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brokennot one man or a few, whose voices would be lostthousands of them. Geoffrey's eyes blazed golden. He could not yet know which side was fleeing away, but from the distance of the sound it was Ferrand's Belgians or the army of the counts of Champagne, Perche, and St. Paul, who were opposed to him. No matter who had failed, however, it would mean even more intense action either in pursuit or defense. |
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''Now!" Geoffrey ordered more sharply, "Go now!" |
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He was eager for action again and wished to be rid of his liabilities. Tostig, grimacing with pain, turned away as he was bidden, but his heart was lighter. While Geoffrey had been speaking to Richard of Elsfield, he had time for a few words with Roger of Hemel, who had promised to guard his master without permitting any other concern to distract him. The diminished group drew together. The little time of peace they had, which perhaps had been lengthened by the carnage surrounding them, making others somewhat chary of attack, was over. Even if he could have stretched the time, Geoffrey had no inclination to do so. Nonetheless, his exertions had taken the edge off his first wild fury. A sense of responsibility as well as eagerness now moved him. He scanned the field, spotted his father's battle banner, and pointed at it with his sword. |
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At first, there seemed little effect from whatever had occurred on the left flank of the battle. They were engaged with two more groups before they came much nearer Salisbury's standard. After they had beaten off the second group and found another moment to breathe, it seemed that the noise of fighting in the center was more intense. Geoffrey said nothing, merely pointing the direction in which they were to make their next attack. |
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Through the haze that fatigue was building up in his mind, it began to dawn upon Geoffrey that it was a bad sign. If Ferrand had broken the French, Otto's army would have spread out, filling the ground where Ferrand's people had left a vacuum as they pursued their fleeing enemies. Thus, |
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