The two earls sat close to Richard, half holding him with the pressure of their bodies.
“Courage, Sire.”
He shut his eyes and broke into a voiceless chatter.
“No nearer, sir, I charge you. I—I am your King. Bid them row farther off.”
“They mean you no harm, Sire.”
“By the soul of your father, open your eyes, and look at them as you would look at a herd of swine.”
“No nearer. Row farther out, I say. I’ll not speak to these beasts.”
The barge turned, and then began to row to and fro at a fair distance from the bank. For a while the crowd grew quieter, as though it were puzzled, and waiting to see what those in the barge would do.
Then the shouts broke out again.
“Come to land.”