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Page 423
French forces. Ferrand would hold the left flank; Otto, as fitted his rank and position as titular leader, would hold the center. Salisbury, with the English forces, and Dammartin, who had no real army but was followed by a group of devoted knights, would hold the right. That left only the time of battle to be decided.
"At once," Hugh of Boves said. He quoted the proverb, "Delay is dangerous when things are ready." With that, all agreed and the matter was settled.
Afterward, however, there was far too little planning for Geoffrey's taste. He was accustomed to Ian's relatively elaborate outlines for action and reaction in taking or defending a keep, and he had always given his own men detailed instructions for the attacks made in Wales. When he presented this notion privately to his father, Salisbury smiled at him.
"It is different," he remarked. "A keep, even a large one, is small compared to what we have here. A plan can be settled because word can come from all parts of the battle in only a few minutes. Thus, orders may be changed or canceled. Here, we may be spread over a considerable distance and any messenger is more like to be killed or so delayed in fighting to protect himself that communication is almost impossible. Also, we do not know each other's men very well."
"You fear treachery?" Geoffrey asked, appalled.
"Not from Ferrand or Otto, but if one of their men should be in Philip's pay, which is not at all impossible, and came to me saying I should change my plan, might not Otto or Ferrand think I was treacherous? It is better to act as the situation demands. Besides," Salisbury added drily, "I do not think at my time of life I would like to be told how to arrange my battle or where or when to attack. And I do not believe Otto or Ferrand would like it either."
It was all reasonable, but still Geoffrey was disturbed. He would have preferred to have one acknowledged leader to whom all could apply for help or direction. Of course, if the leader was a coward or a fool, that was disastrous, but at

 
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