小说园

chater thirteen the high kg and（第2页）

“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．”