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ard was not worried about that. He was sure they would have at least two days and possibly as much as a week to rest. |
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He was more concerned about the weather, which seemed unnaturally cold. Although Richard had done everything possible to convince John of Monmouth that he had started north to join Prince Llewelyn, he knew Monmouth was no fool. Despite the feint, John of Monmouth would have patrols out. That meant few and small enough fires so that neither smoke nor light would attract attention. And that meant freezing nights and cold and ill-cooked meals. |
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A brief period of such discomfort would make the men angry, eager to punish those who had threatened their master and thus caused them to be dragged from their comfortable winter quarters; however, too long a siege of cold nights and cold food could turn them sullen and give them the feeling that their leaders were fools who did not know how to plan properly. Thus, Richard toured his camp, speaking to the captains and to the men themselves, commiserating with their condition and showing that he was no warmer and not much better fed than they, while he waited for Simon's Welshmen, who were watching the roads, to report when and which way John of Monmouth would move. |
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If Pembroke had intended to assault Monmouth, he would not have camped at all but would have brought his army due east to the valley of the Trothy from Abergavenny or along the route that led directly northeast and southwest from Usk to Monmouth. Now Richard's forces lay between those two routes, ready to strike either way, depending upon whether John of Monmouth launched his attack against Usk or Abergavenny. |
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Until the departure of Richard, his vassals, and his adherents, Abergavenny keep had been very lively. At the invitation of Lady Pembroke, some of the minstrels had followed Richard's party south from Builth, so there had been music and dancing, juggling and mummeries. Gervase had been well pleased, even with these simple pleasures, compared with her previous isolation in Pembroke keep. Thus, she had not only behaved with moderation but actually pleaded with Richard to allow her to stay when he suggested sending her west again to greater safety. And Richard, who was himself taking pleasure in the improved relations with his wife, realized that he would |
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