Lot risked a concerned look over at her. “Does that have to do with your mother’s choice?” he asked.
Morgause ignored him and pushed the ship even faster. By the time they were inside Camelot’s atmosphere, the ship overheated and nearly ran out of fuel. She had been correct in assuming that the Avalonian circle could not be tracked by their outdated systems. She tapped into that part of her mind that was wired, literally, like the D.R.U.I.Ds. She got a nose bleed from it and her head throbbed, but she was sure they were within miles of it.
She and Lot exited the craft, armed to the nines, and began to carefully search the surrounding grounds.
“Vortigern’s city is close,” Lot said, gazing into the electric map of the near ground. “Do you suppose Uther didn’t want him close to the circle?”
Morgause shook her head. “He doesn’t care about this right now. I don’t think he does any way.”
After a few minutes, the two came to realize that they were very alone. There were no living humans near them. The only thing out of place was the smell of burning metal and overheated engines. On the ground there were foot prints that could only belong to the Avamech. Trees were broken, shattered and some were smoldering, once tall and leafy now just black cinders.
“He is destroying his planet already,” Morgause said. “Bastard.”
“Look!” Lot pointed ahead to where a small D.R.U.I.D girl stood over a dead form. “Is she friendly?”
“I didn’t know the D.R.U.I.Ds were allowed to breed,” Morgause said, more interested in the young appearance. “Uther can’t possibly know about her.”
“Hello there!” she called to the girl. The girl looked up with wide eyes. “Don’t worry, we just want to ask you a question.”
Morgause gasped and stood back as she saw the thing the girl leaned over. It couldn’t be described any other way than a devil. The size of a man, its black and red skin glistened, horns protruding from its skull, a tail, and battered wings. It still breathed even though it was burnt and covered in hot, orange blood.
“What is that?” Lot shrieked, taking out his gun. Morgause held her hand out to stop him though, interested.
The little D.R.U.I.D girl said, “From the burning planet. He says he came to bring peace, but his brother does not want peace. His brother wants war because only war brings progress and progress must be made.” She sighed sadly. “I tried to save him. He says a human captured him and held him for days. He must have been tortured.” She gently put her pale hand on his shoulder.
“Uther?” Lot asked Morgause. “He would imprison an alien creature that tried to bring peace and stop his war.”
The thing’s eyes fixed on Morgause and it seemed as though he were trying to communicate with her. His eyes were large and red, but soft and kind looking. She didn’t expect that from such a creature as this. Kneeling beside it, she watched as his life vanished and his chest stopped heaving.
“Oh!” the D.R.U.I.D girl wept. “I know how to give life, but I cannot remember right now!” Tears spilled out of her large eyes.
Lot reached down and pulled Morgause to her feet. “We must find out what this mad man is up to.” He glanced once more at the girl but didn’t stay. The sight of the dead alien made him sick. “Uther must be stopped, Morgause. I say we search and see what he’s doing, but we do not stay.”
With a hardened heart, Morgause nodded. It was time to leave Camelot to its doom.
11
Darkening
Uther stood in Galois's command bay where he could see the hangar and the few vehicles he had. D.R.U.I.Ds worked alongside the humans, but few Avalonian machines were in sight. Morgause and Lot had been speaking closely together for some time and he didn't like the looks on their faces. With a sudden movement, they had gathered their things and marched to a transport. Curious as to what they were saying, Uther punched the master com to hear every word being uttered in the hanger.
"Prepare a pod for Camelot," Lot ordered. "And tell no one that we've gone."
"Yes, sir," the engineer said. "And sir, shall I inform Galois that Pelinore has been trying to reach us? He says there is something amiss back on Camelot."
Lot gave Morgause a meaningful glance. "You may be right," he said.
Fear stabbed Uther in the heart. How had the children found out? What did they know? He gripped the metal railing, leaning closer to hear, but they had already embarked on their mission. They would find out. That was certain. Then word would get back and Igrain would know.
"Captain!" Uther shouted over the system. "Prepare me a small ship. I'm off to Camelot to see Uther and how he's mending."
On his way out, he slipped one of the clear tablets from their charging stations and typed madly on it as he ran out into the city. He accessed Galois's home security and set his--Galois's--status to "away from home" so that if Igrain looked into it, she would see he had left that morning. Then he checked to see that his ship was ready. He skirted down the floating bits of the town and stole a blue cloak and a curved power-saber from an off-planet merchant.
Disguised loosely, he ran to the hangar and slipped aboard the ship, careful to shield his face from the watching cameras and security bots. The things were stupid and would probably fire on such an unknown shape.
He hid in the cargo bay and then activated the ship from the tablet with Galois's password. It was simple enough for him to guess; they had been friends since childhood. The hangar men and engineers were too busy to notice that no pilot had boarded the little ship, yet so no eyes
