Chapter 53

I WAS HURLED¹, hands bound, into a dark, empty cell on the castle's first floor. There I nervously² passed the night.

I knew my fate was sealed. Lady Estella would play the offended role, just as she had played me last night. Norcross, the vindicated³ hero. It would be my word against that of nobles. All the laughter in the world couldn't save me now.

I was jolted⁴ by a loud rattling⁵ at the door. A sliver⁶ of light appeared beneath it. It was day. Three brawny⁷ guards in Baldwin's uniform came into the room. The captain yanked me up. If you know any good jokes, carrot-top, now would be the time....

I was pushed roughly into the great hall. The court was buzzing with knights⁹ and courtiers just as it had been the day I arrived. A messenger was informing the court about some renowned¹⁰ knight⁸ who had been slaughtered¹¹ by outlaws¹² in a neighboring duchy.

Baldwin slouched in his elevated chair, chin in hand, and beckoned¹³ the man forward. The vaunted Adh俶ar... killed in his own home?

Not just killed, my lord.... The messenger was clearly uncomfortable, forced to deliver such news.... Impaled¹⁴ to the wall of his chapel¹⁵ by his own limbs, his wife next to him. The lord was crucified.

Crucified , Baldwin rose slowly. You say he was roused from his own bed by bandits?

Marauders was more like it. They rode in armed and dressed for battle, their faces hidden behind their headpieces. They bore no markings on their armor except for one, a black cross.

A black cross? Baldwin widened his eyes. I could not tell if his shock was sincere or pretended. Norcross, do you know of such a band?

From the crowd, Norcross stepped forward. He had on a long red surcoat and his war sword hung in his belt. I do not, my liege.

Poor Adh俶ar. Baldwin swallowed. Tell me, messenger, what treasure did these cowards seek?

I know not. The messenger shook his head. Adh俶ar had just returned from the Holy Land, where he had been wounded. He was said to have come back bearing valuable spoils. I had heard the very ashes of Saint Matthew.

The ashes of Matthew, Baldwin said. Such a prize would be worth the price of a kingdom itself.

Only one relic¹⁶ is holier, Norcross said.

The lance of Longinus. Baldwin's eyes flashed. Whose blade was dipped in the Savior's own blood.

Hidden riders,burning and slaughtering¹⁷. I did not doubt Norcross was behind these murders too. How I wanted to cut his throat.

Lord, Norcross continued, Adh俶ar's fate is sealed, but there is other business to be done.

Ah, yes, the fate of our little fool. Baldwin waved the messenger away, then sat back down and with his finger motioned me forward.

I am told, fool, your little dick was wagging itself around where it does not belong. You seem to have offended a great many people in your short stay with us.

I glared at Norcross. It isI who have suffered the greatest offense¹⁸.

You? How so? Baldwin chuckled¹⁹. Was Briesmont's wife so unpleasant? He picked a fistful of nuts out of a bowl and began to munch²⁰.

I never touched the lady.

And yet the evidence says otherwise. You contradict the testimony²¹ of a member of my own court. The offended party as well. Against the word of a fool... from what I am now told, not even atrue fool.

I wrestled²² in my bonds toward Norcross. This noble member of your court has killed my wife, my lord. My wife and child...

There was a hush²³ in the crowd.

Norcross shook his head. The fool has it in his mind that I ruined him as punishment for abandoning his obligation to you when he ran off to the Crusade.

And did you, knight? asked Baldwin.

Norcross merely shrugged²⁴. Truly, lord, I do not recall.

A trickle²⁵ of the cruelest laughter sprinkled through the room. The knight does not recall, ex-fool. Do you contradict again?

It was him, your lordship. His face was hidden, just like it was to this poor knight spoken of today.

Norcross stepped toward me, reaching for his sword. Again, you incite²⁶ me, fool. I will split you in two.

Be still. The duke put up his hand. You will have your chance. You make a grave charge, fool. Yet I am informed the Crusade continues, that the armies of Raymond and Bohemond are now in sight of the Holy City. Yetyou , somehow, arehere. Tell me, how was your service there discharged so soon?

I was about to stammer²⁷ back a reply, but to this charge I had none. I dropped my head.

A convicting silence filled the room.

Baldwin curled a smile. You claim injury, fool, yet it seems it isyour offenses²⁸ that begin to add up. To the crimes of adultery and fraud, I must add desertion.

