“And this one,” he patted Sorin’s arm around his waist affectionately, “doesn’t talk much. Thankfully, we have plenty of other ways to communicate. Just not as many in broad daylight and in company.”
He winked saucily.
Tristan shook his head indulgently, used to Ere’s antics by now.
“What do you want to know?”
“How big a tournament will it be? Will we be up against stiff competition? What are the likely events?”
Tristan blinked at the barrage of questions, pulled in a deep breath, and tackled them one by one.
“It’s heralded to be the grandest tournament since Arthur took the kingship. He’s often at war, leading our soldiers on the front lines, so he seldom presides over these types of entertainments.”
“Who does?”
“One of his foremost warriors or lords,” Tristan answered. “Lancelot du Lac, Modred, his nephew, or Gawain usually.”
“His nephew, hmm?” Ere mused.
Rui was listening closely enough that she picked up on his skepticism.
“Yes,” Tristan confirmed. “The son of Arthur’s sister, Morgause.”
“Go on.”
“This tournament is special because of its prize, the Dragon’s Eye. Because Arthur himself will be presiding. Because it’s in Queen Guinevere’s honor, and also the great lady, Morgan le Fay.”
Ere straightened visibly.
“Morgan le Fay, you say?”
“You sounded like a bard just now,” Tristan grinned.
“I have a poetic way with words,” Ere agreed quickly. “Tell me more about Morgan. How does she factor in?”
“Well, the Dragon’s Eye ishers,” Tristan revealed.
“It’s just a rumor, but everyone knows it. She’s reputed to be a sorceress of great power. She is Arthur’s half-sister by the same mother. The Dragon’s Eye is her most coveted possession. Some say it’s the source of her powers. Some say, it imbues her with unnatural beauty and…well…”
“Seductive charms?” Ere supplied.
“Erm, yes.”
Tristan cleared his throat.
“Some even say that she guards it so closely, she keeps a dragon beneath her tower just to protect it.”
“A dragon protecting the Dragon’s Eye?” Ere quipped.
Beneath his breath he muttered, “What are the odds that it’s the same dragon who lost his eye.”
“Well, it’s how the tales go,” Tristan said, slightly defensive that Ere might not believe him.
“I am certain that’s the case,” Ere hastened to assure. “But I wonder why the lady Morgan would be willing to part with her most precious possession.”
Tristan shrugged.
“Perhaps it is a sort of olive branch. Everyone knows that Morgan and Guinevere are ever at odds. Some say they fight over Lancelot. But that would imply that the Queen is…”