the otherness came (and I knew its name)

PART 3: WHATEVER HERE THAT'S LEFT OF ME

Rhian smiled.

"I bring only one weapon," he declared. "Excalibur, Good's Sword which proclaimed me King. My father's sword."

He drew it and handed it to Sophie, whilst the crowd cheered. Sophie turned to Agatha and Tedros--

"I carry two swords." said Tedros calmly, drawing the first one-- the black Akgul blade he'd killed Japeth with. "First, a sword of Akgul iron, with which I slew the Snake." He handed it to Agatha as the Nevers stamped their feet and the Camelot supporters who'd come in favour of him cheered. "And the second..." he drew it. "Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone. The Sword of Kings."

A second.

Sophie gawked. Rhian's face went stony--

All around them, the crowd erupted into shouting.

"Caliburn was lost." spat Rhian.

"It was kept by the Lady of the Lake." said Tedros loudly, over the tumult. "I rode to Avalon to draw it from stone, with Nimue herself and Agatha to witness it. I took it from the stone like all the Kings before me, and now I bring it to this Trial to assert my claim."

Agatha took it from him and moved forward to where the King of Akgul stood behind a table, wiry black eyebrows raised. He took Excalibur from Sophie, first.

"Excalibur... yes, seems to be in good condition. Enchantments?"

"None added." said Sophie. "Apart from the ones implicit in it."

"Naturally, naturally. And you, my lady? Ah, one of my kingdom's swords... in lovely nick. Bequeathed by the Tedros's seneschal, I hear. Enchantments?"

"The blade is tainted with poison." said Agatha.

"By who was this work done?"

"The poison was provided by me, my lord. It was added to the blade by Tedros."

More mutters. Rhian frowned disapprovingly. Sophie snorted quietly. Probably Callis's Last Resort, if she knew Agatha. Clearly, she was taking no chances.

"I see." said the King of Akgul. "And this..." reverently, he took Caliburn from her. "A beautiful blade."

"It has to be fake!" insisted Rhian.

"If you like, I'll stick it in your chest and draw it back out to prove it's real." snapped Tedros. The crowd jeered. "Besides, Sir Bedievere, who threw it to the Lady of the Lake, can attest it."

Everyone turned to the old knight, who inclined his head.

"I threw Caliburn to the Lady of the Lake, and gave Excalibur to Tedros when Arthur died. It is real."

The King of Akgul seemed to agree.

"An ancient blade." he said, turning it over and over. "Clearly the true Caliburn. Swords like this cannot be faked. Enchantments?"

"Those implicit in it, and a temporary shattering enchantment, which can be removed once the Trial is over." said Agatha.

"Hmm. Satisfactory."

"He defiles it!" insisted Rhian.

"Do you know the meaning of temporary?" snapped Tedros.

"Claimants, hold your peace." said Jacinda, looking calmly between the two men. "Retrieve your weapons. All properties of weapons have been declared. There is no more preparation to be done. Please mount your horses. You will be led to the first task."

One of the horses that had drawn the carriage had been saddled for Rhian, and Tedros returned to Benedict silently, seeming unperturbed by this instruction. Sophie was more wary. Clearly, whatever this first task was, it required a lot of space...