HE WISHES TO TALK, Daniel said. He hides behind the priests as a flag of truce1.
He wishes to trap you, more like it, Odo said. You'd be a fool.
I couldn't wait to put my vengeful eyes on the bastard2. Don't forget. I put on my cap. Iam a fool.
I rushed to the front, found my horse, and called for Father Leo. Come, here's your chance to be an equal to the highest priests in Bord. We fetched him a horse. And Daniel? I slapped him. Want a chance to see a duke piss in his pants?
We mounted our horses and rode halfway3 out into the rutted no-man's-land separating our camp from Bord.
Stephen waited for us to reach a spot. Then, gauging4 his distance from our archers5, he trotted6 his own entourage to meet me. My blood was racing7 just to see this reptile8. His look sent chills through me. He wore no helmet; his jet-black hair hung long and greasy9. His elaborate chain mail had his dragon crest10 displayed on the chest. His hands were covered in studded gauntlets, and a heavy sword, befitting a Crusader, was strapped11 to his side.
As he reached us, he did not stay his horse. He circled us, his glance darting12 from my face to the lance.
Then Stephen drew his mount to a halt. He smiled quite amiably13. So, you are the deserting coward who rouses men against their lords in the name of heresy14.
And you are the prick15, I said, unheeding, who killed my wife and child. With all respect. I bowed to the priests.
What a shame, then, Stephen said, if a similar fate befell another whom you prize.
Fury tightened16 in my chest. If any harm comes to her, it will take more than a delegation17 of priests to save you. Lady Emilie returned here of her own will, out of loyalty18 and concern for her mistress. She has no conflict with you.
And doyou? Jester, rebel, heretic... How is it I should address you?
Hugh, I said, fixing on his cold, superior eyes. I am Hugh De Luc. My wife was Sophie. My son, who never saw his second year, was Phillipe.
I'm sure all of us are delighted to hear your family tree, but what is it you want here, Hugh?
What do I want? Part of me wanted to pull him off his mount right there and end this thing, just he and I. I directed my horse one step closer to him. I want your admission of the wrongs you have done. I want restitution19 paid for each man, woman, and child killed in pursuit of this. I put forward the lance. I want the lady Emilie sent to me at once.
The duke looked to his underlings, as if he were restraining a laugh. I heard he was entertaining. And now I think no less myself. You want a lord to be a mule-keep. You parade behind a purported20 relic21 of the Church and yet you put the souls of a thousand followers22 at risk.
These men are here of their own mind, I said. I doubt they would go home even upon my demand.
Does the welfare of their immortal23 souls not matter to them? one of the priests inquired.
I don't know. Let's see. I turned back toward my ranks. Go home. Lay down your arms. All of you. Fight's over. I have his word that the duke promises to spare your souls.
My words echoed across the field, but not a single person moved. I turned back to the priest. Shrugged24.
And what if I said the lady Emilie was here of her own mind too, Stephen snapped. That it is her choice to stay, even upon my demand.
Then I would call you a liar25, Stephen. Or a hopeless fool.
Again, jester, he said, yanking his horse, you waste precious time on jokes. Your new chatelain will tell you, you are on the verge26 of a bloody27 bath.
We are ready, my lord. This battle has your handprint on it, if it occurs, not mine.
Stephen curled a smile. Just know that I will not be as lenient28 with you as was that codswipe Baldwin. You have seen the fate of certain villages and people who I thought had something I wanted. Expect no less, jester. I will see your heart burned out of your traitorous29 body. You will be hung upside down as heretics, all of you... your insides left to soil your faces as they run to the ground. Even God will avert30 His eyes!
Then what do you say, Daniel? I glanced at Gui with a smile. We must make sure we fight this fight on a full stomach, so as not to disappoint.
Stephen sniffed31 back a laugh. Then he ran his eyes over the lance. You know, should I return with that, all I described could be avoided. You could have the little slut and ride off to the far corner of the earth for all I care. As for your men, I will see that we restore their souls.
Most tempting32, I replied, pretending to ponder his offer for a moment. Problem is, my men have not assembled here for Lady Emilie, but for the single purpose of seeing the offenses33 of your rule brought to justice. They're here to demand recompense for your crimes. To see you bow down, lord, nothing less. Then I will give you the lance. That ismy offer. In the meantime, with all respect to the bishop34, we'll take our chances on our souls.
I could simply take it, you know. My archers could cut you in half with just a nod.
And mine too, my lord. Then God would have to decide.
A tiny twitch35 tremored on Stephen's nose. You think I would trade the dignity of my name even for a vault36 of such lances?
It should not be so hard, I said, holding it close to his face, since you have traded most of it already just to be this close.
Stephen reared his horse and smiled. I can see why the court grew fond of you. Get prepared, jester. I will reply. Within an hour. He yanked his horse around and started to head back toward the gate.
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1
truce
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n.休战,(争执,烦恼等的)缓和;v.以停战结束 | |
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2
bastard
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n.坏蛋,混蛋;私生子 | |
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halfway
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adj.中途的,不彻底的,部分的;adv.半路地,在中途,在半途 | |
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4
gauging
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n.测量[试],测定,计量v.(用仪器)测量( gauge的现在分词 );估计;计量;划分 | |
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5
archers
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n.弓箭手,射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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6
trotted
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小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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7
racing
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n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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8
reptile
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n.爬行动物;两栖动物 | |
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9
greasy
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adj. 多脂的,油脂的 | |
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10
crest
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n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖 | |
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11
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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12
darting
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v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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13
amiably
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adv.和蔼可亲地,亲切地 | |
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14
heresy
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n.异端邪说;异教 | |
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15
prick
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v.刺伤,刺痛,刺孔;n.刺伤,刺痛 | |
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16
tightened
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收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 | |
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17
delegation
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n.代表团;派遣 | |
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18
loyalty
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n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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19
restitution
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n.赔偿;恢复原状 | |
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20
purported
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adj.传说的,谣传的v.声称是…,(装得)像是…的样子( purport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
relic
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n.神圣的遗物,遗迹,纪念物 | |
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22
followers
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追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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23
immortal
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adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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24
shrugged
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vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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25
liar
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n.说谎的人 | |
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26
verge
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n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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27
bloody
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adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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28
lenient
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adj.宽大的,仁慈的 | |
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29
traitorous
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adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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30
avert
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v.防止,避免;转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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31
sniffed
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v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说 | |
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32
tempting
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a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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33
offenses
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n.进攻( offense的名词复数 );(球队的)前锋;进攻方法;攻势 | |
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34
bishop
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n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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35
twitch
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v.急拉,抽动,痉挛,抽搐;n.扯,阵痛,痉挛 | |
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36
vault
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n.拱形圆顶,地窖,地下室 | |
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