Roma

60 miles North of Camelot Border

Center of the Neutral Lands

Hymns drifted through the air as an elderly man walked through the hallways of a large church. He held his arms behind his back in effort to stop his back from hurting. It didn’t help. Getting old, even it was the will of God, sucked, he mused. He wondered if this was how the saints of old felt when they reached his age, dealing with achy old body that was slowly failing them. He hummed, absentminded, as he strolled through the numerous hallways of the Ancient Cathedral. It had been years since he took on the position of the leader of the Catholic Church. He frowned as he thought. It was getting close to 50 years, now. He nodded. He had seen many interesting things over his years. His personally favorite was when a rare Angel would stop by and give him a mysterious message about the near future. He reflected on the most recent visit from a couple days ago.

Father Innocent closed the door to his private rooms and reached up, grabbing his headdress. He had just finished with the sermon over the power of forgiveness, how Lucifer had the possibility to be allow back into Heaven if he had apologized to God, and how God’s forgiveness was one of the most powerful forces one could have. He set the headdress on the table next to the door and turned around. He saw the white glow before he set his eyes on the Angel.

He could never tell which Angel he talked to. Usually, there was no identify traits he could tell with the Heavenly Creatures. However, this Angel seemed different. The Angel was male and wore unstained armor Father Innocent had seen in historical records, debiting the time before the Church was in Avalon and in the lands of Roman.

Innocent gave a bow, tilting forward as far as he dared without losing his balance, and greeted the Angel, “Greetings to you, Heavenly one.”

“Greetings to you, Earthly Father,” the Angel replied, giving him a slight smile. “I have a message from the Heavenly Father.”

“I’m happy that the Heavenly Father would chose to speak with me,” Innocent smiled.

“Dark times are coming,” The Angel started, “The Forces of Darkness are gathering. The Evil Lady of Death is reviving and her servants are reaching out to old allies and new ones.” The Angel paused, giving Father Innocent time to process the message before he went on, “The Believers will need guidance. The Lady of Light fights against the Lure of the Darkness. The Lady of Fire will be starting her path, learning what she needs to as she faces her own battle with the Darkness. The Lady of Earth has been snared by the sweet words and false promises of the Evil Darkness. The Ladies of Air, Water, and Life are still asleep, but they will awake soon. The blessed Lady of Dark has witnessed through the flames of prophecy what could come to pass, but lacks understanding. The Good Lady of Death can’t come into her power until the Evil one has been defeated, but she will be strong enough to stand with the Ladies of the Elements. Their counterparts, the Lords, will their support during coming trying times, however, these Lords will be hard to find. They are asleep, for now.”

He blinked, watching as several priests in brown apprentice robes walked by, talking animatedly about the lecture they just left. Apparently, it was about the 40-day and 40-night fasting of the Holy Son and what happen during that time. If he remembered correctly, Brother Raphael had been teaching that lecture and wasn’t afraid to explore some of the what if theories some of the younger brothers questioned. They nodded at him before they passed, saying in a soft tone, “Father Innocent.”

Father Innocent nodded back. The apprentices rushed off, no doubt to go to another lecture or to attend prayer. He glanced up at the cloudless blue sky to see a white drove fly to the messenger tower. The drove was no doubt delivering news from one of the sister Churches in the surrounding Kingdoms. Father Innocent continued his mid-morning stroll through the Large Church, reflecting on the current politics of the surrounding Kingdoms.

The King of Camelot, King Uther had fallen ill some time ago. According to the bishops, he had refused any of the Priest Healers and the two magi. The king had chosen to rely on the Scientific Healers. Those Healers were on the raise, Father Innocent mused, thanks to a desire to understand the earthly world around them. He couldn’t blame them. He knew there were stuff that couldn’t be explained away by the teaching of God, however, majority of it was. Father Innocent hadn’t personally been to Camelot in almost three, going on four decades now. Speaking of that, the Father paused, thinking, it was getting close to 10 years since Uther had took the Throne after pulling the Holy Sword out of its sheath. It meant the King didn’t just fall ill of a random sickness, it was the effects of the Curse. He frowned. He hoped there was not another time of the Kingless Kingdom. He had lost many good brothers of the cloth during that time. The church ranks just now recovered from that.

