Free Embark (King Arthur and Her Knights Book 4) by K. M. Shea Page A

adult—being in her early twenties—Britt was satisfied to say that her crush on Merlin was not the all-consuming, dramatic passion of a teenager, which meant she could live with it. Britt was content to act as King Arthur—treasuring her few moments with Merlin—and live with her new friends and adopted family.
    Britt slapped dust off her thighs and looked to the jousting field. “If Sir Bodwain is still jousting I should watch a match,” she said, craning her neck.
    Behind Britt there was a sharp, whistling noise and a thud.
    “ MY LORD !” someone shouted, and Britt was hit by what felt like a train.
    Britt groaned and coughed, the air knocked out of her.
    “Sorry, My Lord, are you unhurt?” Sir Ywain asked, peering dolefully down at Britt, even as he held her pinned to the ground.
    “Ywain,” Britt coughed. “ What are you doing?” she asked, barely audible over the womanly screams of shock and the hoarse shouts of several knights ringing around her.
    Ywain didn’t answer and looked over his shoulder.
    “Arthur!” Sir Ector said, using his jolly belly to bulldoze his way through the crowd. “Are you alright, boy? Are you injured?”
    “I’ve been flattened,” Britt said, wincing as she tried propping herself up on her elbows. “What happened?”
    “Arthur,” Merlin said, his faced lined with worry as he and Sir Ulfius joined Sir Ector and Ywain. “It missed you—thank God.”
    “ What missed me?” Britt asked, starting to grow irritated.
    “A stray shot,” Sir Ywain said, finally moving aside so Britt could see the arrow that was embedded in the ground a few feet away.
    “It was a near miss,” Sir Ector said, his face white.
    “We should have taken the threat more seriously. Can you stand?” Merlin grimly asked.
    “I’m fine,” Britt said, rolling to her feet when Ywain moved aside.
    “Move!” Sir Kay snapped before he—led by a panicked Sir Griflet—broke through the crowd that encircled Britt.
    Lancelot was only a few paces behind him. “My Lord!” he said, his voice dramatic.
    “I’m fine,” Britt repeated for her incoming foster-brother’s sake. “I wasn’t hit, just a little jarred. There’s no harm done,” Britt said, brushing grass off.
    “I apologize. I didn’t get to you until after the arrow was shot, but I worried there would be more,” Sir Ywain blushed.
    Britt slapped Ywain on the shoulder. “There’s nothing to apologize for. Instead I should be thanking you. It was a smart move.”
    “Aye,” Sir Kay echoed.
    “It is a lucky thing it missed you,” Lancelot said. “To think, it came so close!” The knight shook his head—the image of horror—and could only be consoled by several ladies who gathered around him to reassure him.
    “It’s one of the practice arrows from the archery range,” Sir Ector said, plucking the arrow out of the ground. “I don’t think it’s poisoned tipped. What do you say, Merlin?” Sir Ector asked, passing the arrow to Merlin.
    “I’ll have to take it to my study to be certain, but it does not seem that it is,” Merlin said, gravely studying the dirty arrowhead.
    “What should we do, Sir Kay?” Sir Ywain asked, looking to stormy seneschal.
    “Get Arthur inside. I’ll have a squadron of guards meet you in the keep,” Sir Kay said, his voice tight.
    “Don’t you all think you are over-reacting?” Britt asked. “Someone at the archery range probably just misfired.
    “My Lord, the archery range faces the opposite direction ,” Sir Ulfius said.
    “Oh,” Britt said.
    “Whatever black-knight that did this shall be caught! He will pay for his misdeed against King Arthur,” Lancelot declared, and was generally ignored by those closest to Britt.
    Kay was already talking to a guard—who nodded as the knight gestured at the crowd. Merlin and Sir Ulfius were hunched over the arrow, carefully studying it.
    “Better do as Kay says and go inside, Arthur,” Sir Ector suggested.
    “But—,” Britt