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Page 81
and inefficient. He himself would be nearly useless for an assault, which meant climbing and fighting afoot.
Walter frowned. "If you still wish to take Monmouth, my lord," he said slowly, "you will need to leave men in concealment to watch. A trap could be set against us. The keep could be filled with double or triple the men it held this time on the chance that you would think it undermanned. I do not think so many could have moved in yet, but"
"Yes," Bassett interrupted, "we have thought of it, but it is not so easy to do as to say. The country is open there, nothing but small woods anywhere near enough to watch the place, and if they are bringing up extra men, they will have patrols."
"Prince Llewelyn has men who can hide beside a blade of grass," Walter pointed out. "You look straight at them and do not see them. I have seenor, rather, not seenSimon de Vipont's men disappear before my eyes."
"Good God," Bassett cried, "so have I. And Sir Simon will lend his men, surely. As he will be marrying, he will not have any use for the troop for a while."
Richard had been scribbling and now pushed what he had written over for Walter to read: Idea good but no attack. Warned and on guard.
Bassett, who had leaned over to read the note also, shrugged. "Yes, I think so, too, but we should do something, and quickly."
Walter agreed emphatically, and Richard also nodded and reached for the parchment. Walter pushed it to him, and Richard wrote a few words and pushed it back. Walter read: Brecon tomorrow. Can you ride? Llewelyn soon as possible.
"I can ride, my lord," Walter replied, as the question was obviously meant for him.
In fact, Walter would have preferred to rest a day or two and meet Richard and his womenfolk at Builth, but he realized that someone was going to have to talk for Richard to Gervase and Marie. Walter had also heard from Dai the tale of hurt and missing among Richard's small party. The earl's senior squire had been less fortunate than his master and had been captured on his way back from the town where he had been sent to summon Bassett to their aid. Both of the younger squires had been hurt. It was believed they would live, but Richard would take no chances with their well-being. They

 
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