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buy food, and eat. Winchester would never know, and he himself was hungry and thirsty. While he ate and refreshed himself with a few draughts of the best wine, he considered his information. They were north of their objective. They could go south crosscountry. . . . No, Sir Roger had had enough of that. |
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Sensitized by past experience, Sir Roger stopped often to ask the route, which further slowed their progress. It was not until the late afternoon that they reached Newbury. There, everyone knew Kingsclere keep, and Sir Roger was able to discover how far it was in nearly exact terms. They forded the Enborn, then followed its southern bank to a meadow surrounded by a small wood where the troop camped for the night. Sir Roger rode the last three miles alone, arriving just at dusk and thanking God that he could spend this night, at least, in a comfortable bed. |
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That cheerful thought flew right out of his head to be replaced by a burgeoning joy when he discovered that Rhiannon was actually still in Kingsclere and that Simon and the castellan were away. In moments his plan was revised. There would be no need to use force of any kind. If he could induce Rhiannon to come with him, he could send back a message that would bring Simon alone and unarmed right into his arms. |
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Success seemed to grow from good fortune. Although Rhiannon was clearly amazed and somewhat frightened when he first delivered his messagethat the was urgently desired to return to the king, who wished her to carry messages to her father for himhis glib explanations about the change in the political situation seemed rapidly to dissipate her surprise and alarm. The matter was of grave importance, he said, and could not wait. It was unfortunate that Sir Simon should be away, but if she would trust herself to him with three or four men-at-arms from the castle for protection, Sir Simon could easily catch up with them before they reached London. |
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