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the stable area to kick the grooms awake and get the horses saddled. |
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It was quiet enough on this shore of the river, the horses hooves thudding dully on the wide dirt road that led toward the Chepeside. Alert to what he would not have noticed at another time, Geoffrey cursed the dust that rose and tickled his nose. That it should rise at all at this hour of the night was a bad sign. In spite of the heavy clouds and the wind that flapped his destrier's mane and bellied out his tunic, there was too little dew in the air to wet down the dust. That meant that the wind did not yet carry rain with it. |
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At first, they went very slowly because it was a black night without moon or stars. As they drew eastward, however, a brighter glare lit the sky and began to reflect on their path so that they were able to spur their horses into a trot. Geoffrey passed his father's house and glanced back at his men. Should he leave a group in case the fire leapt the river? He looked up at the sky. If that came across, ten men could do no more to save the place than none. Still, there was no need to leave those within unaware. He called to the youngest of his men-at-arms to go wake the caretaker and his few servants and warn them to watch the fire. |
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They continued, quickening their pace. Now the gusts of wind brought a smell of burning and even a sense of heat. Geoffrey no longer needed to wonder whether he should slow his pace to warn each house he passed. Most showed lights already, the inhabitants awakened by the sounds of the people streaming westward on the road. Thus far, there was no problem in moving in the opposite direction, but Geoffrey feared things would soon get worse. He cocked an ear to the murmur rising from the group of men following him. It was a deep litany of blasphemy. So far so good; there was no sign of panic. In a battle, Geoffrey would never have listened or doubted his men for a minute. They were brave and well trained, but a fire was different. |
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A few minutes more brought them to the road that led across the bridge. Here they found the trouble Geoffrey had foreseen. The road was choked with people, most with |
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