Jason walked further into the temple, quietly so as not to alert the participants within. Lady Marta was there, coming up from the temple well, mostly naked, like an apparition. And the cloaked figure was there, talking to her. Jason's heart filled with dread as topic of their conversation became all too clear.
Lady Marta spoke to him, as if her orders were not to be questioned. "Then kill the king, with your brother dead, you will be the heir!" Jason's anger swelled, his father had given him nothing but his life, but to let him die, by betrayal? Jason was quick to decide. This would stop now. He stepped forward, and drew his sword. The cloak figure must have seen him, for he jumped up grabbing his two bladed dagger from the floor. Jason rushed at him, his blade held above his head, brother or no brother, what was going on had to stop. The glint of the steel as it flashed down, was not quick enough for his assailant to be harmed. A quick flourish and the cloak that had hidden him so well was now flung over Jason's head.
Quickly disengaging himself, Jason stepped back, looking around. His brother had gone, so had Lady Marta. Knowing his father's and his other brother's life were in danger, Jason rushed out. With his sword drawn he began his frantic search for the throne room again, this time with a driving purpose. The guards saw him before he saw them, as they closed in on him his judgement told him that an explanation would at least bring their attention to the problem, no matter what happened to him. Quickly he explained the plot against the King, the imminent danger, and begged they escort him to the throne room. He waited, almost afraid they would deny him, however they agreed and roughly took him by his arms, and manhandled him through the winding maze to the throne room.
There was his father sitting on the throne. He seemed worried and stressed. King Harold, listened to Jason's story and dismissed the guards, ordering them to bring both his sons to him. While they waited, King Harold thanked Jason for warning him of the danger and asked more details of the Lady Marta. As Jason spoke of what he knew of Lady Marta, the king's face clouded with anger. "Jason, we must find this Lady, she must not be allowed to leave here this day!". Jason was about to continue when his brothers were brought in. Jason was not certain which brother had been involved, but the King knew it would have had to have been the youngest, for the eldest would have had no need to kill his younger brother also.
As King Harold accused his son Brian, Jason was startled by the hate shown on Brian's face. Then Brian started to twist the facts, telling his father it was not he who hatched such a plot, but it was Jason himself who was the danger to the throne. The king had also seen the face full of anger and hate, and was not to be swayed by his lies. As Brian realized, his cause was lost, he swore vengeance on Jason. Jason was quick to draw his sword, but his father's words stopped him. "Jason is my son! And may the god's forgive me I sent him from his home, his land, and his family, all because of my shame."
Jason replaced his sword in the scabbard, as the King requested the guards come and take Brian away. Jason just stood there, uncertain what to say or do. "Edward my first born, we can give thanks this day that your youngest brother was here to unveil this devilish plot." Edward came and awkwardly shook his hand, "Thank you Jason." King Harold stood, "There is still much to do my sons, the flood is endangering us even as we speak, but the biggest danger I fear is who or what caused this flood." As they both stood their starting at their father, and wondering at his cryptic words, a ruckus was heard in the hallway beyond the throne room doors. The guards burst in, pulling with them Lady Marta in chains.
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Taking a step toward her, Jason was stopped by King Harold. The king walked right up to her and looked into her eyes. "So it is you!" Lady Marta, spat in his face, the king turned ashen as he realized the total impact of the story Jason had been telling him. He had taken everything from his son, now he would do this to him, would Jason ever forgive him? "Jason, I am afraid the news I bear is grim indeed, for this is no Lady, but instead a witch, one that has plagued my thoughts for years." Lady Marta had a hollow evil laugh in response to that, "I bet I was in your dreams too, was I not sire?" Jason froze, the memories of what happened at the well and when they were approaching the castle came back to him clearly. Lady Marta was his lover, he knew that with a cold certainty, "Father....." Jason started, but his father raised his hand.
King Harold's face was drawn and pale as he turned toward his son. "Jason, this 'lady' is your mother." With those words the king collapses, Jason and Edward rush to him, calling for the Dr's. Jason hears a dreadful laugh, his attention is drawn back to Marta. "Mother, did you hate him so much? Why did you do this to him, to me?" Jason started toward her drawing his sword, "You are not worthy of life." He cries in his anger. As his sword flashes down the cry of metal against metal screams into the room, and his sword cleaves her chains.
Marta smiles an evil grin, "Surely Jason, you did not think that I would allow myself to be chained and killed! I needed to see the King as much as he needed me!" She grins as she looks in the king's direction. Jason glanced back too, as the doctor placed a cloth over his father's face. Tears welled up in his eyes, a father he had never really known, now was lost, because of a mother who was as evil as the dark gods themselves. "Now my son, you are a threat, just as he was, just as Edward is. I wanted this kingdom, and by the powers that be I shall have it! If it is a fight, you are wanting Jason, then fight the real Marta!"
Jason was assaulted by incredible heat, and a noise roaring in his ears. His mother's voice spoke to him, "Meet my champion, Jason, for on a field of battle he will slay you and all other's in my way!" Jason's eyes were drawn from the warrior bathed in fire, up to the dragon who had spawned him. The chain he had severed, was around the dragon's neck. His mother's laughter cackled in the high cave she had brought him too. "I am not without a heart for my own son Jason, I have receded the flood. Call an army to you, for in a month and a day we shall fight!"
STORY TO BE CONTINUED
