Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the arena. I wasn’t nervous about the fight but more about what this all symbolized, the stakes had been raised even higher; I fought not just for Guinevere now but my unborn child.

“Are you ready?” the adjudicator asked me.

I looked up to where Guinevere was watching me from her private viewing box. “I’m ready,” I said to her.

My opponent charged me. Sidestepping I slashed at his knees, when he lowered his shield to block, I hit him with a right hook. He staggered back and I caught him across the face with the backhand of my gauntlet sword. Kicking him in the gut I knocked him on his ass and kicked his helmet three times before he went limp.

Rolling my shoulders, I settled myself as I looked up at the Adjudicator. He ground his teeth but nodded and marked something on the chart in front of him.

“Excuse me,” Guinevere said loud enough for all to hear. “I can’t help but notice that you haven’t moved Ismael up in the brackets, may I know the reason for this?”

The Adjudicator flushed. “My lady I…”

“How long have you been doing this?” Guinevere asked. “I’ve looked into how many fights Ismael has participated in; based on their number and frequency he should have moved up five brackets by now.”

“My lady he is only a commoner,” the adjudicator said so low that only Gifted with high Perception attributes would have been able to hear him.

“You will obey the rules of the Tourney,” Guinevere said. “I may not have the political power to have you executed for this treason, but I do have the personal power to do so myself. This tourney is being fought because of me and I will not see the rules so blatantly ignored right in front of me.”

“It won’t happen again,” The Adjudicator said bowing his head.

“I hope so, for your sake,” Guinevere said standing up and leaving.

I passed into the tunnel below the stands. Kalin had an excited look on his face and I could feel the energy bubbling off him.

“That was incredible, you were so fast!” he chattered away.

“One day you’ll be just as fast,” I said holing out my fist to him he flinched for a second looking at it confused. “It’s a fist bump,” I explained. “Tap your knuckles against mine.”

He did so and his body relaxed again.

The sweet smell of jasmine entered the room as Guinevere walked in. Aisha had already exited so it was just the three of us. Guinevere looked at Kalin confused.

“Who is this?” she asked.

“This is Kalin,” I said. “He is my apprentice; he knows who I am and can be trusted.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Guinevere said extending her hand and shaking his.

“It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance my lady,” Kalin said haltingly and bowing awkwardly.

“Did Aisha teach you to do that?” I asked.

“Yes,” Kalin said. “She said it was important, isn’t it?” He asked me.

“To some people,” I said extending my arm to Guinevere. “Lets go out.”

“Are you sure?” she asked. “It will put more scrutiny on you.”

“I don’t care,” I said. “I miss you; we haven’t had a proper conversation with each other in weeks.”

“What do you want to do then?” Guinevere asked.

“Lets go out for dinner,” I said.

Guinevere rested her arm atop mine as we stepped out into the sunshine. We walked through the rows of tents and temporary buildings passing out the tourney grounds into the city proper. Guinevere pointed out an establishment and we sat down inside. The air felt cool inside, and I realized it had the magical equivalent of air conditioning.

“What do you want to eat?” Guinevere asked me.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “I’ve mostly just eaten monster since I got…here.” I stopped myself from saying to this world. We were in a public place and I needed to watch the way I worded things. “What do you recommend.”

“Monster meat can actually be pretty good if its prepared right,” Guinevere said. “Wyvern steak is one of my favorites.”

“I guess I’ll try that if they have it here,” I said.

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Guinevere waved the waiter over and gave him our choices then turned back to me. I stratched some runes onto the underside of the table blocking out eavesdropping from those around us.

“We can speak privately now,” I said.

“How are you so calm here?” Guinevere asked. “Your in Camelot the base of the most powerful kingdom in the world. There are at least half a dozen champions here not including Arthur.”

“Because they all lack imagination,” I said shrugging. “Everyone expects me to be the Warlord, to act as the Warlords of the past have acted. Infiltration is something they expect from the Thief or Assassin they just can’t fathom someone like me doing it.”

“What about the ones that have met you?” Guinevere asked.

“I wouldn’t classify our encounters as meetings,” I said. “All they’ve ever seen of me is dark barbarian because that all they wanted to see.”

“What happened during the raid?” Guinevere asked. “I was scrying you and it went dark. I thought you died, I kept trying to scry you for days afterwards and it didn’t work; Arthur told me even the gods think your dead.”

“All the gods pooled their resources to arrange a series of raids and World Bosses to kill me and my army,” I explained to her. “You must have seen the archangel world boss? I had one of my vassals block all scrying in the area so I could use all my abilities without letting my enemies know what I was doing.”

“But how did you fool the gods?” Guinevere asked.

“That’s thanks to the System,” I said. “It turns out it didn’t like the massive amount of interference from the gods with the competition so it gave me a boon to balance out the scales. I picked an option that makes it impossible for even gods to scry on me.”

