Chapter 250: The Path to Unifying Scotland

As King Leodegrance stood before his guests, he couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. He glanced at his daughter, Guinevere, and then at Lott and Morgan. The food on the table was barely touched.

"What's wrong? Didn't you like the food I prepared?" he thought to himself, feeling somewhat heartbroken. He remembered the times when his daughter used to enjoy his cooking. But now, it seemed everything had changed since she left Camelot.

Inwardly, he sighed. Perhaps, he thought, it's true that Camelot's culinary standards have risen far above what they had here in Scotland. He felt a twinge of guilt for not being able to match their expectations.

Just then, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Pfft, hahaha! This is hilarious!" A woman's laughter echoed through the castle as a figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere. It was Scáthach, the legendary warrior from the Land of Shadows. She descended from her vantage point above, landing gracefully in the banquet hall. Without any hesitation, she took the main seat at the table and began eating.

"Ah, I guess it's time to start the banquet!" she declared, grinning.

King Leodegrance was momentarily stunned. He recognized her instantly, and whatever anger he felt vanished in an instant. He knew better than to cross this powerful warrior. Any thoughts of reprimanding her evaporated as he approached with a hesitant smile.

"You... why are you here, Lady Scáthach?" he asked, trying to hide his nervousness.

Scáthach looked up, still chewing on a piece of meat. "Oh, you know, just dropping by to see how things are going. And to grab a bite. But I must say, your cooking isn't really up to par," she remarked with a smirk.

King Leodegrance could only laugh awkwardly. "Yes, of course, Lady Scáthach. Please, enjoy yourself."

Morgan and Lott exchanged a glance. Morgan stepped forward and patted Scáthach on the shoulder. "Sister, it's good to see you. You came all the way here just to eat?"

Scáthach gave a slight nod. "Of course. Besides, I wanted to see how things are progressing with you and Lott. It seems you've grown stronger, Morgan."

Morgan smiled. "It's thanks to the training I've had and the support from Lott."

Scáthach's gaze flickered toward Lott. "You've become quite an enigma yourself, Lott. The power you wield is... interesting."

Lott scratched his head. "Oh, come on, I'm just a normal guy. You're giving me too much credit."

Scáthach narrowed her eyes playfully. "Normal, huh? If that's what you want to call it."

Morgan laughed, then looked at King Leodegrance, who seemed out of place amid their banter. "Don't worry, your Majesty. We're just here to discuss a little business."

The king quickly composed himself. "Yes, of course. Please, let's talk."

Morgan took a deep breath, her gaze turning serious. "I want to unify Scotland under Camelot's rule. Do you have any suggestions on how we should proceed?"

Scáthach leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. "Unify Scotland? And what makes you think I'll help you with that?"

Morgan feigned shock. "Sister, are you really going to abandon me in my time of need?"

Scáthach snorted. "You've picked up quite a bit of Lott's cheekiness, haven't you?"

Lott raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, don't blame me for that!"

Scáthach ignored him and turned back to Morgan. "Alright, since you're so intent on this, I'll give you some advice. But first, tell me what your plan is."

Morgan nodded. "We need to prove Camelot's strength to the Scottish clans. We should hold a tournament, showcasing the might of our warriors."

Scáthach's lips curled into a smile. "You've thought it through. But be careful, Morgan. If you want to win over the Scots, you must show them your strength, not just your power."

Morgan frowned slightly, unsure of the distinction. "What do you mean?"

Scáthach stood up and walked over to the map laid out on the table. "The Scots respect strength above all else. If you show them your warriors can defeat theirs, they will follow you. But if you rely only on strategy or deceit, they will resist you to the last man."

Lott interjected, "So, you're suggesting we fight them head-on? What if we lose?"

Scáthach shrugged. "Then you don't deserve to rule them. But if you want my help, you need to do things their way. The Scots are natural-born warriors. They need to be conquered in spirit, not just in body."

Morgan considered this. "So, you're saying we should challenge them openly?"

Scáthach nodded. "Yes, a grand tournament. Invite the leaders of each clan to send their best warriors. Prove to them that Camelot's strength is unmatched. And when they're defeated, offer them a place under your banner."

Lott looked at Morgan, a smile playing on his lips. "It's risky, but it might just work."

Morgan smirked. "Of course it will. And when we've unified Scotland, we'll be stronger than ever."

Scáthach's eyes glinted with approval. "Then let's see if you can back up your words with action, Morgan."

Morgan's gaze was fierce. "I will."

As the banquet continued, the mood was lighthearted despite the heavy topic. Scáthach's presence, though daunting, seemed to ease the tension. King Leodegrance, however, still looked uneasy, sitting stiffly at the far end of the table.

"Your Majesty, don't look so worried," Lott called out to him. "After all, we're all friends here, aren't we?"

King Leodegrance forced a smile, but his eyes darted nervously between Lott and Scáthach. "Yes, of course."

Inwardly, he prayed that the next few days would go smoothly. With Camelot's army poised to march and Scáthach's unpredictable nature, anything could happen.

As the night wore on, Morgan, Lott, and Scáthach continued to discuss their plans for Scotland, while King Leodegrance and Guinevere watched in silence. The fate of the entire land hung in the balance, and everyone present knew that the decisions made tonight would shape the future of Britain.