I FOUND NO TRACE of the unholy soldiers I was seeking, or anyone who knew of mysterious knights1 in dark robes. Nor was I able to gain access to the barracks. Time was growing short. Stephen was due back at the castle in days. Once he returned, it would be too dangerous to press my case.
Two days later, Emilie took me aside as I was playing jack-straws with Anne's son, William. She saw my demeanor2 was glum3.
Do not be so sad, jester, she said with a smile. I have a job for you. And a new pretext4.
There was to be a celebration that evening in the chatelain's hall, she explained. A bachelor party. Gilles, the captain of the guard, was to be married in the next few days. There would be knights, soldiers, members of the guard. Lots of speeches and drink.Their guard would be down , so to speak.
I have arranged for you to be the entertainment, Emilie announced.
You seem to have a skill at this sort of thing, my lady. Once again I owe you thanks.
Thank me by finding what you seek, she said, and touched my hand. And, Hugh, be careful. Please.
That night there was lots of wine and awful singing. Gilles's buddies5 stood and made bold and mocking speeches until they slurred6 their words and fell back onto their benches. I was to be the last act before they dragged Gilles down to a brothel in town.
I had to make them laugh, and yet my eyes kept searching for the rogue7 knights. I did sleight-of-hand tricks to warm them up, simple stuff Norbert had shown me, pulling objects out of tunics8 to their drunken awe9.
Then it was on to the jokes. I know this man, I announced, sliding to a stop on the tabletop in front of the groom10 to be, whose cock was permanently11 engorged.
You flatter me. Gilles pretended to blush. But, joker, must you betray my secret toall ?
Try as he could, I went on, he could not get the damn thing to go down. Finally he sought out his local apothecary12. There, he encountered a stunning13 young woman. `I'd like to speak to your father,' the man with the problem said.
`My father is dead,' she answered. `I run this apothecary with my sister. Anything you can tell a man, you can tell us.' `All right,' he agreed. In dire14 need, he pulled down his leggings. `Look, I have a permanent erection. Like a fucking horse. What can you give me for it?'
`Hmmm,' the lady apothecary replied. `Let me go and confer with my sister.' After a minute she returned with a small pouch15 and said, `How is one hundred gold coins and half the business?'
The room roared with laughter. Tell us more....
I had begun another-the one about the priest and the talking crow-when from outside the walls, a terrible shout pierced the celebration. There was the clop of horses drawn17 to a stop. Then once again a man's scream. Please, God help me. I am being killed!
The drunken laughter ceased. Several of the party rushed to a window overlooking the courtyard. I followed close behind. Through the narrow opening I saw two men dragging a third by the arms across the courtyard.
I recognized them instantly! They wore slitted helmets and carried war swords strapped18 to their belts. It was just as Emilie had described. They wore no armor but robes. On their feet were worn sandals.
The prisoner hollered defiantly19, his shouts for help echoing off the stone walls.
Then I caught a look at his face. My own twisted in horror.
It was the mayor of St. C俢ile-who had stood up to Anne only a few days before.
They dragged the poor mayor toward the keep. Who are these men? I asked one of the soldiers at my side.
These dogs? The duke's new business partners.Les Retourn俿...
Retourn俿... ? I muttered.
My eyes followed the soldiers and the poor mayor until they dragged him through a heavy wooden door and into the keep. The dying shouts of the prisoner faded in the night.
Not our worry. Bertrand, the chatelain, sighed. He stepped back from the window. Come, Gilles, beauties await in town. How 'bout16 we get that blade of yours wiped one last time?
Meanwhile, my heart was beating at a gallop20. I had to talk to the mayor of St. C俢ile. He might know why knights were being murdered and villages burned. And these awful killers21...Les Retourn俿... I thought that I had seen them before.
But where?
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1
knights
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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 | |
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2
demeanor
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n.行为;风度 | |
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3
glum
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adj.闷闷不乐的,阴郁的 | |
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4
pretext
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n.借口,托词 | |
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5
buddies
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n.密友( buddy的名词复数 );同伴;弟兄;(用于称呼男子,常带怒气)家伙v.(如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般)交往( buddy的第三人称单数 );做朋友;亲近(…);伴护艾滋病人 | |
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6
slurred
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含糊地说出( slur的过去式和过去分词 ); 含糊地发…的声; 侮辱; 连唱 | |
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7
rogue
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n.流氓;v.游手好闲 | |
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8
tunics
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n.(动植物的)膜皮( tunic的名词复数 );束腰宽松外衣;一套制服的短上衣;(天主教主教等穿的)短祭袍 | |
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9
awe
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n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧 | |
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10
groom
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vt.给(马、狗等)梳毛,照料,使...整洁 | |
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11
permanently
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adv.永恒地,永久地,固定不变地 | |
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12
apothecary
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n.药剂师 | |
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13
stunning
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adj.极好的;使人晕倒的 | |
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14
dire
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adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的 | |
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15
pouch
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n.小袋,小包,囊状袋;vt.装...入袋中,用袋运输;vi.用袋送信件 | |
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16
bout
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n.侵袭,发作;一次(阵,回);拳击等比赛 | |
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17
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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18
strapped
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adj.用皮带捆住的,用皮带装饰的;身无分文的;缺钱;手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词);用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带 | |
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19
defiantly
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adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地 | |
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20
gallop
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v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
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21
killers
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凶手( killer的名词复数 ); 消灭…者; 致命物; 极难的事 | |
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