A rising anger swelled²⁹ in my chest. I lunged, in my bonds, toward Norcross, but before I had gone a step, the duke's men kicked me to the floor.

The fool wants at you, Norcross, Baldwin said.

And Ihim , my lord.

And you shall have him. But it belittles³⁰ you, knight, to take him in contest. I think I have let you suffer ill from this squirrel once too often. Take him away. He waved. At noon tomorrow you may chop off his head.

You honor me. The knight bowed.

Baldwin shook his head sadly. Fool, innkeeper, spy... whatever I should call you, it is a great shame. We will have to deal with Palimpost once more. For your stay here, you certainly provided a good laugh. He stood, wrapped his cloak around himself, and prepared to leave. Then Baldwin turned. And Norcross...

Yes, my liege?

No need to waste a sharp blade on the fool's neck.

1 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

3 vindicated   

v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护

参考例句：

• I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。
• Subsequent events vindicated the policy. 后来的事实证明那政策是对的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 jolted   

（使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• She was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened. 门一开就把她从幻想中惊醒。

5 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

6 sliver   

n.裂片，细片，梳毛；v.纵切，切成长片，剖开

参考例句：

• There was only one sliver of light in the darkness.黑暗中只有一点零星的光亮。
• Then,one night,Monica saw a thin sliver of the moon reappear.之后的一天晚上，莫尼卡看到了一个月牙。

7 brawny   

adj.强壮的

参考例句：

• The blacksmith has a brawny arm.铁匠有强壮的胳膊。
• That same afternoon the marshal appeared with two brawny assistants.当天下午，警长带着两名身强力壮的助手来了。

8 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

9 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

10 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

11 slaughtered   

v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 outlaws   

歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯

参考例句：

• During his year in the forest, Robin met many other outlaws. 在森林里的一年，罗宾遇见其他许多绿林大盗。
• I didn't have to leave the country or fight outlaws. 我不必离开自己的国家，也不必与不法分子斗争。

13 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 impaled   

钉在尖桩上( impale的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She impaled a lump of meat on her fork. 她用叉子戳起一块肉。
• He fell out of the window and was impaled on the iron railings. 他从窗口跌下去，身体被铁栏杆刺穿了。

15 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

16 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

17 slaughtering   

v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The Revolutionary Tribunal went to work, and a steady slaughtering began. 革命法庭投入工作，持续不断的大屠杀开始了。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• \"Isn't it terrific slaughtering pigs? “宰猪的！ 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

18 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

19 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

20 munch   

v.用力嚼，大声咀嚼

参考例句：

• We watched her munch through two packets of peanuts.我们看她津津有味地嚼了两包花生米。
• Getting them to munch on vegetable dishes was more difficult.使他们吃素菜就比较困难了。

21 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

22 wrestled   

v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤

参考例句：

• As a boy he had boxed and wrestled. 他小的时候又是打拳又是摔跤。
• Armed guards wrestled with the intruder. 武装警卫和闯入者扭打起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

24 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 trickle   

vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散

参考例句：

• The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
• The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

26 incite   

v.引起，激动，煽动

参考例句：

• I wanted to point out he was a very good speaker, and could incite a crowd.我想说明他曾是一个非常出色的演讲家，非常会调动群众的情绪。
• Just a few words will incite him into action.他只需几句话一将，就会干。

27 stammer   

n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说

参考例句：

• He's got a bad stammer.他口吃非常严重。
• We must not try to play off the boy troubled with a stammer.我们不可以取笑这个有口吃病的男孩。

28 offenses   

n.进攻( offense的名词复数 )；（球队的）前锋；进攻方法；攻势

参考例句：

• It's wrong of you to take the child to task for such trifling offenses. 因这类小毛病责备那孩子是你的不对。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Thus, Congress cannot remove an executive official except for impeachable offenses. 因此，除非有可弹劾的行为，否则国会不能罢免行政官员。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

29 swelled   

增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
• After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。

30 belittles   

使显得微小，轻视，贬低( belittle的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The size of the office tower belittles the surrounding buildings. 这座办公楼的规模使周围的建筑物相形见小。
• The bulk of the warehouse belittles the houses around it. 货栈的庞大使周围的房屋显得矮小了。