The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

thought King Henry stole their father Norman's crown when their uncle Robert lost his grip on the throne. They overlooked the fact that Robert had tricked Norman out of the crown in the first place. Still, Charles Oswald proved a true friend to Hal, and Queen Mary always treated Hal with fairness and respect. King Henry trusted few people and his two sons were not part of that select company. Hal's son James had found his way to his grandfather's favor, but that did nothing to change the King's attitude toward Hal. The King had forbidden the brothers to fight as they oft did since Edward had reached his teens. Edward believed he was fit for the crown than Hal and lived his life accordingly. He was also acutely aware that Hal was the legal heir and looked for every opportunity to correct that fact. Now years later all it took was an empty corridor to spur them to blows and blades.
    Hal preferred to keep to his castle in the north but King Henry summoned the Princes every spring to meet face to face. Hal took comfort that his own son, Prince James, was old enough to run the castle in his stead. Prince James was only a few years younger than his uncle, Edward.
    "You shall not have the crown, Hal," Edward whispered. "You shall be in your grave."
    "The crown comes to me, and James is my heir, not you. You shall never be king!"
    They circled each other again and Hal nicked Edward's billowy sleeve but drew no blood. Edward moved forward and Hal suddenly moved sideways and cut Edward's shoulder. Edward jumped back, surprised by the wound, and then smiled.
    "You are aging fast, Hal. Your strength fails even as Eslenda fails. You should have finished me when you had the chance. You cannot raise Eslenda back to where it belongs."
    "And Father? How does he fit into your plans? He is the King."
    "Not for long," Edward whispered, grinning his lopsided grin.
    Hal feinted and then kicked at Edward's knee catching him in the shin, but he hopped out of range.
    "Oh, now we change the tactics since our skills are inferior. You are crafty, Hal. Father misstates your abilities. But I too am crafty as you will learn." He grabbed a cup from the table tossing it in Hal's face and followed it with his knife. Hal hooked Edward's arm with his free one and drove his knee in Edward's stomach. He sliced Edward's shoulder again as Edward pushed him away. Edward pulled a second knife from his boot and threw it at Hal. It clipped Hal's ear as he ducked and Edward thundered into him. They both fell on the floor, Hal's knife falling from his hands. He gripped Edward's wrist keeping the knife from finding his throat. Edward's eyes bulged and watered from Hal's left hand choking him. They rolled over and back, and then Hal loosened his grip on his brother's throat and poked him in the eye. Edward howled and rolled off. Hal got to his feet.
    "Got to keep an eye on me," said Hal.
    Then Edward grinned without humor and lunged at Hal who barely dove out of reach, knocking over a table full of drinking cups. The noise filled the room and soon brought the thunder of boots toward them.
    "We are found out," said Edward. "Lucky for you. Today I would have killed you."
    "Your confidence has no basis. It will prove your undoing."
    "And after you, James will die."
    Hal tensed to attack again.
    The door slammed open and the huge figure of Sir John Plucker entered the room with his blade leveled at them. He squinted at the Princes and shook his head.
    "I might have known!" His voice thundered. His face flushed nearly as red as his bushy mustache. Behind him came King Henry, his face red, and his hand on his own sword. King Henry was tall and muscular but still slighter than his sons who dwarfed most people except for Sir John Plucker who stood nearly seven feet tall, and Lockwell, the wizard whose stooped form still reached six and a half feet. It was the King's presence that commanded men, and his anger flowed through his words.
    "So it comes to this!" cried King Henry.