Britt’s armor and clothes were liberally embroidered with the image of a red dragon. Even Llamrei had a red dragons with its wings thrown open embroidered on her saddle blanket and burned into her leather tack.“What?” Britt blinked.
“You couldn’t have chosen less obvious equipment?” Merlin scolded.
“You were the one who declared my symbol would be a red dragon and went crazy decorating all my things with it,” Britt said.
Merlin rolled his eyes. “Either way, we will have to part with any equipment that bears a personal symbol. Someone shall have to remain behind with horses and things to make sure they are not plundered by thieves,” he said, eyeing Ywain.
The young knight violently shook his head. “Not I, I’m staying with My Lord,” he informed the wizard.
Merlin narrowed his eyes. “Would you like to bet on that?”
“I will remain behind,” King Pellinore said. “King Leodegrance and I are not on excellent terms. It would be better for the party if I remained away from Camelgrance.”
“Are you certain, King Pellinore?” Britt asked. “I did not ask you to come with us so you could serve as a hostler.”
King Pellinore dismounted. “Of that I am sure. Do not concern yourself with me, Arthur. I do not desire to see Camelgrance, but I would not mind routing any thieves or recreant knights in the area,” he said with a fiendish grin.
“Excellent, we thank you for your cooperation, King Pellinore,” Merlin said before he too dismounted. “We shall enter Camelgrance on foot in the plainest clothes we have.”
“What?” Sir Ywain squawked. He wore a suit of fancy armor, intricately designed and completed with a large, red plume on his helm.
“Yes, Ywain, you shall have to change out of your odious armor,” Merlin said.
“You wish to avoid detection,” Gawain guessed.
“A handful of foreign knights would at the very least raise interest, if not suspicion,” Lancelot added.
“Exactly,” Merlin said.
“That sounds ideal. We’ll be able to slip into the castle keep easier if we are dressed as servants or merchants than if we pranced in as knights,” Britt said, sliding off Llamrei.
“Sir Ulfius did not know where the Round Table is kept. We will have to inquire further when we enter Camelgrance,” Merlin said.
“Is it wise to go as one group? Six strange men wandering in the inner courts of Camelgrance might raise suspicion, regardless of the station we will dress in,” Sir Kay said, stroking his mustache.
“I am astounded, Kay. For once I find myself agreeing with you,” Merlin said.
“Do not take it to heart. I am certain before the hour is over you shall change your mind,” Sir Kay said.
“Perhaps you should enter in pairs,” King Pellinore suggested, slipping his horse a shriveled carrot.
“Yes, but the question is who travels with whom?” Merlin asked, narrowing his eyes as he studied the party.
Britt was filled with a sense of dread. “Kay and I should enter together. We can truthfully say we are brothers,” Britt said, hoping to cut the wizard off.
Merlin snorted. “Such a statement would be like saying the finest destrier and a pack mule are siblings. No, Sir Kay will go with young Ywain as he is able to keep the lad on a short lead.”
“I beg your pardon,” Ywain sputtered.
Britt’s stomach plunged. “Merlin, no,” she said.
Merlin smiled sweetly. “It would be the polite thing to do.”
“No.”
Chapter 3
Scouting Fun
Britt sourly stared directly in front of her as she slumped against a stone wall. Her eyes were narrowed and her mouth was an unbecoming and deeply unpleased slant.
“It is my honor to be paired with you, My Lord. I have heard a great deal about you. I am flattered to be selected as your guard during this expedition,” Lancelot said.
Britt slowly turned her neck to stare at Lancelot, her unpleasant expression still in place.
The talkative knight did not notice. “I imagine Merlin selected me as your companion because I am the most experienced knight—having gone on many quests and adventures in my youth.”
“He placed me with you because he wants me to suffer,” Britt said through gritted teeth.
“I do not understand what you mean, My Lord.”
Britt’s features morphed into an insincere smile. “No, I imagine you don’t.”
“In any case, as we have safely arrived in the inner sanctum of Camelgrance, we should inquire after this table you are in search of.”
“Of course,” Britt said, pushing off the keep wall. Her eyes combed through the bustling castle innards. She did not see Merlin and Gawain, nor Kay and Ywain. They were likely in a different part of the castle, suffering less than her and having a great deal more fun.
Lancelot, dressed like Britt in a tunic of muted colors, waited for a few moments before he sauntered in the direction of a female servant who was struggling to carry a sack of flour.
“If I might take a moment of your time, My Lady?” Lancelot asked with an appealing smile.