Free Serpent by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

one-eyed knight. He had no doubt that, if challenged, de Wolfe could quite easily put a blade in his belly. Men like de Wolfe had lived to a ripe old age for good reason. Perhaps now it was time to ease the standoffishness and create a more sociable atmosphere. This was a gathering of peace, after all. It was time to be hospitable.
    “I suppose we should discuss the reasons for your visit,” he said, turning his back and motioning to Ianto, who disappeared into the shadows. “Please be seated and be comfortable. I will have food and drink brought to you.”
    It was the first real show of hospitality and William motioned to his men; Kieran, Paris, Kevin, Scott, Troy, Patrick, and Paris’ son, Apollo, cautiously moved towards the feasting table in the middle of the room, chipped and worn with age, and began to sit. They, like William, were perturbed by de Shera’s attitude and slightly hostile as a result. The younger knights eyed de Shera’s men as they claimed their seats, feeling the uncertain mood settle. They were in enemy lands in an enemy castle. Anything could happen, and they would not be caught off guard.
    Accordingly, they all leapt to their feet w hen the big wardrobe in the shadows rattled and the door suddenly popped open. Kevin went so far as to unsheathe his broadsword when a tiny little man with stringy white hair burst out of the wardrobe, but William held out a calming hand to prevent his knights from doing anything drastic. He kept his eye trained on the small figure who shuffled around back in the shadows. Like his men, he would not be caught off guard.
    Bhrodi could see what had the attention of his English visitors and he realized they were startled by something that was an everyday occurrence to him. He put up his hands as if to force them to relax.
    “Have no fear,” he said. “’Tis only my elderly uncle, and he is quite mad. He lives in the wardrobe and only emerges to fight unseen enemies or steal food. He is harmless, I assure you. When I was a child, however, I use to think he was a ghost. Most frightening.”
    William cast him a long glance. “A ghost?”
    Bhrodi nodded, turning to look at the tiny man as he battled against unseen forces. “He is my mother’s uncle and he has been mad as long as I can recall,” he said. “He has lived in that wardrobe for at least thirty years, mayhap more. When I was small, I was terrified of the man who lived in the wardrobe and only came out at night.”
    “But a ghost?”
    Bhrodi shrugged. “If you were five years of age and you saw such madness in the dead of night, what would you think?”
    William conceded the point. “That he was a ghost, I suppose,” he replied . Then, he eyed the man. “Are there any other ghosts or creatures we should know about so that my men are not startled by such things? Startled knights tend to react with deadly consequences, as they are trained.”
    Bhrodi shook his head. “Nay, no more oddities that I am aware of,” he said. “But be mindful that my uncle may come into the hall in his quest to vanquish his invisible enemy. He will not harm anyone but do not try to stop him; he must run his course. Just stay out of his way.”
    “What happens if someone interferes?”
    Bhrodi lifted his eyebrows. “Then my uncle might do some genuine harm,” he said. “He becomes even more insane if another human being touches him. Therefore, it is best to simply stay out of his way.”
    An interesting statement in an evening that had been full of them. This is a very odd place , William thought as he glanced over at Paris and Kieran. He knew they were thinking the same thing. Without further delay or questions, but keeping an eye on the strange old man as he battled ghosts, William took a seat at the big feasting table just as Ianto emerged from the shadows with kitchen servants in tow. The servants were weighed down with food and drink, and soon the big and worn table began to fill with warm edibles and cold