Страница 61 из 74
`You talk of trial by combat, you cowardly fake!' He didn't seem to be shouting but his voice carried to all sides of the crowd. 'Trial by combat is single combat!'
Will decided it was time to join in again and make sure the crowd supported Horace. At the moment, he realised, they were ready to agree to anything.
`He's right!' he shouted. 'Single combat!'
And he felt a huge surge of relief when those around him took up the cry.
`Single combat! Single combat!' As he'd hoped, they didn't care about what was fair, but they wanted a show and they knew single combat would last longer than a one-sided competition of one on two.
Again, Horace's voice rang out over the square. His eyes were locked on Te
`I'll fight both your mountains of blubber!' he said. `One at a time. One after the other. I'll defeat them and then I'll fight you, if you've the courage!'
And he shoved Te
There was a gasp of admiration at his blinding speed. Most of those present didn't even see him move. One moment he was facing Te
`Two fights!' he yelled. 'Two fights instead of one!'
And they took up the cry. Now they had a chance of seeing twice as much bloodshed. And to this baying, half-drunk rabble, that meant twice the entertainment.
Te
`Two fights! Let's see two fights! Two fights! Two fights! Two fights!'
It became a rhythmic, insistent chant, one that brooked no argument. Te
He raised his hands and the chant died away. The mob watched him expectantly.
`Very well!' he agreed. 'Two fights!'
And the mob roared in exultation, taking up the chant again. Halt looked at Horace, a question in his eyes. Horace nodded confidently.
`Not a problem… your majesty.' He gri
Chapter 38
The crowd continued to yell its approval and Te
`Something on your mind, priest?' he asked.
For a moment, a frown touched Te
`We had an agreement, Ferris,' he said in a low tone.
Halt raised an eyebrow. 'Ferris?' he said. 'Is that the way you address a king? I think you mean "your majesty".'
`You won't be King when I'm finished with you. People do not break agreements with me. I'll destroy your Sunrise Warrior and then I'll have you dragged from the throne, screaming like a frightened girl.'
Te
`Brave talk, Te
In the past two years, since he had begun his campaign to destabilise the island of Hibernia, nobody had dared to threaten Te
But the young man looked supremely unworried by the prospect.
Horace, meeting Te
`The combat will take place in three days' time,' Halt a
Te
`Agreed,' he said.
The crowd broke out in cheers once more. A public trial by combat would mean a holiday – with the added attraction of the opportunity to see at least one man killed.
Halt glanced at Sean, who gestured to the escort to form around him. Then they marched off the platform and, shoving through the cheering, jostling crowd, they headed up the hill back to the castle. As they made their way, they became aware of a chant spreading through the town.
`Hail Ferris! Long live the King! Hail Ferris! Long live the King!'
Horace gri
`So that's the way to win the crowd's loyalty. Throw them a few violent deaths.'
`At least,' Sean replied, 'there's no way Ferris can go back on it now. The mob would tear him to pieces if he did.'
They made their way back to the castle and into the throne room. As their escort took up positions outside the throne room, Sean ordered one of them to fetch hot water, soap and towels. Then he followed Halt and Horace into the large i
Halt crossed quickly to the small robing a
`Two choices, brother. I either cut your gag and ropes, or I cut your throat. You choose.'