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Chapter 22
🕑 Added 2025-03-29 00:20:27 +0000 UTCAs the Black Knight left to plan his assault, the Knights of the city remained on high alert, and some rushed to alert the sleeping Knights of the Round Table.
The first to be alerted was Agravain, the Knight in charge of administration.
The faint glow of moonlight illuminated Agravain’s chambers, casting stark lines across the stone walls. The stillness of the room was broken only by the low crackle of a dying fire. Agravain lay on his modest bed, his breathing steady, his posture disciplined even in slumber.
The sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed through the corridor outside, growing louder as they approached his door. Without hesitation or ceremony, the door creaked open, revealing an enforcement knight. Its metallic frame gleamed faintly in the dim light, and its glowing eyes pulsed with a steady rhythm.
“Sir Agravain,” the knight said, its voice monotone and devoid of inflection. “A priority alert has been issued.”
Agravain’s eyes snapped open, his instincts kicking in before his mind had fully woken. He sat upright, his sharp gaze locking onto the figure. “Report.”
The knight stepped into the room, its movements precise and mechanical. “An aerial entity has been detected above the city. Initial attempts to neutralize the target were unsuccessful. The entity utilized advanced evasion techniques, including visual concealment. Current location unknown. Probability of infiltration: indeterminate.”
Agravain swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his brow furrowing. “Describe this entity.”
“Observed characteristics: a humanoid figure mounted on a flying beast. Apparent technological or magical augmentation employed to achieve invisibility. No physical breach of city structures confirmed.”
He stood, reaching for his armor with practiced efficiency. “And the wall archers? What actions have been taken?”
“All units remain active and vigilant. Patrols have been doubled. Defensive protocols have been enacted. Current directive: monitor and report anomalous activity.”
Agravain’s expression tightened as he began strapping on his armor, the metallic sounds filling the chamber. “A stealth approach, then. Do you have an estimate of its origin?”
“Unknown,” the knight replied, its voice as steady as before. “The entity’s evasion capabilities exceed standard protocols. Probability of external reconnaissance or hostile intent: high.”
He nodded sharply, his mind already formulating a response. “Return to the walls. Continue monitoring and increase the defensive field at all access points. I will alert the knights.”
The enforcement knight inclined its head, the gesture mechanical and deliberate. “Acknowledged. Relaying updated orders to units. Awaiting further directives.”
It turned and exited the room with the same measured steps, leaving Agravain alone in the dim light of his chamber. For a moment, he stood still, adjusting the final strap of his armor as he stared into the embers of the hearth.
“A calculated probe,” he muttered under his breath. “Or a test of our defenses. Either way, they will find no weakness here.”
Agravain moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors, his armored boots echoing sharply against the stone floors. His expression was as cold and unyielding as the blade at his side.
The grand chamber housing the Round Table lay ahead, its massive doors carved with the intricate sigils of Camelot’s most honored knights.
Agravain approached the stationed enforcement knights standing guard. They turned their glowing eyes toward him, their movements precise and mechanical.
“Awaken the knights of the Round Table,” Agravain commanded, his voice clipped and firm. “A session is to be convened immediately. The King is not to be disturbed.”
Taking his seat, he began waiting impatiently. He wanted to get this done quickly, but rushing out on his own wouldn’t be good, not without knowing the situation.
And it didn’t take long before the others started to arrive. Lightly greeting him and later the others as they sat at their own seats.
Soon enough, there were only two seats empty, the one belonging to Arthuria and Mordred.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, everyone wanted to know why they had been woken up and called to meet here. Yet, Agravain waited.
He knew his king would want Mordred involved in these things as training for the day he would inherit the throne, not that he expected that to happen now, with the king being divine.
“AH! Lucky, Father isn’t here yet. I was worried I would be late for a minute.” Mordred immediately made his entrance known as he spoke loudly.
“You’re late,” Agravain said, his tone sharp but controlled. “We don’t have time for your theatrics tonight, Mordred.”
Mordred dropped into his chair, leaning back casually with one leg draped over the armrest. “Relax, Father isn’t here yet, so what’s the problem?”
Agravain’s eyes narrowed slightly at the casual tone, but he didn’t rise to her bait. Instead, he gestured toward the empty chair belonging to their king. “The King will not be joining us. This matter is ours to handle.”
That statement seemed to shift the mood in the room. Mordred sat up a little straighter, the smirk fading from her face as she looked around at the other knights. “Alright, then,” she said, her tone a bit more serious now. “What’s going on?”
Agravain stood, his hands resting on the table as he addressed the assembled knights. “An intruder was detected near the city walls tonight.”
The room tensed as the knights absorbed his words. Gawain leaned forward, his strong jaw clenched. “Did they breach the walls?”
