“I do not understand all of what you say,” Sir Kay said. “But he is crafty. Make no mistake, My Lord. You cannot let your guard down with him, even with your distaste.”
“What makes you wary of him?”
“He is too well spoken and too well liked. Although he is scant months older than Gawain he has the presence of a full knight and is not easily cowed. If he was the idiot he appeared to be he would not last a month adventuring in Britain.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Think, Britt. Would Ywain or Griflet last long in the wild?” Sir Kay said.
“No,” Britt finally said.
“He chatters to cover his observations. Please, be careful, My Lord.”
“Alright. You have never steered me wrong, I will watch my step with the dull Sir Lancelot. Ah, here we go,” Britt said as the trees started to thin.
In the dusty, pink glow from the horizon, Britt could see tents were still pitched in front of Camelgrance.
“They are still there,” Britt said, not entirely surprised.
“The portcullis of Camelgrance is down again, I think,” Kay said, squinting in what little light was available.
Britt sighed. “I didn’t think he would take his defeat well.”
“What do you mean to do?”
Britt glanced at her supposed foster brother. “What do you mean? I thought I was getting packed up and sent back to Camelot today whether I wanted to leave or not.”
“You are king, My Lord,” Sir Kay said.
Britt watched smoke rise from a campfire near the tents. “I would like to speak to Merlin and see what he advises. If Sir Bodwain and our reinforcements will not arrive for awhile I don’t like the idea of leaving just yet.”
“As you wish, My Lord.”
“Sir Kay, thank you,” Britt said. “I know I put you through a lot, but I am truly thankful for your support.”
“It is my honor, My Lord.”
“Is it really? I know the way Arthur, the real Arthur, abandoned his duties hurt you. I’m sure you would rather be going through this with him than with me,” Britt said. “He was your foster brother.”
“And you are my foster sister,” Sir Kay said. “Both of you are dear to me. I am truly happy to serve you, Britt.”
“Thank you, Kay.”
“I don’t like it,” Merlin declared from the back of his spindly legged horse.
“What part of it?” Britt asked, patting Llamrei on the neck as Merlin wove his horse between the trees at the edge of the forest and peered out at Camelgrance.
“All of it,” Merlin said, waving his hands at the camp. It was mid morning, and even from the forest one could see Maleagant’s knights walking through their camp.
“Duke Maleagant is a dishonorable knave,” King Pellinore said. “There is not much one can do to correct such a character flaw so late in his life besides beating him soundly and muzzling him like a mongrel.”
“You have seen his kind before, have you?” Britt asked.
“They are unfortunately common,” King Pellinore said.
“What will you do, My Lord?” Sir Gawain asked.
Britt smiled at the quiet knight. “I’m not certain. What are your thoughts, Merlin?”
“Wash your hands of Leodegrance and be done with it,” Merlin said, driving his horse back into the woods. “You gave him an exit. He obviously did not push back against Maleagant hard enough or that pig would have left last night.”
“You are so accepting that we will lose an ally and quite possibly see another war?” Britt asked, following Merlin as he made for their camp.
“King Leodegrance must live with the consequences of his inaction. He survived before you were crowned king, Arthur. Besides, you have other allies now,” Merlin said, his eyes briefly falling on King Pellinore and then Gawain.
Britt offered Gawain a tense smile when the prince looked to her.
They returned to camp in silence.
“Hail, My Lord. What have you decided?” Sir Bodwain asked.
Britt dismounted Llamrei as Merlin announced, “We are leaving. King Leodegrance has ruined himself. It is good that Sir Bodwain rallies the army for we will need to protect our borders when Leodegrance caves and gives his daughter to Maleagant.”
Britt started packing with the rest of the knights, listening to Merlin speak.
“You think it will be war, then?” Sir Kay said.
“Perhaps. At the very least there will be a threat. You can bet as soon as Leodegrance is cowed King Ryence will muster another army. If we are ready for them it is likely they will not attack us. Maleagant is a cheat, but King Ryence is just as cowardly as King Leodegrance.”
“I shall ride home and prepare an army of my own to back you,” King Pellinore said.
“This isn’t your fight, Pellinore. King Ryence was once your ally, I will not pit you against him,” Britt said.
Pellinore shook his head. “My Anglesey is closer to Camelot than Leodegrance’s Camelgrance. We are neighbors, if they try to march against you they will march against me as well.”
“I will ride forth and alert my father and uncle to the threat,” Lancelot said. “They will aid you, My Lord.”