Untitled Read Online Free Page A

married royal new­ lyweds, and the court functionaries worked diligently to quash any gossip that suggested otherwise.
       Arthur listened, smiling grimly. "Good old Lancelot. Deny him what you will, he is consistent. And what about visitors? Has anyone suspicious come or gone?"
       Brit scanned the remainder of the report. "Apparently not. A pair of French trading ships docked in the harbor but unloaded their cargo and left within a day. That is all."
       "We need a navy. The French use our ports at their con­ venience, and we can never do much about it."
       "Can we afford one?" Merlin asked. "Ships are expen­ sive. Sailors expect to be paid, and we have none with any real experience. And heaven only knows where we'd find a naval architect in England."
       "We have tin and silver mines, remember?" the king said. "If need be we can raise our prices. And sailors can be found. Europe is full of them. We're an island nation, Mer­ lin. We need a fleet."
       For a moment everyone fell silent. Merlin scanned the re­ port and smiled a satisfied smile. "So there is trouble in para­ dise. Does it occur to you that we may not have to act at all?"
       Arthur took the report and stared at it. "What do you mean?"
       "She couldn't keep up her marriage to you. What makes you think this one will last?"
       "She is still my wife, repudiate me though she may. And she is laughing at me, she and her whole court. I know it. And when word of what she's done spreads through Europe—"
       "Let her laugh. She is still isolated. She still needs money. So she has exchanged vows with the man she has been fornicating with for years anyway. Not much has changed that I can see. Let us bide our time."
       Brit snorted derisively. "She's still a traitor. So her trea­ son is weak. What of that? I still say we should have im­ prisoned her the moment we got the news."
       But Arthur, following Merlin's counsel, was still reluc­ tant to move against her.

    Several days later a huge storm blew up from the south Atlantic and strafed England with ferocious winds, drench­ ing downpours and even hail. The entire country came to a full stop for days before the storm finally moved on to rav­ age the Continent.
       Camelot leaked in enough places to cause mild alarm; the household staff were kept busy placing pails and pans to catch the water. Arthur's majordomo, Simon, a Yorkshireman, said he was worried that parts of the castle might actu­ ally collapse; but he was an alarmist and no one took him seriously. Once the storm passed it took nearly a week for the country to recover and for the flood waters to recede.
       Just as things were returning to normal at Camelot a soldier arrived from the coastal fort at Dover. He had ridden nonstop to reach the castle, and he was taken directly to report to Britomart. She in turn decided the news he brought was important enough for the king.
       And so Arthur, Merlin and Brit gathered still again in the king's study. Because of all the damp weather Merlin's arthritis was bothering him. "I hope this is important. Those damned stairs . . ."
       "You won't be disappointed." She smiled. "I think we may have the information we need."
       "About Guenevere?"
       "Quite possibly."
       Arthur had been in a quiet mood, but this perked him up. "We know what she's up to?"
       "We have a good idea now."
       The soldier, whose name was Martin of Cokesbury, made his report, prompted now and then by Brit. "Martin, will you please tell King Arthur and Merlin what you told me?"
       "Well." He drew himself up as tall as he could, hoping it would make him seem authoritative. "You know this storm we just had."
       "Yes, of course." Merlin was impatient. "What of it?"
       "The storm wreaked havoc on the Dover coast. Fishing boats were lost. Houses and other small buildings were toppled by the wind. And several ships ran aground.
       "One of them was foreign—like