“But why collude with you in the first place? Her warriors, especially Lancelot, are the most formidable in these lands.”
“Because the final battle includes a dragon,” Wolfe revealed.
Tristan paused in his steps again to absorb that piece of knowledge.
“You are the best bet to win against a dragon,” he thought out loud.
“Indeed. I believe her plan was to pit me against the dragon, take it down, then have her warrior kill me to possess the Eye.”
“But the final contestant is Rui,” Tristan pointed out. “She would never hurt you.”
Wolfe winced, but his face was turned away so the boy didn’t see.
“She might not kill me out right, but I wouldn’t put it past her to incapacitate me to get what she wants.”
“But Rui isn’t one of Guinevere’s, is she?” Tristan asked.
“No. That is why the queen tried to take her out during the swimming match. Rui’s success in the tournament was not expected.”
“Now what?” Tristan queried, worrying his lip as he contemplated the ramifications.
“Neither you nor Rui are aligned with the queen’s interests. But clearly, one of you will win the Eye. Do you think Guinevere will try to sabotage you beforehand?”
“No,” Wolfe determined. “She needs us, or at least me, to win it first. If a dragon protects the Eye, it cannot be gained any other way. It has powers she wants to harness. Powers that cannot be transferred by force.”
“Couldn’t you harness the powers when you win it? What kind of powers does it have?”
“I am no sorcerer,” Wolfe answered. “I do not know about the powers Guinevere hopes to gain, but I do know that it will lead me to the dragon I’ve hunted all my life. It is his eye, after all.”
“What about Rui? What if she wins it? Why does she want it?”
Wolfe stopped as they came to the towering gates of Castle Caerleon.
He loathed to step into the serpent’s den with its oppressive, unnatural, breath-stealing fog. Enemies lurking in every corner.
But Rui was in there, if Guinevere was to be believed. He had to protect her from the queen.
“I do not know,” Wolfe answered.
“It is a moot point,” he added. “I will not let her win. Winning will only make her a target for the queen. For that reason and my own, I intend to be the victor on the morrow. She should not have come to the wrestling match. Her place would have been forfeited. One of the unconscious men would have been announced the second winner. Most likely Gawain. Then, the queen would have had one of her own in the final battle. Rui would be safe.”
Tristan gave him a sympathetic sideways glance.
“Women, eh? They live to make men’s lives difficult.”
Wolfe’s mouth twitched at Tristan’s quip. Trust the pup to defuse his mounting anger with a few flippant words.
Together, they walked through the gates.
Wolfe had not wanted to involve Tristan in this dangerous intrigue, but he realized that he was glad to have the young warrior at his side.
He would need a true friend when this was all over.