by Svalbard

Created on: April 08, 2009

The wind howled across the beach, whipping particles of sand into the air to sting at the faces of the pursuers. Cresting the dune, Cai stopped and looked into the distance at the three people fleeing towards a waiting boat on the strand. Go, he silently roared. Behind him Illtuyd staggered to Cai's side. More men followed, breathing heavily from the climb.

"They will make it," Illtuyd said, expectation in his voice. Cai nodded his head in assent.

"Look!" one of the warriors cried. A group of horsemen appeared to the west, angling to cut the fugitives off from the boat.

One of the trio raised his hand and pointed. It was Palomides. Even at this distance Cai could make out his dark features. Durstan, impossibly large in the saddle, grabbed at Palomides's arm, only to be shaken off. The smaller figure between the two, Iseult, seemed to shrink where she sat her mount. Then Palomides was galloping away from them towards the closing horsemen. He had his sword out. Cai saw the dark warrior's cloak fall away, only for it to float for a moment in the wind, before it fell to the sands.

"Run!" Cai roared to the still motionless Durstan. Then he was running himself, half staggering as he descended the dune. He could feel the blood rushing in his ears, the screaming wind bringing tears to his eyes. In the distance he saw Palomides enveloped by the horsemen, the Dumnonian warriors of King Marcus. Screams and shouts floated on the wind adding to the raucous screeches of the gulls in the sky. Cai gasped for breath and stumbled to his knees. Illtuyd raced past him, shouting loudly. Raising his head, Cai witnessed Durstan turn his mount and gallop to the aid of Palomides. Of the dark warrior there was no sign. More of Cai's men ran past him and one of them pulled the kneeling warrior to his feet.

"What do we do?'" asked the man, anguish written on his feet.

"We cannot let Durst be slaughtered!" Cai rasped without hesitation.

"But Arthur's orders"

"A pox on Arthur!"

Cai ran forward clutching at his side. He could see little now with the backs of his own men in front of him. Then the shouting finished. He pushed his way through men who were now standing still. When he got through the press of warriors the sight that greeted him drew an agonised scream from his throat. Kneeling by a crumpled body, Illtuyd looked up, tears streaming down his face. Mounted men sat in silent shock, looking at each other in bewilderment at what they had just done. Cai dropped to a knee beside Illtuyd and

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