Britt had to focus on training with the lance and spear—as inept with them as she was—so she could be mistaken as a passable knight. She didn’t have enough time to train with the bow as well.
“Then let us schedule a hunting party for a fortnight from now,” Morgause said, her beetle eyes glittering.
Britt tried to swallow, but her mouth felt as dry and chalky. “You will have to speak to Merlin, first,” she said. “I’m not sure how he would feel about hosting festivities.”
“Do you do anything without his permission?” Morgause challenged.
Sir Kay shifted until his hand rested on his sword, but Britt shook her head at him, her gaze momentarily flickering to the knights of Camelot who stared at Morgause with devotion. How could they stand there like that?
Britt took a step towards Morgause, ignoring her desire to sneeze when Morgause’s cloying lily perfume swamped her senses. She was taller than Morgause, the height difference was highlighted as Britt drew closer to her. “I don’t often do. What of it?”
Morgause took a step back under the intensity of Britt’s gaze, and Britt shifted her lips until she was tightly smiling. “Ask Merlin,” she advised before stalking towards the castle keep, barely aware of Morgause’s four sons who watched her leave.
“This is hopeless,” Britt said as she leaned on her bow and gloomily stared at the target she was supposed to be aiming at.
Sir Kay smoothed the corners of his mustache as he thoughtfully stared at Britt’s arrows. All of them were ringed around the outside of the target, a feat that would normally be praised if it weren’t for the fact that they were less than a stone’s throw from it.
Britt itched her right eyebrow. “Why did Merlin want me to even try archery? I thought our goal was to make me into a passable knight so I could joust should there be a demand for it?”
“That is the goal, but Merlin was hoping you would prove to be as natural with a bow as you are with a sword,” Sir Kay said, retrieving the arrows.
“I’m not a natural with the sword, I worked hard to get to the level I’m at and I started when I was appallingly young,” Britt said, crouching down to pet Cavall.
Sir Kay grunted in approval as he placed the arrows in a quiver. “Try again,” he advised.
“I’m getting worse the longer we practice. Why doesn’t Merlin just tell Morgause to stuff it and go home if she wants a hunting party?”
Sir Kay thoughtfully looked at the sky. “I think he’s hoping to use her.”
“For what purpose? A hostage?”
Sir Kay shook his head. “Character development.”
“Character development? What, are we in some time period romance now? Forget character development, the woman is a cougar in all meanings of the word.”
“My Lord?” someone shouted.
Britt whipped around and watched Gawain and Agravain ride up on their horses. Gaheris and Gareth followed in their wake on ponies.
“Hello men, enjoying an afternoon ride?” Britt asked, smiling for the boys’ sake.
Gawain pulled his horse to a halt near Britt and Sir Kay. “Yes, My Lord,” he said.
“We were looking for you!” Gaheris excitedly said, bouncing in the saddle as his pony trotted towards Britt.
“Gaheris,” Agravain groaned.
“What?” Gaheris asked.
“Merlin told us where you went,” Gareth said, clambering off his pony’s back.
Both Gawain and Agravain blushed as Gareth and Gaheris threw themselves at Britt and then at Cavall.
“I apologize, My Lord. Their manners aren’t what they should be,” Gawain said, the tips of his ears turned red as he dismounted and bowed to Britt.
Britt laughed. “They’re children. It’s a joy to see their enthusiasm,” she said, watching the boys cuddle her long suffering mastiff.
“Merlin said you were practicing archery,” Agravain said.
“We were,” Britt confirmed, turning to Sir Kay.
Sir Kay gravely bowed. “We have since finished.”
Britt smiled in thanks to her seneschal and retrieved Roen from the patch of clover he was grazing in. “Would you like to ride together for a bit?”
“Yes!” Gaheris and Gareth shouted as they hurried back to their ponies.
“If it would please you, My Lord,” Gawain said.
“Sir Kay, will you join us?” Britt asked as she swung onto Roen’s back.
Sir Kay was frowning. “I have work to complete, and your guards should accompany you.”
“We’ll stay in sight of the castle. Besides, if you come with I have no need for guards. Please?” Britt asked.
Sir Kay sighed, his shoulders heaving. “Very well.”
Britt shot Sir Kay her brightest smile. “Thank you, Sir Kay,” she said before whistling. “Cavall come. Who would like to lead the way? Agravain?”
Britt leaned against the battlements in Camelot’s walls as she stared at the night sky. An owl hooted, and Britt could hear the crickets chirp in the fields outside the castle. All the lights were out in the commoners’ area of Camelot and in the farm houses built just outside the walls, but the moon was bright and Britt could see quite clearly in the darkness.
“Milord.”