My eyes were fixed on the red satin carpet as I knelt before the throne. I felt the stern gaze of the king on me, although I didn’t dare to look up at him. In the kingdom of Aelia, looking into the king’s eyes while he sat on the throne was punishable by death.

The courtiers and retainers in the throne room were as tightly packed as soldiers in a spear wall, and they all stood along the side of the room silently.

Finally, I heard the king stand from his throne.

“Rise, Sir Gawain,” he ordered. His voice was loud, but measured and authoritative, the result of decades of battlefield speeches and throne room declarations.

I rose, but respectfully kept my head down.

The king paused for a moment, and then continued.

“What news do you bring from the North? I’ve sent missives to Duke MacLaine, yet I’ve received nothing in response.”

Duke MacLaine was the leader of the quarrelsome northernmost Duchy. The locals there recently converted to the Church of the Sun, but were culturally related to the pagan tribesman past the northern border.

I hesitated. This wasn’t going to be good.

“Your majesty…. Barbarians have invaded the kingdom.”

The nobles all gasped in response and their whispering filled the grand hall. However, the king made no audible reaction.

“SILENCE!” The king shouted out, after a few moments.

The nobles instantly obeyed.

“Tell me more, Sir Gawain,” he continued, as if my news about the kingdoms invasion never occurred.

“I came here as fast as I could to tell you, your Majesty… but Duke MacLaine conspired with the northern pagans. He’s raised his armies and declared himself a Jarl, and is marching his armies south with the pagans as I speak.”

I couldn’t see the king’s face, but I could feel his eyes on me. Suddenly, he slammed his staff on the ground, and only my drilling prevented me from flinching.

“Then WAR it is! All of you in this room: raise your levies at once! I’ll DESTROY that Duke once and for all!” He commanded.

The younger nobles whooped and cried out, excited at the chance to prove their prowess. Meanwhile, the older men were less enthusiastic, as they remembered how destructive and bloody the last war against the pagans was.

The king spoke directly at me.

“And YOU, Sir Gawain. You will lead my armies against that accursed Duke. Hunt down the traitor, and bring him back to me alive.”

I bowed and accepted my new mission. So, war was here yet again.

I marched out of the throne room, the sound of whooping and war chants surrounding me.

If only they knew that over half of them would be dead by the years end, they wouldn’t be so merry.