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well now because John had given up the idea of more expeditions to France, he would have believed me. Now I have overset the fat into the fire. |
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"My father?" Geoffrey urged anxiously. |
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Ian's brow cleared. On that subject he had good news. "Safe and soon home. He would have been released sooner but that he himself did not like the conditions." |
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"What conditions? What more can be asked of him than ransom?" |
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"Curse my loose tongue," Ian exclaimed. "Geoffrey, I had better leave you. If you are in a fever again when Joanna returns, I will not be allowed near you for a sennight." |
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"It is more like to put me into a fever to be left hanging than to know a bad thing." |
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That was true. "The conditions had nothing to do with your father," Ian said. "It is only that Philip will not accept ransom for Dammartin or Ferrand. To do John credit, he offered to pay and swore he would not haggle. Philip will have none of it. He was willing to exchange your father for Robert of Dreuxno ransom being taken for eitherbut he said Dammartin and Ferrand were his vassals and traitors to him and that he would make example of them." Then forgetting himself in his anger, "It is said they are held like beasts in filthy stys, loaded with chains, even that Dammartin is allowed no freedom and is kept chained to a huge log.'' |
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"God pity them. Mary have mercy. They were good brave men both." Geoffrey's eyes filled with the easy tears of convalescence. |
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"For God's sake, do not weep," Ian begged. "My loving daughter Joanna will rip out my arm and beat me to a pulp with it, and Alinor will spit on what remains if you make yourself ill over this." |
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Geoffrey laughed and sobbed at the same time, then wiped his face impatiently. There was much good sense in Ian's jest. It would do no one good and him great harm to grieve over the fate of his battle companions. He must thank |
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