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Joanna's breath hissed in. "So help me, John is inspired by the devil!" She shivered suddenly. "Geoffrey, can it be that all this good, all the victories, is a trap set by Satan?" |
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"I said I was afraid," Geoffrey muttered, "and I do not fear the works of man." |
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"What will the pope do? John is already excommunicated. What more can Innocent lay upon him?" |
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"There are two steps more he can take. I do not even remember a time when a pope was bold enoughbut it is said Innocent is such a man. He can absolve all oaths of fealty to John." |
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"Absolve all oaths of fealty?" Joanna's voice was thin and she wet her lips nervously. "But Geoffrey, that will mean" |
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"Chaos! Armageddon! There will be no law in the land." |
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"Geoffrey" Joanna clutched the hand she held tighter. "I do not mean to hurt you, beloved, butbut" |
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"But should we send for Ian? You do not hurt me. It was my first thought. I can hold the vassals to their duty in a war. Even if there should be rebellion, I think they would obey mebut this! I wrote a letter, but I held it open hoping that my father and the bishop of Winchesterwho is at court although he has not shown himself to Pandulfwould bring John to his senses. Thenthe news came that Braose had died in Corbeuil." |
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"Braose? What has he to do with us?" |
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"He himself? Nothing. What has to do with usor rather with Ianis John's reaction to the news. He gloated on it openly, openly reminded the court how Braose's wife had offended him and what had befallen her. His eyes rested on a fewnot least on me!and he smiled and said such a fate was prepared for all his enemies." |
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"My mother" Joanna whispered. |
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Geoffrey put an arm around her and felt how she trembled. "I did not send the letter," he assured her. |
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"But they must know about the trouble with the pope. They will hear it from Pembroke even if we do not send word." |
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