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soiled garments. Alinor reached over him to scoop up a ladleful of water, poured it over his head, and began to soap his hair. |
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"Tell me something pleasant," she said. |
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"Well, we took Montauban," Ian responded a little doubtfully but at a loss for anything to say that Alinor would consider pleasant. "And a truce between Philip and John is being arranged." |
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"What is pleasant about that?" Alinor asked disgustedly. "It means the king will return here. Oh, curse all the Angevins. Richard loved England too little, and John" She gave Ian's hair a rough toweling so it would not drip in his face. "Sit up and lean forward." |
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"Yes, Alinor, but John does love England." Ian elevated his knees, crossed his arms on them, and rested his forehead on his arms. |
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"Most assuredly. Like a wolf loves little children. He could eat three a day." |
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Alinor began to wash Ian's back very gently. She felt him wince under her hands, but his voice was steady. |
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"That is his nature. Like a wolf he is dangerous only when running loose." |
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There was a long pause. Ian jerked as Alinor touched a particularly painful spot and then said, a trifle breathlessly, "I have much to say about that, but not here and now. To speak the truth, Alinor, I am tired and sore, and that is no condition for me to match words with you." |
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"With me? What have INo, never mind. I see you are about to engage in some harebrained enterprise, but I will not fret you when you are so tired. There, I have done with you for the moment. Sit up. Do you wash the rest while I go and get my salves." |
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Alinor handed Ian the cloth and soap. She could, of course, have told the maid to bring the medicinal |
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