|
|
|
|
|
|
in case the king should, for once, move faster than a snail." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Attack? What the devil do you mean? Henry is as far north as Hereford" Richard's voice checked as he saw Simon's expression. "Do you know different?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I heard . . . we came across a huntsman of Rhys Ievanc, who told us that the king was moving south again, but" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"You did not think that urgent news?" Richard snapped. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"I did not know it would be news to you, my lord," Simon exclaimed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No more than that. I asked, but he had little interest in the matter since his home lies north and well west. He had followed a boar too far and come upon a hunting party that had also been led too far by their quarry. Naturally he listened around their camp when he saw they were English, but as soon as he was sure there was no danger to his own people, he left. Do you want me to send out a few of my men?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"No, we are ready for anything. I was only surprised that . . . never mind." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simon did not need an explanation. Richard was surprised and disturbed by the fact that whoever had been sending him information about the king's movements had failed to transmit this very essential news. There might be many reasons, only one of which was a deliberate betrayal, and obviously Richard did not wish to taint his informer's name before he was sure of the cause of the failure. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They had been walking from the gate toward the inner keep. Richard had stopped when Simon mentioned the king's movement but now he went on, silent and frowning until they climbed the stairs and came into the hall. Here, picking his way carefully among the sleeping bodies, the earl gestured Simon toward the hearth, where the banked embers gave a gentle |
|
|
|
|
|