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might mean anything at alla desire to conceal grief or joy or any other emotion anyone wished to read into it. Tonelessly, she said only that it was not certain yet. Her reluctance to talk on the subject, for whatever reason, was plain. Politely, the castellan forbore to say more. |
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It seemed to Joanna that she did not breathe from the moment she entered the keep until she left it, but there had been no hostile move, not even a suggestion of one. She was not sure whether it was her fatigue, Adam's premonition, or something within herself, but even now, when they were clear of arrow shot, she remained uneasy. |
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The road wound down from the hill upon which the keep. sat. The land was flatter as it ran south toward the Thames some ten miles away. To the west another road branched off in the direction of London. Along this, some distance away, Joanna spied a troop of men riding. They were moving quickly but not in great haste. This was reasonable because the afternoon was drawing on and they might have far to go. There was no reason at all to believe they were headed for Horndon. This was a well-settled district and there were good-sized towns and ports and other keeps east along the road. Nonetheless, the breath caught in Joanna's throat. |
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Just as fear touched her, Sir Guy spurred forward, saying urgently, "My lady" |
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"Yes, I see," she replied, "can we beat them to the crossroads?" |
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"We have no choice. Knud, ride forward with four men, four behind Lady Joanna. Sir Léon, I must lash you to your saddle. Keep your place in front of me or I will stun you and carry you like a sack of grain. I have no time now for talk of honor. My lady, ride fast. Even if they be innocent, I have no taste to meet fifty or sixty men when I have ten." |
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From then on Joanna had to give her full attention to her unfamiliar mount and her riding. She had no time to watch the oncoming troop. The few glances she was able to spare gave her little comfort. It seemed to her that they, too, had increased their speed. If that was real and not merely a vision generated by her fear, it was a very bad sign. The leader of the troop could see her party as clearly as she saw |
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