“So they only know as much as the rest of us,” Guinevere said. “What happens if they scry on someone next to you though?”

“I’m not sure?” I said shrugging. “It didn’t come with a lot of details; I assume the system blurs me out or obfuscates my presence somewhat. What about you? What’s new with you?”

“My father wasn’t happy with my disappearance,” Guinevere said. “I was ordered to go to Camelot, and I have to be seen in public with Arthur. I didn’t know I was pregnant until about a week ago, the woman who was my governess growing up is now the palace’s head physician.”

“Does she know who the father is?” I asked.

Guinevere nodded. “I told her, I thought you were dead.”

“Can she be trusted to keep her mouth shut?” I asked.

“Yes,” Guinevere said. “Physicians all have immunity from compulsion even from the crown. The problem is others who have met you. Mira is here, so is Lancelot, Kay and Vone.”

“I know,” I said with a sigh. “She’s been trying to seduce me for a few days, I’ve tried putting her off, but it just seems to make her more determined.”

Guinevere’s hand tightened on the knife cutting her steak. “Is she now?” she asked coolly.

“Don’t kill her,” I said. “We don’t need that kind of heat.”

“Heat?” Guinevere questioned me.

“It’s a phrase from my world,” I said. “It means we don’t need people looking more closely at us.”

“We’re making a lot of heat eating together in public like this,” Guinevere said.

“Worth the risk,” I said. “I’m sorry I didn’t respond well to the news yesterday. Its just… I fear becoming my father and actually becoming a father… I was terrified of messing that up.”

Guinevere took my right hand in her reaching across the table. “You aren’t your father Mordred, I’ve seen you grow and change. You are a better man than you think you are.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said squeezing her hand back.

I let go of her hand as our food arrived and we began to eat picking our conversation back up.

“What made you change your mind?” Guinevere asked.

“Arthur and Kalin,” I said.

“Arthur?” Guinevere asked.

“Yes,” I said. “I saw him with his mistress and kid, it made me realize that no matter what I’ve done I could still be the man my child needs me to be.”

“I think…” Guinevere was saying but someone stepped up to our table breaking the privacy bubble around us.

“Lady Guinevere,” the man said bowing.

“Lord Orven,” Guinevere said extending her hand and the man took it bowing low. “How may I help you?”

“I’m sorry to disturb you and your… associate,” the man said looking at her other hand which was still nested in mine. “But I am hosting a hunt tomorrow, I’ve already invited many other nobles and the Champions visiting our city, but I was wondering if you wished to attend.”

He is much more interested in you than Guinevere, Voidra said. I think he just came over to examine you more closely.

Interesting, I thought back at her. Anything else you can detect?

His intensions aren’t good, Voidra said. Greed, vanity are very heavy off him and lust but that’s normal when they’re around Guinevere.

I see, I thought darkly focusing on his face more clearly.

“I’m not sure if I will have time tomorrow…” Guinevere said.

“I’d love to come along,” I said meeting his eyes and watching him flinch away from my gaze. “What are you hunting?”

“Erymanthian boar,” Lord Orven said. “There is a wild herd on my family’s land, of course you are welcome to attend. Having such a rising star among us would be welcome addition.”

“Excellent,” I said flashing him a predatory smile as I took in a deep breath catching his scent in full. “I always love a good fight. If you’ll excuse us Guinevere and I have business elsewhere.”

“Of course,” Lord Orven said bowing and stepping back. “I will see you on the morrow?”

Guinevere and I walked together back to the tourney grounds.

“What was all that about?” she asked me.

“I think I’m going to be assassinated tomorrow,” I said.

“What? Why?” Guinevere asked, her head twisting around to look back the way we came.

“That man had Lady Kira’s scent on him,” I said. “And we both remember what happened the last time we saw her.”

“Do you think she has seen you?” Guinevere asked. “You had a beard at the time but she might still recognize you.”

“No, I haven’t been near her since I got here,” I said. “But we never found out who was trying to have you assassinated in the first place.”

“I’m coming with you,” Guinevere said.

“No,” I said firmly.

“Yes,” Guinevere said. “We’re in this together.”

“Your pregnant,” I said. “I’m not risking you…”

“I can be stoned to death if anyone learns who our baby’s father is,” Guinevere said. “The best way you can protect me is to get this over with.”

“Fine,” I said with a sigh. “But keep Kalin with you, I know he’s just Mortal, but I made him one of my vassals and can always tell where he is.”

“Fine,” Guinevere said as we reached my tent.

She briefly stepped inside with me. Her hands slid around my neck as we kissed. It was as sweet as it was brief, she pulled away a rosy flush on her cheeks before pulling her veil back down and exiting. Being alone with me for long periods was not something her society would tolerate.

I turned to see Kalin at his desk studying.

“Get up,” I told him. “We need to upgrade your equipment.”