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If Sancho the Wise had been wiser in the ways of the Queen, he might never have agreed to commit Berengaria into her hands at that time of the year, even to have her married to the King of England. Far from waiting for the spring to open the passes, the Queen resumed her journey as soon as the Count of Flanders and she had reached an agreement on what he was to do. Her party then struggled over the Mont-Genevre pass in January. Alinor, who had thought kindly of snow in the mild climate of England, now thought never would be too soon to see it again. The awesome beauty, the bitter cold, the great white silence were too foreign to the green and gentle land in which she had been bred. |
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After they had descended into the plains of Italy, Alinor admitted it was an experience she would be glad to remember, and then she laughed and repeated, "To remember, not to endure again." |
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Their route through the plains was no less hazardous, although they were no longer in danger from avalanche or cravass. Each little city here had its own king, and each petty king desired to exact tribute. Some, not content with what the Queen offered, desired to take all and, in addition, hold them hostage for still more from Richard. Alinor's men saw heavy fighting and acquitted themselves so well that the Queen complimented her on their training and mettle. Alinor saw the Queen privately very seldom now. There had been no messengers while they were in the Alps and even now that they were easy to find, no letter came from |
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