[But in fact anyone with eyes could see that, regarding the 'choosing of a king', the late Uther had already reached a decision together with the court's first magus, the Sage Merlin.]
[Prior to this there had long been rumours in the realm: the 'princess' Morgan le Fay would be excluded from succession; she had been removed from the line of heirs — Merlin prophesied the future king would be the 'son of the red dragon' who utterly slays the 'white dragon'.]
[The Red Dragon is likewise the symbol of the Celtic peoples, the other manifest will of the island, and also the bloodline of the Pendragon house.]
[Morgan clearly did not meet such a condition.]
[She would be married to the Windmill City's Knight Duke, the realm's most lofty and pure knight, Subutai Equinus, and bear many exceptionally gifted descendants.]
[She would assist the new king together with Subutai.]
[Yet very obviously, such an outcome would not be accepted by Morgan.]
[Nor would you—]
[At least, not right now.]
Within Camelot's heart, in the chalk-white city's royal court, figures stood solemn in the vast hall. Standing on the throne dais' steps, the white-robed, silver-haired Sage Merlin smiled down at the assembly and said, "I believe the late king's will is something you are already aware of—""What objections do you have?"
Although Camelot had been founded a century before and had seized most of the main island after Rome's retreat, many feudal lords and domains still existed within its borders. Outside the southern mainland there were still various islands and regions not directly under Uther's rule.
Even within Camelot there were many 'countries within the country' — counties and duchies.Western titles differ from eastern ones: below dukes are counts; marquises are essentially border counts with high autonomy — but their rank still sits under dukes. Dukes could, within their domain, even claim kingship. The men entitled to decide the choice of king were the very top tier of Camelot's great lords.
Such people would not simply be cowed by Merlin — at most, they would be wary. It was therefore natural someone would speak up in response to the Sage.
"The late king's will — of course we will not refuse to follow it."
The speaker was gaunt, weathered, the palace's captain of the guard, named Bede Pank, once the late king's battlefield comrade and the honour-chief among the king's knights. He looked toward Merlin and said, "But we must be certain: is that truly the late king's will?"
"Since the king became gravely ill, we have not seen His Majesty for some time—""I can confirm it in my own name and honour." Merlin answered. Though smiling, an unquestionable authority flashed instantly from him. No matter how slovenly he behaved in daily life, the Sage Merlin still held the reins of Camelot; he legitimately was the realm's greatest magus. He could not be gainsaid. Bede was silenced for a moment.
"This is too childish." Another lord, a burly bearded man, said: "Pulling a sword from a stone — does that mean any random person can be king?""Duke Leodegrance appears confident?" Merlin narrowed his eyes at the man, then said, "Rest assured, that sword within the stone is not for ordinary men to remove.""It measures the calibre of a king—""I hear Lady Guinevere is already fourteen?""The new king will most likely be of a similar age?" Merlin's words were pointed; Leodegrance's expression shifted. The Duke of Leodegrance, ruler of the southern Leodegrance isles, descended from a family once Rome's local military governors, ranked second among Camelot's potentates after Windmill City's duke — he was also Guinevere's father, the one who would give a bride to the future Arthur of the Round Table.
He had not originally supported such an absurd method of 'selecting' a king — yet if the chosen king became his son-in-law, that was another matter. If Morgan were to inherit the throne, that would be impossible: gender would decide everything. Leodegrance's moustache twitched and a smile creased his face. "We'll follow the High Magus's judgment."
Merlin had quelled the palace guard and won over Leodegrance. Though a magus, Merlin by no means lacked political skill. But this debate over the throne could not end here. The two weightiest figures had not yet arrived.
"Find out." Merlin glanced to one side. "Where are Duke Subutai and Princess Morgan?"—Especially Subutai. If he disagreed, then however Merlin pushed, the chosen king would likely not be wholeheartedly accepted by the legion of knights that now permeated Camelot. Eight years — the knightly order had near monopolised Camelot's military power. One could not sidestep that.
"How does Subutai think?" Merlin wondered. He had supported Morgan, yet taught Artoria. As a nightmare-blooded being, Merlin was seldom able to fully read a man's heart…
"Do not ask." At that instant the palace guard-leader Bede Pank cut in: "I have just received the latest intelligence. Vortigern the 'despicable' has marched south upon hearing of the late king's death — Subutai Duke and Princess Morgan have already appeared at the forward black fortress. My son Bedevere is there. He and many knights followed Duke Subutai north — they are close to the Giant Rock stronghold."
Merlin paused for a beat. Yes. While Camelot's magnates argued over the choice of king, Subutai and Morgan had already reached the front line confronting Vortigern.
…[Vortigern's southern columns were growing stronger.]
[Though you had yet to see him in person, the nearer you drew to the north the more the island itself seemed to tremble — the pressure of the dragon.]
[That pressure meant little to you and Morgan, yet it weighed hugely on the knights who had accompanied you north.]
[Especially the young Bedevere — the eighteen-year-old silver-armed youth you personally vetted, one of your pupils; in some respects he was a hopeful among the Round Table knights.]
[You had pinned great expectations on Bedevere because you knew he would become one of Arthur's Round Table.]
[Yet the young man could play but a small role in the coming battle — their task was simply to open a path for you.]
[Open the way, then seize the king.]
[You and Morgan were the key to facing Vortigern.]
"Last time we failed to seize him.""This time—""With full preparation.""That bastard cannot run away!"
White dragon, red dragon — cut down Vortigern, and the throne would naturally fall into your hands!
[Approaching the front, you and Morgan rode together upon a single mount and smiled at one another.]
[Beneath your cloak Morgan wore the formal gown of Camelot's heiress; she was more radiant than ever, her golden hair almost silvering in hue. She leaned back against your chest beneath the cloak's shadow, the high-waisted dress sculpting the fullness of her breasts and the narrowness of her waist, a slit at the hem revealing stockings that encased long legs — the girl sat sideways upon the saddle, her weight pressing into your thigh, her hair brushing your jaw and bringing a cold, clean scent.]
[Her fingers rested upon your bridle-hand; the feel of her slender touch was distinct.]
...
In the Arthurian songs Subutai appears little, only as a figure of the prior generation — not of the Round Table, a supporting royal whose rank resembled Merlin's in the old poems. In other records from another corner of the world, however, his deeds are recorded in bold strokes.
It is said that with but two thousand mounted men he once opposed the tens of thousands under Vortigern. Across the world there are few such feats; only the ancient Spartans stand comparable. Later, only the three-hundred at Vérité could remotely rival such fame. Said historians write of Subutai's descendants as victors in Gaul.
"World Military Histories — Subutai in the Arthurian Song"
Rumble! In the distance the earth trembled; the white chalk dragon rose and beat the air with wings. A blue breath poured forth like an incoming tide and seared the land into a deep, ruined blackened trough