Goddess of Legend (Goddess Summoning #7)(85)

Mary looked at her. "Isabel, neither will I, as I will be facing it every night."

Isabel had to hold her tummy to keep it from exploding.

"Countess!"

Isabel was too busy laughing to hear.

"Countess!"

Jenny shook her shoulder. "I believe the king is speaking to you, mum."

Isabel sat up. "Your Highness?" she said, all laughter gone at the look on his face. "What may - "

"A word?"

"You may speak freely here, King Arthur."

"A private word."

She wasn't even dressed yet. But she rolled to her feet and followed him out to the hallway.

He pulled her, and not even gently, away from her door.

"What, Arthur? What is it?"

"I want you to pack and go."

"What? What did I do?"

"Camelot is soon to be under siege, and I need you safe, Isabel. I want you back, safe in Dumont."

She glared up at him. "No. I am staying and fighting with you."

"You will not. You will slip out to the west and then head north. I have already mapped your safest route with Dick."

"Oh, have you?"

"We have."

"Too damn bad. I am not leaving."

"Isabel, listen to me," he said, gripping her shoulders. "We are about to head into battle. Should we fail, we have no defense for the women."

"You dumbshit. Do you not think women can battle in our own ways? We are an asset, if you are not stupid enough to overlook us."

"Good gods, Isabel," he said, staring up at the heavens. "I do not have time for this. Do you not understand? I need you safe. Please!"

"How much time before they invade the lands of Camelot?"

"Five hours, maybe six."

"Perfect." She tried to wrench free. "Do not pull the bully tactic on me, Arthur."

"I cannot let you be harmed. Do you not see that?"

"And I refuse to lie over your dying body while you tell me 'to thee I vow.' When you say those words, we will be happy and alive."

"I want you alive."

"As I do you. And guess what, so does Merlin!"

"Merlin? How do you know of Merlin?"

"Do you mind if I explain that later? Right now, we have bread to bake."

She wrenched out of his arms and began running. She turned back for one moment. "By the way, I love you. Do not die, dammit. I will be really pissed off if you die."

Chapter Twenty-Four

ISABEL did a U-turn and ran back into her room. All laughter had ceased as everyone sat still.

"We must move, ladies," she said. "Camelot is under siege, and we are going to help keep those sonofabitches from overtaking us."

"What can we do?" they all said, standing up.

"Gwen, did Lance truly lay fire to all of those poison mushrooms?"

"He did not, as Arthur warned him against fire so close to the cottage. They lay there still."

"Oh, excellent! Please, take Jenny with you as you know the way. Bring back as many as possible. The crushed ones most of all. But please try not to touch them, and if you chew on one, I will kill you before the mushroom does."

She turned around. "Mary, I need you to make wigs."

"Wigs?"

"Fake long hairpieces. Braids. That will work. You need to start with anyone who has long hair. Hell, start with me."

"Oh, Isabel! To what purpose?"

"We are going to fool those ass**les. Cut my hair."

Isabel cringed as she felt the shears chop her hair up to her shoulders. "Good," she said, "now go find anyone willing to give hair for the cause."

Isabel didn't even bother to dress, so the shocked looks in the main kitchen were not a surprise.

She explained, as fast as she could, then begged as fast as she could. Every single cook went to work making breads and pastries, simply waiting for the final ingredient before placing them over the fires.

"And mead! Lots of mead. And lace it with the same mushroom as the breads. None of you drink or eat any of this. At least not after you add the mushroom mixture."

She ran to Arthur's study, but he wasn't there. So she turned and ran through the great hall, out the door and into the bailey. There were a ton of men there all geared up and ready for battle.

She looked around and might not have recognized Arthur if she hadn't seen a giant man beside him first, the two of them poring over maps.

She ran over to them. "Arthur, James, we have a plan. By the way, James, happy making-Mary-really-happy day. Anyway, I need about ten scouts to just drop crumbs and such on the way to Camelot."

Arthur took off his head armor, then picked Isabel up and clinck-clincked her back into the castle.

He did not look happy.

"You didn't even listen to the plan," she complained.

"You did not even listen to me. I told you, I want you gone, Isabel."

"But I can help."

"I suppose I was attempting to be nice. I should have been more clear. I am done with you. I want you out of Camelot. You no longer interest me. Be gone."

"I don't believe that for a second. You don't mean that."