Britt kicked Maleagant’s sword away, placed her foot on his right wrist, and let the edge of Excalibur rest near a slit in Maleagant’s helm.
King Leodegrance, realizing Britt wasn’t going to talk, spoke for her. “Do you yield to my daughter’s champion, Duke Maleagant?” he eagerly asked, leaning forward off his horse.
Maleagant struggled, roaring with anger instead of replying.
Britt used her foot to kick Maleagant’s arm away from his body—still pinning it to the ground, before pressing Excalibur into his unprotected armpit.
Maleagant finally stilled, although Britt could tell he boiled with anger. His armor heaved up and down as he breathed inside his armor like a murderous dragon.
“I yield,” Maleagant snarled.
Chapter 5
A White Knight
Britt prodded him in the arm pit, letting Excalibur’s sharp tip poke the padding that leaked out under Maleagant’s pauldrons before she stepped back.
Some of Maleagant’s knights ran to their lord’s side, helping him stand even though he kicked at them.
“Now remember, Duke Maleagant. You said you would leave should a champion best you,” King Leodegrance eagerly said, satisfaction lining his voice and face. One could hardly tell a few short minutes ago he was close to sniveling.
Duke Maleagant roared in reply, sounding very much like an angry boar.
Britt retreated to her horse, looking for Merlin and Gawain in the joyful crowd. (Lancelot could rot for all Britt cared.)
Soldiers and subjects alike cheered, clapped, and shouted, making it very difficult to pick anyone out of the crowd.
Britt happened to glance at Guinevere and froze. The princess’s gaze was fastened on Britt. She wore a sickly sweet smile, and her eyes were big and dreamy.
Sensing she ought to make a hasty exit—as much to avoid further confrontation from Maleagant as to avoid getting cornered by Guinevere—Britt mounted her white horse, throwing herself on in an ungainly manner.
She turned the horse towards the distant forests—intending to meet up with her knights rather than return to Camelgrance, which was going to be a deathtrap now. She was just barely within shouting distance when she heard Guinevere call, “Wait, Sir Knight!”
Britt heeled her horse and clung to the saddle as the charger jolted into a canter, swiftly carrying her away.
When she reached the forest Britt checked over her shoulder. No one had followed her. “That’s a miracle,” Britt muttered, directing her horse into the woods. “Although I suppose Leodegrance would ignore me. He doesn’t know I’m Arthur,” Britt said as she wove around trees.
In a few minutes Britt reached the small enclosure where Britt’s company previously pitched their camp. There were still signs of their stay, but there weren’t any horses or gear in sight.
“Where did they go? Merlin said a few knights returned with Sir Bodwain, but at the very least Kay should be hanging around,” Britt said.
Britt’s horse pawed the ground. “Maybe Merlin and Gawain have made it to the edge of the forest by now,” she said, turning the horse in a neat circle before directing him back in the direction they came from.
Rather than follow the same trail, Britt took her mount through a different part of the forest. After all, who knew if Guinevere would beg Leodegrance to send soldiers after her? Britt was so intent on reaching the edge of the woods that she almost missed it, a glimmer of metal among the trees.
Britt halted her horse. “If I’m careful I can investigate it,” she decided, changing directions.
The glint was sunlight bouncing off a shield that was tied to a post.
There was writing on the shield. Britt couldn’t read it, but when she spotted a small pile of shields arranged nearby she could guess what it said. “PELLINORE,” she shouted. “PELLINORE!”
“How do you know my name, mysterious knight?”
Britt whipped around to find Pellinore at her back, dressed in armor and holding his horse’s bridle.
“Although it matters not. If you wish to fight me I will not attempt to talk you out of it. Be warned, though, for I am a fierce warrior,” King Pellinore said.
“What? Pellinore, it’s me,” Britt said, briefly fumbling with her armor so she could remove her helm.
“Oh, Arthur. I am glad to see you are back. Whose horse are you riding?” Pellinore asked, relaxing his stance.
“Never mind that, what does the writing on the shield say?” Britt asked.
Pellinore avoided Britt’s eyes and tucked his chin against his neck.
“Pellinore, what does it say?”
“Whoso smiteth this shield doeth so—,”
“Pellinore,” Britt groaned.
“Your foster brother, Sir Kay, has taken your knights and ridden around Camelgrance these past two days. He asked me to remain behind to watch your equipment and mounts. What was I to do? I had to amuse myself somehow,” Pellinore said.
“I suppose it could have been worse. At least you didn’t run off after the Questing Beast,” Britt sighed. “Where is Kay now?”