Camelot's Queen

CHAPTER 4-3

“Ah, oui,” Lancelot answered with a humble smile. “Yes, gladly.”

“Excellent. Tonight at the festival, you will swear allegiance to me and my queen and take your place as a member of the Combrogi.”

Malegant scowled. He had been jockeying for that position since Arthur was crowned. He huffed away through the crowd, a bitter grudge taking shape with each step. Lancelot was proving quicker to make enemies than friends.

Lancelot stared after him. “Perhaps we did not get off to the best start,” he said as I neared.

I watched Malegant’s receding figure stalk back toward the castle.

“I think not.” I placed a reassuring hand on Lancelot’s arm and took a deep breath, trying to decide the most delicate way of saying what was on my mind. “Malegant is a proud man. He does not take kindly to correction, so you will need to be diplomatic in your dealings with him. You should be gentle in your interactions with all of the Combrogi. Brothers in arms though they may be, they eye one another suspiciously even on the best of days, so think how much less trust they have for a foreigner, especially one who begins by telling them they are wrong.”

“She is right, you know,” Arthur put in.

Lancelot nodded, apparently seeing my line of reasoning. “I fear I have painted myself a fool.”

We advanced slowly toward the great stables so Lancelot could finish his work.

“I would not say that, but it would be wise for you to try a different tack, something less chastising and more encouraging,” Arthur said.

“As you noted, they are experienced soldiers and horsemen, not green squires who do not know their way around a saddle,” I said. “In your new role, they will be forced to look up to you, like it or not, so it is important you give them a reason to respect you.” I glanced at Arthur. “We will do everything we can to help persuade them toward you.”