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by now be poised at the edge of the woods to come down the moment action started. His business, and that of others like him, was to cause enough disturbance to prevent the men-at-arms from going to the assistance of those guarding the baggage when the inevitable alarm came. Then Pembroke's men could come in and sweep up the remains. Simon was beginning to wonder whether he would have to begin the disturbance himself, when a violent outcry broke out almost simultaneously in the supply area and at the southern end of the camp. |
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He had just time to notice that he was close to the largest and most luxurious tent he had yet seen when there were shouts of alarm right behind him. He swung his shield onto his arm, drew his swordand almost dropped it in shock. The most appalling squall he had ever heard burst from the tent just ahead of him, followed by a man's hoarse scream of pain, and then the single word, ''Math!" coming from the last voice Simon expected to hear. All around him now men began to cry out warnings and alarms. His troop spread out, shouting at the top of their lungs, cutting tent cords, knocking down lean-to supports, striking men with the flats of their swords, and in general creating the maximum amount of terror and confusion. |
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A male shout of rage had followed the scream of pain and the woman's cry of protest just before the chaos began, but the man's third yell, of surprise as much as pain, was almost drowned by the rising noise. Then the tent flap billowed, emitting first a squalling fury of a cat and thenRhiannon. The whole thing took only five seconds, but Simon felt as if he had been sitting mute and paralyzed for an hour. When the man burst from the tent behind Rhiannon, Simon was at last galvanized into action and urged Ymlladd forward, shouting a challenge. |
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He hoped for one moment in which to come close |
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