[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
pointed out by one of his comrades, jumped to his feet and removed the blade of grass from between his
teeth.
'Lord Emrys,' he said quickly, 'I was just '
I saved him his explanation. 'No matter. Where is Aurelius?'
'He has left the city.'
'That much is obvious.'
'My Lord the Duke said to wait here for them to return. If there was to be trouble he wanted men inside
the walls. That is what he said. We were to wait here, and '
I was rapidly losing patience. 'Where was he going?'
'He did not say, my lord.'
'Perhaps not. But you have an opinion, do you not? Think! It is important.'
'Well,' he replied slowly, 'it was in my mind that they were riding back to the camp we camped the
war host half-a-day from Londinium, as the king did not wish to overwhelm the city.'
'Yes, and he met with the governor. What happened?'
'Nothing that I could tell. We stayed in the palace for a day and then returned to camp.'
'Was all well in camp?'
'Not as well as may be,' the soldier allowed. 'Several of the lords had gone and taken their warbands
with them.'
'And in the city? What happened on Aurelius' return?'
The warrior shrugged. 'Nothing that I know of.'
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'Nothing and yet the governor's temper turned against Aurelius.'
'It did, Lord Emrys. For a fact it did.' At last, I began to understand what had happened: Aurelius,
exuberant and fresh from the saving of the realm, nevertheless refrains from marching into Londinium in
triumph. Adopting a humbler demeanour, he arrives in the city and presents himself to the governor in
order to determine how he will be received in the city. Reassured, he returns to his lords, thinking
perhaps to enter in force with the governor's blessing. However, things begin to go wrong. He arrives in
camp to find that several lords have deserted him that's how he would see it, whether they intended a
slight or not.
In the meantime, a few of the wealthy and influential of Londinium have had time to make up their minds
about Aurelius, and apparently what they have decided is not flattering: he calls himself High King, but
where is his war band? Where are his lords and battlechiefs? He is no king at all! Something like that.
They spread this slander about and incite the people, who come to the governor with their petition
against this impertinent youth. And the governor, owing no allegiance to Aurelius, instantly withdraws his
support.
Poor Aurelius, by rights deserving a hero's welcome, returns to discover himself persona non grata.
Outraged, he rides to gather his lords once more and march on the city, thinking to take it by force if
need be. Needless to say, the citizens, fearful of this young warlord's anger, descend upon the governor,
demanding safety, demanding protection, demanding action be taken against this upstart High King.
Well, that was the way of it, or near enough. The warrior still stood before me, watching, and I realized
that I would have no more from him; Aurelius had confided nothing to him. I obtained the location of the
camp, thanked him and left him to his duty. I went to Gwythelyn and told him to wait with Dafyd, warning
him that for their own safety they must stay at the church with the warriors. There was no telling what the
citizens of Londinium might do if roused to it. Then Pelleas and I rode out to find Aurelius. Having come
by a more northerly route, we had not encountered the camp on our way to Londinium; but the warrior's
directions proved themselves and we came upon the camp as the sun stretched our shadows long behind
us.
I saw at once the reason for Aurelius' fury, and I did not blame him. For, of the great warhost he had
commanded, now only a few bands and their lords remained among them Tewdrig, to be sure, and
Ceredigawn, one of Cunnedda's sons, was still there, and Custennin's band with their lord's battlechief.
I went to Tewdrig directly.
He was not happy with the situation and let me know it at once. 'I tried to stop them,' he insisted. 'But
they had it in their heads to leave as soon as Aurelius rode to Londinium. "We fought his war for him,"
they said, "let him win the city for himself!" That is what they said.'
'And they said they'd had enough of High Kings!' remarked Ceredigawn, striding up. 'And I am
beginning to agree with them. Are we to wait here like shavelings while the grown men divide the spoils?'
He had seen me ride into camp and came to add his own opinion.
'Who voiced these things among you?' I asked him. 'Gorlas of Cerniu, mostly,' Ceredigawn replied.
'And some others.'
'Friends of Gorlas,' Tewdrig informed me. 'I might have gone myself '
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'I am glad you stayed,' I told him quickly. 'I think you will not be disappointed for your loyalty.' 'How
so?' Tewdrig asked.
Before answering, I bade Pelleas bring the other lords and battlechiefs to me and, when they had
gathered, I sat them down and addressed them, saying, 'My lords and sword brothers, I have just [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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pointed out by one of his comrades, jumped to his feet and removed the blade of grass from between his
teeth.
