"What does that make?" Tristan grinned, high-fiving Alex as one of their companions dragged a barrel off the stolen cart and began to roll a barrel past them, and into the trees.

"Fourth this month," Alex said, hopping up onto the back of the cart. "We even had some excess last time I checked the stores. We could talk to one of our smugglers about selling some on."

Tristan nodded, accepting the barrel Alex passed down to him.

"There are some hungry mouths in Laketon," he explained, "I'm sure we can spare some for them too."

He paused, frowning back along the road.

"What?" Alex asked.

Tristan shook his head. "I don't know," he sighed, "don't you think there should have been more guards?"

Ever since they had started systematically targeting the convoys, Mordred had been increasing the guard. And yet, today the numbers had been back to their original level, as if nothing had happened. There should have been more, not fewer. Why had Mordred held guards back? What did he need them for?

"I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth," Alex said brightly. He jumped back down off the cart after his barrel and looked up expectedly. "Should we go?"

Tristan nodded, and they abandoned the cart. The guards would find it later on one of their patrols along the edge of the wood, then they could return it to the castle and restock it.

The trees moved to make their passage through the forest easier. They made it to the Henge more quickly than usual, and stashed their prizes inside the barrow, rolling the stone back over the entrance, and covering it over with turf. Things were looking up.

"We should be back just in time for dinner," Alex said, rubbing his hands together with relish. "I'm starving."

Tristan laughed, rolling his eyes.

"I don't know where you put it all," he replied, "you must fill from your feet."

---

The camp was bustling with life when they arrived. A drill was still taking place on the edge of the clearing, spears this time, a cheaper alternative to swords. They couldn't afford enough of those for everyone. Cooking pots bubbled and fires crackled. Celidon greeted them with enthusiasm, barrelling into Tristan's legs as if he were no bigger than a spaniel. Tristan ruffled his ears and laughed, sinking down onto one of the logs by the fire. Now that he could smell the soup, he was pretty ravenous himself. The cu-sith's stomach rumbled his agreement.

"Where's Guy?" Tristan asked a passerby, stretching his long legs out in front of him, "and Elina?"

"Guy went hunting," a woman offered helpfully from a nearby tent, "I think his lynx was driving him mad."

"Sounds about right," Tristan snorted. No one seemed to have any idea where Elina was, which seemed about right too.

Everyone froze as a shrill whistle echoed through the trees, before terminating prematurely. The silence it left in its wake was deafening.

"Was that..?" Alex asked tentatively.

"A sentry whistle," Tristan confirmed, "yes."

At his side, Celidon rose to his feet, the fur across his shoulders standing on end. The cu-sith's lips peeled back to expose his teeth.

"We've got to go," Tristan shouted, leaping to his feet. He kicked dirt on the fire. "Now. Run!"

They obeyed quickly, but not quickly enough.

He hadn't made it more than a few paces before the entirely clearing exploded into a cacophony of noise and activity. A hissing noise alerted them to the thick smoke filling the clearing, making it impossible to see. Tristan choked back a cough.

"Thoth!" he bellowed, closing his hand around Celidon's collar "Grayson!"

Guards in blue and silver broke from the cover of the trees, their swords unsheathed. Tristan drew Excalibur, and turned to meet them.

---

Anyone is welcome to participate in this raid, whether as a member of the camp or a member of Mordred's guard.

You may reply to these posts to continue the story, or introduce your own plots within the wider context of the event. You may make use of as many NPCs as you like and make reference to any existing posts within the thread.

If you make reference to another player's characters, tag them in your subject heading so they know to check/read your post.

If you have any questions, just give Merlin a poke with a sharp stick.

Enjoy!

put all your faults to bed

TristaN

you can be king again