Philippe stared at his King, his perennial melancholic appearance still on his face. He said nothing; he did nothing.
“These wounds are nothing, Jean-Louis.” Henri coughed. “I shall recover. I shall rally my armies, overwhelm your pathetic rebellion, and repay Ocosse for its treachery. And when I am done, I shall punish you. Your wife, and your pretty little daughter first shall pay dearly for your daring to defy me. And after it is all finished, you shall thank me for it. Yes Jean-Louis, you shall.”
Philippe drew in a deep breath. His brow furrowed and his eyes lit up with smoldering fire. “You are such a fool, Henri,” he growled. “Are you so feebleminded that you never understood a simple child’s tale? Did you never understand that Jean-Louis, that unassuming donkey, he learned courage