The Church, during those six months of the Kingless Kingdom, tried to provide hope to those souls asking for it. Father Innocent had sent several dozen of his best Brothers to Camelot to help provide guidance, but as the enemies of Camelot had marched closer to the castle, they didn’t care who they killed, what they had burnt to the ground, or how they destroy countless lives and artifacts the Church had gathered over the years. None of the Brothers that went to the Kingdom of Camelot returned home alive. He had spent a year in mourning once the Holy Sword had allowed the Prince at the time, Uther, to pull it out of its sheath and was crowned King of Camelot. He had made the choice of helping those who cried out for hope, but the price of that action was paid in blood. He often questioned the reason why the Holy Sword didn’t out-right choose Uther from the beginning.

However, the rumors from the couple Brothers who fled before the Enemies of Camelot visited the Heart of the Kingdom and the slaughter happened, informed him that someone too young managed to pull the Holy Sword from it’s place. When the Brothers were questioned, they didn’t know which family had the young person pull the Holy Sword, but it had cause a stir within one of the more ancient families. They did try to nose around, but the family’s allies kept silence and the other families of the Court weren’t aware of someone being found worthy. They did noticed the Magi had disappeared.

He wondered what would happen if the Holy Sword did chose Uther, what things would be different now. He resumed his walk. That was a dark and dangerous path to walk on. Perhaps it was the will of God, reminding the citizens of Camelot to be faithful to the one and true God.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Father Innocent,” someone called out behind him in a relieved tone. The old man stopped and turned to the Brother, noticing he wore the blue robe of an office. Father Innocent didn’t remember which office it represented at the moment. “There you are.”

“Yes, I am here, Brother…?” Father Innocent started, his tone held a question in it.

“Micheal,” the blue robed brother bowed his head slightly, “Brother Micheal of the Messenger Hall,” he looked at Father Innocent with a pair of wild green eyes. “I have recent word from Camelot.”

The Father ran his eyes over Brother Micheal’s expression, looking for a hint. Brother Micheal’s jaw twitched. There was a tightness around his wild eyes that was not usually there. His green eyes glowed with several different emotions that the Father couldn’t read before it switched to a different emotion. His hands flexed uncontrollable. That was a sign that he was worried about something. It was possible bad from the emotional reaction Brother Micheal was showing.

“What is it, my son?” Father Innocent asked, calmly.

“Uther of House Drake, King of the Ruling Family, has been announced dead,” Brother Micheal said, “We just received news of it a few minutes ago.” The Brother waited.

Father Innocent stilled. He knew Uther’s time on the Camelot throne was coming to an end, but this was unexpected. He had been under the impression that Uther had still three to four months before Uther’s anniversary of withdrawing the Holy Sword. There was something shift in the world, something uneasy.

The last time he felt this way was during the time of the Kingless Kingdom. The only difference between then and now - An Angel didn’t visit him back then. Maybe it was time again to visit Camelot. He would personally to see over King Uther’s funeral ceremony. He knew the Queen Belladonna, one of the most strong willed women he ever meet, would not deny him. She would even insist on it, claiming it would be honor for her son and for Camelot to have the Pope to visit. He finally spoke to Brother Micheal, “Thank you, my son. Please, send for the bishops and the council of Paladins to meet me in the Papal Room for a meeting. I think it is time for me to visit the Camelot Kingdom again.”

Brother Micheal’s eyes widen before he nodded, “As you wish, Father.” He bowed slightly and turned away to do Father Innocent’s will.

Father Innocent, however, slowly made his way to the Papal Room. He knew he would have to write a letter to the Ruling Family of Camelot, announcing that he was coming to oversee the ceremony of the King, and start planning the very short noticed visit. His paladins wouldn’t like it. Not one bit. A small smirk slowly spread across his lips. He did enjoy causing some chaos. His mind drifted to the message he received from the Angel and he lost his smirk.

He didn’t know when the last time the Council of Lords and Ladies of the Elements had been chosen or gathered. It was before his lifetime. He frowned, thinking back through the numerous history lessons he had attended and given. The only time that stood out in his memory was before the Creation of Avalon, if one would be bold enough to call it, was the Battle of the Curse where the Curse was casted on the Holy Sword. The Council of Lords and Ladies of the Elements were split in half with half the council fighting with the Evil Lady of Death while the other stayed with the Lady of Light. History knows how the fight ended. Father Innocent wondered how things will turn out this time.

Father Innocent entered the Papal Room and saw Brother Micheal had worked fast, spreading the word of the surprise meeting of the Bishops and the Paladin Council. He strolled up to his high back chair. It was located on a higher platform then the rest of the chairs in the room. His eyes roamed over the room, seeing the various shades of velvet red, noting the High Lord Bishop John already sat in his chair, several steps below the Papery Chair. He also noticed the High Lord Paladin Peter already sitting his chair, across High Lord Bishop John. His eyes darted back and forth between the two powerful men of the Church. He knew already this meeting would be an interesting meeting for him.