'Lord Emrys,' he said quickly, 'I was just '
I saved him his explanation. 'No matter. Where is Aurelius?'
'He has left the city.'
'That much is obvious.'
'My Lord the Duke said to wait here for them to return. If there was to be trouble he wanted men inside
the walls. That is what he said. We were to wait here, and '
I was rapidly losing patience. 'Where was he going?'
'He did not say, my lord.'
'Perhaps not. But you have an opinion, do you not? Think! It is important.'
'Well,' he replied slowly, 'it was in my mind that they were riding back to the camp we camped the
war host half-a-day from Londinium, as the king did not wish to overwhelm the city.'
'Yes, and he met with the governor. What happened?'
'Nothing that I could tell. We stayed in the palace for a day and then returned to camp.'
'Was all well in camp?'
'Not as well as may be,' the soldier allowed. 'Several of the lords had gone and taken their warbands
with them.'
'And in the city? What happened on Aurelius' return?'
The warrior shrugged. 'Nothing that I know of.'
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'Nothing and yet the governor's temper turned against Aurelius.'
'It did, Lord Emrys. For a fact it did.' At last, I began to understand what had happened: Aurelius,
exuberant and fresh from the saving of the realm, nevertheless refrains from marching into Londinium in
triumph. Adopting a humbler demeanour, he arrives in the city and presents himself to the governor in
order to determine how he will be received in the city. Reassured, he returns to his lords, thinking
perhaps to enter in force with the governor's blessing. However, things begin to go wrong. He arrives in
camp to find that several lords have deserted him that's how he would see it, whether they intended a
slight or not.
In the meantime, a few of the wealthy and influential of Londinium have had time to make up their minds
about Aurelius, and apparently what they have decided is not flattering: he calls himself High King, but
where is his war band? Where are his lords and battlechiefs? He is no king at all! Something like that.
They spread this slander about and incite the people, who come to the governor with their petition
against this impertinent youth. And the governor, owing no allegiance to Aurelius, instantly withdraws his
support.
Poor Aurelius, by rights deserving a hero's welcome, returns to discover himself persona non grata.
Outraged, he rides to gather his lords once more and march on the city, thinking to take it by force if
need be. Needless to say, the citizens, fearful of this young warlord's anger, descend upon the governor,
demanding safety, demanding protection, demanding action be taken against this upstart High King.
Well, that was the way of it, or near enough. The warrior still stood before me, watching, and I realized
that I would have no more from him; Aurelius had confided nothing to him. I obtained the location of the
camp, thanked him and left him to his duty. I went to Gwythelyn and told him to wait with Dafyd, warning
him that for their own safety they must stay at the church with the warriors. There was no telling what the
citizens of Londinium might do if roused to it. Then Pelleas and I rode out to find Aurelius. Having come
by a more northerly route, we had not encountered the camp on our way to Londinium; but the warrior's
directions proved themselves and we came upon the camp as the sun stretched our shadows long behind
us.
I saw at once the reason for Aurelius' fury, and I did not blame him. For, of the great warhost he had
commanded, now only a few bands and their lords remained among them Tewdrig, to be sure, and
Ceredigawn, one of Cunnedda's sons, was still there, and Custennin's band with their lord's battlechief.
I went to Tewdrig directly.
He was not happy with the situation and let me know it at once. 'I tried to stop them,' he insisted. 'But
they had it in their heads to leave as soon as Aurelius rode to Londinium. "We fought his war for him,"
they said, "let him win the city for himself!" That is what they said.'
'And they said they'd had enough of High Kings!' remarked Ceredigawn, striding up. 'And I am
beginning to agree with them. Are we to wait here like shavelings while the grown men divide the spoils?'
He had seen me ride into camp and came to add his own opinion.
'Who voiced these things among you?' I asked him. 'Gorlas of Cerniu, mostly,' Ceredigawn replied.
'And some others.'
'Friends of Gorlas,' Tewdrig informed me. 'I might have gone myself '
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
'I am glad you stayed,' I told him quickly. 'I think you will not be disappointed for your loyalty.' 'How
so?' Tewdrig asked.
Before answering, I bade Pelleas bring the other lords and battlechiefs to me and, when they had
gathered, I sat them down and addressed them, saying, 'My lords and sword brothers, I have just [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]