< previous page page_218 next page >

Page 218
true. I could guess very well what Henry would do. No, that is not his dream."
"Then what does he desire?"
"A different wish each day or week or month. That is what I was starting to say to you. For most children one dream becomes fixed as the child grows into a man or a woman. It may sprout odd shoots, but those shoots are fixed to the first stem of the dream. Henry, alas, has never grown into a man. Sometimes he dreams of being a builder of beautiful things; sometimes he dreams of being a great conqueror and of winning back all that his father lost and more; sometimes he dreams of being as powerful as God, sometimes of being as merciful as Mary, good as a saint, bountiful and magnanimous so that all will love him."
Simon cocked his head. "My father always said thatI mean, that Henry desired to be loved because his mother and father did not love him."
"Ian is too soft to judge men well, but in this case he may be right. He may, indeed, be right. Nonetheless, it does not help, for at one moment Henry seeks to enforce love through power and the next seeks to win it by generosity, andto the misfortune and confusion of his subjectsit is mostly impossible to guess which side of him will show." He shook his head. "We can only wait and see. At least his next move will not fall upon me. There will be time to prepare. So what will you do now, Simon?"
"With your leave, my lord, I will go to Angharad's Hall," Simon said eagerly.
Llewelyn smiled. "Still pursuing? You have not grown weary?"
"I will never grow weary. If I do not succeed, I will take no wife. There is no need. I have nephews enough to serve as heirs, and they are all good boys."
"You are set on this, Simon? Really set?" Llewelyn's smile was gone.
"I will give oath to youin blood if you will."

 
< previous page page_218 next page >