“Perhaps. How far have you chased this beast?”
“From my castle. I have sought it my entire life, although it often eludes me. It roams Britain like the winds. I lost its trails some days ago.”
“But?”
Pellinore laughed as he dismounted. “You are odd but just as sharp as Merlin. I lost its trail, but I am not much enthused by the prospect of returning home. To say my wife was not pleased at my departure would be a vast understatement.”
“I see.”
“What has dragged you from the paradise of Camelot, King Arthur?” Pellinore asked as he led his horse to the river’s edge, letting it drink.
“A small party of knights and I are on our way to Camelgrance.”
“King Leodegrance’s lands? I received word that Duke Maleagant is approaching his borders. You aim to help him?”
“Partially. We mean to spy on Maleagant’s forces so we know what army I must amass. King Leodegrance does not know of our party for we mean to keep things secret,” Britt hesitated. “Would you care to join us?” she asked on a whim.
“Come with you to Camelgrance you mean?”
“Yes.”
King Pellinore thought for a moment before a smile broke the stoic look on his noble face. “I would be delighted! Does Merlin ride with you?”
“Naturally,” Britt said. “Has your horse drunk its fill? I can lead the way to our camp.”
Pellinore looked at his mount, who stopped lipping the water and shook like a dog. “She is well. Lead on, Arthur!”
Britt led the way back to camp, calling when she grew close enough, “Merlin, Sir Kay? I have brought us another companion.”
Kay looked up from the logbook he was writing in, and Merlin almost choked on the carrot he was chewing. “King Pellinore, welcome to our camp,” Merlin said.
“It is my honor. King Arthur spoke of your mission to scout Maleagant’s forces,” King Pellinore said.
“If it pleases you, Sir Bodwain, Sir Bedivere, Sir Kay, and I would like to hear your thoughts on our plan,” Merlin said.
“It would be my pleasure,” King Pellinore said, joining Merlin at the nearly burned out campfire.
Britt watched with a fond smile before she took a squashed, stale piece of bread from Gawain to serve as her breakfast.
“I don’t understand, is King Pellinore not your enemy?”
Britt glanced at Lancelot, who joined her at the camp edge. She gave him a false smile. “He was when he joined King Lot and fought against me, but I have since made peace with him. He is noble and quite likeable—something I cannot say of all who are present.”
“You are kind to your enemies,” Lancelot said. “You include Prince Ywain and Prince Gawain in your company when they are the sons of men who sought to kill you.”
Britt tried to act serene instead of snapping at Lancelot that for King Arthur it was really his best friend and wife he had to worry about than the sons of his onetime enemies. “Both Sir Ywain and Sir Gawain have proven their loyalty to me. I have no reason to question them for I know their allegiance is boundless.”
Lancelot frowned. “My father was once forced to flee his kingdom by Claudas. I do not know if I could treat Claudas as you have treated King Pellinore.”
Britt fixed a smile as sweet as poison on her lips. “Perhaps that is why the Sword in the Stone chose me,” she suggested. “If you’ll excuse me, I must prepare for our day.”
“Of course, My Lord.”
Britt thought nothing more of the conversation, and it would have surprised her to learn that Lancelot, on the other hand, dwelled upon it for a long time.
A few more days of riding brought Britt and her knightly escort to King Leodegrance’s lands.
“This is where we part,” Merlin said, swinging his spindly legged horse to address Sir Bodwain. “You take the main company and scout Maleagant’s camp. Sir Kay, Sir Gawain, Sir Ywain, Sir Lancelot, King Pellinore, King Arthur, and I will move ahead to Camelgrance. We will meet at the mill south of here this evening.”
“As according to our plan,” Sir Bodwain nodded. His horse pranced a few steps until he stood directly in front of Britt. “Good luck, My Lord. God’s speed and safety,” he wished, bowing from the saddle.
“I look forward to your return, My Lord,” Sir Bedivere added. Behind him the remaining knights of Camelot bowed their heads in reverence.
“Thank you, I wish you luck with your part of the quest,” Britt said.
As Sir Bodwain and Sir Bedivere rode off, leading the larger party of knights east, Merlin turned to the remaining group. “Now then, we set out on a ridiculous quest to break into our ally’s castle to look upon a nasty table. We must go incognito, which means we shall have to leave behind some of our equipment,” Merlin said, staring at Britt and Llamrei.