Bretwalda (The Argosy Library) by Philip Ketchum

Author:Philip Ketchum [Ketchum, Philip]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Action and Adventure
Publisher: Altus Press
Published: 2015-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER II

JUST as the hallway, the room was lighted by torches and in the dim, yellow radiance of the smoking flame Brian could see that the girl who had admitted him was young and slender. The top of her head came barely to his shoulder. Her hair was long and hung in braids. It seemed very dark against the white sheen of her gown.

“Close and bolt the door,” whispered the girl again. “Quickly. Before others come.”

Brian turned and slid a heavy bolt across the door. Then he swung around to survey the room—the wide wooden bed at one side with the usual chest for clothing at its foot; the thick carpet on the floor; the table with its flagon of water and the two chairs which stood near it. Over the shuttered windows there were long, heavy tapestries of a rich, red color.

Brian’s eyes went to the girl’s strained face.

“Who are you?” he asked abruptly.

“I am Lady Eleanor, daughter of the earl.”

Brian’s eyes widened with surprise. He had heard mention of Lady Eleanor, daughter of Earl Robert, but he had imagined her a much older woman.

“They are coming,” Lady Eleanor whispered.

Brian sucked in a deep breath. He heard footsteps clamoring down the hallway, heard a heavy rapping on the door. The girl moved past him. “Who is it?” she called. “What do you want?”

“It is Hubert, my lady,” answered a rough voice. “Will you open the door?”

“But I am ready for bed, Hubert.”

“It is your father’s orders that I search the castle.”

“And my orders, Hubert, are that you go away and leave me alone. I am tired and have gone to bed.”

A sound of mumbling voices came from beyond the door and after a moment the men moved on.

Lady Eleanor turned around, looked at Brian. Her eyes seemed very bright.

“They will search the rest of the castle,” she whispered. “Then, perchance, they will come to believe that you jumped into the moat. I do not think they will come back here.”

Brian was scowling. He was not so sure that they would be let alone and he had no wish to be found in her room. “Why have you called me in here?” he asked suddenly. “Why did you send them away?”

The girl bit her lips. “I saw what happened in the banquet hall. I had slipped down to the door. I heard your songs and when I heard the last one I knew who you were. Your name is Wilton, Brian Wilton. And you are one of the men who have aroused the people of Northumbria against the king.”

“But still—”

The girl took a step forward. “You count my father an enemy, a man loyal to the king, don’t you? And I can’t blame you for it, for when the summons came to him to join the other nobles at Stamford he did not go. But do you know why he didn’t go? He didn’t go because he was kept here by Sir Henry de Cressy, the King’s Justiciar. He and his entire household are virtual prisoners.

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