“We cannot confirm that,” Agravain replied curtly. “They appeared to have gone invisible before we could apprehend them. The enforcement knights are maintaining heightened surveillance, but the situation remains uncertain.”
The tension in the room grew as Agravain’s words settled over the gathered knights. Lancelot, seated near the edge of the table, leaned forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Agravain. “If they’ve gone invisible, we have no way of knowing whether they’ve left or are still within the city.”
Bedivere nodded, his expression calm but thoughtful. “If they remain within Camelot, their intent is critical. Are they here as a spy, an assassin, or something else entirely?”
Mordred tapped her armored fingers against the table, her crimson mana flickering faintly around her. “Or maybe they’re just a coward, testing the waters. Either way, we can’t sit around twiddling our thumbs while they’re out there—or in here.”
Gareth, always the optimist, interjected, her voice steady but hopeful. “If their intention was hostile, wouldn’t they have acted already? Perhaps they’re here for parley or some kind of alliance.”
Agravain’s expression hardened as he addressed Gareth. “If they were here for a friendly topic, then there was no reason to sneak in, nor try to fly over the walls, which means we can at least assume their goal was hostile in nature, though not the extent of it.”
The table fell quiet for a moment, the gravity of Agravain’s words sinking in. Mordred’s mana crackled faintly again, her impatience evident. “So what’s the plan, then? Are we sweeping the city or doubling down on the walls?”
“The city must be swept thoroughly,” he announced, his voice steady but unyielding. “We cannot afford to leave anything to chance. Increase the patrols within the city, and double the enforcement knights at all strategic points.”
He gestured toward the gathered knights, assigning roles with precision. “Gawain, take charge of the interior sweep. Cover every street, every hall, and every corner. Mordred, coordinate with the enforcement units to establish perimeter patrols around the city walls. Let no one pass unnoticed, not even a shadow.”
Mordred smirked, a flicker of crimson energy sparking at her fingertips. “Finally, something to do. You’ve got it, Agravain.”
Agravain turned his gaze toward Bedivere. “You’ll oversee the watch at the gates. Reinforce the main entrances and ensure no one enters or exits without approval.”
Bedivere inclined his head. “Consider it done.”
Lancelot, who had been quietly observing, raised a brow. “And what of the King’s chambers?”
Agravain’s gaze flickered toward the empty seat of their ruler before returning to the table. “The King is not to be disturbed, but their protection remains paramount. Knights will be stationed outside the chambers at all times. Gareth, you will lead that effort. Choose those you trust implicitly.”
Gareth’s face lit with determination as she stood. “It will be done, Agravain.”
“And the rest of us?” Lancelot asked, his tone calm but pointed.
“You and I will oversee the broader coordination,” Agravain replied. “We’ll ensure that all efforts are synchronized and that no detail escapes us. We will make it clear to whoever dares intrude upon our city that Camelot does not tolerate threats.”
The knights nodded in unison, their collective resolve palpable. Without further hesitation, they dispersed, each heading toward their respective duties.
The grand chamber of the Round Table emptied swiftly, save for Agravain, who remained seated for a moment longer, his fingers drumming against the table’s surface.
“We’ll see how far your cleverness gets you, intruder,” he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible in the echoing silence of the chamber.
----------------------
It was not just the Knights of Camelot who became aware of the attempt to intrude into their City. Given the amount of interest that the magical city was attracting, eyes were upon it around the clock, and even the cover of night could not keep secrets.
Among these powers, keeping an eye on Camelot was naturally SHIELD and due to time zone differences, even though it was night within Camelot, it still allow Director Nick Fury to be briefed on the situation as soon as SHIELD agents picked up on the events.
Agent Coulson, one of Fury’s most trusted agents, was once again the one to brief him on the developing situation. “Director, we have a situation.”
Fury looked up from his work and motioned for Colson to continue.
“Approximately 17 minutes ago at 03 14 local time an attempt was made to breach Camelot’s airspace.”
Fury now gave the report his full attention. “Who is the idiot who did that? I thought everyone knew the current plan of a wait-and-see approach while we collect information.”
Coulson adjusted his tie, his usual calm demeanor slightly more strained than usual. “We don’t have a confirmed ID yet, but based on the pattern of movement, we have a few educated guesses.
The attempt involved some form of advanced technology or an enhanced individual. They managed to evade Camelot’s defenses for a time but ultimately retreated before fully breaching the city.”
Fury leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as his gaze bore into Coulson. “Let me guess. The knights didn’t let them get far.”
Coulson nodded. “Correct. Camelot’s defenses are sharp. Archers engaged almost immediately, and according to our analysis, they’re not using conventional weapons. Reports indicate that their arrows materialized mid-draw, likely magical in nature. The intruder evaded a few volleys and then activated some sort of cloaking device before retreating.”
