I doubt that. I don’t often like your brand of news. What’s up?”
“The heavens, of course. But that is not what is important, it is this: both King Bors and King Ban have agreed to be your allies! They are already in Britain. They are marching through London with 300 knights, and they have left an army of 10,000 horsemen across the sea.”
“10,000? With our 20,000 we will have half the army Lot has,” Britt said. “Didn’t he have 50,000 mounted men and another 10,000 foot soldiers?
Sir Kay nodded.
“Yes, but we have a great deal more knights than Lot has. I believe if we employ stealth and other effective strategies we will win,” Merlin pronounced.
Britt squinted at the wizard. “You’re going to go get the 10,000 horsemen, aren’t you?”
“I am. You and the rest of our men from Camelot will march to our fortified camp and prepare for war.”
“You’re just going to let me prance off into a war? What about protecting your project?” Britt asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Sir Kay assures me you are a more than competent swordsman, and you will have Excalibur with you.”
“So?”
“The scabbard of Excalibur is enchanted. Whoever bears Excalibur and the scabbard will not die from bleeding out.”
“Blood loss is the only worry you have for me?” Britt said.
“No, not at all. But you’re far more valuable to Lot and his allies alive than you are dead. You will not die on this battlefield,” Merlin shrugged.
“How comforting.”
“Sir Ector, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, Sir Bodwain, and Sir Bedivere will be with you. I will meet you at our camp.”
“Alright. Good luck,” Britt said.
“To you as well. And Britt,” Merlin said, reaching out to place his hand on Britt’s cheek, forcing her to look at him. “Be safe. I have great confidence in you. You will do well while I am gone.”
The wizard’s usage of her real name was not lost on Britt. “I’ll try,” she smiled.
Merlin lightly cuffed Britt’s cheek. “That’s a good lass. Right then, I’m off. Enjoy your ride,” Merlin called over his shoulder before he hurried to the stable.
Sir Kay and Britt watched Merlin mount up and ride off through Camelot before the lanky knight turned to Britt. “If all is as Merlin says we had better get you properly acquainted with Roen.”
Chapter 6
Negotiating with Hostages
During the preparations for war Britt mostly felt…useless. Sir Kay was busy buying and arranging for provisions for the newly raised army, and was unavailable for swordplay, jousting practice, or their regular afternoon ride. Sir Bodwain and Sir Bedivere organized the troops that poured into Camelot, and Sir Ector was almost always answering a correspondence sent by bird from Merlin, King Ban and King Bors, or any of the other army leaders.
Their departure from Camelot was rather sudden. Sir Ector received an urgent letter from one of the camp leaders, and within the day they were out.
“Can someone please explain to me why we are hurrying like my grandparents when they’re late for a fish fry?” Britt asked, briefly standing up in her stirrups to relieve the strain on her rear.
Roen was a much smoother ride than the bay mare, but Britt still wasn’t accustom to riding for hours.
“It’s military matters, Sire,” Sir Bodwain said.
“Why don’t we just tell the boy? He is King, he should be informed,” Sir Ector argued.
“Arthur is King, but it is Merlin who must make the decisions,” Sir Bodwain said.
Sir Bedivere frowned. “I do not think that is how it is supposed to work.”
“Gentlemen, unless you want me to turn Roen around and ride back to Camelot please inform me what has you all in a tizzy,” Britt warned as her black horse arched his neck and neighed.
“Some of our men have captured Ywain, the heir of King Urien,” Sir Ector said.
Britt briefly pinched the bridge of her nose. “King Urien, he’s Lot’s brother-in-law, yes?”
“Indeed. His wife and Lot’s wife are
“The heavens, of course. But that is not what is important, it is this: both King Bors and King Ban have agreed to be your allies! They are already in Britain. They are marching through London with 300 knights, and they have left an army of 10,000 horsemen across the sea.”
“10,000? With our 20,000 we will have half the army Lot has,” Britt said. “Didn’t he have 50,000 mounted men and another 10,000 foot soldiers?
Sir Kay nodded.
“Yes, but we have a great deal more knights than Lot has. I believe if we employ stealth and other effective strategies we will win,” Merlin pronounced.
Britt squinted at the wizard. “You’re going to go get the 10,000 horsemen, aren’t you?”
“I am. You and the rest of our men from Camelot will march to our fortified camp and prepare for war.”
“You’re just going to let me prance off into a war? What about protecting your project?” Britt asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Sir Kay assures me you are a more than competent swordsman, and you will have Excalibur with you.”
“So?”
“The scabbard of Excalibur is enchanted. Whoever bears Excalibur and the scabbard will not die from bleeding out.”
“Blood loss is the only worry you have for me?” Britt said.
“No, not at all. But you’re far more valuable to Lot and his allies alive than you are dead. You will not die on this battlefield,” Merlin shrugged.
“How comforting.”
“Sir Ector, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, Sir Bodwain, and Sir Bedivere will be with you. I will meet you at our camp.”
“Alright. Good luck,” Britt said.
“To you as well. And Britt,” Merlin said, reaching out to place his hand on Britt’s cheek, forcing her to look at him. “Be safe. I have great confidence in you. You will do well while I am gone.”
The wizard’s usage of her real name was not lost on Britt. “I’ll try,” she smiled.
Merlin lightly cuffed Britt’s cheek. “That’s a good lass. Right then, I’m off. Enjoy your ride,” Merlin called over his shoulder before he hurried to the stable.
Sir Kay and Britt watched Merlin mount up and ride off through Camelot before the lanky knight turned to Britt. “If all is as Merlin says we had better get you properly acquainted with Roen.”
Chapter 6
Negotiating with Hostages
During the preparations for war Britt mostly felt…useless. Sir Kay was busy buying and arranging for provisions for the newly raised army, and was unavailable for swordplay, jousting practice, or their regular afternoon ride. Sir Bodwain and Sir Bedivere organized the troops that poured into Camelot, and Sir Ector was almost always answering a correspondence sent by bird from Merlin, King Ban and King Bors, or any of the other army leaders.
Their departure from Camelot was rather sudden. Sir Ector received an urgent letter from one of the camp leaders, and within the day they were out.
“Can someone please explain to me why we are hurrying like my grandparents when they’re late for a fish fry?” Britt asked, briefly standing up in her stirrups to relieve the strain on her rear.
Roen was a much smoother ride than the bay mare, but Britt still wasn’t accustom to riding for hours.
“It’s military matters, Sire,” Sir Bodwain said.
“Why don’t we just tell the boy? He is King, he should be informed,” Sir Ector argued.
“Arthur is King, but it is Merlin who must make the decisions,” Sir Bodwain said.
Sir Bedivere frowned. “I do not think that is how it is supposed to work.”
“Gentlemen, unless you want me to turn Roen around and ride back to Camelot please inform me what has you all in a tizzy,” Britt warned as her black horse arched his neck and neighed.
“Some of our men have captured Ywain, the heir of King Urien,” Sir Ector said.
Britt briefly pinched the bridge of her nose. “King Urien, he’s Lot’s brother-in-law, yes?”
“Indeed. His wife and Lot’s wife are
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