For near on seventeen years Sir Percival Gifford had watched over the King's son as if he were his own. From education in the finer things, to the art of war, Percival had ensured that Arthur Pendragon would have the best and most rounded education that was available. A major coup was finding Master Li, a Martial Arts master of the highest order and regard, who had agreed to train Arthur in the art of eastern fighting. That also included a mastery of his own mind and body, the boy would be a formidable foe for any soldier, Martial Artist or bare knuckle fighter. Percival often simply sat and watched Arthur as he went through his Katas and training, so very proud of the man the boy was becoming. He also knew that the young man would need to use all of the skills he learnt if he were to reclaim the Throne of Britain and defeat his scheming, low life Uncle.
Percival had made sure that the young Arthur was not aware of the horrible death his father faced at the hands of his own brother. He knew that this was information best left for a time when Arthur was far more mature and able to understand that rash actions would lead to bad outcomes. Now all these years later, he knew it was time to unleash the young man to seek out and achieve his destiny. Arthur had turned twenty-one a few weeks before and Percival realised that the time had arrived to tell Arthur the full sordid story of his father and his uncle. He had sent Arthur a message and was waiting for him to arrive home and they would sit down and he would tell Arthur everything. What he would have given for Uther's guidance in this matter, his old friend had the ability to see a situation for what it was and handle it appropriately.
Arthur sat on the edge of his bed, he was reading the message from his uncle again and trying to divine the reason for the summons. He had to admit, he was a little perturbed at the summons, he was twenty-one now and being summoned to his uncles retreat was a little belittling. But, then his mind shifted to what he had been up to in the last few days, had he done something to earn his uncles ire? He wasn't the perfect boy growing up and had his fair share of scrapes and run in's with the law, mainly over illegal gambling and fight clubs. But for the life of him, he was not able to think of anything that would garner a summons to the retreat. Well there was nothing for it, he would have to walk into the lion's den blind and hope that it was something he could explain away.
He stood and straightened his jacket, Uncle Percy was a stickler for neatness and manners. He walked along the long corridor that led to his Uncles retreat and stood before the massive double oak doors that barred entry. He knocked and waited, but the entrée was almost immediate and he entered the massive room. Percival was seated behind his beautiful ebony desk and had his hands clasped on the blotter in front of him.
"Arthur, come in and sit down Lad." Arthur was immediately confused, this was one of only a few occasions that he was invited to sit in his Uncles retreat. "You have reached your majority and I have realised that it is well past due to give you the complete story of your father and the circumstances that led us to this beautiful part of the world." Percival explained.
"Uncle Percy, I think I am a little confused, you always told me that my father died in an accident when I was five." Arthur replied.
"I know, my boy, but there is a lot more to the story that you are not aware of. A hell of a lot." Percival was starting to sweat, he wasn't sure how the young man would react to his father's true identity and how he met his end. He himself had almost returned to Britain with bloody vengeance on his mind, but the promise he made to Uther was the overriding factor that kept him with Arthur. His honour was at stake and his promise to Uther was unbreakable.
"As you know, we came to Hong Kong when you were five years old. Do you remember anything about that time?"
"No Sir, just feint images of dark tunnels and the ships journey here."
"Do you remember your father at all?" He asked.
"Not really, I remember he was tall and laughed a lot when we played." Arthur could feel the sadness of not having his father with him, well up inside. But he forced it back down and continued to listen.
"Son, and I do consider you the son I was never blessed with."
"Hard to have a child when you don't have a wife, Uncle." Arthur ribbed his Uncle.
"Yes alright," Percival bit back with a small smile. "Your father and I were not related by blood. We met in the preschool we both attended and were firm and unbreakable friends from that time on." Arthur's mouth was open in shock, but Percival held up a hand to stall anything the lad had to say. "Please allow me to finish, Arthur, this is as hard for me as it is for you. As I said, we met in school and went through the years of schooling as thick as thieves. He was a master at getting us into and out of trouble. But I digress, your father was not a successful business man as you have been led to believe, he was far more than that." Percival rose and gathered two glasses and his best scotch. Sitting across from Arthur in the Chesterfield couches he had imported from Britain. "Your father was actually King Uther Pendragon, King of Britain and all her territories. He had built an Empire that spanned the globe and her Navies ruled the seas."
