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have someone he can trust, and you are dearest to him." |
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Geoffrey swallowed. The pain in his father's voice dragged at him. King John was almost never mentioned between father and son. It was the one forbidden subject, the one thing they could never discuss. William of Salisbury loved his brother; Geoffrey hated his uncle. Each had what he felt were good and sufficient reasons. Geoffrey realized that his father had come as close to saying that John could not be trusted with Ian's vassals or with Ian's stepdaughter as it was possible for him. For Geoffrey to take Ian's men would save face all around. The king would have his due and, since one of the king's own kinsmen would be the man chosen to lead the men, Ian's distrust would not be obvious to anyone who did not already know how matters stood between King John and his vassal. |
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"Then there is no further question," Geoffrey replied. "I will marry Joanna and will do my uttermost to fulfill Ian's will." |
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"It will not be so terribly hard," Salisbury encouraged. "The older vassals will advise you, and you would do well to listen to them. The main trouble lies in their rivalry among themselves when one of them is chosen to lead the others. Because you are outside the group and known to them as Ian's squire, you will have less trouble." |
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"How will the men know I am chosen? Will they be bound to obey my summons?" |
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"I am not yet sure of the details. Ian has asked that we come to Roselynde to settle everything, and this seems reasonable to me. He says, of course, that he will come here if I cannot come to him, but he must be far busier than I. It will be pleasant for Ela to see Alinor again also" |
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The son's eyes met the father's and gravity evaporated. Both began to laugh. Ela would certainly want to see Alinor and would surely accompany them, but the fuss and bother of getting Ela started on a journey could only be approximated by a major natural catastrophe. |
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"Well, I am glad to hear you both laughing." It was a faint, high-pitched feminine voice that somehow carried |
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