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Page 367
him not to trust. That is why I cannot ask. It is" He clutched her closer again. "Do not be impatient. Soon we come to war. Soon. I will win you on the field, beloved. I will win you with honor, not as a King's favor, but as a prize of the strength of my arms. Only a few weeks more."
Before Alinor could protest that he might as soon win death, that he should be more cautious than brave, Richard had turned.
"Let go of that woman and look at her," the King bellowed, his face flushed, his eyes blazing.
Simon's arms dropped, but his head lifted in affront and his color also rose. Alinor grabbed for his wrist, though what she could do against Simon's strength if he chose to resent the King's insult she did not know.
"Beast! Fiend!" Richard roared. His eyes had passed from Simon and stared shoreward.
"Not you, love!" Alinor hissed frantically, digging her nails into Simon's wrist as she felt his body tense.
"No water!" Richard raged. "Comnenus denied the women water!"
Then Simon really looked at Alinor as he had been bid. He took in the dry mouth, the hollowed cheeks. His color rose further; his eyes too lit with fury. Alinor clung to him with all her strength, fearing for a moment that he would fling himself overboard the sooner to come to grips with Comnenus.
"For mercy, Richard," Joanna cried, "give us water and food before you set out to kill him."
"Richard," Berengaria begged. "Stop and think. You have only a few ships and men. Wait at least until the rest of the fleet comes."
That caution was quite unnecessary. Whatever Richard's rage, he was never a fool in military matters. While Simon hurriedly arranged for supplies to be transferred from the King's ship to the ladies', Richard had summoned Roger de Hardicurt and William du

 
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