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ahead to Kingsclere, and that was all the master-at-arms knew. |
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Since the camp and men were orderly, Sir Harold made no objection to their remaining where they were. He rode back to where Simon was waitingto bring help in case the troop was hostilethanking God that he did not have to deal with whatever Winchester's messenger wanted by himself. It was not until he saw the horror on Simon's face that he guessed Sir Roger might have a purpose connected with his guests rather than with himself or his keep. |
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Simon's mind moved swiftly, and although they rode at full gallop, the three miles to Kingsclere seemed the longest distance Simon had even ridden. He had started by thinking of rape and murder and imagined other, ever-increasing horrors, which even a whole army would have had difficulty accomplishing in one night, before they arrived. The smiling, casual greetings of guards and servants restored his perspective, and he realized he should have trusted Rhiannon not to do anything hasty or foolish. Thus, he came into the hall with an expression of bland interest and welcome, but only Rhiannon rose to greet him from her chair beside Sir Henry's. |
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Simon looked around, and Rhiannon hurried forward. "You know we have a guest?" she asked. |
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"Where is he?" Simon wanted to know. |
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Rhiannon laughed. "Asleep. And he will stay that way until we decide what our answer to him should be." |
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"He says the king desires me to carry messages to my father" |
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"The king! There is a small army a few miles up the road whose master-at-arms told Sir Harold that Sir Roger is on an errand for the Bishop of Winchester." |
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Rhiannon's eyes opened wide with amazement. "Oh, the clever liar!" she breathed. "He bade me take three |
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