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interest. The household ran with oiled precision. Alinor was so bored she thought she would die of it. And, nearly a full year after the battle of Arsuf, after innumerable raids and patrols, after twice saving Richard's life, Simon seemed no nearer to winning the King's approval of his marriage. Alinor remembered Simon's warning to her about the idea of marriage being used as a carrot hanging on a stick is used to entice an ass forward. She raged in private, but there was no use in protesting to Simon. He would say that he did no more than his duty. If the King chose to reward him, that would show the King's goodness; the duty must be done in any case. |
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To Alinor, Richard's behavior smacked more and more of the carrot when she read Simon's description of the taking of Darum. The letter held no note of jubilation at victory. Richard had refused to accept the surrender of the defenders. As an object lesson, he had destroyed their last stronghold and had those remaining alive thrown from the walls or butchered in other ways. |
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"After the battle," Simon wrote, "seeing that this had appeared to me strange and unlike his usual kindness to a defeated but brave enemy, he explained his purpose and said, smiling, that I should not think he had forgotten what prize of war I desired. I tried, in respect to his wish to soothe me, to appear more cheerful, but I am sick at heart, Alinor, sick at heart, and my dear physician is not near to cure me this time." |
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The next letter Alinor received was much more cheerful. Richard's tactics, Simon reported, though distasteful to him, were most effective. They had not found it necessary to assault the Castle of Figs, another strong point. Upon hearing Richard was on his way, the Moslem garrison had abandoned it and fled. Still better, Archdeacon John of Alencon had brought letters from Queen Alinor and messages by mouth. The |
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