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Alinor did resist mequite successfullyand in any case it was years after that when Lady Joanna was born. God knows, I am not innocent with regard to women, but'' a faint smile bent John's lips, "I would not touch that viper of yours for anythingexcept perhaps if it would bring peace to my kingdom." |
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"I will not challenge him," Ian agreed, passing his hand over his face. "He meant what he said for a jest, but" |
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"We are all raw and sore," John sighed. "It is very hard to wait. In the uneasiness of our hearts, each man pricks his neighbor to ease his own pain." |
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The voice that said those words knew the truth of them. Something inside Ian shuddered, and he was deflected from his own rage as he wondered what gargantuan pain had eaten the king all the years of his life that made him take joy in hurting others. Whatever it had been, it was temporarily stilled, or John had better control of himself than any Angevin before him. For this past month, John had been the perfect kingattentive to business and gentle, although by no means cringing, to his vassals. The king had done much good. He had eased the severity of those who enforced the Forest laws, given strict orders to his officers to cease molesting pilgrims and merchants, and given justice without fear or favor to those who appealed to him. |
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It was too late, of course, but in this time, when he could with perfect right have been distrustful of almost every man he ruled, John seemed to have shed suspicion. He displayed no foolish confidence. He was well aware of the disaffection around him and he took sensible precautions to protect himself and his children and to check the spread of panic. Nonetheless, he showed no fear of the future. Quietly, he took counsel with those he did trust and mapped out plans for the defense of his kingdom against enemies from both within and without. |
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If John had not learned how to control himself in times of success, he had certainly learned how to behave in times of adversity, Ian thought. It was some comfort to know that the king would go down to defeat like a man. Ian only wished |
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