Chapter 139

STEPHEN WAS IN THE MIDST of stabbing a piece of breakfast ham, the morning light tumbling into his quarters, when his page called out, Look, your lordship, to the window, quick. The rabble¹ has fled.

Just minutes before, the duke had woken in a sour mood. These rebels had proven more resistant² than he'd imagined. In wave after wave they came at him; he could not understand their zeal³ to die. Plus, two weeks ago, Anne had moved to the lady's quarters. He'd been sleeping alone.

At his page's call, he hurried to the window. His empty stomach filled with glee. The boy was right! The rebel ranks had thinned, cut by more than half.

Those fucking Languedocians, with their arms as thick as ox legs and their horsehair vests, had fled. All that remained was a measly little force, standing⁴ around like chickens waiting to lose their heads.

And there, at the head of them, the green-and-red rooster himself, in full view.Withthe lance! This decimated rabble of woodchoppers and farmers was no more than mop-up work for his men.

From behind, his aides burst in. Bertrand, the chatelain, followed by Morgaine.

Look, Stephen cackled, the gutless bastards⁵ have given up. Look at that stupid prancing⁶ cock, standing about as if he still had something to command.

You said, when the opportunity arose, the little fool was mine, Morgaine rasped.

So I did. Stephen beamed a gloating grin. I did promise you that. Tell me, Bertrand, what strength do you estimate they still have?

The chatelain scanned the field. Barely three hundred, my liege. All on foot, with limited weapons. It should be no feat⁷ to round them up with our horsemen and achieve a quick surrender.

Surrender? Stephen's eyes widened. I hadn't thought of that. Yes, it might be good to extend a hand and save these poor, misguided fools a bit more blood. How does that word sound to you, Morgaine? Surrender?

These men are soulless, my liege. We'd be doing God a service by removing their heads.

So what are you waiting for? Stephen jabbed him in the chest. The little bastard's lance still makes an ache in your side, does it not? You heard the chatelain's advice. Let the knights⁸ ride with you.

Liege, those are my men, Bertrand interrupted. They are our castle's reserve.

You know, Bertrand, Stephen interrupted. That surrender thing... I've never been particularly keen on it. Morgaine makes a case. These men have already forfeited⁹ their souls. No reason to keep them fluttering around in this world.

The chatelain's stomach sank.

The holy lance or my dignity-that was his choice, was it not? Stephen's eyes lit up. Now it seems that I will have them both. Won't I, chatelain? And Morgaine... one more thing. I know how you enjoy your work, but do not forget your real purpose out there.

The holy lance, my lord. My thoughts have never strayed from the prize.

1 rabble   

n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人

参考例句：

• They formed an army out of rabble.他们用乌合之众组成一支军队。
• Poverty in itself does not make men into a rabble.贫困自身并不能使人成为贱民。

2 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

3 zeal   

n.热心，热情，热忱

参考例句：

• Revolutionary zeal caught them up,and they joined the army.革命热情激励他们，于是他们从军了。
• They worked with great zeal to finish the project.他们热情高涨地工作，以期完成这个项目。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 bastards   

私生子( bastard的名词复数 )； 坏蛋； 讨厌的事物； 麻烦事 （认为别人走运或不幸时说）家伙

参考例句：

• Those bastards don't care a damn about the welfare of the factory! 这批狗养的，不顾大局！ 来自子夜部分
• Let the first bastards to find out be the goddam Germans. 就让那些混账的德国佬去做最先发现的倒霉鬼吧。 来自演讲部分

6 prancing   

v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风，神气地走来走去。
• The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马，他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句

7 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

8 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。

9 forfeited   

（因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Because he broke the rules, he forfeited his winnings. 他犯规，所以丧失了奖金。
• He has forfeited the right to be the leader of this nation. 他丧失了作为这个国家领导的权利。