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Page 35
naturally came charging to the rescue as soon as they heard of the disturbance.
Her troop would have been satisfied with driving away the invaders, for they were slightly outnumbered and their first concern was, of course, the safety of their lady. However, with the arrival of the men from the castle, Sybelle decided to catch the malefactors so that she could force them to disgorge what they had stolen and then hang them in chains at various places to warn other thieves. Thus, she ordered the troop to follow at all speed.
Knowing what lay in store for them if they were caught, Walter's men fled more directly than they had come, hoping to elude their pursuers or to reach their master and explain their ''mistake" so that he would protect them. They were not able to achieve either aim completely. Although they were not caught, they did not outdistance Sybelle and her men sufficiently either to escape or to explain. The troop from Kingsclere came thundering into Walter's camp hard on the heels of the malefactors. It was very fortunate for everyone (except Walter himself) that Sybelle recognized the de Clare colors and that Walter's master-at-arms, Dai of Goldcliff, knew Sybelle and came rushing forward to ask what was wrong. At least a pitched battle between the groups was avoided.
Walter, who had been out all night fighting off a raid to the north, came stumbling from his tent half-naked and half-awake, and, most unfortunately, the woman who had been with him darted out also, whimpering with fear, looking for a place to hide. What Sybelle said after that was neither delicate nor civilnor was it true in a general way that Walter was so wrapped up in his lecheries that he had no time to give to overseeing his men. What was true was that Walter had turned a blind eye to small infringements here and there on the property of men faithful to the king. Perhaps he should have delineated more specifically what was forbidden territory, but it was certainly not lechery that had caused him to overlooked giving the instructions.
Having disgorged her spleen on Walter, Sybelle realized she could not demand the hanging of twelve or fifteen trained men-at-arms who might be needed for serious business. Properly corrected, such men would not again violate Kingsclere

 
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