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"Yes, yes, we cannot continually be having brawls on the dancing floor," Lord Richard teased. |
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"Your presence was well thought of," Queen Alinor remarked, "and, as it happens, it is no secret matter anyway, since a levy may be made of your vassals as well as others, you would have known tomorrow. Stand here, child." |
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Alinor's lips formed the word "levy," but she took her place behind the Queen without uttering a sound. A levy on her vassals meant war. What war? |
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The question was speedily answered. Simon was obviously the last of the gentlemen summoned to arrive at the meeting, and Richard announced that Mortimer had brought him the news of a Welsh rising. "They dare!" he exclaimed, but there was no explosive quality to the remark. Richard was angry but quite controlled. "Do they think I am a novice at crushing rebellion?" |
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John laughed aloud, and Alinor saw the faces of the barons stiffen. Hugh Mortimer and William Braose glanced at John, at each other, and then at the Queen. |
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"Nonsense," Queen Alinor said sharply, and, as Richard swung toward her, his eyes mirroring his shock, she added, "Nay, my lord, I do not question your abilityno one could. It is the word rebellion that is nonsense. The Welsh are not rebelling. They are behaving normally." |
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The Welsh Marcher lords nodded agreement to this. |
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"And for that reason, should my brother ignore the insult?" John sneered. |
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"No, of course not," Simon suggested smoothly, "but to talk of 'war' or 'crushing a rebellion' is to raise a petty insult to the level of a real threat. When the Welsh kick like infants, they should be spanked like infants." |
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"I do not care to swallow even petty insults," Richard snapped. |
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