"The same King Uther that defeated the Bysithian Hordes led by the Muslim Eviar Unaxx?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, that is the man, the greatest man that I ever had the pleasure of knowing and serving. I spent the better part of my adult life alongside your father as he built his Empire. He was married to your mother Migraine and you were born four years later. Sadly, as you know, your mother passed away from cancer when you were only two. Your father was distraught for almost a year before I was able to break him out of the depression that threatened the Empire." Percival wanted to shed a tear for his lost friend and his beautiful wife, but he needed to maintain calm for Arthur. The lad was looking very shocked and his face was very white, for a moment, Percival thought he was either about to vomit, or pass out. But he could see his father's determination in his eyes, and the straight back that Uther had always indicated that he would not be bowed by events.
"So you are saying that my father was the King of England and everything else?"
"Yes, Lad. You are the true Heir to the Throne of Britain and her Empire." Percival took a deep breath and continued. "Your father was warned that his beloved brother, Harold, had begun conspiring to take the throne from him and rule in his place. In doing so he would have to eliminate the Heir as well as the regent. I was tasked by your father to spirit you out of the country and hide you away until such time as you were ready to confront your Uncle and rest the crown away from him. Hence where we have lived for the past sixteen odd years."
"It certainly explains a lot of the training and studies that I had to undertake. But why didn't you return and kill this bastard?"
"It was not for lack of wanting, Arthur. I had given your father my word that I would see to your safety and education, so that when the time came you could face the dog and put him in his proper place."
"A grave." Arthur spat with intensity that made Percival sit back.
"Arthur, your father always said, act in haste, and repent at leisure. He was a man of true depth and intellect. Tactically he was far more brilliant than any man or woman I have ever known or heard of. In the Academy he suggested a tactics that would have saved many lives and much materiel had it been used in battle several times. Our instructors were dumbfounded by his level of understanding and tactical acumen." He explained. "He would not have sent us away if there was a chance that he could overcome your uncle and retrieve the situation. He knew that you would be a better and more capable king than he ever would be. And from what I have seen of you in one on one combat with Master Li, I don't doubt his words."
"Master Li kicks my arse from one end of the mat to the other." Arthur said sourly.
"It isn't about what you have achieved to date, it is about what you can achieve in the future with the skills and knowledge you have gained." Percival explained. "Do you understand what I have told you? Are you prepared to put yourself in harm's way to fulfil your destiny?"
"Uncle Percy, and to me you will always be my family, I do not know what to make of all this. I was a simple young man trying to figure out his future an hour ago, now I am Heir to the most powerful Throne in all the world. I need some time to digest all you have told me and think about how I want to proceed." Arthur explained.
"I understand, Lad. Let me just say, you have always been and always will be a blessing on my life. Your diligence and commitment to your studies and your life have always made me very proud." Percival could feel the tears in the corners of his eyes, but the young man simply nodded, got to his feet and left the room. Percival could understand the conflict he would be feeling at the moment, he was being thrown to the wolves as it were, and he needed time to formulate his response.
Arthur walked out of the entrance and hailed a taxi passing by as he emerged from the main entry. He wanted to just drink the whole mess away, but he knew he wouldn't, but a couple of beers would make the process a bit easier to handle. Maybe a few of his friends would be at the pub and he could talk about nothing and let the upset settle for a while. If he was honest with himself, it did explain a lot of strange anomalies in his childhood. It also explained why Uncle Percy had never taken a wife, he was committed to Arthur and until that was fulfilled he would have no other distractions. He got in the back seat and gave the driver the address he wanted to go to, he could have walked, but he didn't feel like running the gauntlet of the crowds of people that were always filling the streets of the British Colony.