Chapter 34

When Kahedin saw Tristan and Kation marching into the tavern, it was slightly late for breakfast. Tristan looked his usual blank-faced surly self, but Kation looked open and confident, taking long strides and gazing about in a direct, gauging manner. When she caught sight of him, she grabbed Tristan's sleeve and dragged him over to where Kahedin was sitting.

Kahedin marvelled at her hold over him. He was so tolerant of her every liberty with his person or feelings. Always throwing light-hearted insults his way or casually, unthinkingly shoving at him, pushing him out of her way. And he just put up with it! If anyone dared trying even a fraction of what she did, they would be gutted before they could form an apology.

"Morning!" She chirruped, stealing the apple from his plate and, without looking, tossed it over her shoulder to Tristan who deftly snatched it out of the air and took a bite.

Such a pair they made, even if they didn't know it.

"What do you want?" he asked, suspiciously watching his fellow scout. Tristan ambled over to the food and prepared breakfast for both himself and Kation, who was still leaning over the table, staring at him hard.

"I need a favour."

Why didn't he like the sound of that?

Noticing his doubtful expression, Kation smiled and sat down. "Don't worry – it's nothing sinister. I just need you to be at the tavern tonight."

"And…?"

"I need you to drink a lot and flirt outrageously with the girls."

"All of which I was planning to do anyway," Kahedin confirmed.

"Maybe Gawain and the twins can help too."

"Help with what, my little Ganymede?" Cador said silkily, sitting down next to the disguised girl.

"Just a little spy game," she replied, with an answering purr in her voice. This joking flirtation that they entertained would often get to the point where both Dinadan and Tristan would lose all patience and drag the cackling pair away to shout at them.

"Sounds enticing," Cador leaned into her space and looked deeply into her eyes. "What are the rules?"

"Flirt with any and all women who approach you. Try to lure them back to your beds if possible." Kation replied, leaning forward slightly in answer.

This sort of creepy double-layered conversation was just the sort of thing that unnerved Lancelot and Galahad, utterly confused Bors, and infuriated Dinadan beyond reason. Said twin sat down on the other side of Kation with a grunt of ill-humour.

"Enough, brother! It is too early for such nonsense."

"But the child proposes such an interesting game…" Cador whined, returning his attention to his food.

Dinadan gave a wordless, muted roar in response. "Flirting with harlots so that he might watch and learn the best skills?" he exclaimed incredulously. "Throw him to the she-wolves, I say."

"Thanks," Kation murmured as Tristan handed her a plate of food. "Master, care to explain what I am talking about?"

"There is a chance," Tristan said in a very soft whisper, so quiet that all three knights had to lean in close to hear it. "That there is a spy amongst the girls who frequent the tavern. We intend to catch her, but we need bait."

"Knights," Cador breathed, a smile of anticipation spreading across his face.

"Exactly." Kation said, suddenly completely serious. "Look out for girls who only flirt with knights."

"But they all flirt with us," Dinadan pointed out smugly.

"Yes, so look for the ones who reject soldiers or civilians," Tristan said. "If such a girl approaches you, be sure to keep her interested but don't sleep with her. Just keep her around all night. And don't talk about anything to do with our duties or Arthur."

"But hint at knowing something sensational." Kation advised. "If they try to wheedle the information from you, even if you move to another topic of conversation, then that's suspicious. Try to remember who she is, but don't seize her and throw her in the cells. That would spark outrage."

"You two are seriously twisted if you think that those lovely girls…" Dinadan began, but Kahedin interrupted.

"No, it makes sense. Conversation with a bed-partner is unguarded – and many men speak freely around those women, thinking that they know little and are even less interested in learning more."

"So can I rely on you to do this tonight?" Tristan asked seriously.

"Of course," Dinadan said stoutly. "Although I understand why you are not able to join in," he cut a sideways glance to Kation, who rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Usually, Tristan would retort with something like: 'Stuff it up a bullock.' But that morning he only silently sipped at his drink and stared down at his plate. The change in mood signalled how seriously he was taking this, and everyone wisely applied themselves to their meals, not mentioning the night's plans again. When they all dispersed to their various duties, Kation hung back to catch Vanora in a private conversation. Curious, Kahedin tried to sidle closer to eavesdrop:

"… sorry to involve you. I wouldn't if I had another choice…" Kation whispered.

"Unbelievable! You really mean that?"

"I'm not saying it for my own entertainment, Van'," was the irritable reply. "It's just that I have no idea what to do."

What was going on? Was Kation deliberately putting Bor's lover and unborn child at risk?

There was a pause as Vanora appeared to consider the (unknown) matter. "Honestly… and in the middle of a secret crisis."

"These things are rarely ever timed well – look at you," Kation said sternly. "But if they lose sight of their duties, then something has to be done."

"I agree. Now, could you help me shift some crates? I need to rearrange the winter store."

"Sure."

