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Page 86
sure Simon would not insult Prince Llewelyn. Go on, Simon."
"I do not intend insult to Prince Llewelyn by calling him a coward, but I will not insult him by saying he is fool enough to desire that an army of that size fall upon Wales either."
"What if they did?" the youngster sneered. "They would starve as others have done before them."
"Yes, and then we would starve all winter also, since the crops are not yet in nor the herds fully fattened," Owain remarked, his eyes narrowed. "If we must starve, we can. But I agree with Simon that Prince Llewelyn would not invite the Saeson in at this time."
"Unfortunately, it is not a question of not inviting hem in but of keeping them outif they are not going to Ireland," Antwn said. "The message with the summons said to 'bring to obedience the Earl of Kent's men in Ireland.' This much I know for certain. Do you think this is a ruse to befool us? If so"
"That was not the intent," Simon said quickly. The English were enough hated; he did not wish to add fuel to that fire. "Likely the summons was honestly intended when it went out, but matters have changed. Gilbert Bassett is now in open rebellion. He has sent a defiance to the king, and the Earl of Pembroke knows that justice is on Bassett's side. He does not wish to fight King Henry, but the earl will do nothing to curb Bassett. If Henry uses this as an excuse to attack Pembroke's keeps in the south"
"Who cares what Pembroke or the Saeson king does in the south?" Madog growled. "You may keep your news to yourself; we"
"But Madog," the youngster interrupted, having noticed the expressions of glee on the faces of Owain and Antwn and put two and two together, "if Henry's army is busy in the south"
"We may all grow rich raiding the baggage trains," Simon put in smoothly. "Prince Llewelyn would never

 
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