He made his way to the Papery Chair as the rest of the members of the Bishops and Paladin Council filed in. Father Innocent reached the Chair and turned. His hands reached out for the arms of the chair and grabbed them, tightly, as he slowly settled into the chair. He let out a soft sigh, relaxing into the chair, closing his eyes. His back immediately stopped protesting as he lend back against the soft high back. He opened his eyes and stared out over the high ranking members of the Church.

“I’m sorry for calling you away from your duties, my sons,” Father Innocent started, “and thank you for coming on short notice.” His eyes roamed over the room. “I have received word that the King of Camelot, Uther IX of House Drake, Patriarch of the Ruling Family has joined our lord, yesterday morning.”

“May God welcome him into his halls,” High Lord Bishop John announced, solemnly. The phrase was repeated throughout the room.

Father Innocent nodded in agreement, “May God welcome him into his halls.” He paused, “As this result, I would like to travel to Camelot to personally oversee his funeral ceremony.”

Silence followed his announced then the High Lord Paladin Peter broke it, “Father, if I be so bold to ask, why now travel to Camelot when you haven’t in the past three or four decades?”

“I sense there will be a change, coming soon,” Father Innocent confessed, “I do believe Camelot will be at the heart of the change. That is why I wish to travel to Camelot.” He witnessed the members of the room exchange looks. “I am going.” He emphasized, sensing an argument coming and he decided to nip it in the bud, “I know the Paladin Order will want to provided security while the Order of Bishops may have a few members who wish to go as well.”

“Yes, Father,” High Lord Paladin Peter agreed, “We will provide security. I will summon my best Paladins to provide both escort and security while we are there.”

“What does the Ruling Family say to this, Father,” High Lord Bishop John questioned, looking unsure.

“I haven’t sent a letter to the Ruling Family, just yet, however, I know they will not refuse us,” Father Innocent stated, “After all, the former High Queen Belladonna has been sending letters over the years, requesting me to visit.”

High Lord Bishop John nodded. He knew what letters Father Innocent referred. He was often the one who delivered the letters. There have been times where he personally had to read the letters to Father Innocent on the days where the Father’s health was not strong as it used to be and would be laid in bed for a few days recovering from the simplest illnesses.

“I think it is time to visit, during the Ruling Family’s time of need,” Father Innocent went on, “And witness the choosing of the Next King, personally. I want to be ready to offer my council to the New King.” The high ranked members of the Church already knew the conditions of the Holy Sword and its secretive curse. Father Innocent had questioned the Battle Mage Merlin, when he was much younger man about the history of the Holy Sword, if it was really sent by God to lead the country into peace. It was a requirement of the High Ranked members of the church to travel to Camelot and spread the word of God while living there for a term of 10 years. “Please, start the process of preparing to travel to Camelot with all of God’s speed.”

“Shall we choose apprentices who wish to become High Ranked Members of the Church?” High Lord Paladin Peter asked, knowing the previous term limit was coming to an end.

“Yes, Lord Paladin,” Father Innocent answered.

“How are we traveling there,” High Lord Bishop John asked.

“Did St. Mary dock recently?” The Pope questioned. The Lord Bishop nodded in reply. The Father went on, “Then tell the Captain to prepare to sail out. We will be using St. Mary to travel to Camelot. I know Queen Belladonna would want to bury her remaining son as soon as possible.”

High Lord Paladin Peter nodded and stood up so smoothly that Father Innocent felt a twinge of jealousy of the younger man before Peter turned to his half of the room. He called out, “Attention!” The sound of four dozen Paladins stood up with the clatter of armor and slipped into a salute. “You heard his Holiness. We prepare to travel to Camelot.”

“Yes, Lord Paladin,” the Paladins replied. The High Lord Paladin strolled to the far end of the room and threw opened the Papal Chamber doors. Father Innocent watched as the Paladins marched behind their High Lord out of the room and split up, no doubt going to prepare for his travel to the Kingdom of Camelot. He never lost the awe came with watching the Paladins. He had thought about walking that path, but God had different plans for him when he was younger.

“I beg your leave, your holiness,” The High Lord Bishop bowed to the Pope before he left as the bishops filed out a lot silently then their Paladin counterparts did. Father Innocent watched them go. He waited for a couple minutes, thinking about the letter he now had to write. He slowly pushed his way up to his feet and walked to the steps, taking them one at a time down before he strolled out of the chamber, heading to his study where he would write the letter.