Free The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris

spite of all Kai could say."
    "Kai didn't like it?"
    "He says he's not keen on giving weapons to someone who just a few months ago looked to be starting a rebellion."
    "Well, that's a fair point, I'd think," Terence said.
    Gawain shrugged. "Maybe, but it was pretty clear that Kai's real reason was that he doesn't like Mordred. I must say, Mordred took it pretty calmly, too."
    "Mordred was there? In the war council?"
    Gawain nodded. "A little irregular, I know, but he'd begun the negotiations, after all."
    Terence nodded, but he couldn't help wondering if Arthur was granting Mordred so much trust only because he so desperately wanted him to be trustworthy. Somehow it didn't seem enough to believe something was so just because you wanted it to be so. But two days later even Terence was surprised at the extent of Arthur's trust in Mordred. That morning, the king announced that since England was at complete peace, it was time for him to make an overdue visit to the lands under his rule in northern France, in Brittany. He, the queen, the council, and most of his court would spend several months there, and in the king's absence England would be under the charge of Mordred and Sir Bedivere.

The Battle of Windsor
    The party that set out for Brittany a week later was much larger than usual, and several of those who went with the king would have given much to stay behind. Among those were Kai, Sarah, and Terence.
    Brittany, on France's northwestern coast, had belonged to the kings of Britain for as long as anyone could remember. It had often been neglected by those kings, but King Arthur tried to rule all of his lands with equal care, even those that lay across the sea. He had appointed an honest Breton governor and made a point of visiting Brittany himself as often as possible. But those delegations had usually consisted of the king, Sir Bedivere, and an honor guard of a dozen or so knights. In his absence, Arthur had always left Kai in charge of Britain, so his change of plans this time surprised everyone. Not only was he leaving England in the hands of a youth who wasn't even a knight yet, but he specifically named Kai, Gawain, and Terence among those who would go to Brittany with him.
    Kai was livid and, in private, argued vehemently against leaving Mordred in charge, even with Bedivere at his side. "You know Bedivere, Arthur," Kai protested. "He's too trusting! Especially of young knights! He's soft!"
    "Why do you think I chose him?" was all the king would reply.
    For her part, Sarah had seen the king's journey to France as her chance to get away from Alexander and had begged his permission to go along. But the emperor had thwarted these plans in the simplest way: by announcing his decision to accompany the king to Brittany as well.
    As for Terence, he was more than ever convinced that he ought to be watching Mordred, but he said nothing to the king until the night before their departure. It was late evening, but the midsummer sun was still above the horizon when Terence happened to glimpse a movement on the north tower. Having for the moment lost track of Mordred, Terence climbed the tower stairs to see who was there. It was King Arthur, standing alone at the turret, examining the lush landscape before him.
    "My liege," Terence said. "Forgive my interruption."
    "It's all right, Terence," Arthur said. "Looking for Mordred?"
    Terence had to smile ruefully. "Yes, actually. Am I that obvious?"
    "Not to everyone, I imagine. But to me, yes. You see, I also am keeping an eye on him."
    Terence raised one eyebrow. "Are you suspicious of Mordred?"
    "I have no reason to be," the king replied evenly. "Have you?"
    Terence swallowed. "No," he said at last. "Nothing I could explain. Call it a feeling. I just sense that he's not to be trusted."
    "An opinion you share with Kai, it seems," Arthur said drily.
    Terence nodded, and for a long moment they looked together at the fields below, glowing red in the blush of the setting sun.
    "Terence," the