Kahedin followed, hopeful that they would continue to discuss the matter, but they worked in silence. Vanora was making dough while Kation reorganized boxes. For some reason, the sound of a girl grunting with the effort of shoving furniture around a room reminded Kahedin of just how long it had been since he had last heard a girl trying to get back into her dress after a night of wildly enjoyable sex with him. The thought was a sobering one. What had happened to his priorities?!

And what was worse, he couldn't resolve this problem tonight because he had been enlisted for spy-hunting by Tristan.

~oOo~

I was really regretting this… how on earth had I let this happen?!

Somehow, I had lost that aura of 'Tristan's Property, leave me alone' that kept most people away from me. Brenna, in particular, seemed to view me as some sort of younger brother – and last night had been something of a breakthrough for her. She had cornered me in tavern's kitchen and spontaneously started chatting…

"Hello Kation," she said cheerfully, putting the empty food dishes in a large tub that served as a washing-up 'sink'.

I had been studiously avoiding Tristan all day, and so had hidden in the stables, doing odd-jobs for Jols and attending to the ever-tricky Tagiytei. Now, finished for the day, I had been dismissed and decided to help Vanora in the tavern. Anything to keep out of Tristan's way. I really didn't want to be on the receiving end of his ire. It was a forlorn hope that he might have calmed down, but I clung to it nevertheless.

"How are you feeling?" Brenna continued, despite my silence.

"Well enough," I replied, still wary and not entirely friendly. After all, I was something of a paradox for poor Brenna – a foreign slave, owned by a pagan and supposedly also his lover. Oh, the horror…! I forced myself to reply in kind: "And yourself?"

"Oh, I am well. But… I was wondering if…" she hesitated and bit her plump lower lip anxiously. Oh, get on with it, for pity's sake! "Well, could I talk to you?"

"About what?"

"Well, it's just that I rather like…"

Oh. Oh no…

"Who is it?" I sighed, pausing in my cutting of vegetables to fix her with one of my flat stares.

She looked panicked at my insight. "What? But I didn't—"

"Believe, Brenna, it is obvious. You've been sighing an awful lot recently. And every so often you blush a little and then smile to yourself. Who do you love?"

She was blushing now, only this time she was a deep scarlet of embarrassment and shyness.

"Well… it's…"

"Just say it." I demanded impatiently.

"… Gawain…" she whispered, so softly that I almost missed it.

I masterfully repressed my own sigh and resumed chopping up the turnip in front of me. "And?"

"And – everything! He is just so kind, so handsome, so generous…"

Wow, someone was fan-girling big time. "Yeah, alright. I get the idea." I said hastily – I really didn't want to hear this. "So have you said anything?"

"I couldn't!" Brenna exclaimed. "I am not so bold… it wouldn't be right." Then she looked unbearably sad. "And I know my father would not allow it."

I wholeheartedly cursed patriarchal societies in my head. Women were not chattel! "Hmm," I managed – my throat tight with anger. Never mind my own feelings on romance, Brenna had a right to date whoever she wanted to! "Perhaps you ought to find ways to spend more time with him," I suggested, slyly. "Since he's so kind, perhaps you could ask him to help you around the tavern – I'm sure he'd be happy to oblige."

"I suppose… but what could he do?"

"Lift the heavy things, chop wood – it's all us men are really good for," I said with a joking grin. Brenna chuckled breathily, just the sort of noise that would make Gawain weak at the knees if she did it into his ear. But I couldn't give her 21st Century dating tips… she'd look like a harlot. The world I originated from sometimes felt very, very far away…

"I suppose I could at least ask…" she said slowly, as if still testing the idea out in her mind.

"It will do no harm either way. And you must talk to him – friendly conversation. Get to know him." I added encouragingly.

"What would we talk about?" Brenna asked, bewildered. The idea of having casual interactions with a man was clearly daunting.

"Well, if you're at a loss for words then ask him questions."

"A-alright." She beamed at me then, and I felt deeply inadequate as a woman next to this good and truthful, beautiful creature. "Thank you, Kat, you're really very kind."

Not a word I would usually ascribe to my personality, but in this case I could at least see why she might think that. And before we could really continue the conversation, Gawain had burst into the kitchen and whisked Brenna away for a dance.

Dreams really do come true. For the lucky few, anyway.

And so now, on top of trying to covertly quash a conspiracy I was being roped into the love-life of a very sweet girl, despite it being absolutely none of my business. It was also really unhelpful that she was targeting one of my most reliable allies – the last thing Gawain needed to do was fall in love. I knew he liked Brenna too, but now that I knew more of the story, I could see he was totally oblivious to the way she looked at him. He probably felt more for her than he realised, but without a serious push in the right direction, he'd never get anywhere.

And the thought that night weighed heavily on my mind. I would be at the tavern as a server, moving through the crowds and tables and monitoring the knights. After all, when faced with so many beautiful, willing young women, it was only natural that the men's collective willpower would shrivel up and die. Why do you think we didn't ask Lancelot to be part of the initiative?