Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
If only Verena had not told her that. How now did she get around not obeying her husband, although she would probably be wise to obey him on occasion. “I know it is believed that the ghost of the giant resides there, and I am curious to see for myself.”
Verena shook her head. “It is not just believed, it is true. The ghost of the giant does reside in the keep, though he never shows himself, but he is heard, and his breath felt.”
That intrigued Flora even more. “Has he harmed anyone?”
“Nay, my lady, he mostly frightens, but one can never tell if he will lose his temper and do harm. That is why it is better to stay away, not annoy or provoke him and cause more problems than already exist.”
It was thoughtful the woman worried over her, but Flora could not let that stop her. “I appreciate your warning, Verena, but once my curiosity takes hold there is no stopping it. We will talk again and thank you for the food and drink.”
With that Flora left a stunned Verena staring after her as she hurried up the steps to the keep and disappeared inside.
Flora stood in a narrow room, unlit torches in brackets on either side of a closed double door. There was a musty odor as if the room had been closed away for some time. Eager to explore, she opened the one side of the double doors, the iron hinges creaking, and entered a large room the only light from a broken wood shutter that hung loose on a window high up on one of the stone walls. A large stone fireplace took up nearly one wall and numerous trestle tables and benches ran on either side of the room in a straight line and up to the long table at the far end, though did not attach to it. A white cloth, covered in dust was draped over it. She realized then she stood in the Great Hall. Tapestries, in need of a good dusting, hung on two walls as well as colored banners. Oil lamps sat atop tall pedestals in various places around the room that would provide sufficient light as well as light from the fire in the large, cold hearth, yet to be cleaned of its ashes.
She spent a few moments listening for any strange sounds, a moan, or the feel of a breath on her, but she heard nothing and felt nothing.
She proceeded to the far-left corner of the hall and through a doorway into a dark, short hallway. She was able to spot another doorway to the left. She tried the handle, but it was locked tight. She returned to the Great Hall and spotted a curving staircase off to the side. The stairs disappeared up into darkness but that did not stop Flora. She braced her hand on the wall and carefully made her way up. She reached a landing where there was a door, or you could continue up the staircase. She chose to open the door.
A gloomy light flooded the room as well as a deep cold. She looked up to see that once again shutters hung broken, and she wondered if the ghost had anything to do with the damage. It was a small bedchamber, thick with dust which meant it had not been used in some time. Metal sconces, their torches dark, were mounted on the walls along with weapons, and chests, some piled three high, were tucked here and there.
She stood a moment and listened but heard nothing. She continued exploring, climbing to the next floor with careful steps since she could barely see in front of her to come upon a bedchamber. It was dark with not an ounce of light, though she did catch a peek of a light on one wall and carefully made her way toward it, bumping her leg only once on a chair from the feel of it. The dim light was trying to force its way through the shutters. Flora reached up to open them, but her fingers just missed the bar that held them closed. She eased her way back from where she had walked and bumped into the chair again. She managed to push it over to the window bumping once into a chest. She climbed up on the chair and yanked the slim iron bar back and pulled the shutters open.
Though the sky was gloomy it was still enough light to reveal the room. It was a large room with a large bed occupying a good portion of it. Dust covered everything and the musty odor she had smelled downstairs was more prevalent up here.
She got down off the chair and pushed it more easily this time to another shuttered window and got that one opened. Light and fresh, cold air flooded the room, and Flora smiled. This was something she could see to, bringing the keep back to life and solving the mystery of the ghost.