Free Queen of the Summer Stars by Persia Woolley

back to Ireland?”
    Tristan blinked in surprise and gave a puzzled nod.
    “In whose name did you kill him?” Gawain demanded.
    “Why, in Arthur’s, of course.” Tris shook his head slowly. “My uncle let me fight for the High King this year to make up for past absences…I’ve been Arthur’s man this whole summer. You know that, Gawain.”
    “Marhaus was brother to the Irish Queen,” Gawain said pointedly, turning to address the now silent Hall. “Well placed and highly thought of, he might have gained the throne someday. Won’t they now look to Arthur for vengeance?”
    “Well, I don’t know…maybe, I suppose,” Tristan stammered. Clearly he was not used to considering the consequences of his actions and he turned to Arthur uncertainly. “I did do the right thing, didn’t I?”
    The High King smiled and nodded gravely. “Of course you did, Tris, and you’ve won our admiration by this display of strength and courage. Marhaus was the finest warrior in Ireland, and an honorable man besides.” Arthur paused and looked firmly at Gawain. “I do not think anyone could mistake a life lost in fair combat for a murderous attack which would call for vengeance.”
    I glanced quickly at the redhead. It was my friend Pellinore who had killed King Lot in the Great Battle, and though Gawain had sworn fealty to Arthur, he harbored a son’s hatred for his father’s slayer. From time to time Arthur had to remind his nephew that blood-feuds would not be tolerated among the Companions.
    Gawain took the message sullenly but left off baiting Tristan, and Arthur went on as though nothing had happened, inviting the two men from Cornwall to stay with us over the winter. Dagonet led them to a pair of empty seats behind the circle of the Round Table while Riderich picked up his harp and turned our attention to the ancient, well-loved stories of prowess and glory.
    Looking around the gathering, I thought how much it had grown since that first meeting just last spring. The camaraderie was much the same, the pride and pleasure of men who had fought side by side and were alive to tell the tales. Whether they had come because of Merlin’s promise or Arthur’s growing reputation as a leader, they were here in all their diversity. Well known and recently met, I scanned their faces and wondered how we would all fit together.
    My eyes lingered an extra moment on the dark features of Lancelot, and he looked up, startled, as though I had touched him. He met my gaze briefly, then abruptly looked away.
    ***
     
    Whatever the Breton might bring to the Round Table, I didn’t think I’d like it.

Chapter V
     
    The Lieutenant
     
    No one had been sure, back when Arthur first proposed it, whether mounting our warriors on horseback was a good idea. But in two years the Companions had developed into light, fast-moving cavalry units that were immensely effective against the raid-and-run tactics of our enemies. By now they had honed their skills in the field and were glad of the chance to show off before the townspeople. So everyone in Silchester gathered at the amphitheater on the second day of the celebration—no doubt it was the biggest crowd since the days of Roman circuses.
    Lancelot gave a dazzling display of horsemanship and when he was finished he came to join us, sitting down next to Arthur without waiting for an invitation. I complimented him on his riding and received a cold, haughty nod in response before he rested his chin on his hand and commenced studying the activity below.
    After a bit he turned to Arthur. “Might be a good idea to hold tournaments of this sort on a regular basis—use them to keep the men and horses in trim over the winter.”
    Arthur was immediately intrigued and I turned away, furious that this stranger who snubbed me should feel free to counsel my husband like an equal.
    “You’d think he was Arthur’s lieutenant, the way he’s moved into Bedivere’s place!” I fumed as Brigit combed out my hair