“Hemightbebroughttoit,”saidGlozelleinamuchlowervoice。
“Softly,”saidSopespian.“Stepalittleasidehereoutofearshotofthosesentries.Now.HaveItakenyourLordship’smeaningaright?”
“IftheKingundertookwagerofbattle,”whisperedGlozelle,“why,eitherhewouldkillorbekilled.”
“So,”saidSopespian,noddinghishead.
“Andifhekilledweshouldhavewonthiswar.”
“Certainly.Andifnot?”
“Why,ifnot,weshouldbeasabletowinitwithouttheKing’sgraceaswithhim.ForIneednottellyourLordshipthatMirazisnoverygreatcaptain.Andafterthat,weshouldbebothvictoriousandkingless.”
“Anditisyourmeaning,myLord,thatyouandIcouldholdthislandquiteasconvenientlywithoutaKingaswithone?”
Glozelle’sfacegrewugly.“Notforgetting,”saidhe,“thatitwaswewhofirstputhimonthethrone.Andinalltheyearsthathehasenjoyedit,whatfruitshavecomeourway?Whatgratitudehasheshownus?”
“Saynomore,”answeredSopespian.“Butlook—herecomesonetofetchustotheKing’stent.”
WhentheyreachedMiraz’stenttheysawEdmundandhistwocompanionsseatedoutsideitandbeingentertainedwithcakesandwine,havingalreadydeliveredthechallenge,andwithdrawnwhiletheKingwasconsideringit.WhentheysawthemthusatclosequartersthetwoTelmarinelordsthoughtallthreeofthemveryalarming.
Inside,theyfoundMiraz,unarmedandfinishinghisbreakfast.Hisfacewasflushedandtherewasascowlonhisbrow。
“There!”hegrowled,flingingtheparchmentacrossthetabletothem.“Seewhatapackofnurserytalesourjackanapesofanephewhassentus.”
“Byyourleave,Sire,”saidGlozelle.“IftheyoungwarriorwhomwehavejustseenoutsideistheKingEdmundmentionedinthewriting,thenIwouldnotcallhimanurserytalebutaverydangerousknight.”
“KingEdmund,pah!”saidMiraz.“DoesyourLordshipbelievethoseoldwives’fablesaboutPeterandEdmundandtherest?”
“Ibelievemyeyes,yourMajesty,”saidGlozelle.
“Well,thisistonopurpose,”saidMiraz,“butastouchingthechallenge,Isupposethereisonlyoneopinionbetweenus?”
“Isupposeso,indeed,Sire,”saidGlozelle.
“Andwhatisthat?”askedtheKing.
“Mostinfalliblytorefuseit,”saidGlozelle.“ForthoughIhaveneverbeencalledacoward,Imustplainlysaythattomeetthatyoungmaninbattleismorethanmyheartwouldservemefor.Andif(asislikely)hisbrother,theHighKing,ismoredangerousthanhe—why,onyourlife,myLordKing,havenothingtodowithhim.”
“Plagueonyou!”criedMiraz.“ItwasnotthatsortofcouncilIwanted.DoyouthinkIamaskingyouifIshouldbeafraidtomeetthisPeter(ifthereissuchaman)?DoyouthinkIfearhim?Iwantedyourcounselonthepolicyofthematter;whetherwe,havingtheadvantage,shouldhazarditonawagerofbattle.”
“TowhichIcanonlyanswer,yourMajesty,”saidGlozelle,“thatforallreasonsthechallengeshouldberefused.Thereisdeathinthestrangeknight’sface.”
“Thereyouareagain!”saidMiraz,nowthoroughlyangry。“AreyoutryingtomakeitappearthatIamasgreatacowardasyourLordship?”
“YourMajestymaysayyourpleasure,”saidGlozellesulkily.
“Youtalklikeanoldwoman,Glozelle,”saidtheKing.“Whatsayyou,myLordSopespian?”
“Donottouchit,Sire,”wasthereply.“AndwhatyourMajestysaysofthepolicyofthethingcomesinveryhappily.ItgivesyourMajestyexcellentgroundsforarefusalwithoutanycauseforquestioningyourMajesty’shonourorcourage.”
“GreatHeaven!”exclaimedMiraz,jumpingtohisfeet.“Areyoualsobewitchedtoday?DoyouthinkIamlookingforgroundstorefuseit?Youmightaswellcallmecowardtomyface.”
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