It'd sound like throwing armor downhill in a barrel," Mirkon interjected with a grin. Lina smacked him in the chest. "Ow!"

Gwen ignored the comment. "But I say, go for it. Fingers crossed for you."

Bert muttered as Lina and Mirkon kept teasing him. With a half-hearted wave, she said goodnight and headed into the keep. She wanted to find that hot spring down in the basement. She'd had a long, chilly few days. And she was relishing the idea of getting drunk and having a nice soak. Eod was contentedly chewing on a piece of stew bone by the fireplace, and seemed fine where he was.

So, off she went. The halls were definitely more lively than she'd ever seen them before. Villagers had taken up portions of the keep—respectfully so. They weren't crammed in there anywhere that could fit, and none of the furniture looked moved or messed with. In fact, they seemed to be doing a perfectly fine job picking up after themselves.

And nobody stank, as far as she could tell.

Though it was obvious the iron soldiers didn't quite know what to do with themselves. One of them was standing perfectly still, clearly nervous as hell, as a pack of children tried to climb him like a tree. She laughed to herself as she passed them.

It was nice.

The place felt decidedly less spooky with a few more people in it. Galahad would have loved it. Even Lancelot would have enjoyed the chance to show off a bit and teach the villagers how to properly use a sword. The thought of Lancelot ruined her mood instantly.

She found the hot spring a little while later and, placing the bottle of wine down at the edge of the pool, stripped off her clothes and vanished her wings before climbing into the water. They were fun, and it took more of her focus to keep them gone than it did to have them, but they tended to get in the way sometimes.

Taking a sip from the bottle, she leaned back against the stone edge and stretched out. Letting out a long, beleaguered sigh, she let the heat of the water sink into her. She shut her eyes. Peace and quiet. For just a moment.

"Mind if I join you?"

So much for that.

Looking up, she watched as Mordred entered the room.

"Depends." She couldn't help but stare as he began to strip off his clothes.

"Just…let me get drunk, will you?" She took another sip of the bottle. "I need to dull the edges."

"You misunderstand me." He climbed into the water beside her before leaning over her to grasp the bottle, caging her in. "I intend to join you in that as well." He took a mouthful of the liquid before putting the bottle back. He trailed his lips close to her ear before whispering to her, "Unless you protest…"

Maybe it was the hot water. Or the glass of wine. But her head swam, and excitement and anticipation twisted in her stomach like two angry snakes.

"I guess you can stay." She felt her cheeks grow warm. She blamed the hot water. Totally the water.

No, she was not going to protest.

Which made her a certifiable idiot.

Studying him for a moment, she decided she needed to put a little space between them. She turned from him to scoot away.

He was having none of that. His hand twisted in her hair and pulled her back to his chest.

It earned him her most vicious glare. "Are you here to fight or to fuck?"

"Oh, my dear, sweet firefly. You know the answer to that already." He chuckled darkly before his next word sent shivers up her spine again for a very different reason than before.

"Both."