The Dragon Waiting by John M. Ford

Author:John M. Ford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780575073784
Publisher: Gollancz
Published: 1982-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

King Edward IV showed a darker splendor in Parliament than he had displayed in the temple the day before. He wore the lyons and the shining sun on blood-red velvet, and he did not sit in a shaft of light, and he did not smile at all as he read the Bill.

"The said duke nevertheless, for all this no love increasing but growing daily in more and more malice..."

"I'll agree with that part," Richard said to Hywel.

"... intended and purposed firmly the extreme destruction and disheri' ting of the King..."

"Extremely destroyed. How destroyed is that?"

"... upon the falsest and most unnatural-colored pretense that man might imagine, falsely and untruly noised, published and said, that the King our sovereign lord was a bastard..."

Duchess Cecily murmured "Is that a sop to me, Edward? Your father and I used to compare those stories... in bed." Cecily turned, patted Cynthia's hand. Cynthia smiled faintly, from somewhere far away.

"And over this, the said duke obtained and got an exemplification under the great seal of King Harry the Sixth..."

Hywel closed his eyes. Dimitrios stared. Richard smiled.

"For which premises and causes the King, by the advice and assent of his Lords spiritual and temporal..."

Richard said "Never kill a brother without the gods' approval."

"... and the Commons..."

"And especially not theirs."

"... ordaineth, enacteth, and established that the said George, duke of Clarence, be convicted and attainted of high treason, and shall forfeit from him and his heirs forever the honor, estates, dignity, and name of duke..."

Richard muttered "And one more thing. Say something, George, blast it; call him a fat booby, say anything. What can he do to you now?"

George stood entirely silent before the court.

"... and all his properties and possessions."

A hammer came down, and it was law.

Dimitrios said "How do the English put a royal duke to death?"

"My father had his head hacked off," Richard said. "But I don't think Edward will want anything so spectacular." He looked across the hall at George, still motionless. "Perhaps we should ask George."

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