Mordred leaned in, and his ice-blue eyes glittered with malice. “Your beloved kingdom is built on arrogance and deceit. Does your lovely Jenny not know the truth of your heir? Does your venerable Round Table know of the weakness of your own marriage?”

Arthur’s hand on the hilt of his sword tightened. “If you have no wish for peace, then I have no choice but to defend my land.”

“This isn’t about your land and you know it,” Mordred said.

Arthur shook his head tiredly. “This has always been about Camelot.”

Mordred arched one eyebrow, then cast his snake-sly smile at Emrys. “My mother and my Aunt Morgana ask after you, Wizard. How is it, serving this golden-haired idiot when you could have the world at your fingertips?”

“The only world I want is one where justice supersedes might,” Emrys said.

Lila was pretty sure he was restraining himself from blowing Mordred to smithereens then and there.

“I will see you on the field,” Mordred said, and drew back with his knights.

“I hate this,” Arthur said softly.