By the time Arthur got everyone's attention for the ceremony, much of the people were either drunk or bored with talk and gossip. Myself, I had decided to tell jokes and dance with some of the girls to amuse everyone.

Theo had walked over to me during the party and told me he had talked to his father, Arthur.

"He wasn't as angry as I thought. Seems he is more set on the assassination than me right now." Theo said, for a moment, you'd think he was whining that he wasn't getting attention, but he was actually genuinely concerned about his father.

I had smiled and put my hands on my hips. "Don't worry, we have a plan." I said.

Theo had tried to question me about the plan, but as soon as he did the voice of the King boomed over everyone. The herald then spoke off a paper towards everyone when their attention was grasped.

"This here party will host the ceremony of knighthood of the famous Sir Dagonet, the kings faithful Jester." The herald spoke, his voice sounding high and sort of raspy.

Murmurs and even some laughs filled the crowd. Some were saying things like. "Is this the Kings idea of a joke?"

Time to wow the crowd. I stepped forward and stood in front of Arthur, who smiled down at me for but a moment. Then reached for his sword and unsheathed it as I knelt down.

Everyone fell silent, as they were supposed to when a knighting was being done. Arthur's blade was shining among the crowd, a gold and bronze sword done in his hand.

Excalibur itself. Only members of the circle were knighted with Excalibur, regular knights would be knighted with their own sword.

I closed my eyes as the sword touched both of my shoulders gently. Arthur's voice boomed across the room.

"Today, another well talented, and trusted man joins my inner circle." He said, raising his sword and extending his hand toward me.

"You may rise, Dagonet." He said, just as I took his hand and stood to my feet. Arthur turned to the crowd, then continued.

"To prove his mettle, Dagonet will choose one person from the crowd for a duel, someone who is obviously suited to battle of course." Arthur said.

This got the crowd stirring, immediately I made eye contact with Theo and he made a scowl. He knew the plan now. He didn't have to be so worried, I knew what I was doing. or at least I thought so.

I scanned the crowd and look for the hooded man in the crowd, I could see some of the nobles faces as my eyes passed them. Some looked nervous, probably thinking I would pick them, others looked ready to prove they were better than any jester.

I ignore all the looks and figure out where the man is, he sees me make eye contact and he freezes a bit, but quickly gains his posture to not look suspicious. I point at the hooded man and smile. "You there, may I have the honors to a duel with you?"

the man didn't look away from my eyes after I spoke, he knew that he had been caught. He stepped forward, the crowd thinning away from him, like he was parting the sea. he walked near the steps and stopped, looking up at me.

"What are the rules for this bout?" He asked, his voice was deep and handsome sounding. He didn't sound any evil or angered that he was caught. Good acting for an assassin. I turn to a guard standing near me and grab the sword he is holding, a normal longsword.

I grabbed the blade and turned back to him. "Until one calls uncle. If one does not call it in time, no matter."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Suddenly he smiles, his face half visible from under his hood. "So what your saying is that I can kill if you are not giving in?" he asked.

I nodded, and tossed him the longsword. He caught it with deft, and flipped it around in his hand skillfully. Obvious for an assassin, he is probably skilled in swordplay. I pulled my blade out, the short sword I've always used as a weapon of choice.

Stepping down the stairs, the crowd started to walk to the ends of the room, creating a large circle of open space. once landing on even ground I watch the assassin take his place in the middle of the circle, and put one hand behind his back. Was he planning on a fair fight? He was obviously going to try and kill me before I give. 

That's if I give, which I won't.

I take the same posture once I'm in front of him, our blades touch, and Arthur raises his hand. Once his hand is lowered the fight would begin. But first before going on the offensive, I need to determine his fighting style. Is he fast or a slow fighter? Does he aim for limbs or arteries? My mind races as the possibly flies through me, that I know nothing about him other than from the stance he is taking.

Time seemed to stop as  Arthurs hand waved down, and instantly the man took a hop back, and charged forward using his heel for more momentum. For his first attack his took a wide slash at my hip. I reacted in kind, jumping over him with extreme swiftness.

Landing behind him, I quickly spun around whilst bending down, knowing he would see that I dodged and try for another wide slash. From under him, I balanced myself on my hands and kicked him in the knee, making him tumble a bit.

Aiming carefully once standing, I jabbed at him with incredible speed, but his reflexes were quicker than I expected. His blade danced off my, deflecting my attack. Gritting his teeth, he pushed my blade aside, and swung his leg for a kick.

This hit landed, as I saw I wasn't going to be able to dodge, I got ready for the blow and didn't stumble much. I quickly move my arm, and catch his leg as it hits me, holding him in place. The crowd gasps as this happens.

It took me a moment to try and not to mock him in his open way of fighting, but it didn't stop me from bringing my blade into his leg. The assassin let out a scream of pain as my blade dug through his skin. 

Dropping his leg and taking my blade out, I take a few steps back and let him catch his bearings. He grabbed his leg with his free hand, blood pulsed out of it. His speed is definitely inhibited now that he's injured and he knows it. 

"Going to give in?" I asked, getting into a ready stance again.

This made him laugh a bit under his breath. "Not quite."

He suddenly reached under his belt, and produced three small knives, glinting as he flashed them, and threw them in the kings direction. 

A part of me froze, there was no way for me to help, I was on the opposite sided of the room. But as the knives went through the air, I saw Arthurs face, still straight and proud. 

The knives stopped in the middle of the air, freezing there in time. Everyone in the crowd either froze  from the sudden action or gasped and took a few steps back from shock. The assassin looked shocked and confused at his failed attempt to kill the king.

From behind me, a voice sailed into my ear. It was old sounding and wisdom filled.

"Seems like I was late to the party." It said. I turned around and made eye contact with an old man with a long grey beard, and shaggy hair. His pointed hat and dark royal blue robes drew him attention.

Beside him stood another person, a girl with long silver hair. She had her hand out, a glow emanated off of it. She was casting magic to stop the knives?

The assassin clicked his tongue in irritation and yelled in anger, straight at the king. The girl with silver hair saw this, and, with a single flick of a finger, sent all the knives into the assassin. They all stabbed him in the stomach, in which he stumbled and fell to the ground. 

His hands shook as he tried to pull the knives out in a panic. His eyes, now wide open with shock, went to the old man, who I knew very well, as did most of the people in this room.

"Damn you, you old magician..." The assassin mumbled as blood leaked through his mouth. The knives strong poison was killing much faster, which is why he was shaking so much other than being impaled.

"Right on time, Merlin." Arthur said, still with a straight face; he then turned to me. "Finish him, Dago."

I gave short bow and started to walk towards him. The assassin dragged himself away, as if he could get away. I remember I felt bad for him then, and I hesitated as I raised my sword. Then, as the assassin turned on his back, he opened his jacket, and I saw the small linie of smoke lift into the air.

The look he gave me was the look of a dead man, but he smiled through it. "Long live the old Empress." He mumbled.

Just as I turned around, I yelled at the crowd. "Get down-!"

But warning them had little to do with saving myself. The alchemist fire that burned brightly in the lit flask lit the room with a bright blue flame. The last thing I felt before the explosion of flames was the burning sensation on my back, and hitting my face on the marble floor.