If he had heard de Caldoet's final remark, he gave no sign. It was true that he had accepted the offered challenge in a fit of temper, but he would have accepted it even had he been perfectly cool. He could do nothing else. The captains of his army had attended the parley, and to refuse would have been tantamount to admitting either that he was personally afraid or that he knew his cause to be unjust. Hereford's hand tightened on his rein as if holding it firmly would improve his control on a situation that seemed to be slipping out of his grip. Lord Radnor had been equally silent, although he kept his horse standing beside Hereford's while the others had ridden ahead to spread the word among the men. His dark face worked momentarily as he came to a difficult decision."Roger."Hereford started. Lord Radnor called him Roger only when he had something intensely personal to say or when he was emotionally much moved. "Yes?""You had better let me fight as your champion."With eyes widened with shock and insult, Hereford studied the expression of the man who had made that flat, unemotional statement.
