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will use the ill feeling against the king to raid here and there for their own profit." |
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"So I think also," Geoffrey agreed. "It will behoove us to keep our lands andif we canour neighbors quiet." |
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"But what if the king prevails?" Joanna asked. |
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"He will. He must." Geoffrey smiled wryly at the exclamations of horror that followed his statement, and added, "But I think Winchester will not. I do not think Winchester or Henry can lead any force effectively enough to hurt Pembroke. There are skilled captains among the mercenaries, but none strong enough to lead the whole group. I know. I have dealt with them. The king will be shamed worse than he was at Usk. At first he will be bitterer than ever against Pembroke, but when loss heaps on loss and he sees there is no path but reconciliation, he will abandon Winchester." |
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"Yes. Then Richard will gladly make submission, and all will be well," Ian said. |
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"After the blood and the death and the ravaging and the famineoh, yes, then all will be well," Alinor remarked bitterly. "This nation is accursed, I swear it. First there was King Richard, who did not care. Then there was King John, who cared but had a wrongness in him that turned all to evil. And now we have King Henry, who" |
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"Hush, my love." Ian kissed her silent. "He is young yet. He will learn." |
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Whether she would have remained quiet was doubtful, but just then Simon and Rhiannon came in, and the whole matter needed to be explained to them. |
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"Thank God Walter found him," Simon said. "Well, now what? I mean, do we go to London as planned, or back to Wales to bring this news to Prince Llewelyn?" |
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Geoffrey pulled the lobe of his ear in thought and then said, "To London. It is your belief that Llewelyn will join Pembroke against the king if Pembroke is |
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