541 Autumn

Sir MICHAEL the Pangolin attacked Sir VANDEGRIFF the Bear-Master, nearly wounding him. But Sir Michael was not to fault, for the BLACK JEWEL in his skull controlled him as a puppet. He awoke from a dream, breaking the jewel's power for the moment, but SIR ALBEUS could not cut it from his head, as the Jewel appears to have sunk down roots into Sir Michael's living brain.

The only man in Europe who could possibly understand the Black Jewel, with Merlin gone, is the subtle and arrogant COUNT BRASS of the Camargue. KING ARTHUR charged Sir Michael and his companions to hasten there, before the Black Jewel ate Sir Michael's soul completely.

Three champions barred their way. The Serpent Champion was ten feet tall with the strength of a giant alligator. The Bear Champion was near as large, covered in russet fur and possessed of a mighty roar. And the Warrior in Jet and Gold wore golden armor with a black surcoat, so no part of his body could be seen.

BENILAC spared the life of the Warrior in Jet and Gold, who withdrew, limping, from the field. He promised to meet ALBEUS later. Sir BENLIAC also suffered a Major Wound from the Warrior.

Sir GANELON earned 250 Glory for bravely and rashly scouting the Muskovian horde.

Sir MARTH shot the Serpent Champion in the eye, bypassing his massive hide. The Serpent Champion landed two crushing blows on Sir Marth, wounding him near unto death. But Sir BENILAC plunged a spear into the Champion's hide, which Sir MICHAEL then struck with his iron fist, piercing the Champion sore unto death himself. Then as the Champion's sun set, Sir Marth's arose anew, for Sir Benilac bound up his wounds with inspired skill, perhaps guided by our Merciful Lady Herself.

Sir GANELON and Sir BEARDSLEY undertook to sneak into the Muskovian camp, disguised with captured beast-masks. Sir BEARDSLEY prayed earnestly for success in their venture, but more generally, for God to send him a wife.

Sir LEGOLAS TRUMP earned 500 Glory for converting a captured Knight of the Mantis to Christ. His name is Asrovak Mikosevaar and he knows that Baron Meladius and his cousin, Baron Tanelorn, are competing to marry KATHLEEN, the intended of SIR VANDEGRIFF.

541

MUSKOVIA has attacked the KNIGHTS of the ROUND TABLE in a treacherous ambush. BARON MELADIUS was wounded by SIR ALBEUS but fled, swearing revenge.

Now MUSKOVIA’s legions are on the march! The Order of the Crow scouts through the woods, finding pathways for the Orders of the Wolf and Dragon, while the Order of the Bull charges ahead. The Orders of the Shark and Squid raid the coasts.  Somewhere in SAXONY, the armies of MUSKOVIA and BRITAIN shall meet, and decide the destiny of the world.

Also, MELADIUS kidnaps KATHERINE, the sister of BRIAN BORU and SIR VANDEGRIFF’s intended.

The Muskovians use Saxons as their front line. Sir MICHAEL THE PANGOLIN discovers that the Saxons have BLACK JEWELS embedded in their skulls; gradually, the Jewel has eaten the Saxon’s brain, so he is naught but a puppet of the Jewel’s master, whoever it is.

SIR VANDEGRIFF defeats the WILD HUNTSMAN in single combat.

SIR MARTH destroys the ORDER OF THE EAGLE and its Grand Constable, COUNT DUCLOS.

SIR VANDEGRIFF and SIR ALBEUS try to come to grips with BARON MELADIUS. But SIR PEREGORN, the old black knight, knocks MELADIUS from his saddle. When he swings back onto his wolf, SIR VANDEGRIFF descends on him in a fury and destroys him with two mighty blows. But it isn’t MELADIUS at all under the helmet, but a Muskovian knight whom MELADIUS has placed his own wolf-mask upon! VANDEGRIFF chases MELADIUS into the distance.

SIR BENILAC chases down the Order of the Dragon and slays its knights, but KING LUKE catches the Grand Constable of their order and strikes him from his war-lizard, wounded but not dead.

SIR ARNO VORIAN fights side by side with KING ARTHUR to hold back a horde of Order of the Wolf knights, and though wounded hip and thigh, holds his place. Afterward the King clasps his arms and says he owes him his crown and his life.

Meanwhile, in Paris, SIR ALBEUS seeks clues to the fate of his son, vanished along with MERLIN THE MAGICIAN. He hears that a red-headed boy is being raised as a Muskovian prince by SHENEGAR TROTT, the Count of Novgorod and Grand Constable of the Order of the Bear.

Meanwhile, in Spain:

Sir Benilac’s army drives the Vandals back to the Tower of Otranto in central Spain.

Count Brass brings in Lepidus’ two legions (must pay 100 L) and Vandegriff brings in his siege train.

The Vandals are defeated when Count Brass kills the Vandal chieftain. They flee to North Africa.

Lepidus tells his Emperor he has conquered Spain. Count Brass provokes a quarrel with Lepidus and kills him. The legions return home.

Count Brass swears perpetual peace with Duke Benilac, and makes it known that a share of the income from Spain would not go amiss. But he cannot spare the knights to garrison Spain, so he will not insist on it.

540

MERLIN THE MAGICIAN says that he can enchant no more, for the death of the Dragon has made the One God supreme over the many gods of sorcery. However, the SAXONS have despaired of defeating the One God and have turned to even worse things than dragons to pray to. Before they succeed in heaving up something so wicked that Hell itself might seem pleasant, the ROUND TABLE must, says MERLIN, ride and destroy the SAXONS.

His reflection in the mirror raises a sword to attack MERLIN, so he hurls the ruby sword from himself and shields the baby in his arms, who is SIR ALBEUS’ son.

SIR ALBEUS attacks the reflection, shattering the mirror. When he turns round, MERLIN and the baby are gone. The dead reflection still holds a living baby, but it has slit eyes and a forked serpent’s tongue.

The charming BARON MELADIUS of MUSKOVIA meets the knights on the road. He has heard of our One God and wants to see him in action. So he will come to fight the Saxons with us.

The Saxons are indeed calling up some hideous forest monster, part stag and part rabbit, part snake and part weasel. The monster in question fights hard but is put down.

MELADIUS rejoices – we are indeed mighty! This will give him a fine story to tell when he brings our tortured corpses back to Muskovia in triumph. He ambushes KING ARTHUR’s knights with the Order of the Wolf, the Order of the Dragon, and the Order of the Bull.

Although the Muskovians lose, Baron MELADIUS escapes.

539

A pleasant, quiet year, which no one can recall in detail.

538

Fafnir, Father of Dragons, killed under the streets of Paris.

SIR CHROM, in destroying FENRIS, sacrifices his life and is reborn as a spirit of the wolves.

SIR ALBEUS finds the world's largest diamond and somehow drags it home.