“Gawain—please stand. I can’t crouch with you on the ground with this wound and I’m starting to get a crick in my neck. Much better,” Britt said when the young man stood. “Gawain, I don’t care about what is within my rights. You will be a great knight, I can tell. I want you to be a victorious hero and triumphant warrior. I want you to go on and do great things so everyone knows how wonderful the princes of Orkney are. I trust you, and I trust your brothers. You have my faith and love for life, Gawain.”
Gawain blinked rapidly in the flickering light. “Thank you, My lord,” he said, sounding choked. He knelt again briefly and kissed Britt’s hands before standing. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said, his voice cracking before he fled.
Britt watched him go, feeling bemused.
“Yet another young man you’ve won for life. I’m impressed, you wield words as effectively as you wield your sword,” Merlin said before gesturing at Britt’s guards. “Shoo, all of you, scat. I shall deliver your dear king to his rooms when he is done pacing like a maniac. Go on, get. Yes, all of you. Shoo!” Merlin said, herding the guards down the stairs.
Britt grinned at the enchanter as he ruffled his robe—which he had donned once again—and joined Britt.
“I don’t think it’s so much pretty words as it is that they are starving for someone to tell them how great they can be,” Britt said.
“It could be,” Merlin nodded. “All the same, the fact is I have never seen anyone use respect and affection like a weapon. Well done.”
Britt glanced down at Cavall, who seemed as calm and tranquil as ever. “Cavall… he, he’s trained to attack, isn’t he?”
“He was trained as a guard dog by the kennel master, yes. Kay had him specially trained to attack when anyone threatens his owner,” Merlin admitted.
Britt shook her head. “All this time I thought he gave Cavall to me because I needed a friend, but he’s just another guard,” she said, her eyes burning.
“Use your head for a moment, lass, and think,” Merlin said. “The beast fetches an over glorified rag for you. He does all matter of strange requests and bears the ungracious children you inflict upon him. As much as I am at loathe to admit it, he is more than a guard, Britt. He is your dog, just as faithful and adoring of you as Ywain or Gawain. If he attacks it is because of his love for you.”
Tears fell from Britt’s eyes as she placed her hand on Cavall’s head. The mastiff panted as he looked up at her with teddy bear eyes. “Thank you,” she said to both Cavall and Merlin.
Merlin leaned on the wall and looked out. “It’s calm and peaceful up here.”
“It is,” Britt said. “Thank you, Merlin, for saving me today.”
Merlin nodded and said nothing.
“Why don’t you want people to know what you’re really capable of? All this time I’ve been mocking you and…,” Britt trailed off.
Merlin thoughtfully stared at the stars. “If people knew what I was capable of, they would be terrified of me. I must admit, I thought you would be frightened. Far and few between are the mortals who can do what I can do. I would rather accomplish my goals by the use of wits and intelligence than by inflicting Britain with my powers and making all tremble at the thought of me.”
It was Britt’s turn to nod and say nothing.
Merlin suddenly turned to her. “Don’t misunderstand me, lass. I can’t pull off that kind of flashy show very often. I’m all tapped out for now and probably won’t be able to perform even a scrap of magic for a few days, so don’t you go thinking you can call on me to roast your enemies whenever you need me to.”
Britt shook her head. “No, Never! I. I agree with you. Instead of wars or massacring people I would rather accomplish my goals with pretty words and gaining of loyalties.”
Merlin laughed. “That’s just a fancy way of saying wits and intelligence,” he grinned.
“Maybe,” Britt said.
Merlin plopped down so his back was against a battlement. “I should introduce you to Blaise.”
“He’s the hermit who raised you, right?”
“Correct. He would love you. He likes clever things even more than I do,” Merlin chuckled, patting the ground beside him.
Britt slowly lowered herself to the ground with several painful winces. “Tell me more about him, please,” she said, shifting into position.
“He’s a regular fiend with words, and he quotes Holy Scriptures nonstop,” Merlin dryly said, pulling another laugh out of Britt.
They sat together, shoulders and legs brushing, swapping stories late into the night, laughing over Merlin’s recollections of his childhood. Britt let the clever enchanter speak. Recalling Blaise and some of his less than stellar moments seemed to ease the tension in his shoulders, and it was warm and wonderful to sit next to him like she was someone he cared about—really cared about—instead of being his hand puppet he tried to control.
“Britt,” Merlin said shortly before dawn.
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”