the otherness came (and I knew its name)

PART 3: WHATEVER HERE THAT'S LEFT OF ME

"He's late." snorted Rhian, settling in his chair and crossing his legs idly. "Typical."

Sophie smiled faintly. The guards assembled around them-- Nicola next to Sophie, Kei on the very fringe, determinedly looking away from Rhian. Sophie looked across at the other, currently empty, dais-- where Agatha would sit, once the Trial started. Always on opposing sides, weren't they? Well, to hell with that. It was cold, so she could go over and share her cloak. Who was going to stop them? They weren't the ones fighting.

Sighing, she sat back and waited. And waited.

And waited.

The Rhian supporters in the stands started to chant;

"LION! LION! LION!"

The Nevers booed and hissed and a couple of small fights broke out. The Kingdom Council muttered too.

"Maybe he's bailed out." grinned Rhian. "Always was a coward--"

That was when Sophie heard the drums.

Rhian heard them too, and his smile faded, but he recovered himself quickly.

"Too much to ask for, clearly. Let us see what he's trying."

He stood and folded his arms, eyes narrowed, squinting into the dark trees northwards. Sophie stood too, quietly anticipatory. The drumming got louder, a rhythmic hammering in time with the pounding of feet and the clatter of hooves, and Rhian's smile faltered again as the light of torches swept through the trees.

The first to emerge were ranks of foot soldiers, all armoured identically in ordinary iron, helmets completely covering their faces-- all soldiers from different kingdoms, all united under one banner.

The banner...

Sophie heard a creak of wood as everyone leaned forward, the standard bearers emerging from the trees for the first time-- Galahad and Kay, she realised-- but the flag was unrecognisable, carried limp--

Until the wind snapped through the trees and yanked it out, and several people gasped.

Not the snake at all, though coiled much like one-- but a dragon, red on black, spitting smoke and flame as it chased itself in an endless circle.

Rhian's jaw tensed visibly. His Lion carried less weight this way, and he knew it. Not only that, but Tedros was clearly underscoring his undeniable legitimacy in light of Rhian's uncertain one-- exaggerated further by the presence of his mother, on horseback next to the knights.

Sophie smirked and hastily turned it into a yawn when Rhian glanced at her.

More cavalry-- the rest of the Knights of the Round Table, surrounded by the drummers and ever more marching infantry. Sophie and Rhian had brought some soldiers, but Tedros seemed to have come prepared for an actual battle. Prudent, Sophie supposed-- foolish to expect Rhian to play fair after everything that had happened. And it was certainly making an impact. People were standing up, now, and several people had run onto the field to get a better look as the first ranks arrived in front of the stands. The King of Foxwood looked jittery, Jacinda was watching carefully, and Arne and Mahati were muttering to one another, looking smug.

Then--

"There, there!" shouted the King of Foxwood.

Tedros had indeed had new armour forged.

Blonde hair stark against the black metal, Tedros rode in surrounded by soldiers, two swords at his side, bloody cape slung across his right shoulder. His face was fully exposed-- though Sophie could see the twisted black helm under his arm-- and breathtakingly disdainful, in a way Sophie had only seen in second year, when he'd taken the position of School Master. His hair was longer, gaze sharper, more focused. His armour was intricately carved with the dragon insignia on the chest, and looked more jagged than the norm, possibly sharp enough to cut his assailant, if he was hit wrong. Interesting. Sophie had no doubt Ravan had drafted in some Akgul blacksmiths to work on that.