"Sir Agravain," Steve Rogers began, ever the diplomat, stepping forward slightly to address the man of the hour. "We are grateful for the invitation. The world is grateful for what your kingdom has done today."
Agravain gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. "We have merely defended our home. The Sentinels made their choice. We responded." His tone was factual, devoid of any pride or pleasure. It was simply a statement of cause and effect.
"The scale of your response was... impressive," Tony Stark chimed in, unable to resist the urge to analyze. "The energy output from those knights, the way they dismantled the Sentinels at a molecular level... it's a whole new field of physics. I'd love to get a look at their schematics."
Agravain's gaze shifted to Tony, a cool, appraising look. "Their schematics are a matter of state security, Mr. Stark. As is the method of their creation. I am afraid I cannot satisfy your curiosity."
Tony raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, just asking. A guy can dream, can't he?"
"We have more pressing matters than dreams, I believe," Magneto said, cutting through the banter. "I assume the reason you are meeting us, rather than your king herself, is because she isn't able to meet us?"
He had great reason to suspect this, more than most.
He was, after all, a king living in the kingdom of another, two kings in one land, even if none of it belonged to him.
His relationship with Arthuria was without a doubt the best among the members of the Illuminati, and he would always be warmly received whenever he had matters to discuss.
Even a foreign king was still given the reception of a king, yet this time, there were no knights to greet him, and no king awaiting him in the throne room; instead, there was only the King's hand in the Royal Office.
Something that made it very clear that not all was as it should be.
Agravain's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes, a calculation, a weighing of options. He had already decided to be truthful, but the manner of that truth was a delicate thing.
"You are correct, King Lehnsherr," he conceded, the title a formal acknowledgment. "The King is currently... indisposed."
"'Indisposed'?" Steve repeated, his brow furrowed. "What does that mean? The world is on fire, Agravain. We need her. We need the full power of Camelot."
"The King is on a mission of the utmost importance," Agravain stated, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. "A mission that predates this Sentinel crisis. A mission that will determine the very future of our world."
He paused, letting his words sink in, the weight of them hanging in the air. "She is where she needs to be. And I am where I need to be. Guarding her kingdom. Waiting for her return."
"A mission that predates the Sentinels?" Magneto pressed, his own mind working. He knew of Arthuria's crusade against the forces of darkness, but he hadn't realized its scale, its urgency.
Sir Agravain considered it for a moment and finally decided to be open and honest. "Indeed, the King is currently fighting off an invasion from Hell; multiple Dimensional Lords have joined together. The only reason Earth is facing this crisis is that His Majesty is fighting to keep the Earth from utter annihilation."
The words caused Doom to grow interested, very much so. "You speak of war with Hell itself? For what purpose, if I might ask?"
He, of all the people here, had the most interest in dark magic and demons.
"I believe I was fairly clear on the matter," Sir Agravain said, slightly annoyed at having to repeat himself. "The Lords of Hell seek to devour our world, while the Lord of the Dark Dimension is distracting the Sorcerer Supreme."
While the Sorcerer Supreme was nominally a permanent member of the Illuminati and had voting rights, she had never interacted with them, leaving the Illuminati blind to the magical side of the world.
Only Doom had any real kind of knowledge about it, outside of purely academic circles, at least.
Both Tony and Reed had sought out information once Arthuria revealed magic to the world, with Tony even getting a personal introduction from Arthuria once.
But when it came to dealing with magical problems?
Only Doom could really do much there, and he wasn't particularly someone who cared about dealing with minor issues, mostly using his membership in the Illuminati for his own benefit.
So overall, the Illuminati had no influence on the magical side of things; even then, they could understand the potential risk. After all, demons had once burned half of Lyon down overnight.
"So the demons... they are back," Magneto said, a look of genuine surprise on his face. He had been there that day, fighting alongside the King. He remembered the sheer, overwhelming power of those forces, the chilling reality of a hellish invasion.
"More than that," Sir Agravain confirmed. "She took the best of our forces to fight them."
He then looked at everyone. "Thus, I am in charge here. I assure you, while we might have fewer resources than our King would have at her disposal, we can handle the situation here."
