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between him and Richard, and the Earl of Pembroke would doubtless be traveling from one stronghold to another to make all ready for war. |
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This letter was handed to Llewelyn to use as he thought fit. Simon had concealed nothing from Rhiannon's father, who knew he was hearing the story from Simon's point of viewbut his sympathy was with Simon in any case. Prince Llewelyn had long thought Rhiannon quite mad. As long as this madness did not interfere with his plans, he was willing for her to go her own way. Now that he had found a use for her, however, he was determined that she would serve his purpose. To act as intermediary between himself and King Henry, Rhiannon had to be married to Simon, and married she would be by hook or by crook. |
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Previously there had been some doubt, but now Llewelyn was sure there would be need for an intermediary. He foresaw that there would be handsome profits in the war that was inevitable between Pembroke and the king. If he allied with Pembroke, there was no way a mercenary army, totally unprepared for the kind of warfare that would be waged, could win. And a mercenary army meant pay chests as well as the valuable supplies that any army carried. Llewelyn grinned wolfishly. If they were beaten badly enough, the whole western border would be undefended. And Chester was dead. Llewelyn licked his lips. There was no longer any oath of friendship to hold him back. The cities would be open to lootingnot Chester itself; Llewelyn's spirit shrank from that, but Shrewsbury was just as good. Yes, they would take Shrewsbury. |
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A double profit would be gleaned from that. The taking of Shrewsbury would surely shock even King Henry and bring home to him the stupidity of what he was doing. Yes, but after that an intermediary would be needed. For a long time, Henry would be too furious to talk reason with any man. But a woman, in no way associated with anything military, truly grieved |
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