The Arrival of the Mysterious Woman
As everyone celebrated the victory, a tall woman stood alone on the battlefield, her long purple hair flowing behind her. Clad in form-fitting attire and wielding a bright red spear, she exuded a mature and regal aura. Her beauty was undeniable, yet there was something fearsome about her presence.
With careful steps, she surveyed the bloodstained ground, her fingers lightly touching the remains of the battle. Bringing her hand to her nose, she sniffed, her expression unchanging.
"They thought they could kill me... Impossible," she muttered to herself with a smirk, clearly amused by the failed attempts against her. There was, however, something intriguing about what had transpired, something that piqued her interest.
"I wonder who that woman is, the one spouting such grand claims," she murmured, now determined to find and confront the source of the bold words she had overheard.
Back at the castle, the celebration was in full swing. Merlin, however, kept his distance, standing at the edge of the banquet hall with a knowing look on his face. The old mage had been teasing a maid with palm-reading tricks, but when he glanced outside the castle, his expression changed. A shiver ran down his spine.
"That woman... She's here," Merlin muttered to himself, quickly averting his gaze. "She's far too powerful. I must steer clear of her."
Despite the unease in his heart, he forced a smile and continued his playful conversation with the maid, choosing to ignore the looming presence of the deadly woman outside.
Once the feast was over, most retired to their quarters to rest. Gawain tried to speak with Altria, but the latter had already slipped away unnoticed, leaving her disappointed.
Morgan and Lott, however, did not join the others in rest. They retreated to a quiet corner of the castle to discuss strategy. Morgan, always cautious, preferred not to discuss important matters in the guest chambers, suspecting the rooms might be bugged or compromised. Outside, she could rely on her magic to ensure privacy.
"So, how do we maintain control over Scotland now that we've defeated King Ryan?" Morgan asked, looking expectantly at Lott.
Lott, deep in thought, smirked as an idea formed in his mind.
A Dangerous Encounter
Just as Morgan and Lott exchanged smiles, a slow clap echoed through the empty courtyard.
"Brilliant. Vicious, yet effective," a woman's voice praised, causing both Morgan and Lott to freeze in surprise.
They turned to find the source of the voice and were met with the sight of the purple-haired woman emerging from the shadows, her movements elegant yet commanding. She carried herself with the grace of royalty, but the bright red spear in her hand reminded them that she was no mere noblewoman.
Morgan's magic should have prevented any eavesdropping, and yet, this woman had not only heard their conversation but stood before them without the slightest concern.
"How...?" Morgan whispered to herself, baffled.
The woman chuckled softly. "Your magic is impressive, but my runes are far superior."
Realizing who this woman was, both Lott and Morgan tensed. The Queen of the Shadow Kingdom, Scáthach. A legendary warrior capable of killing gods, she was not someone they could afford to face in battle.
Lott swallowed hard, his thoughts racing. We're doomed... I can't beat her, not even with Morgan's help. What do we do?
The woman smiled, her gaze falling on Lott. "No need to look so frightened. I'm merely here to ask a question. You mentioned something earlier today that intrigued me. I want to know if it's true."
Despite her calm demeanour, the raised spear in her hand made it clear that refusal was not an option.
Lott quickly stepped forward, shielding Morgan from the potential danger. "Queen Scáthach, there's no need for violence. We can resolve this peacefully. What is it you wish to know?"
Scáthach lowered her spear slightly but kept her smile, an air of amusement surrounding her. "Ah, so you are reasonable after all. I heard you speak of a weapon that could kill anyone. Is such a weapon real, or merely a boast?"
Lott's mind scrambled for an answer. His earlier remark about creating such a weapon was more a tactic than reality, meant to strike fear into their enemies.
"Ah... Well, that was more of a... strategy, you see. A method to keep our enemies at bay, but I assure you, we're not here to provoke someone of your stature," he explained nervously.
Scáthach's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Lott felt the weight of her power pressing down on him. Her spear remained at the ready as if daring him to lie further.
"You're a clever one, I'll give you that," Scáthach said finally, though her tone carried a hint of danger. "But don't assume that such talk won't come with consequences. I will keep an eye on you, Lott of Orkney. If your claims prove false, I will be back."
With that, she turned to leave, but before she could vanish into the shadows, Lott called out, "Wait! Queen Scáthach, before you go, I have a request."
Scáthach paused, glancing back at him with mild curiosity. "What is it?"
Lott took a deep breath. "You're powerful, a warrior unmatched. Would you consider joining us as an ally?"
Morgan's eyes widened in surprise at Lott's boldness, but she remained silent, waiting for the legendary queen's response.
Scáthach smirked. "Ally? Perhaps. But for now, let's keep things simple. Prove to me that you're worthy of such a partnership."
And with that, she disappeared into the night, leaving Lott and Morgan to ponder the implications of their encounter.
Scáthach's Warning
As the celebration continued, Scáthach's warning lingered in Lott's mind. Both he and Morgan knew that they had narrowly escaped disaster.
Lott turned to Morgan, a wry smile on his face. "Well, that was close. Let's make sure we're prepared next time."
Morgan nodded in agreement, but in her heart, she couldn't shake the feeling that their future battles would only grow more difficult now that the Queen of the Shadow Kingdom had taken an interest in them.