Merlin shook his head. “You are not going with them.”
“Yes I am. I want to see the Round Table,” Britt said, folding her arms across her belly.
“You cannot. Not only would it be asinine to send a king on a scouting trip, but looking at the round table would mean getting into Camelgrance, King Leodegrance’s castle.”
Britt leaned into Merlin and whispered. “You just made me welcome the man I hate most on Earth in any century and his cousins into my castle. I. Am. Going.”
Britt sank back into her chair as Merlin raised an eyebrow. “Very well, I suppose I should let you win occasionally. Besides, I doubt there’s much danger if we head out immediately.”
“We’ll call a meeting after dinner?”
“Yes, of course.”
“My Lord,” Lancelot said, making Britt stiffen. “My compliments on your bountiful table.”
“Yes, it’s certainly a good thing that it is bountiful,” Britt said. Her gaze did not waver from Lancelot, and his cousins continued to eat with great enthusiasm.
Lancelot laughed. “I must say, My Lord, I find your kingdom both unusual and beautiful. I have never met folk half as clean nor well fed as the subjects of Camelot. ‘Tis a charming kingdom, and all can see that you have the blessing of your faerie neighbors. They guard your forests and do mischief on your enemies, leading them astray in the woods and such.”
“Perhaps, but I think lately they have failed in that area,” Britt said.
Merlin choked on his wine and gave Britt a dirty look, but Lancelot did not catch the implied slight and laughed.
“Careful with your words,” Merlin growled.
Britt smiled triumphantly. “Always.”
“Ywain and Gawain should come. Gawain has become quite adept in combat, and Ywain will never allow us to bring his cousin and not him,” Merlin said, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his robe.
“The younger Orkney princes will remain behind,” Sir Kay said.
“Naturally. This isn’t an outing, it’s a scouting party,” Merlin said.
“You will be the one to tell them they are remaining behind,” Sir Kay said.
Merlin grimaced. “Fine,” he said.
“When we split into two groups Gawain and Ywain should travel with My Lord,” Sir Bodwain said. “My Lord will be able to keep them safe.”
Britt snorted. “I fear you over estimate my abilities, Sir Bodwain.”
Sir Bodwain shook his head. “You are the best swordsman in all of Camelot, and your jousting has much improved since last year. You do not give yourself enough credit, My Lord.”
Next to Sir Bodwain, Sir Bedivere nodded in agreement.
Britt gave the pair a pained smile before looking to Merlin in a plea for help.
The wizard avoided Britt’s gaze.
“If you say so,” Britt finally said.
When Britt first came to England Sir Bodwain, one of Merlin’s star Minions, tolerated Britt. He had no belief in her combat skills or her intelligence. His opinion of her changed greatly during the war with Lot. Now, however, Britt couldn’t help but wish he retained some of his disbelief.
Sir Bedivere’s reaction was not a surprise as he always had a saint-like belief in Britt. He was the only knight in an administrative position who did not know the truth of Britt’s gender and origins. His estimation of Britt was already undeservedly high, but when Britt broke off an enchantment Queen Morgause—her one time enemy and now her pigeon correspondence pen pal—had cast over all her men, Bedivere’s esteem of Britt reached uncomfortably new heights.
“Kay and I will ride with Arthur’s party,” Sir Ector said, slapping his pot belly.
“No,” Britt said. “You will remain behind, Sir Ector.”
“What, what?” Sir Ector said, his round face wrinkling with the force of his frown.
“Arthur is right,” Merlin said. “Someone needs to stay with Sir Ulfius and see to the administration of Camelot. As Kay has insisted on coming along, you are the natural candidate, Ector.”
“I say, that’s not fair,” Sir Ector grumbled. “Why does Kay get to go?”
“Because he asked first and held a sword to my throat as he did so,” Merlin said.
Sir Kay smoothed his mustache to cover his pleased smile.
“With the addition of Gawain and Ywain we still should send one more Knight with My Lord,” Sir Bodwain said.
“Do you have any suggestions?” Merlin asked. “And no, Bedivere, we cannot bring Griflet. We will have enough untrained knights to watch the way it is.”
Sir Ector scratched his dry scalp. “Shall you take another one of your men, Merlin?”
Merlin shook his head. “With Bodwain, Bedivere, and Kay out of the castle you will need all the help you can get. My… associates will remain behind to aid you and Ulfius.”
“Who else is gifted in arms and combat?” Merlin asked.