“Arthur! I am delighted to have such a close ally protecting Camelgrance, it is good fortune that you brought your army with you,” King Leodegrance said, riding up to Britt with a greasy smile.
“Of course,” Britt said, lying through her teeth.
There was no army.
While Britt fought Maleagant and distracted everyone Merlin and the rest of the knights were busy planting shields, swords, and any piece of reflective metal they had in the forest. (There was a small hoard thanks to King Pellinore’s obsession with jousting and taking shields from those he defeated.) The small group of fifteen knights then carefully planted themselves in three different groups, spreading out and doing their best to fade into the forest to give the illusion that were more of them than there really were. Kay’s horse, Merlin’s horse, and Llamrei were used to bulk up the numbers. The forest was far enough away that when placed in the back no one would be able to tell that those particular horses were without riders.
Not, of course, that they were going to tell Leodegrance any of this. Who knew how the idiot would run his mouth to Maleagant.
“Will you stay with us for a time? I am sure Camelgrance cannot match the magnificence of Camelot, but I would like to express my gratitude. Have you met my daughter, Guinevere? You must have or you would not have acted as her champion,” King Leodegrance said.
“I and a small group of my knights would take pleasure in remaining at Camelgrance for the night,” Britt said as Kay signaled to Merlin and the others that all was well. “And yes, I have met Lady Guinevere, although I must correct you. I acted as Camelgrance’s champion,” Britt said, politely bowing from the saddle to Guinevere.
Gone was Guinevere’s sappy smile. Instead she looked perplexed as she studied Britt.
“Of course, of course you must claim so. I will not pretend to understand young love. Come inside, we must feast and toast to your win,” King Leodegrance said, turning his back to Britt to cut off her objections to his statements.
Britt frowned and looked at Sir Kay.
“You said it was for the people, not their ruler,” Sir Kay reminded her.
“I know. I just wish the ruler would leave me out of it,” Britt muttered, following Leodegrance into Camelgrance.
Chapter 6
Going Home
“Are you sure you require no more assistance, My Lord?” Gawain asked, setting aside the last of Britt’s armor.
“I’m sure. I must apologize, I did not mean to make you act as my squire for this trip,” Britt said, wincing as she flexed her left arm.
“I am aware of that, My Lord. But it is my pleasure to serve you any way I can.”
“Thank you, Gawain,” Britt said.
“You’re welcome, My Lord,” Gawain said, bowing before he slipped out of the room.
Britt groaned as she started struggling out of the padding she wore under her armor. Her muscles ached, and getting down to her loose underclothes made them burn again.
Someone knocked on the door. “Arthur,” Merlin said, opening the door. He shrieked a little when he saw Britt was still struggling out of the padding and slammed the door shut.
Britt wrenched off the last of the padding. “There’s no need to be squeamish, Merlin. I’m still wearing clothes,” Britt said, using a leather cord to pull her hair back in a perky ponytail.
Merlin didn’t reply, and Britt heaved her eyes to the ceiling and shook her head as she slipped on a doublet and buttoned it up. It wasn’t her padded one she normally used to flatten out her chest, so her female body showed, but Britt didn’t care. Her sides ached horribly, and Britt wouldn’t be expected to join in the festivities for at least half an hour to an hour. She could wear whatever she pleased as long as Merlin and Kay were the only ones who saw her.
There was a knock on the door again. “Merlin, I already told you to come in,” Britt said, turning to face the door.
It opened, and Britt was shocked to see Guinevere instead of Merlin staring back at her. When Guinevere’s eyes widened as she gaped at Britt, Britt realized her mistake.
Britt swore under her breath, but she was even further shocked when Guinevere stepped into the room and shut the door behind her.
“I thought it was odd that you wouldn’t give me your proper attention,” Guinevere said, approaching Britt. She placed her hand on Britt’s cheek, feeling her smooth, feminine skin. “Now I know why.”
“What do you mean?” Britt asked, her mind scrambling. Perhaps she could knock Guinevere out and find Merlin and have him cast some sort of memory spell on her?
“You are a woman. I have never met a man who is not attracted to me, except for you. I thought perhaps you already had some sort of lover—there are rumors about you and the Lady of the Lake you know—but this makes even more sense,” Guinevere said. She smiled. It was the winning one she used whenever she tried to sway a man’s mind. “Take me with you, or I shall tell my father what you really are.”