迪文小说>纳尼亚传奇凯斯宾王子好词好句摘抄 > chater thirteen the high kg and（第2页）
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．”
