The return to consciousness was painful and agonizing. My lips felt like sand, and the sharp pain in my throat felt like blades were stuck in my throat. But I was alive, and my eyes opened wider and wider, getting used to the light.
- Mister Mordred? - Kara, who spent the night in my room and practically never left my side, watching every step of the nurses and doctors, immediately appeared next to me.
She immediately calmed her emotions and brought me a glass of water, because the dehydration was severe. They stuffed me with everything they could and saved me from death. Praise be to the doctors for their skill and to those who got this water from the wells, because I have never drunk anything tastier.
"How long have I been here?" I asked first.
"A week. And what happened, you don't care?" Kara asked, quickly pouring more water into the glass.
- An explosion, an assassination attempt. Those who did not benefit from my appearance in the small council tried to kill me. How many more victims?
- Two of your guards. Boris lost his legs. Five other citizens were wounded. One woman is still in very serious condition. Age has become a serious challenge in the fight for her life.
— The authorities' reaction?
— Galahad was furious. The king was furious. They blamed everything on enemy agents, non-humans. Yesterday was the Saturday of the black masks. People organized raids on everyone who was suspected of xenophilia. They even found xenos, mutants and more… the inquisitors coordinated the purge.
"I see… I see," I replied and moved into a sitting position, lowering my feet to the floor and almost falling due to the absence of my left arm.
- Wait, you've just had surgery! - Kara exclaimed, and the nurses immediately ran in. A minute later, the doctor himself appeared.
My wounds were extremely serious, and now I have one less limb. True, for some reason it hurt like crazy, but as the doctor explained, these are phantom pains. They should go away with time with proper treatment, but my arm was amputated at the shoulder joint.
"It would be better for you to stay in the hospital, under our supervision," the doctor continued to insist.
- No, I have a lot of things to do and work. Besides, I feel pretty good.
- You are under strong painkillers.
- So, you will write me more of them.
The doctor couldn't argue with me, because I was still a nobleman one way or another, and now also a member of the small council that decided the fate of the local region. Therefore, having told me about all the consequences, prescribed pills, and also warned me again about how much worse I would get afterwards, the doctor, having received my signature, nevertheless let me go. By this time, a crowd had already gathered outside again, attracted by the arrival of the media from Camelot.
My guards met me, already in much greater numbers. Also, soldiers from the town hall appeared in my company, because Galahad himself ordered to take care of my protection. They were going to quickly take me to the armored car, but only I decided where and when I would go. And I couldn't run, I walked slowly, hobbled, which forced Kara to run back to the hospital and bring me a cane.
"Mr. Mordred, a couple of comments for the evening paper! Please, please!" shouted some journalist, unsuccessfully trying to squeeze past the two-meter-tall hunk.
"I'm very tired, I want to rest. One question," I said, stopping and allowing the big guy to let her approach him.
"What are you going to do?" the journalist asked briefly, voicing the question that interested everyone.
- The attempt on my life has proven the correctness of the path I have chosen. The enemies wanted to kill me and right now they hope that the injury will break me and frighten me. But their hopes are not destined to come true! - I declared loudly, after which I immediately cleared my throat and felt how much my blood pressure jumped. - After this tragedy, I will achieve my goals with even greater zeal! For those who died and were wounded then, for the people and for the king!
"We must go, Mister Mordred," the soldier from the town hall urged me on. He was not answerable to me, but to his superiors. And so he was going to deliver me to the mansion alive at any cost, even if he had to knock me out and tie me up so that I wouldn't jeopardize the escort mission with my antics.
And I didn't argue with him, because it was becoming increasingly difficult to stand upright. My vision was darkening, I was starting to feel sick, my head was splitting, and my entire body was exhausted. I needed rest, light food, drinks full of vitamins and minerals to restore my body's spent resources. And sleep, lots of sleep, which I wouldn't have time for.
After all, it was entirely possible that the nobles themselves were attempting to assassinate me. It was important for them to remove me from the equation. After all, there would soon be a meeting where reforms and decrees would be put forward. If I stayed in bed, I would waste a whole year of time. I needed to work and form a strong coalition before my allies were divided by evil tongues. I had already spent a week in the hospital, giving my enemies and opponents a huge head start.
