The Darkest Knight (Guardians of Camelot #3) - Victoria Sue Page 0,62
father.”
“Covering all bases, huh?” Roxy commented.
“Except we don’t know if the son refers to a being or is a theoretical concept,” Charles said. “The word ‘mother’ can sometimes be used as a bringer of life, and often more than the physical act of childbirth.”
“You mean like Mother Nature?” Ali asked, looking away from the screen. “That sort of thing?”
Gawain nodded and scanned the notes for a few seconds. “Ensis refers to sword.”
“Ira Magna. Which can mean fury or fury of the sword,” Charles said slowly. “And furore sanguis or fury of the blood.” He rubbed his forehead in frustration. There weren’t even complete sentences, just a list of phrases which could alter their meaning depending on context.
“Can’t Latin words mean more than one thing though?” Ali asked.
“Very much so,” Charles answered. “The meaning isn’t just dependent on grammar, but also the placement of the words in the sentence and the context.”
“And we have neither the context nor even full sentences,” Gawain agreed. “We also have no idea of the time period involved, although the first defense of the trinity in the religious meaning was the third century, so it predates Arthur, and Caliburn is mentioned.”
Charles’s breath hitched. “But I returned the sword. Technically it shouldn’t be missing.”
“I checked the history again this morning. There is nothing mentioning the sword apart from the original piece, but as it is only legend, there were no actual written facts to get changed.”
“Are trinity and triad the same thing?” Roxy asked.
“More or less if used as a noun,” Charles agreed. “With slight differences. Why?”
“Because there is a reference to something written by Julius Caesar. Commentarii de Bello Gallico.” Roxy flushed. “Google Translate. Language is so not my thing.”
Charles and Gawain stood up and looked over Roxy’s shoulder at the far screen. She pointed to a particular rough drawing of a warrior but in priest robes.
“De ternio defensionis,” Gawain read. “Defense of the triad.”
Charles pointed to the screen and knew when Gawain’s breath caught. He saw the same thing. “He has the black circle on his robes. The symbol of Black Annis.”
“And look what he carries.”
Charles peered at the screen, and Roxy enlarged it. He held two things. One was some sort of goblet, but the second was a sword. Identical to the one Charles had just prevented from Mordred taking.
Excalibur.
“Is there any more?” Charles asked, surprised when his voice sounded so normal.
Roxy shook her head. “No, it just says filius legitimus underneath, whatever that means.”
“The rightful son,” Gawain read out. Charles glanced over, but Gawain wasn’t looking at the screen; he was holding up the notebook. “The same phrase is used here. It refers to the blood being rightful, but also the son.”
“It could mean son of the rightful,” Charles said. “Filius legitimus can mean either depending on the context.”
“Which isn’t necessarily the same thing,” Mel said quietly. “You’re still thinking this is to do with Galahad?”
“You don’t?” Gawain said and looked up.
Mel was quiet for a few seconds. “I just don’t think Aalardin would ever consider Galahad rightful or for a hot minute think Lance is.”
Charles glanced at Gawain. “He has a point.”
“Then if the son doesn’t refer to Galahad, who does it refer to?”
“I think there is a bigger question than that,” Mel said, and Charles understood immediately.
“Because Aalardin considered Morgan rightful. You’re not worried so much as to who the son his, but who his mother would be.”
“Did Morgan ever have a child?” Ali asked, immediately catching on.
Mel dragged the pendant from under his shirt and clasped it tight, closing his eyes. He muttered something indistinguishable but then took a breath. “He is born of evil and must be slain.”
“Who is?”
Mel opened his brilliant blue eyes and stared right at Charles. “Her son.”
Charles inhaled, but he wasn’t sure how because he didn’t think there was any oxygen in the room.
“And do we know who her son is?” Charles said it distinctly so there would be no way Mel couldn’t hear the question. His heart beat a tattoo so loudly he was sure everyone would hear. But as he looked into Mel’s eyes, he didn’t need the answer.
Born of evil.
He didn’t have a life. He was used. He had been used to trap Kay. The greatest evil the world had ever known had birthed one child, a son.
Him.
Chapter 17
Kay must have dozed because Mordred’s angry shouts woke him up immediately. He looked to his right, but Galahad wasn’t there. Mordred snarled, and Kay tried to scramble up, but the chains held him