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Page 34
her mind in no uncertain terms, and her father, uncles, and grandfather not only permitted it without correction but listened and responded just as if she were a man. If they rejected her arguments, which was surprisingly infrequent, it was not on the grounds that it was not her business to speak at all or that the arguments were womanish nonsense, but because she was young and had insufficient experience in the subject. Most shocking of all was that Walter had to admit to himself that, for the most part, Sybelle spoke as good or better sense than any man.
Walter was badly shaken by this experience. It was outside what he had always accepted as normal behavior. No woman he had known ever joined, unasked, a political discussion in a room full of men. However, this shock was nothing compared with the next one he received.
The king's contemplated treachery against the Earl of Pembroke, whether or not it was inspired by the Bishop of Winchester, had ended any expectations of a peaceful solution to the crisis. Disorder multiplied as dishonest men used the excuse of the proscriptions to attack and loot anything they desired. Walter was engaged in protecting some outlying farms east of Upavon. There were men in the district who, while they would not support Pembroke's adherents openly, were sufficiently sympathetic to his purpose to give aid in terms of supplies of food, firewood, and similar items. Thus, Walter had sent out several small troops to obtain these commodities.
Unfortunately, one of the troops decided to engage in a little free enterprise. Instead of merely taking what was freely given by allies, they ranged even farther east to see what they could pick up for themselves. In so doing, they first killed a sheep and then buffeted the shepherd who protested. Then they headed for the richest nearby farm. The men were not native to the area, of course, and did not know they had infringed upon Kingsclere territory.
By the time they had invaded the farmhouse and stolen whatever trinkets and plate the bailiff's wife had, the shepherd had cried warning. The garrison rode out of Kingsclere keep, but the band had already met a severe check. Sybelle, with ten men-at-arms to protect her, had been inspecting the crop of wheat only a few fields away. She and her men

 
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