Merlin sighed. “You foolish boy, there you go changing more minds with your pretty speeches. Arthur, are you certain that you are not forcing yourself to follow a legend that hasn’t yet been made?”
Although the knights around Britt looked confused, Britt understood what Merlin meant. “I am positive. This is what I want, Merlin.”
“It would be easier to run you if you were a dunce,” Merlin grumbled, glancing at Lancelot. “What say you, only son of King Ban?”
Lancelot stared at Britt for several long moments. Britt thought she saw something stir in his eyes, but it disappeared when Lancelot pumped his fist in the air. “I stand with Arthur. Honor and chivalry to all!”
“Then we will stay, and we will drive off Maleagant with just us, a small band,” Merlin said, grimacing.
“I will face Maleagant again. Beating him is not the issue, driving him off is another matter,” Britt said.
“Of this I am aware,” Merlin said. “Thankfully Maleagant’s army might be raised, but it is not too close to Camelgrance. If we can frighten Maleagant enough to make him flee to his army I don’t think he would dare return, not if we convince him that he cannot defeat us.”
“And how do you propose to do that?” Sir Kay asked.
Merlin grinned wickedly. “Through trickery.”
“I still don’t see why I couldn’t ride Llamrei,” Britt complained as she rode her borrowed charger across the open span between Camelgrance and the surrounding forest.
“Llamrei is not a charger. She is trained to flee at the first sign of danger and bring her rider to safety,” Sir Kay said.
“So that’s why you prefer I ride her when we’re around Camelot. She won’t attack like Roen, she’ll just carry me off,” Britt said, looking down at Sir Kay, who was walking shoulder to shoulder with her horse.
Sir Kay grunted and did not respond.
“I’m impressed you managed to bully Merlin into letting you come instead of him,” Britt said.
“He is needed to make the second part of the plan work, and he would raise Maleagant’s suspicions as he reeks of magic,” Sir Kay said.
“I’m not saying I disagree with you, just that I was surprised it worked,” Britt said.
“Merlin knows he would not be as much help to you as I in this case. He knows little of armor and even less of fighting. He would not make a proper squire.”
“Kay you are not here to act as my squire, you are here to speak so I don’t have to,” Britt protested.
Sir Kay shrugged. “If that is what you think, My Lord. Prepare yourself, for we draw close.”
Britt checked to make sure her helm was in place as she and Sir Kay stopped between Camelgrance and Maleagant’s camp.
A knight from Maleagant’s forces stood at the edge of the camp while men madly scrambled behind him. “Who goes there?” he called.
“Tis the White Knight, the champion of Camelgrance. He wishes to know why you have not departed,” Sir Kay said.
Britt twisted in the saddle to look at Camelgrance. Based on the amount of noise radiating from the castle, the soldiers standing guard had sent word to Leodegrance.
“Where is he?” a raspy voice roared.
Maleagant stormed out of his camp, wearing his armor but not a helm. “You!” Maleagant snapped, thrusting a finger in Britt’s direction.
“The White Knight wishes to say that he was told you promised to leave should a champion beat you, Duke Maleagant,” Sir Kay said, his voice steady and reflecting no emotion. “As he trounced you, he desires to know why you are still here.”
“I was not beaten,” Maleagant said, his nostrils flaring.
“Being that the White Knight knocked you to the ground and held you helpless, he wishes to know what your definition of beaten is as it does not match common expectations,” Sir Kay said.
From behind the veil of her helm Britt stared at Sir Kay. “Kay, what are you doing?” she hissed.
The ground rumbled as Camelgrance’s portcullis was raised. King Leodegrance and a squad of his soldiers left the castle.
“Champion!” King Leodegrance called, his face pinched in the gleefulness of his expression. “Thank Heaven you have returned.”
“When I gave my ultimatum I meant that I must be defeated in a joust, not a mere swordfight.”
Britt’s blood turned cold. What?
“The White Knight wishes to know if knocking you off your horse will actually count this time, or if he needs to strip all weapons from your person and tie you up in order for you to admit defeat,” Sir Kay said.
“Kay!” Britt hissed, barely audible over Maleagant’s roar. Maybe she would have been better off if Merlin had come instead of Sir Kay after all.
“Prepare yourself, for I will run you through,” Maleagant promised when he finished shouting. He turned and stalked back into his camp. “Where are my horse and my lance?” he demanded.
“It is to be a joust this time then? Splendid, is a fence necessary or will you two be able to run at each other?” King Leodegrance asked, rubbing his hands together.