“Sir Kay, it’s good to see you. How did Camelot manage in Merlin’s absence?” Britt asked.
“Are you not concerned with how it managed in your absence, My Lord?”
Britt chuckled. “We both know who the real leader is, Kay. Let’s not bother to pretend otherwise.”
“I wanted to warn you, My Lord. Queen Morgause means to make a request of you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. She wants to go—,” Kay cut himself off when across the courtyard Morgause appeared.
“Arthur, you’ve finally returned home!” Morgause called, extending her arms as she walked towards Britt.
Britt hastily filled her arms with saddle packs to avoid the embrace and coughed when Morgause’s perfume hit her like a wall. “Morgause, you look lovely as usual.”
“My Lord, how you exaggerate,” Morgause said.
“Hah!” Merlin said as he passed behind Morgause with his horse.
Morgause shot him a glare before she smiled at Britt again. “I have been wasting away without you around to entertain me.”
Britt looked past Morgause at the crowd of knights who trailed her like bees. “Somehow I very much doubt that you were without company in my absence.”
Sir Bedivere, who stood a few paces from Morgause, stared at the Orkney queen with calf eyes. He didn’t appear to register that Britt stood in front of him, much less that she had returned.
All of the knights with Morgause were much the same. The commoners of Camelot had gathered in the streets and cheered for Britt, the servants had warmly welcomed her home. But her knights? They were too enamored with Morgause to notice Britt.
Morgause smiled playfully. “Jealous?”
Britt thoughtfully stared at Morgause until the queen’s smile fell from her face and the stately lady looked away.
Britt turned to face the knights of her procession, still holding saddlebags.
“My Lord, allow me to lighten your burden,” Griflet said, approaching Britt with the intent to take some of the packs.
Britt shook her head. “I appreciate the thought, Griflet, but you haven’t recovered from your injuries yet.”
“My Lord,” Griflet protested.
“Ah, see? It turned out fine anyway,” Britt said when a servant lunged to take the packs from her.
Griflet sighed and grumbled under his breath. Britt grinned and affectionately ruffled his hair. “I thank you all the same,” she seriously told him.
“Young Griflet, you were hurt?” Morgause said, placing a hand over her heart, her face filling with horror.
Griflet sketched a bow. “T’was nothing, My Lady,” Griflet said before swiveling back to Britt. “I am better now,” he insisted.
“Your courage is impressive, Griflet, but I’m sure you must be sore from riding with your bruises and scrapes. Will you go see a healer—for my mind’s ease if not for your sake,” Britt said.
“As you wish, My Lord,” Griflet sighed.
“Griflet,” Morgause called, but the young knight was already gone, limping his way to the castle keep.
Britt wanted to shout and do a victory dance around Morgause. For once she had won and Morgause had lost the battle for favor. Britt couldn’t help the wide, smug smile that curled across her lips. “Shall we go inside? I must admit I could use some refreshments,” Britt said, planning to slip away with the excuse of needing to wash up when she got inside.
Morgause narrowed her eyes as she watched Griflet limp out of sight. “My Lord,” she said suddenly. “I have a request to make.”
Britt hesitated. “Yes?”
“In celebration of your return home I ask that a hunting party would be thrown.”
Britt froze and rolled her eyes until she could see Sir Kay. Her foster brother grimly shook his head. She scanned the crowd for Merlin, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“As honored as I am by your request, I doubt this is the best time to host such a party. I have been gone from Camelot for some time, I’m sure quite a bit of work has piled up.”
“It has, My Lord,” Sir Kay helpfully added.
“I foresee that I will not have much spare time in the next week. I don’t believe I could leave Camelot for an afternoon, much less a day,” Britt said, making her excuse as believable as possible.
Britt wasn’t entirely certain what a hunting party entailed. She knew it meant men rode out on horses with hounds and hunted for game, using bows or spears depending on the quarry. Women occasionally went with to serve as spectators or they had hunting parties of their own with trained hawks and other birds of prey.
King Bors and King Ban had tried to organize such an event before. Merlin, Kay, and Britt had all agreed it was not wise for Britt to join the festivities. She had never picked up a bow in her life, much less fired one while riding a horse. She would be a laughing stock if this deficiency was discovered, and Kay ominously predicted that the party would be a dangerous place for her.