Fury’s eye narrowed. “Retreating doesn’t mean gone. They could still be out there, watching, waiting. What’s the likelihood this wasn’t just some amateur?”
Coulson tapped a tablet, pulling up images and data on a nearby screen. “Given the precision of their movements and the use of advanced tech, we believe this was a calculated probe. Someone testing the waters—or the walls, as it were.”
Fury’s gaze flicked to the screen, scanning the information. “Anyone on our watchlist capable of pulling something like this?”
Coulson hesitated for a moment before answering. “Nathan Garrett. The Black Knight.”
Fury let out a low growl. “Damn fool couldn’t leave well enough alone. Of course, it had to be him. What’s his angle?”
Coulson shifted his weight slightly, his tone cautious. “We suspect his motivations are personal. As you know, Garrett is a descendant of Sir Percy of Scandia. He likely sees Camelot’s reappearance as a direct challenge—or an opportunity to claim something for himself. Given his history, it’s safe to assume he’s not looking for a friendly reunion.”
Fury’s lips pressed into a thin line as he processed the information. “So, we’ve got a rogue descendant of Camelot’s legacy stirring the pot while the whole world watches. This isn’t just about Camelot anymore. If he makes another move, it’s going to escalate fast.”
Coulson nodded. “Do we intervene, or let Camelot handle it?”
Fury paused to think. The situation could get out of hand, yet he couldn’t deny that it was a good opportunity to collect information.
Already this one attack had allowed them to learn a few things about Camelot’s defences. Such as they possibly magic nature of the archers, and the fact that they failed to find Garrett once he went invisible.
Two very useful bits of knowledge for sure.
He quickly pulled up the SHIELD file on Nathan Garrett, the infamous Black Knight. Because, someone like that had long since gotten on SHIELD’s radar.
The screen filled with a detailed profile: criminal history, known affiliations, weapons, and technological advancements. Garrett’s armor, the genetically engineered flying horse, and his expertise in engineering all highlighted his resourcefulness—and his penchant for reckless ambition.
Yet, even if they knew about him, they hadn’t been able to do anything, after all, they were sadly unable to prove anything, and Garrett wasn’t someone SHIELD could just disappear, as a successful scientist and member of British nobility, even SHIELD needed to use the proper channels to deal with him.
And he wasn’t stupid enough to leave proper evidence behind, forcing SHIELD to just keep an eye on and try to catch him in the act, something they had been unable to do.
Even Fury had to admit that his tech was damned impressive, if that man hadn’t been a rotten apple, he could have done a lot of good.
“Damn waste of talent,” Fury muttered, tapping the edge of the desk. “The kind of mind that could’ve built a better world, but instead, he’s out there playing at being some dark knight from a bad fairytale.”
“What to do, what to do.” He muttered under his breath. Wanting to find the best solution, the way he could get the most out of this situation.
“Don’t act against Garrett, let him test Camelot for us, and prepare a file on him, have it printed in England.” He finally said.
“You plan on handing his information to Camelot?” Coulson couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes, not right now, but it would be a good way to test their stance and their abilities, and worst come, a dangerous terrorist will be the only loss.”
Coulson frowned slightly, but he nodded. “I see the logic. Let him push their buttons and see how they respond. If Camelot deals with him, it’s one less problem for us. And if they don’t...” He trailed off, his expression grim.
Fury finished his thought. “Then we’ll know their tolerance for outside interference—and what kind of leverage they’re willing to let someone like Garrett hold. Either way, we win.”
Coulson’s gaze shifted back to the screen displaying Garrett’s dossier. “Garrett’s not the type to back down easily, though. If Camelot pushes back, he might escalate. And if he does... it could get messy.”
Fury leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Messy is fine, as long as we’re not the ones cleaning it up. We need intel, Coulson, not heroics. Let Garrett be the fool who pokes the dragon. We’ll just watch and take notes.”
“And the file?” Coulson asked.
“Make it comprehensive,” Fury said, his tone firm. “We’ll hand it over when the time is right. Let Camelot see what kind of snake they’re dealing with. Maybe they’ll thank us—or maybe they’ll show us exactly what they do with people who cross them.”
Coulson hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Understood. I’ll get the file prepped and make sure it’s ready for when you decide to pull the trigger.”
Fury smirked faintly, his gaze returning to the map of Camelot on the screen. “Good. And Coulson—keep an eye on Garrett’s movements. I don’t want any surprises.”
“Always,” Coulson replied, turning to leave the room.
As the door closed behind him, Fury leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes scanning the glowing profiles of Camelot and Garrett side by side.
“Let’s see what happens when a Black Knight meets a Round Table,” he muttered to himself, a hint of grim anticipation in his voice.
