Read Online Spectre of the Sword by Kathryn Le Veque - Free Book Online

you really are.” He lifted
his brows. “An earl in disguise? A Marquis? A runaway prince perhaps?”
    Rhys was chewing his own
bread and cheese.  He lifted a black eyebrow at Robinson’s attempt to probe
him. He decided to take the nosy old merchant for a ride just to shut him up.
He knew the type; they would never have any peace as long as there was a
mystery surrounding them.
    “Very well,” Rhys
suddenly took on a hint of animation; from a man who was perpetually
stone-faced, it was a definite departure. “But you must swear you will keep our
secret.”
    Robinson was very
serious. “Of course, Rhys.”
    Rhys sat forward, his
arms on the table and his big hands carefully folded.  “I am Lord of the
baronetcy of Rhayder.  Chrycan Castle, my seat, is situated on the edge of the
Radnor Forest and our village holds nearly five thousand villiens at any given
time. Now, the Rhayder baronetcy is know for its unusual populace, mostly
people with webbed feet or forked tongues, but I myself find it charming
because it is, in fact, my home.  I had a brother who was born with an extra
set of teeth and I myself was born with a strange affliction that I shall not
delve into, but it is certainly nothing to be ashamed of.  Now, I do not wish
to be bothered by the rabble because everyone knows that Rhayder is a place of
curses and cures, which is why I do not travel with a retinue. It draws too
much attention and I’m sick to death of healing the sick with the power of my
third eye, but that is to be expected with someone of my gift.  Do you
understand what I have told you so far?”
    Robinson was horrified
and impressed at the same time. “Of course, my lord.”
    “Then you will keep my
secret.”
    “To the grave, my lord.”
    “Good,” Rhys sat back in
his chair and took a large hunk of bread with an equally large hunk of cheese.
When he noticed that Elizabeau was staring at him as if he had grown another
head, he reached out and stroked her hair gently. “Eat your meal, angel. We
have a long day ahead of us and you will need your strength.”
    She lifted an eyebrow at
him but said nothing. Obediently, she returned to her food, listening to
Robinson strike up a conversation about the possibility of selling his wares in
the Rhayder baronetcy. It would seem that the man was an opportunist in spite
of all of the bizarre things Rhys had told him.  In fact, it had been difficult
for Elizabeau to keep a straight face.  When Rhys told Robinson he had a
brother with an extra set of teeth, she had nearly choked on her cheese.
    After listening to
Robinson’s inane chatter for several long minutes, they were mercifully
interrupted by two of the merchant’s men. There was apparently an issue with
reloading some of the stock in the wagon and Robinson rose from his chair,
bellowing at his men that they were imbeciles. But it removed him from Rhys and
Elizabeau’s presence.  Rhys stopped stroking her hair the moment the merchant
left the room.
    “Webbed feet and forked
tongues?” Elizabeau blurted in a hushed tone. “My God, what a horrendous place
you described.”
    Rhys looked at her,
noticing that she was nearly choking on her food in her attempt to suppress her
laughter. “I thought the extra set of teeth was a particularly good touch.”
    Her laughter broke
through then and she struggled to swallow. “Appalling.” She took a drink of
watered ale to wash down the cheese. “Do you really have a brother?”
    “I do. He’ll punch me in
the face if he knows I told such a tall tale about him.”
    Her laughter faded as
she gazed at him. “Is he the duke’s son, also?”
    Rhys shook his head and
took a healthy bite of bread. “Nay. He is my half-brother, born to my mother
and her husband three years after I was born.”
    “I see. Is he a knight
also?”
    “He serves my grandfather.”
    “And who is your
grandfather?”
    “Berwyn de Llion,” he
replied. “He is the Steward of Bronllys Castle, one of de Lohr’s