More soldiers and many of Camelgrance’s citizens flocked outside, anxious to see what was to become of their home.
Britt followed the crowd outside, but rather than standing with the masses she directed her horse behind a soldier bearing Leodegrance’s flag, intending to hide since she stuck out like a sore thumb as the only armored knight in the entire company.
Merlin, Gawain, and Lancelot joined her. Merlin held the bridle of Britt’s mount while Lancelot craned his neck to see.
Maleagant, wearing armor and riding his red roan horse, brandished a lance in the air. “King Leodegrance of Camelgrance. What is your decision, are you friend or foe?”
“I am your friend,” King Leodegrance said.
“Then you will give me your daughter Guinevere as my bride and prove to me your loyalty?” Maleagant demanded. His voice was hoarse and unfriendly.
“What a blackguard,” Lancelot said.
Gawain nodded, but Britt hissed, “Quiet.”
King Leodegrance’s expression grew pinched. “How would you have me prove myself?”
“Break off your alliance with Arthur and march with me to Camelot,” Maleagant said.
“Isn’t it enough to pledge loyalty to you?” King Leodegrance said. “Gladly I would give you my daughter.”
Guinevere, mounted on a small palfrey, stared at her hands. Her face was red, probably from all the crying, but she wore a beautiful dress and her hair was carefully arranged.
“If you remain allies with Arthur you are no friend of mine,” Maleagant said.
“Lad, now,” Merlin said.
Britt nudged her horse forward, leaving her companions behind. Gawain bowed and Lancelot beamed as he pumped an arm in encouragement.
“Could I have more time to consider your request?” King Leodegrance asked.
“No.”
King Leodegrance’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Then…,” he trailed off and fell silent as Britt directed her horse into the gap between Maleagant and King Leodegrance’s family.
“Who is this?” Maleagant demanded.
“I know not. Sir Knight, why are you here?” King Leodegrance asked.
Britt slid Excalibur out of its scabbard and brandished it in the air. She waited for a moment, looking quite picturesque, and then swung Excalibur down in an arc and thrust it in Maleagant’s direction. While prepping for battle Merlin told her to keep her mouth shut and say nothing. “Let them draw their own conclusions. If Leodegrance discovers you’re King Arthur we’ll never be able to refuse his request to make Guinevere your bride,” Merlin had warned.
Although Britt was moved by the girl’s plight, in no way was Britt going to welcome the faithless girl into Camelot. She would remain silent to the bitter end.
Maleagant flipped up the visor of his helm so he could peer at Britt. He had beady eyes, and his face looked like someone had taken a mace to it on several different occasions. “You mean to challenge me for the Lady Guinevere.”
Britt dismounted her borrowed horse and bowed.
“Very well, champion. I will face you with great eagerness,” Maleagant said, an evil grin crawling across his lips as he hefted his lance.
Britt quickly raised Excalibur, pointing it at Maleagant.
“I think he means for it to be a contest of swords,” King Leodegrance ventured in the silence.
“Fine,” Maleagant said, handing his lance off to one of his men before he too dismounted. “Be it by sword or lance, I shall beat you soundly.”
Britt eased into an offensive stance, studying Maleagant through the slits of her helm. She hated fighting in full armor thanks to its added weight. But in spite of what she learned in her history classes, her armor was easy to maneuver in and barely hindered her movements.
Maleagant stiffly strode towards Britt, walking bowlegged. He unsheathed his sword and roared like a bear.
Britt darted forward, striking first to gain the offensive advantage. Fighting and winning with the sword depended on going offensive and staying on the offense.
Britt drove Maleagant back, feinting an upper cut before reversing and striking from below. She rained blow after blow on Maleagant, who struggled to block and dodge the strikes.
The crowd from Camelgrance, which had first winced and watched with pain, started rustling with hope as Britt kicked Maleagant in the knee cap when he blocked her thrust to his right shoulder.
The kick hadn’t hurt—he was wearing armor after all—but it did make Maleagant take a tottering step backwards.
Exploiting his already tipsy balance, Britt dove forward and stabbed Excalibur at Maleagant’s foot, wedging it in between the armor covering his foot and his ankle.
She didn’t prick skin, but it hurt enough to make Maleagant fumble again. Britt jumped from the crouch she was in, using all her force to slam Maleagant in the helm with Excalibur’s pommel.
Maleagant’s head snapped backwards, and Britt helped him lie down by pushing on his chest with her forearms.