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Page 120
the sum total of the situation. Perhaps Geoffrey FitzWilliam, a minor vassal of the king and a young man with no experience of leading men should be respectfully silent. However, the deputy of Ian de Vipont had a responsibility both to the king and to de Vipont's men. He listened for a few minutes more, considering the wisdom of what he should do. If he spoke, John would be angry. Moreover, his single voice in protest could accomplish nothing. Still, if Ian had been there, he would have spoken.
"Sire, you will not find Lord Llewelyn there." Geoffrey said clearly and loudly, stepping forward.
"ThereWhat do you mean, 'there?' Four strongholds have been named. In which will we not find him?" the king asked testily. "And how do you know so much about the movements of our enemy? Are you in communication with him?" John added nastily.
"No, not with him, nor with Lord Ian's Welsh vassals, nor with my foster brother Owain apLlewelyn," Geoffrey answered firmly, hoping the naming of his Welsh connections would remind everyone that he was familiar with the country and the people. "But I have traveled often in Wales," he added to make his point, ''and I have listened to their tales of war"
"That is what you should be doing nowsitting at your nurse's knee and listening to tales, not interrupting a war council."
Geoffrey's eyes, which had been dull, lightened to bright amber as color strained his face. Salisbury put up a warning hand and took a step toward his son, but there was no way to reach Geoffrey before he spoke again.
"My lord, it is each vassal's duty to lay what knowledge he has before his liege lord. The Welsh have driven more than one English army from their lands. In their halls, they sing of how this was done. There is a kernel of meat under the shell of proud words."
"Rotten with worms," John sneered, and then, aware of Salisbury's eyes on him he said, "Well, what is this meat?"
"What I said already," Geoffrey got out with a

 
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