However, in exchange for my hand, I received something much more. All those who wished me dead can now only be sympathized with, because if before this my reputation and respect were simply strong, now they have become monolithic. I have already been called a martyr, and the resonance caused has spread my name throughout the world. A nobleman with a cursed name, Mordred, who with his actions has already begun to overshadow some noble people: after all, he brightened his name with his deeds, and not with his birthright.
Besides, the king and even Galahad had sided with me one way or another. Perhaps they wanted me dead too, and I was in their way: then their actions would have another reason. After all, their men would now be on duty near my house. However, I did not believe in their meanness. Galahad was too ambitious: he would never have mixed in poison or hired killers. He would have simply openly declared his enmity, challenged me to a duel, or found another legal way to administer justice. But personal… he did not involve personal matters.
The king had too much power. If he wanted me dead, I would already be dead. So I didn't see any enemies in these two people and most of their entourage. Besides, I sincerely believed that someday we would become situational allies. Yes, the hostility between me and Galahad would not go away, but if the enemy attacked... we would act as a united front. I was confident in this decision, and Galahad, as has already been said, would not interfere with the fate of the kingdom under any circumstances.
Soon we reached my mansion without incident, where even more security, both mine and the state's, was waiting for us. Now no one will bully me for sure. True, I will have to act much more carefully. They will also be watching my every step.
But much more surprises awaited me inside, where a young man sat - a handsome brunette with an aristocratic face and an extremely kind look. His thick hair fell on his shoulders, and he himself was a real athlete. In addition, manners had long become an integral part of his habits. Which gave him away not just a nobleman, but a hereditary aristocrat of the highest nobility.
I recognized him immediately.
"Hello, Mordred, please accept my condolences," Arthur said sincerely, getting up from the sofa in the living room as a sign of respect for the owner of the house.
Important clarification: the name Arthur was both the most common name in Camelot and a title/nickname in the manner of Galahad's nickname, addressed without any other prefixes or clarification of the surname. Arthur had not yet become a knight. However, he already had experience in managing it and was considered the main candidate to inherit the Knight of Excalibur, which was currently managed by Galahad himself, who was already quite old and actively looking for a successor from among the young nobles of his line.
Yes, Arthur was also my relative: also not the closest. However, we would have had the same last name if I had not refused the offer of the town hall worker. And probably he was the only person who did not hate me and always tried to find a reason why Mordred sank to the very bottom, instead of new accusations. He was a truly good man and, like Galahad, he greatly respected the knightly code, although he interpreted some moments... from a more humane and humane point of view.
"How are you?" Arthur asked as I sat down opposite him and accepted the jug of water Kara had brought me.
I didn't answer and quickly drank one liter of water after another. My body immediately began to sweat, but after the first jug I ate the tablets with the necessary minerals and continued drinking again. The tablets were needed so that other useful substances, which the body also lacked, would not be washed out with the water.
The pain gradually returned, but I put off the painkillers for the most extreme cases. I would have to get off them later, too. Besides, the pain sobered me up and did not let me forget about my weakness, and allowed me to accurately assess the healing process. The doctor told me everything and I remembered his words: therefore, I was not going to violate the instructions given to me.
"It could have been worse," I answered Arthur after the second jug. "Why did you come? Did you really remember my existence and decide to see me?"
- I never forgot, but recently I received some very interesting information. At first, I found it hard to believe that they were talking about the Mordred I knew so well... or didn't know, but wanted to believe that inside you were always exactly like that. I'm happy for you and I came to tell you so.
- Well... that's good to hear. If you need any help...
- No, I came simply to say what I have already said and nothing more. There was no other motive and although I am grateful for the offer, I am forced to decline it so as not to darken our meeting with a selfish motive. Oh, by the way, I was going to help you myself, - said Arthur and smiled again, taking a gilded ticket from the inside pocket of his jacket. - Since you are returning your glorious name... or rather, not your own, but... you understand me. A knights' duel will soon be held in Camelot, the nobles have again disagreed about something. You will be able to return to the upper class again.
"I never ceased to be a nobleman, Arthur. I was stripped of my name, but not of my sword or lands.
- That's true. I wanted to say something slightly different, but you already understood everything, right? So let's not be sarcastic. Get well soon, if you need anything, write. Galahad, by the way, also appreciated your actions. Although he himself will never admit it.
"Thank you, come back if you need anything. You are always welcome here," I answered more calmly and without passive aggression, realizing that Arthur really didn't seem to have any hidden motives: which was confirmed by Mordred's memory.
