Sleepless Knights by Mark Williams

Author:Mark Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atomic Fez Publishing
Published: 2013-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

III

Geraint took the goblet back from me and held it up to the light.

“Trouble is, Miss B, there’s no way of telling a Cup of Shame from an ordinary goblet until an unfaithful lover drinks from it. And by that time, well, it’s all academic, isn’t it? But listen, you know the Queen better than anyone, apart from the King. She’s got nothing to worry about on that score, has she? I mean, granted, that time the King was away sorting out the Giant business, she and Sir Lancelot did seem to be getting, well, closer, but —”

“If it is cursed then it has no place in Camelot, Geraint. That is my bottom line. It should also be yours.”

“Miss B, if I’ve ever said so much as a hint of a bad word against the Queen, then you can kick my arse from here to Annwn. But that doesn’t change the fact that people talk. If Mordred’s looking to ignite a scandal, then something like this goblet could do more harm than any Scorch Cloak. Point is, you’ve got to be careful. Alright, let’s say for argument’s sake it is a Cup of Shame, and we confiscate it. All Mordred will do is put it about that the Queen’s got something to hide, then the rumours just get worse, and then — well, I don’t want to go there, truth be told. No, I can’t see any way around it, except to let things take their course. The Queen’s got nothing to be ashamed of, so what’s the worst that can happen?”

“It is a potential security breach, Geraint, and I do not want it near the Queen, full stop. What if we were to swap it for another, identical goblet?”

“No, I don’t reckon that’d work. Mordred seemed to hint that he’d know if it was tampered with; made a big deal about its ‘unique ancient craftsmanship.’ At the time I thought it was just more wind, but that must’ve been what he was getting at — warning me, like, in case I decided to switch it.”

“OK then… What if I swap it after it is given it to the Queen, but before it is filled with wine for the toasts?”

“That might work. The toasts won’t be ’til later… You’d be serving at the High Table anyway, and Mordred will be on the Round Table. If the old switcheroo was made fast enough… You’ll have to be very quick, mind, he’ll be expecting something like that.”

“Can you make me a copy by this evening?”

“Aye, I reckon I could. It won’t pass muster close up, but it should fool him at a distance.”

“Then I will call in for it later.”

“Righto. Leave it with me, Miss B. If I’m not here, I’ll stash it in the bottom drawer of my worktable, out of sight.”

†

Even before leaving Geraint and the Gatehouse, I could hear the noise of the crowd. I made my way along the outer walls, past the Castle and down towards the tournament ground, chants and cheers rising and falling on the summer breeze.

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