“Our enemy is dangerous,” said the duke. “He is implacable, and he is ruthless. But he does not have the strength of arms that we have, and come the spring we will ride out, find this enemy, and destroy him! Therefore, let us be of good cheer, let us eat, let us drink, and let us be merry, and though our merriment, let the enemy know that he cannot cause us to despair!”
Another murmur circled through the room, accompanied by louder cheers from the young men, polite applause from the merchants and nobles, and a cheerful bellow from the duke’s knights. Father Roberts, Thomas noticed, merely nodded his head.
The duke clapped his hands and stacked platters of food began making the rounds of the room. Thomas watched them come. “He’s very generous with the food,” said Thomas.
“He should be,”
