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had agreed to meet the King and make submission. He had described Simon's rage and shock. |
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"He was beside himself, my lady, not being one to speak openly of such matters to me in an ordinary way. it was a bad thing. If the Welsh knew and joined together, they could have slain those raw plowhands like cattle and all would have been ruined, all our labor and blood wasted. And Sir Simon was not so perfectly well, as I sent you word." |
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"The wounds fester?" Alinor asked in a constricted voice. |
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"I think not. It is hard to know because he does not complain nor let me look at him, but I think it is more that he will not give them time to heal. After that battle in the hills, we rode to Owain's stronghold. We were very well received, and I thought he would bide there until he was healed. Instead, as you know, we rode south as soon as he had Owain's promise of peace. Moreover, he knows, I believe, that I sent you word. At first he did not care, but after he was hurt he grew more secretive. I suppose he feared you would fret." |
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Alinor hoped Beorn was right, but she did not believe it. Beorn had also brought a letter with him thanking her for Simon's appointment as sheriff in such icy terms that she had wept. She did not fear a roaring rage, but this frozen politenessnot a word of protest, of threat, of terms of repaymentsignified an unforgiving hurt that terrified her. To make all worse, Simon did not return to Court. He had come as near as Oxford, traveling with Rhys, who demanded his company to be sure John's safe conduct would be honored. At Oxford the final blow had been struck in the Welsh campaign. Richard sent word that he was too busy to come and meet Rhys and accept his submission. |
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William Marshal had been employed to deliver the insult, and his reaction had been little less violent |
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