The others looked at each other, a silent conversation passing between them. The revelation that Arthuria was not just missing, but fighting a secret war in Hell, was a staggering one. It reframed the entire conflict, adding a layer of cosmic horror to the already dire situation.
It also explained her absence, her silence. She wasn't hiding. She wasn't neglecting her duties. She was fighting a battle they couldn't even comprehend, a battle that made the Sentinel crisis seem like a mere skirmish.
"So, we're on our own against these things," Tony said, a wry, humorless smile on his face. "Against the robots, I mean. Not the demons. I'll pass on the demons."
"Hmm," Doom pondered. "I will take a look at the demonic situation. We can't allow ourselves to be blind to this risk. Should Arthuria fail, if we are caught by surprise, the situation will be impossible to manage."
He was a pragmatist; he would use what he could learn from the demons to his own benefit.
Agravain simply nodded. "Do as you wish. That is not our concern. Now, the only thing I care about is the Sentinels. They dare to attack the King's lands and seek to slaughter the King's people; this cannot stand," he said, finality in his tone.
He then pointed at the large map. "The few true knights who remain," he said, pointing at three small pictures, one of Sir Gareth, one of Sir Lancelot, and one of Sir Dagonet, "will do their best to respond to Sentinels within the areas surrounding them."
Magneto quickly focused on the mutant settlements; Utopia was but one city, and there were many towns and smaller villages where mutants had settled down. Those places were his main concern.
"Sir Agravain," Magneto said, stepping closer to the map. "My people are scattered across this land. While Utopia is the largest, there are many smaller settlements. I cannot be everywhere at once. I need to know they will be protected."
Agravain's gaze followed Magneto's finger, tracing the locations on the map. "Sir Dagonet will be in the North. He will be able to respond to threats in that region. His abilities... are unique. He is not a frontline warrior, but he is an excellent strategist and a master of support. He will ensure your people in the North are safe."
He then moved his finger to the West. "Sir Gareth will be in Wales. She is a Lancer of great skill and a heart of gold. She will defend the settlements in that region with her life."
Magneto studied the map, a strategist's mind at work. The plan was sound, but it was also a gamble. It relied on three knights, three individuals, to protect a vast area against an unknown number of Sentinels.
"It's a thin line," he said, his voice a low, thoughtful murmur. "A single Sentinel could slip through, cause untold damage before one of your knights could respond."
To this, Sir Agravain could do nothing but sigh. "Indeed, there is a large risk of Sentinels moving around once they get past the coast, and with only three knights to handle it all, there will be casualties," he admitted.
"Then we will help," Magneto declared, without a moment's hesitation. "My Brotherhood and I will work with your knights. We will fill the gaps. We will protect our own."
Agravain looked at him, a flicker of something new in his eyes. It was not surprise, but a grudging respect. "I will not object," he said, his tone neutral. "The more we have to defend this land, the better."
He then turned to the rest of the Illuminati. "As for the rest of you... what do you intend? I can't imagine you intend to remain here and watch the fighting."
"We'll help where we can," Steve said, his voice firm, a promise of support. "The Avengers will stand with you. We'll defend the coast, we'll reinforce the line. We'll do whatever it takes."
"We need to coordinate our efforts," Reed Richards added, ever the scientist. "We need to share our data, to pool our resources, to create a unified front. We can't afford to fight separate wars."
"Agreed," Tony said, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "I've got a few weapons that are rather effective against the Sentinels; I should be able to cover a city or two, at least as long as the number of Sentinels remains low."
"Very well," Agravain said with a slow, deliberate nod. "I will share our tactical data with you. I will give you access to our communication network. But make no mistake, this is my kingdom. My command. You will follow my orders. You will not act without my approval."
The Illuminati exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. They were leaders in their own right, used to being in charge. But they were also realists. They knew that Agravain, with his knowledge of the land, his control of the Enforcement Knights, and his direct line to the King, was the best person to lead this defense.
"We understand," Steve said, speaking for the group. "We will follow your lead."
"Good," Agravain said, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "Then let's get to work. The Sentinels will not wait. And neither will we."
(End of chapter)
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