Stretched out before them were broken buildings, wooden structures barely standing, covered in black burns and piles of rubble. Bodies lay strewn about the ground, some of the Menace but most of townsfolk, peaceful villagers whose magic was good for farming, not battle. The company looked in horror at the scene before them. Unspeakable pain was on the faces of the dead. They had died in agony.

Tor and Morholt dismounted first. Tor went forward into the town while Morholt began checking what was left of the perimeter. Instantly the knights of Camelot jerked awake from their stupor.

"Elyan, Percival, go with Morholt." Leon pointed towards the solemn knight that was scouring the fences. "Galahad, Gwaine, and I will search the inner area with Tor. Fira?" He turned to find the stricken girl standing in silence. He sighed. "Do what you can."

Fira took the lead ropes of the horses and tied them all to a nearby tree. It was the least she could do, certainly not eager to investigate the deaths of the townsfolk. She knew what, who, had caused their deaths anyways: the Emerald Lady's warriors.

Leon knelt beside one of the corpses. It was a young girl, her chest covered in blood. A sword wound went straight through. She was still grasping her mother's hand. Leon shut the girl's eyes.

Fira reached out with her mind. She felt their presence, the company she was with. She began to identify them, Galahad the strongest presence because of his magic. But she couldn't feel everyone. A dark mist hung over the area in her mind. It was hard to sense anything but those nearest her. Elyan, Percival, and Morholt were too far. It was disturbing.

"Find anything?" Galahad asked her quietly, walking back to where Fira stood at the entrance of the village. "Any other beings?"

She sighed and shook her head, opening her eyes. "I can't even feel the three of our group furthest out, let alone other life forms."

Gwaine poked a mercenary's body with his sword, turning it over. There was nothing special about... her?!

"That's odd." Gwaine shook his head. They didn't often come across female bandits or mercs.

"What's odd?" Leon came over from examining a nearby body.

Gwaine gestured to the dead woman. "It's a girl."

"There are female fighters you know." Fira rolled her eyes as she walked​ over with Galahad.

But as she drew closer, she noticed something peculiar. Fira narrowed her eyes, crouching beside the body. She rolled up the woman's sleeve.

"A triskelion." Galahad looked on in surprise. "She was a druid!"

"I thought the druids were peaceful," Leon said in surprise.

Fira shook her head. "Most of us are, at least in Camelot."

Tor sighed. "Druids here are traditionally peaceful as well. But there has been an influx of druids from other kingdoms, most of them filled with hatred for their former rulers."

As they stood in contemplation​, a crash was heard from a nearby house. They all stood, their eyes peeled on the ruined house.

Fira and Galahad instantly reached out with their senses. Both sensed it, and looked to the other.

"Someone is there, with magic." Galahad murmured, drawing his sword.

The others did the same. Leon and Gwaine approached what remained of the door, Fira close behind them. She wasn't about to let a sorcerer attack them. Galahad and Tor were close behind her.

"Reveal yourself!" Leon said, his voice almost a shout. Nodding to Gwaine, he and the other knight kicked in the door.

They heard someone draw a sword inside. Leon and Gwaine tightened their grips. In the shadows of the house they found a young man standing with a sword, clothed in blacks like the mercenaries. He looked worried.

"Who are you?" Leom demanded, sword out and at the ready.

The man, who looked to be about Galahad's age, snarled. "I do not answer to you."

"Are you with the Emerald Lady?" Fira asked quickly, pushing forward between Leon and Gwaine. "Are you with the Menace?"

A pained look crossed his features. Then he shook his head. "Once upon a time I was. Then they murdered these villagers and I renounced my oath."

Fira smiled. "Come out then, we won't hurt you." She held up her hands in an offer of peace.

Gwaine and Leon both looked at her like she was insane, or had grown a second head. But she rolled her eyes and gestured for him to come forward.

"What's your name?" Fira asked this time.

There was a long pause before he spoke. "Mordred."

Fira smiled and suddenly a look of realization passed over her face. "I'm-"

"Fira," Mordred nodded in shock. "You were with the clan that took me in after Uther slaughtered us! Do you remember?"

"Of course I remember!" Fira grinned widely. "My, it's been a long time."

The knights were utterly confused. Gwaine, Leon, Tor, and Galahad watched the reunion curiously. Perhaps this was someone they could trust?

"Put your sword away, Mordred. They won't hurt you." Fira smiled and approached him.

Mordred looked skeptical. "They're knights of Camelot."

Fira bit her lip and glanced back at her friends. Gwaine was being uncharacteristically quiet, Leon pensive as usual. Galahad seemed tense as well, which surprised Fira. Surely he understood more than the others that magic users needed to help each other.

Fira turned back to Mordred and flashed a small smile. "I won't let them hurt you. We're similar, you and I. And if you help us, perhaps we can help you."

Mordred looked at her. They were almost the same age, she remembered. He was eighteen, she seventeen. They had met six years before. She had been the child closest in age to Mordred at her druid camp and the two bonded over this. When they located the remaining members of the ravaged clan, he'd been sad to say goodbye.

Mordred sheathed his sword, looking warily at Leon in particular. He remembered Leon. He had been a knight when Morgana had cared for him.

Fira turned to her friends. "Well?"

After a few moments hesitation, Tor, Gwaine, and Galahad all did the same. Finally Leon joined them. Fira grinned.

"See! We're fine." She turned back to Mordred. "Are you hurt?"

"No." He shook his head.

"Not true," Gwaine chipped in. "You're heavily favoring your left."

Mordred narrowed his eyes but, try as he might, he couldn't straighten out. Fira sighed and took his hand. She shook her head as he went to break free.

"Come on. I'm a physician's assistant. Plus I know a healing spell to prevent infection." Fira pulled him from the rubbled house and out into the main area. She turned to the others. "You all can keep searching. I'll stay with Mordred."

Galahad bit his lip, eying Mordred in hesitation. "I'll stay with you."

Fira rolled her eyes. "Very well. Then make yourself useful and find the well. I'll need water I'm sure."

Galahad hesitated before nodding and searching the area for the town well. As he did so, and the others split to keep searching, she took out her dagger and sliced the pant leg that Mordred wore. Beneath it was a nasty cut.

"Bíde séocnes," she breathed, placing her hand on the wound. With a nod, she smiled at Mordred. "There we go."

"Why?" Mordred eyes her warily.

She tilted her head in confusion. "Why what?"

"Why are you with the Knights of Camelot?" He glanced up to see Galahad drawing water from the well, still out of earshot. "They hate people like us."

She smiled at him sadly. "They are wary, yes. But they have accepted me. Galahad, even. He's of druidic descent. Has magic, not quite like us but similar. They recently found out, and none hated him for it." She sighed. "It took awhile for them to grow used to my magic and my desire to use it, but now we are a team."

Mordred nodded. "Lady Morgana promised me that magic would be free one day. But she is assisting this... sorceress... this Emerald Lady and her Knight. They are slaughtering our own kind and I will not stand for it."

"Mordred," Fira sighed as she took his hand. "Morgana is not our salvation. King Arthur is."