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But to his dismay, when Dirick was shown into Henry’s private solar, his wife, Queen Eleanor attended hi his forehead to the king’s outstretched hand, and then swiveled on his bent, aching knee to greet the queen "My queen, I fear I offend you in et off the floor and rid yourself of that sword and cloak," Henry booh Eleanor doesn’t understand the rudi in haste The woman leaves me in her tracks e tour Aquitaine ’Tis only when she is enceinte that she travels at a reasonable pace,"

"Indeed, Sir Dirick," the queen’s languid tones forgave him, "’twould be unthinkable that you could offend me Or any of my ladies, for that matter"

Dirick roan from the ache in his knees, and unbuckled the sword fro it on the floor near the door, he tore the cloak from his shoulders and dropped it atop the scabbard, then turned back to his liege

"Sit yourself down," Henry gruht offends h you are ready to fall over"

Dirick sank onto a stool near the crackling fire and tried to warm his hands Henry’s sharp eyes surely did not miss the weariness and pain that lined hissave, "Your father is laid to rest?"

"Aye He is laid to rest--yet I will not rest until I lay hand and sword upon the rave" Dirick stopped his weary tongue fro aloud the words that echoed in his

"And well you should not, Dirick I would expect no less froht be, but bound with honor and deterestured to a wooden platter of cheese and bread "Eat, man, before you tilt onto the floor, and I will tell you why I have summoned you"

Eleanor thrust a goblet of ruby wine into his hand, and Dirick took it, mildly surprised that she would serve him But he was left to reach for his own hunk of bread, and he did, tearing it fro off a piece of cheese as well The wine, surely from Eleanor’s own lands of Aquitaine, went san to speak in his abrupt fashion

"As I have heard it, your father Harold was found dead with his horse and one of his ton ’Twas no ordinary scene of war or thievery"

"Aye On his belly and unshriven," Dirick spat, heedless of the breadcrumbs that sprayed into his wine "His throat was slit deep, through to the spine So his face to look up at the heavens" Anger and nausea rolled deep within hi from where he’d kept it tucked away for days

"And his body was arranged thusly with another victiround, face to the sky, as well," Henry continued His voice had lost its friendly boom and become hard "’Tis a madman, and your father’s death was the third such instance in two summers"

Dirick sed hard, and the luulped wine to soften it and warain "More? There arelooked as weary as Dirick felt "I have summoned you with such haste because I do not wish there to be a fourth instance You eance and "

The realization that he did not have to beg to be released frohtened Dirick’s weary shoulders His prayers had been answered "Many thanks, ranted me the only boon I should ask of you"

Henry nodded once, as if to agree, and Dirick shoved a hunk of crusty yellow cheese into his , if you desire a day of rest before setting out on your quest You have my perround, but one s suspected my vassal Bon de Savrille, Lord of Breakston by so He has not traveled to ives the excuse of aught such as a bad crop, or reavers on the loose, for why he doesn’t co and couldn’t ride the distance I bid you seek him out and learn what you can of him, and whether he should be trusted I do not wish him to know you are my man, however, so take care how you present yourself

"And as you travel to Breakston, you will cross the lands of Languumont, as you mayhap are aware, is the one who came upon the scene of your father’s death You must speak with him"

Dirick could barely contain his satisfaction and relief at being co he’d planned to plead for "Aye,mad man? Are there others I should speak with as well?"

"I shall have news sent to you at Langumont, as my man Dwain travels to Lederwyth to visit with a merchant who came upon the last scene Of the first instance…’twas nearly two summers past, and the man who found the victims is dead of the pox He will be no help to you"

"Very well, my lord Now, if you will, as you have providedleave and seek a pallet It will be a long ride to Langumont and Breakston, and I am weary in both body and spirit"

Eleanor’s dulcet tones interrupted any response her husband may have intended "But Christ’s Mass is on the morrow, Dirick By now the ladies have heard of your return, and they will be sore disappointed to be cheated of your dance and song at the feast"