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in contrast with the stallion walking gentle as a lamb by Rhiannon's side. He withdrew his objections, but he looked sidelong at Rhiannon and had a tendency to try to stay on the opposite side of the group when they rode out of camp that night. |
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They left as soon as it was dark. Every hour extra that de Burgh was imprisoned would further weaken him with hunger and thirst. Thirty of Bassett's men and all of Simon's rode together to within a mile north of the town, clinging to the wooded slopes of Roundway Hill. All arms and harnesses had been padded and dirtied so that there would be no jingle or gleam of warning. About a half-mile to the west was the road to Chippenham and Malmsbury. If the rescue was successful and there was no alarm, Bassett's men would take de Burgh along that road. |
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When Simon's master-at-arms felt that the men and horses were as well concealed as possible, the small up of rescuers remounted. It was not the best night for such an enterprise. Simon had prayed for rain, a steady, miserable drizzle, but his prayers had not been answered. Still, it was not the worst night, either. The moon was only one-quarter full, and there was a sharp, cold breeze, which sent clouds scurrying across its face. Shadows flickered and skipped across any open space. Simon hoped that a few more shadows would not be alarming. |
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Bassett had been dumbfound at the preparations Simon and his men madethe blackening of their faces and hands with soot, the mottling of plain leather tunics which replaced Simon's mail and his men's plate-sewn jerkins, the laying aside of all weapons except long poniards and strangling cords, and the smearing of any solid-colored horse with light and dark blotches. |
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There was to be no killing, Simon had ordered. The men grumbled a little because the silence of the dead was assured; that of the living had to be ascertained by |
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