The Stain of Mordred part 22.

“Oh George, just for a minute you had me wondering about you as a possible threat and someone of interest. Then you tell me you are just a fool with a stupid idea that a dead king has indulged. Well I doubt you even have an idea or plan on what you are going to do to stop me. Let me help you out there at least, you can’t stop this, nothing can. I’m not belittling what you have done in waking the Red Dragon and healing people with your herbs and the Glastonbury springs but those people will still die and the healing properties of the Glastonbury springs are no more since Gareth visited them and added a little of my own magic to them.” Mordred explained in mock sadness.
“I will not stand by without trying to stop you causing the suffering of millions.” George said, his first hint of anger.
“George, you still don’t understand. I’m not causing this, just speeding it up to prevent years more of drawn out suffering. All that needs to happen for the Dark Gods to return is for the earth power on these little isles to fail and humankind itself has been weakening that since the arrival of the Romans. Every war and destruction of the ancient sites, the pollution of industry. I didn’t do any of that, I didn’t create any of it. All I’m doing is speeding it up. When the humans invented this new shale gas fracking I almost pissed my pants in joy at the possibilities of it. Here they had given me a way to poison not just the surface of these lands but poisoning the very water beneath our feet and letting that seep out and destroy vast tracks of land. Sure I’m using my gifts and influence with governments and businesses to speed up the licences for the sites and increase the damage when our planned leaks happen but that is just to stop more generations suffering. I had thought that nuclear power would be the thing I used to destroy mankind but shale gas is so much better.” Mordred said with passion and rare excitement.
“Mordred saviour of the unborn.” George said with sarcasm.
“It was me that begged my father the great King Arthur to not allow the Nazarene priests to stay on our islands. Look at the damage they did, burning the ancient sites and destroying the ways of Avalon. Don’t mock me Mage as I tried to stop this but nobody would listen and I was branded a traitor. So after I was betrayed by everyone I decided to speed up the inevitable. I serve the Dark Gods as it’s only a matter of time before they return and destroy the plague of humanity now those who follow the Old Ways have left this world.” Mordred shouted in a sudden rage.
“And what of you when the Dark Gods return? You don’t think they will let you have any sort of dominion over the ashes of the world do you?” George asked.
“You think I care for dominion? I will live long enough to watch my father fail and all of Avalon burn. I will have revenge on the Lady of the Lake for turning her back on me for my fool of a father.” Mordred said regaining control of his anger. “I would have done anything to protect the Old Ways but everyone turned their back on me, even my own mother. Humanity would still be destroying itself even had I died that day.”
“Not if it had the right guidance.” George said.
“You can’t guide these fools, you were in the Great War and saw the stupidity and the suffering it caused. Rather than learning from that they have turned it into a tool to further their power plays and lust for wealth, war became a business with profits measured by how many people could be killed for the most money spent. Humanity is doomed so I just work to get it over with as soon as possible.”
“I don’t believe it can’t be saved and will not stop in trying to prevent this.” George said.
“You’ll find it hard from your prison cell, you’ll not be leaving that cell of yours until I drag you out to witness the Dark Gods return. Don’t worry, you won’t have to wait too long.”
“Tell me Mordred, do you remember how it felt to be willing to sacrifice everything to protect the land and the Old Ways?” George asked.
“It felt lonely George, like I felt all my life, I was alone and apart. Growing up in Avalon I didn’t play with other children. I never made friends, I just had my teachers. At court I was the bastard child of the king, despised by some and the people that did talk to me were after advancement but once they realised I had no influence they drifted away. I was alone, lived my life alone and died alone. Maybe that is something we share, going alone against Avalon to try and save the land. They will shun you and leave you to your fate and I warn you now the Dark Gods will make you suffer for even thinking of going against them” Mordred said quietly. “I think it is time you returned to your cell, you’ve told me what I needed to know.”
“When did the Dark Gods first put their mark on you Mordred, were you already their tool before meeting your father in battle and they offered you a deal as you lay dying?” George asked as he stood up.
“I fought and died for the Old Ways that I believed in, even though they didn’t believe in me.” Mordred said as the two men who had led George into the office entered to take him back to his cell.
“The Dark Gods home in on anger and hate Mordred, are you sure you only ever acted for the Old Ways or did you want revenge even before you turned on your king?” George asked as he was escorted out.
Mordred sat unmoving until after the door closed, then refilled his glass. Yes he had hated the queen and her priests but he had acted to protect the Old Ways even after Avalon had betrayed him.

To be continued.