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Page 23
Chapter Two
William of Salisbury's hoarse roar brought a page, who had been half-dozing in a window seat, to his side in an instant. The earl had been dealing with estate matters and had come at last to a letter from Lord Ian that had arrived the previous day. The messenger from Roselynde had come upon Salisbury with one foot in the stirrup, preparing to ride out. Salisbury had paused just long enough to ask if there was anything urgent in the letter, and the messenger had replied doubtfully that he did not think so. He had not been urged to make haste, and the lord had been pleased and smiling when he handed the letter over. More he did not know.
After another moment's consideration, Salisbury had waved the messenger away toward the inner keep. Probably Ian was again doubting the wisdom of his departure for Ireland. Salisbury loved Ian dearly, but he often wished his friend's heart was harder and his aggressive courage a little less. In any case, Salisbury did not intend to give up a pleasant day's sport to pander to Ian's pride. Tomorrow would be soon enough, he thought, to rack his brains for more reasons why Ian should do what the smallest amount of common sense would have led him to propose himself.
''Good God!" Salisbury now exclaimed, when surprise receded enough for him to form words. "Summon Lord Geoffrey to me at once."
The page took off at a dead run, careened down the twisting stairs in imminent danger of breaking his neck, and, as soon as his eyes found their mark, bawled across the inner bailey, "Lord Geoffrey, your father orders your presence. Now! At once!"

 
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