Housecarl by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd
Published: 2012-12-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The watches we had kept on campaign felt like child’s play compared with the stress and the tension of watching for the two strangers. We worked as pairs with Osgar and Wolf walking the outside of the hall whilst Ridley and I watched the inside. The kitchens were a nightmare with cauldrons of boiling steaming liquids and servants taking in platters of food. We began to see shadows where none existed and sudden movements acquired sinister overtones. By the time the food ha d all been served and the guests were all drinking we were exhausted. I watched my uncle and saw that he barely touched his ale but his eyes flicked constantly around the room, diligently scrutinising the guests for si gn s of the red haired warriors.

As the evening came to an end and the guests left I felt as tired as though I had fought in the shield wall for a day. The main guests were staying in the hall which meant that we did not have to follow them. Aethelward joined us. “Osgar and Wolf can come indoors now for the guards outside have been told to stop anyone from entering.”

Wolf and Osgar had had the same experience we had and I could see from their eyes that they too w ere tired. It seemed that we had made a mistake and there would be no threat to anyone’s life . Aethelward was not certain. “This would be the best time to strike in the small hours when the birds of the night rule, and the owl is king.”

All of us shuddered involuntarily for the owl was a frightening bird and was a symbol of ill omen . I hoped that I was wrong but part of me wanted to see the warriors again so that I could ask them about my father. Aethelward retired to his room for we thought he might still be a target. The four of us prowled the dark hall without a light for we did not want to give anything away.

Ridley and I stood in an alcove close to the King’s chambers whilst the other two guarded Ealdgyth. “They say that the spirits of the dead walk at night.” Ridley looked up to the rafters in fear, “and they say that the dead men who died unnaturally here come back at night to haunt the living. What do you think master?”

In truth I believed that the dead walked at night but not in a sinister way. “Do you remember Nanna?” In the darkness I felt him nod. “Well I believe that h er spirit is here and watches over me. I believe that she protects me in death as she did in life.”

“And will she protect me master? ”

“Ay e , for she loved you as my friend. I fear not the spirits of the night , but I do fear the blade of an unknown killer.”

I found my eyes droop in with the tiredness and the tension. I kept jerking my head up and staring around in panic.

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