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Her fingers lingered on the stone surface with affection—and with fatigue. I was touched by the weariness I saw in her face.
Reaching out a hand, I laid it upon her arm. “Was there a name for the collective when they would meet here, Merlin? What was it called in my father’s day?”
It was inaccurate to continue thinking of Uther Pendragon as my father—and yet, he was the only one I had ever known in that role. The only one I could clearly remember, I corrected myself.
Merlin smiled wanly. “I cannot say I recall, Morgan. In your father’s day, this room was seldom called into use. Uther preferred to hold meetings in his own chambers. He was not really one for temple visits.”
No, that was true. Uther Pendragon tolerated the goddesses. He had not bowed to them except when he’d had no other choice.
“What would you call us, Morgan? Would you have us come up with some trite name?” Lancelet’s voice was tinged with sarcasm. The words stung, as she had meant them to. “Knights of the Round Table, perhaps? Or some other silly nonsense?”
I opened my mouth, but it was Galahad who spoke first.
“We are not all knights. Some of us are priests.” He looked at Tyre. “And priestesses.” He nodded at Merlin. “We have an apothecary among us as well. And a king’s brother.” This was to my uncle, Caspar Starweaver, bastard brother of Uther Pendragon. “As for myself... Well, I am not sure where I fit in. I am neither knight nor priest.”
“Nor am I,” I said quietly, meeting Galahad’s eyes.
He nodded and smiled slightly.
“Nor is Guinevere,” Lancelet said, begrudgingly.
“Yet knights have long been the symbol of nobility in Pendrath,” Galahad continued. “We look up to them, for they are meant to personify our most beloved ideals.”
Was I imagining it, or did Lancelet look slightly chagrined as he said this?
“Knights are to be courageous, virtuous, and chivalrous,” he went on. “They are to protect the weak and the defenseless.”
“Don’t forget loyalty to their monarch,” Lancelet said, almost despondently. She was looking down at the table with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Loyalty to the crown. Of course,” Galahad replied. “But when the monarch is a scourge of the people? When the monarch terrorizes those he is sworn to protect? Well, then I would argue a knight no longer owes loyalty to such a lord and should feel no shame in breaking their oath. As Morgan has said, Kaye is the rightful heir. The one whose throne we must protect, whose people we must serve. And with this in mind, I humbly suggest the name you facetiously posed was truly fitting, Lancelet.”
She looked up, surprise on her face.
“The Knights of the Round Table,” Galahad continued. “It is a good name. For we are all acting as knights of Pendrath. Are we not swearing to serve and to protect with our very lives if need be?”
Galahad sank back into his seat as if embarrassed for having spoken for so long. I watched as Sir Ector gave him an approving clap on the shoulder.
“I like it,” Tyre said loudly. “Let's keep it.”
“If there is no objection, I don’t see why not,” Merlin said, looking around the table.
“Guinevere is not here...” I started to say.
“It’s naive and stupid... just like all of us,” Lancelet muttered. “Perfect.” I wasn’t sure anyone but me had heard her. I hoped they hadn’t.
The group rose and began to disband. Merlin stayed close by my side, not allowing anyone to steal me away.
With relief, I watched my uncle nod at me, then slip outside.
I caught sight of Guinevere standing a little way down the corridor with Tuva on her shoulder. She leaned against a pillar, looking down at the acolyte garden below, absentmindedly trailing her fingers over the owl’s feathered head.
Lancelet brushed past me. In an instant, she had taken up a position on the opposite side of the arch, her expression terse and watchful.
“What is with them?” I murmured to myself.
“What was that, my dear?” Merlin touched my elbow.
I nodded towards the two women. “What’s going on with... you know.”
