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mare stumbling now and again on her hanging reins. He turned his mount in that direction and Dawn came toward him whinnying a welcome, for the loose rein and the empty saddle frightened her. Simon spurred on more frantically, only seeing with the corner of his eye that the mare was shining with sweat but not really lathered. Alinor could not be farbut how to find her, one small girl in a green dress, lying in a green field. |
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Before she won through the thicket, Alinor's wimple was in shreds, her dress had several rents, and her face and hands were trickling blood from scratches. Despite her hurts, she had considered staying in the brush, but if she moved the sound would betray her and if she did not her pursuers would find her and pick her out in minutes. Confined by the brambles, she would not even be able to use her knife. She had heard, as she struggled, the renewed hallooing of the squire, and when she looked around the result of his calls began to show. By twos and threes, men were riding from the distant woods. |
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Her roving glance had caught something else previously hidden by the thicketa low mud and wattle hut, perhaps a shepherd's shelter. It was no safe hiding place, but perhaps it had a door she could bar which would delay her captors making off with her. The few minutes it would take for them to break in might be worthless, but one could not tell. It was possible someone would notice the riderless mare. Alinor lifted her skirts and began to run. Behind her she could hear the boy thrashing his way through the brush. Ahead, the riders were closer; they too were hallooing. It was a clever device. Even if some trick of wind should carry the sound to the Queen's cavalcade, it would not arouse any interest. A petty baron hunting with a party of friends would utter just such cries in excitement or to keep the party together. |
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When Simon first heard the hallooing he thought just that and uttered a heartfelt thanksgiving. There would |
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