I'm not necessarily trying to avoid linking the apple branch to bardic authority, but I won't be able to make a link in this text as there are no references within it to any bards at all and Kay is most definitely not seen as anything but a boorish seneschal (although I know in early stories there was a lot more to his character). And what I need is other references in other stories or even poems to Kay holding the apple baton. I know all about the Cath Palug, but again it's not relevant here.
Thanks again, Steve - it's clear that the members of that forum are knocking themselves out to find a link, however tenuous! Sadly, however creative and imaginative, it's not what I'm looking for!