“The boons, Arthur,” Merlin said as he reclaimed his chair.
“Of course,” Britt said, pitching to her feet. “To start the festivities I wish to announce those whom I would have directly serve me. First of all I bequeath on my foster brother, Sir Kay, the title of seneschal of the realm. Of Sir Ulfius—a steadfast knight belonging to my deceased father—I ask that he serve as my chamberlain. The great and wise Merlin I do request to be my counselor, and Sir Bodwain of Britain I name as constable,” Britt finished. She glanced at Merlin before she added in a rush. “Finally I ask Sir Bedivere to serve as marshal.”
Britt sat down in her chair as the people murmured and gossiped among each other. Merlin had never instructed Britt about assigning a marshal. She only knew it was a necessary job because she overheard Merlin quarreling with Sir Ulfius over who should be assigned to the position.
Merlin growled under his breath about pert lasses, but he did not seem to be as furious as Britt thought he would be.
Britt didn’t know what possessed her to name Sir Bedivere as her marshal. It was an impulsive act, but she wanted to repay the knight for his loyalty.
Sir Kay stood only to kneel on the ground. “I thank you, my King, for your great generosity. It would be my honor to serve and protect you.”
Sir Ulfius and Sir Bodwain—also fully expecting their positions—knelt as well.
“I will serve you for the rest of my life, my King,” Sir Ulfius said.
“You are my lord and liege. Thank you, my King,” Sir Bodwain said.
Sir Bedivere scrambled to his feet. “I-I thank you, my King,” he said, clearly shaken in comparison to the other men.
“We will talk about this later,” Merlin muttered to Britt.
“You don’t like my choice?”
Merlin narrowed his eyes at her, making him look hawkish, before he stood and declared. “I will live to serve King Arthur!”
Chapter 4
The Lady of the Lake
“Furthermore, I am your counselor. The very title implies you ask me for my opinion before you do anything at all.”
“I don’t think—,” Britt started.
Merlin ignored her and continued. “In this case God was merciful and you assigned one of the best knights in the realm to an appropriate position, but don’t think that will always happen! One must rely on good sense and logic, not luck,” he said as he spread a bedroll on the ground.
“If he’s one of the best knights in the realm why didn’t you try to recruit him earlier?” Britt asked, kicking at a log that had rolled from the firewood stack.
Sir Kay had gathered enough wood to burn their fire for a week. They were only camping out for the night—on their way to a blasted lake to get another sword—but Britt had decided over the months that Sir Kay was the Boy Scout type. He was not merely prepared, he was set.
“Because he’s young and green, and he hasn’t a spot of land to his name. I went after men of influence, not legends that make maidens misty eyed. But that is not the point,” Merlin said.
“Look, Merlin, I get it. I’m not supposed to do anything without your permission except breathe. I KNOW. You’ve been harping on about it since we set out two days ago. Can you give the topic a rest yet?”
“Have you learned your lesson? I think not.”
Britt grumbled and looked to Sir Kay, who was busy scratching away in some sort of logbook. Britt wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing, but whenever she tried to interrupt him Merlin threw a hissy fit. Sir Ector was there as well. He was already passed out on the far side of the fire, softly snoring.
“I am not saying you are an imbecile incapable of making decisions—you handled Lot quite well. It is merely that you still do not understand all the ways and customs of this kingdom in spite of my efforts to educate you,” Merlin said, settling down on his blanket. “Tomorrow you must be respectful. The lady we are going to visit is not one of my allies, she is of the faerie. The faerie do as they please and side with no one.”
“I’m going to sleep. Good night,” Britt said before turning her back to the fire and pulling a thin blanket up to her shoulders.
Merlin poked around the fire for a bit longer, muttering the remaining chastisements he intended to give Britt, before he also turned in. Britt listened to Sir Kay rustle papers as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Several hours later Britt bolted upright. Fear grasped at her throat, and her heart pounded in her ears as she heaved gulps of air and stared at the fire.
It was a nightmare. Britt couldn’t remember what about, but the terror that burned her heart and gnawed at her stomach felt too real to ignore.
After a few moments Britt relaxed and glanced around the makeshift camp. Sir Kay—she was startled to see—was watching her. When he was satisfied she was well he closed his eyes, propped up by horse packs.