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Page 161
time would certainly raise questions in the bright mind of that youth. Walter closed his eyes and tried to think of other things, like the problem of the castellan of Knight's Tower. But that only brought Sybelle back into his mind, her care for him and her cleverness reinforcing his craving rather than reducing it.
Eventually, most sinfully and unsatisfactorily, Walter eased himself. Then he slept, but not deeply or dreamlessly, and he was restless enough to wake completely when William began to stir. An instant later, the boy was up, throwing off his blankets and jumping up from his pallet, regardless of the cold, already wildly excited. Walter watched William shiver his way into shirt and arming tunic and then sat up himself.
By quiet demands for service, he checked William's impulse to rush off and get his horse ready long before the lists would be open, although he agreed that William should arm himself and helped as much as he could one-handed. While they dressed, Walter also tried to channel the boy's enthusiasm with some suggestions on how to achieve control and avoid the useless waste of strength that excitement breeds. In this he was soon seconded by Lord Geoffrey, who came from the inner chamber, also armed. Now Walter could see why Lord Ian had been eager for his presence at the joust. William listened to his father and said yes most politely, but it was clear that Geoffrey's suggestions had far less weight than Walter's.
The hall was a scene of chaos at this early hourservants being routed out with kicks and blows; those already awake trying to pick their ways between the lesser gentry, who were still asleep on their pallets, to revive the fires; other servants of a better class glancing fearfully at the knights and minor lords, men who had no ladies or had not brought them, who were grouped on cots nearest to the great hearths. Those people had to be roused before the sleeping arrangements could be cleared away and replaced with tables that would carry the pasties, cheeses, bread, and wines with which all would break their fast. Unfortunately, the dancing and drinking had continued late into the previous night, and the task of waking the sleepers to hear Mass and eat would not be easy or painleseither to the sleepers or the servants, who would likely be beaten for doing their duty.
Walter, William, and Geoffrey wrapped their cloaks tighter

 
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