Arthur nodded and left, and his guards left with him. The rest of the soldiers from the state remained on duty outside. I continued to sit in the chair, realizing that if I stood up, I wouldn't get far: since my strength was running out, and just sitting was becoming difficult. This meant that I needed to hurry.
"Kara, bring me my stationery, please," I said, taking out of my pocket a piece of paper in which the pills given to me for today were wrapped.
The pain was returning and getting stronger. It was still bearable, but the pills wouldn't work right away. So I took another dose of painkillers and started writing letters. I had a plan. I had found out about all the nobles in the small council in general terms. There was no one outstanding among them. They could be compared to local deputies: they decide when to start clearing snow and things like that.
Their motivation was weak: nothing was really required of them. Besides, most of them were representatives of the younger generation. Fathers and grandfathers had already put their grandchildren and sons in place of them, having retired. They, in turn, were still full of stupidity, and did not want to work. Although even those who were older did not really break their asses.
There was also a short list of those whose ambitions could become problems. These would have to be worked on in depth. Although in fact they were also just sitting out their positions and gaining seniority so that upon reaching the required age they would have the right to participate in elections to the district councils of Camelot, and then to the main council. Behind almost all of them there were influential relatives.
The main obstacle was the Nordan family. Their names actually owned twenty percent of all the seats on the council, and they acted as a single whole, supporting each other in any situation. In addition, their family is really huge and in addition to seats on the council, they also held positions in the chancellery, in the military police, in the army, and simply in business.
I wasn't going to rely on their good mood and good will, so I was already sending letters again to all those whose support I had received or tried to receive before and during the elections. It was time to launch the second phase of my plan. I should have even more allies, because my reputation had grown. And those who refused...
"The end justifies the means..." I muttered quietly and grimaced with contempt for this phrase.
Usually, it was with these words that the greatest evil and tragic fall from grace began. And as everyone thought, I would be an exception. Only a bit of common sense prevented me from blindly stepping on the gas without at least thinking. But in the end, I had no choice: I had to go all the way and do what needed to be done.
Threats and blackmail will have to complement eloquence and authority. Out of a hundred people, on average, less than ten show some activity and are ready to participate in important events for society. Among the nobility, this percentage was higher, but at least half of the nobles in the council were passive. They simply ignored my letters. At the same time, I am almost sure that they will not support the Nordans either. Because they are afraid and only want a quiet existence. They will not get involved in showdowns just like that, giving the right to decide everything for them.
This did not suit me, because I needed to create a strong coalition at any cost.
- Kara, these letters must reach Boris. Also tell him that he must return to duty in three days. I understand that he is probably worse off than me, but there is no time.
- Fine.
Boris has proven very useful. His connections in the world of dirt and filth have helped me more than once. This time he will turn to the brothels and get all the dirty laundry of all the minor nobility. My money, his authority - together they will allow us to find instruments of pressure.
Threats are also unavoidable. The nobles fear most for their families and heirs - their glorious lineage. And if only pressure on their family can force them to side with me or definitely renounce the alliance with the Nordans... well, I will go to such measures, if only to achieve my goal.
Of course, in case of a serious confrontation, I did not plan to kill anyone, and the threats would be purely in the subtext, so as not to expose myself. It was not in my interests to unleash a bloody conflict within the council: after all, hard times would soon await everyone. We need to remain united and cohesive. However, I was also obliged to take the helm into my own hands, otherwise no one would do anything.
So I sat there, wrote letters and made charts. Along the way, I was distracted by calculating the estimate and studying the statistics of my own business. By evening, I received a pack of letters from the postman, who delivered mail for me twice a day: in the morning and in the evening, before bed. I paid him separately for this.
And what was my surprise when, among a pile of letters, I found one with extremely neat and beautiful handwriting.
"From Elizabeth..." I read and opened the envelope to find a typical love letter.
My reputation grew, my authority and wealth grew, but despite all this I remained unengaged. How funny... in all the many political instruments of the noble world, I forgot about the most important thing - marriage.
And then I jumped up and hobbled to my library to find the book of Camelot families. This trump card had to be used right now. By concluding a blood alliance with another equal family, I would be able to instantly increase my own power by two times. Or a little less, maybe a little more... in any case, I would first need to study and analyze everything.
"It seems I'll go to the knights' duel after all," I muttered, leafing through the old lists of Camelot families. "There will certainly be many beautiful and unmarried ladies-in-waiting there."