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Page 308
Chapter 23
Clyro was separated from the area in which the second battle of Monmouth had taken place by the range of mountains over which Walter and Sybelle had struggled. None of those who fled ran northward, or, at least, not so far north as Clyro. Thus, the twelve days of Christmas were being celebrated there with high spirits in total ignorance that King Henry's cause had suffered another violent setback or that the Earl of Pembroke's army was about to march north to attack Shrewsbury.
Sir Heribert received Walter's letter and Marie's at just about the time Marie entered the Earl of Pembroke's chamber. Long before the lie she had told Richard was exposed and the whole matter unraveled, Sir Heribert had resolved on his course. In truth, since he did not know Walter had been incapacitated again or of the planned attack on Shrewsbury, he believed he did not have much choice.
He had had wordhis "messenger returning from Knight's Tower"of Walter's escape from their ambush, and he had bade the men lie in wait near the road to watch for Walter's return and have a second try at him. However, he had never had much hope that would work.
Sir Heribert had feared that Walter had recognized the ambushers as his men. He had been living in momentary expectation that Walter would send orders to Sir Roland to imprison him, but he did not dare leave Clyro because his remaining was a proof of his innocence. Thus, when he received Walter's letter, he understood that it was a trap. He believed Walter had decided to turn Heribert's own methods against him. Either there was an ambush waiting for him on the road to Knight's Tower or once he was in the keep, Walter would find some other way to eliminate him.
Heribert had no intention of returning to Knight's Tower

 
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