Skáthach: I Heard Someone Bullied My Brother-in-Law.
The tension was palpable as Skáthach approached the knight with a look of interest. "You said that Vortigern called me an old woman?" she asked.
"Yes," the knight confirmed, trying to keep his voice steady.
Morgan had chosen not to disclose the full truth to the knight to avoid complications. Skáthach, however, seemed unfazed by the slight. With a knowing smile, she replied, "Next time, have your queen come and tell me that herself."
She then adjusted her spear and continued her advance, her demeanour unwavering. "I'm here to assist with the matter at hand, but remember, it's your duty to deal with the king. My role is to resist, not to kill him."
Skáthach continued, her tone carrying a hint of warning, "I've fulfilled my part of the bargain, so you must do the same for me. If you can't manage it, I'll have to collect it personally. At that point, I'll determine the cost. Even if it means taking the two of them to the Kingdom of Shadows with me..."
The knight thought about how difficult it would be to keep such matters hidden from Skáthach. Despite his realization, he didn't sense much anger from her. She softly added, "Forget it. No matter who said it, I'll treat it as if he did."
With that, she moved forward, and the knight soon found himself unable to see her figure. He muttered to himself, "That's frightening." He resolved that if Queen Morgan asked him to undertake such dangerous tasks in the future, he would refuse, even if it meant abandoning the Knights of the Round Table.
Despite the heavy suppression from the ballistae, Vortigern's assault was proving challenging. The reason was clear: the vast moat surrounding the castle left only a narrow passage for his army. This allowed Lott's soldiers to focus their defence on a single point.
Contrary to the shallow ditches often depicted in media, the moat here was a significant barrier. It spanned several tens of meters in width and was even deeper on Lott's side, making any attempt to fill it impractical. While the Romans might have had the technology to bridge such gaps, Vortigern lacked the necessary means.
The previous defenders had surrendered easily, largely due to the mistaken belief that they were facing Roman forces. Now, with only one approach available, Vortigern's soldiers had to advance through this narrow channel.
As Vortigern's troops moved forward with their shields, Lott commanded his men to counter with bows and arrows. The castle was equipped with shooting holes designed to shield against the ballistae and enemy archers.
Though Lott's forces were few, many were knights, including Altria and Galahad. Their accuracy with the bow was formidable, often resulting in multiple casualties with a single shot. Despite their skill, they were not as proficient as Tristan, who had a different, critical task.
Tristan had been given specific instructions by Lott. His task was to target the ballistae. With precise aim, Tristan shot an arrow, causing the leather belt of one ballista to snap with a crisp sound. Another arrow followed, shattering a second ballista's mechanism.
Ballistae, though powerful, had their drawbacks. They were complex to manufacture and repair, especially since Vortigern had acquired them from Rome rather than making them himself. The repeated failures led Vortigern to suspect an expert was at work. "Who is this archer with such skill?" he wondered aloud.
At that moment, King Marco approached Vortigern, looking embarrassed. "The expert archer is my nephew," he confessed.
Vortigern merely sighed, "Forget it. Continue the attack."
With the ballistae rendered ineffective, Vortigern ordered his archers to focus on overwhelming Lott's archers to prevent any retaliation. He was willing to accept significant casualties as long as the castle was captured. The quantity of troops was his advantage now.
As the sky darkened with arrows from Vortigern's archers, Lott felt the weight of the situation. Although he had anticipated such an assault, seeing it unfold was still daunting. He quickly gave orders to his men. "Pour the tar and boil the oil," he instructed.
Lott considered using more potent substances but decided against them due to their strong odour and the adequacy of the available tar. He instructed his men to pour the tar over the attackers.
As the tar descended, Vortigern's soldiers screamed in pain. However, the sheer number of attackers made it impossible to stop everyone. Some had already reached the wall.
On the battlements, Lott, Altria, and others were prepared for the onslaught. Despite their efforts, Vortigern saw the need to take direct action. "It looks like I need to join in as well," he said to King Marco. "Come on, go up with me."
King Marco, taken aback, protested, "What? I have to climb the wall too?"
Vortigern had brought King Marco along for a practical reason. He doubted Marco's capabilities and feared that he might be a liability. However, Marco's martial skills were competent compared to other knights.
"Alright, alright," Marco said, recognizing the situation. With Vortigern's encouragement, he leapt onto the city wall with a few swift moves. Swinging his sword, he unleashed a powerful strike, knocking out several soldiers, both from Lott's side and Vortigern's.
As he engaged in battle, a sudden gust of wind caught his attention. He dodged instinctively, glancing to see Lott approaching with a peculiar weapon. Lott, disappointed that his previous attack had missed, sighed. "In this era, even at ten steps, people are still fast."
Vortigern, seeing Lott's approach, readied himself. "A sneak attack from behind?" he remarked, charging towards Lott with his large sword. This was his greatest adversary, and defeating Lott was essential to demonstrate the disparity in their strengths.
Just as Vortigern prepared to strike, Galahad stepped in front of him, ready to confront the threat head-on.