Page 55 of The White Knight

My eyes never leave Maleagent, though I am saying a silent thank you to Elaine. Not that her interjection has likely helped the situation before me, but she has given me a moment to calm down.

Before I can respond, Maleagent continues his rant. “So then, if I were to dishonor King Arthur in front of his men, I would get the same response?”

“If you show any dishonor toward my king and queen, you will be punished as I see fit,” Kei explains.

A villainous smile breaks out on Maleagent’s face, ignoring Kei and looking straight into my eyes. “Does the king enjoy watching you plow his wife, or perhaps he joins in, the both of you filling your whore of a queen?”

That last statement sends a panic of ice through my veins, but I melt the panic with my rage. I remove my hands from the hilt of my sword and slam my hands onto the table. “Our king invited you to our Unity Tournament because he seeks peace and a stronger, unified Britain. But all you seem to want to do here is divide and conquer. I will not allow it. You will answer for your slanders on the dueling ground. And King Arthur himself will place judgment on you after I have defeated you.”

Maleagent rolls his eyes and glances at Mordred, who looks slightly frightened. Even he is shocked by the words Maleagent so boldly let fall from his lips. “And what if I defeat you, Sir Lancelot?”

“That will not happen.”

Kei helps boost my claim. “Sir Lancelot, the White Knight and Chancellor of Camelot, hasneverlost a sword fight. He has defeated twenty foes on his own. Killed a dragon. Fought against demons in unknown lands. When he wields his sword, it is as if God himself is grasping the hilt, landing each blow with purpose. You will be lucky enough to survive to receive your judgment from King Arthur.”

“Then at least give me a week to prepare myself,” Maleagent says with less confidence in his voice. His friends have slowly backed away from him. Even they think he has gone too far. Elaine just shakes her head.

“No.” I pause, staring into his eyes. “We meet first thing in the morning at the main arena.”

I do not give him a chance to respond. Turning on my heels, I head directly for the castle. But before I make it to the other end of the alehouse, I can hear Elaine call Maleagent a “stupid, arrogant man.” I cannot just leave Elaine. Seeing her with Mordred would have been shocking had I not known she was a spy. It still was a shock. Turning quickly back around, I shout to Elaine. “Come with us, now. We have to talk about the company you keep.”

“I am only having a drink with my fellow countrymen. Is this not what our tournament is for? Unity?” She glares at me, but I can tell it is for show. I hide a smirk that tingles in the corner of my mouth.

“Now, Elaine.”

She lets out a dramatic huff, then begrudgingly gets up and steps in time between Kei and me. The role of spy suits her well. Even I am left with a dull feeling of doubt about her loyalty. Arthur trusts her, I remind myself.

Chapter 34

Lancelot

I wake up withGuin in my arms. Her dark copper curls are the only blanket covering my naked body. She was so angry with me for initiating a duel with Maleagent. Supposedly, I kill him in one of the King Arthur stories she has read. Good. I cannot wait. I have been dreaming of ways to torture him since he dishonored Guin at the opening of the tournament.

But I will play fair today. I will defeat Maleagent in an honorable duel. When I am victorious, Arthur will place judgment on him. If Arthur decides the bastard must die, I will gladly thrust my sword into his chest. I clench my fist at the thought of getting to fight him in just a few hours.

I had hoped to fight Mordred in the games. The day we were due to fight, he claimed to be sick. Coward. It is hard to believe this man is Arthur’s kin. He is nothing like my king. Nothing. Mordred is cruel, vile, selfish, and power-hungry. With Maleagent by his side, their hate and selfishness are poison. A poison I will cure today.

Guin stirs above me, likely feeling my chest pounding with excitement, fear, anger. Delicate fingers brush up along mytorso, gliding against my jawline, turning me toward the forest that is Guin’s eyes. How I wish to get lost there, every day, all day, for eternity. “Don’t go,” she whispers. “Please, Lance. It doesn’t feel right.”

“Perhaps it does not feel right because it is not supposed to happen. Is that not what we are trying to do? Change what happened?”

Guin lets out a long sigh. Her breath tickles the hair on my chest, making my skin ignite in gooseflesh. I want nothing more than to bury myself deep inside my wife, but I know she is tired. It is early yet, and she had gotten out of bed a few times to empty her bladder throughout the night. And sometimes, her stomach. Even though she says she is all right, that she was worse in the early months carrying Galahad, I still worry. Our child is growing inside her belly. I will never stop worrying.

I roll into her, placing my palm on her stomach, imagining the child within. “Do you think it is a girl or boy?” I whisper into her forehead, giving her a soft kiss.

“I haven’t really thought much about the gender. I just can’t wait to meet our child. To see you hold such a little thing in your arms.”

I smile against her forehead and pull her against me so that every inch of our flesh touches. Whenever we are this close, I swear I can feel magic of our own pulsing through our bodies. “If we have a girl, I would be terrified.”

“Why?” Guin asks, nuzzling my neck and tracing my collarbone with her soft lips.

“Because I know what thoughts run through a man’s mind, and I do not want such thoughts to be made about my daughter. I am afraid I would kill any boy who looks at her.”

Guin’s laughter shakes the mattress beneath me. She pushes me over on my back and launches herself on top of me in astraddle. “And what thoughts are running through your mind right now, my love?”

“Mmmmm. Do you really want to know?”

“No,” Guin leans down so that our lips barely touch. “I want you to show me.”

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