But this was a performance, he reminded himself. Their alliance was valuable enough for her to hide her true feelings. She spoke as he did— formally, prettily, and with caution.

What he needed was time alone with the princess. So that they might drop the pretense and get to know each other truly. There was always a chance that he would find her to be a charming, brilliant ally, with similar interests and a sense of humor as alluring as her bosom. And that she would find him equally wonderful.

“May I give you a tour of the castle?” he suggested. “We have an excellent library, if you are fond of such things.”

“I’m afraid I’m not much for books,” the girl said politely.

“How about gardens?” Arthur inquired, hiding his disappointment. “Ours are thick with lavender this time of year, and all manner of fascinating herbs.”

“Perhaps another time, when the weather is more temperate,” she said disinterestedly.

Arthur tried to think. Did girls play chess? He couldn’t remember. Riding? No, that was too forward, and she’d been traveling all day. And he dared not invite her to join him for a game of cards. This really was impossible.

He should have arranged something. A romantic picnic, perhaps, or a theatrical performance. But he’d been too nervous to plan a date with a stranger. And now he had nothing, other than an overwhelming urge to laugh at his own stupidity.

“You should show the princess the royal vault,” suggested King Uther. “I suspect she’ll find it most illuminating.”

Arthur’s shoulders tensed. Anything but that.

“Why?” the girl asked curiously. “What’s in the vault?”

“Nothing,” said Arthur, at the same moment his father replied, “The sword Excalibur.”

CHAPTER 24

Lance wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow and raised his longbow. The afternoon was scorching, and Captain Lamarc was punishing them all with a double session of target practice.

Some of the boys had gone to an alehouse on Sunday, and Tristan had wagered badly at a game of dice. When none of the guards could lend him the coin to settle his debt, he’d been stripped naked in payment. Of his uniform.

Lance, who was on gate duty, had pretended not to notice as the guards smuggled Tristan back into the barracks wrapped in Percival’s cloak and nothing else. The next morning, everyone who had been at the alehouse requested a single replacement piece of their uniform, hoping to hide Trist’s problem.

It had been a good plan, but it hadn’t worked. The captain had found them out immediately, and had been furious at the situation.

“What would happen,” Captain Lam had growled, his graying whiskers twitching with fury, “if an enemy of the crown got their hands on a royal guard’s uniform?”