Serpent by Kathryn Le Veque

he took advantage of his adversary’s weakness and Penelope knew she had given him more fuel for the information he sought.
    “Your father is here?” he asked, sounding rather eager. “Who is he that I may speak to him?”
    She scowled as she continued to move away. “Speak to him about what?”
    Bhrodi followed at a safe distance. “About you, of course.”
    “What about me?”
    Bhrodi came to a halt. “I find you astonishingly beautiful and very intelligent,” he said. “Mayhap your father will sell you to me.”
    Penelope came to a halt, outraged. “ Sell me?” she repeated. “Sirrah, you overstep yourself. I am not a slave to be bartered!”
    Bhrodi gazed at her, a faint smile on his lips . “Nay,” he said softly, “but mayhap you are a bride to be negotiated. You have his eyes, you know.”
    Off-balance, Penelope wasn’t sure what to say. “Who?”
    “De Wolfe’s.”
    Penelope came to a halt. So he knew; well, she’d as much as told him with her foolish answers to his questions. She’d tried to be clever but he, in fact, was cleverer. He had played her soundly and gained the upper hand. There was nothing left to do now but surrender. She sighed heavily and put the dirk down.
    “What do you know of him?” she asked.
    Bhrodi shrugged faintly. “I know he has come to Rhydilian with a bride for de Shera.”
    “And what do you know of de Shera? ” she wanted to know, sounding exasperated. “Does he spread his business around so that everyone knows why we are here?”
    Bhrodi shook his head, the smile still on his lips. “He does not,” he said. “But I am sure if he knew it was you he would be receiving as a bride, he would be most receptive.”
    Penelope eyed him. “Why do you say that?”
    Bhrodi’s grin broadened. “Because I have never seen such a magnificent woman,” he said simply. “Does your father truly allow you to fight as a man? I find that utterly astonishing. Did he, in fact, expect it from you because of who he is?”
    Penelope didn’t know what to say . The heat coming from the man’s eyes was unnerving enough, now with the rather gentle voice behind it. Everything about him was unnerving and her heart was thumping loudly against her ribs. She could feel… something from him. Like invisible fingers, she could feel something from the man reaching out to grab her.
    “Please,” she said softly, quickly sheathing the dirk as she turned away from him. “I really must go or you shall have de Wolfe’s entire contingent down around your ears.”
    “You would not protect me?” he asked softly.
    She paused to look at him. “You do not look as if you need protecting.”
    “But as my wife, it would be expected of you.”
    Penelope’s eyes widened. “Your wife ?” she spat. “What madness is this?”
    He smiled, his expression surprisingly gentle. “No madness, I assure you,” he said quietly. “I am de Shera. Now, will you again tell me you are not de Wolfe’s daughter and my intended?”
    Penelope stared at him, realizing he indeed knew everything. There was no point in being coy any longer; in fact, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be. Perhaps she wanted him to know. Perhaps it was all part of this silly but charming game he had been playing with her all along. Softly, she sighed, and stopped trying to run off. She found she was willing to face him.
    “I am Penelope de Wolfe,” she said softly. “I fight with my father because I have always fought with my father, as the daughter of a great knight. He should not have allowed me to train as a knight but he could not deny me; he has never been able to deny me except one time.”
    Bhrodi was thoroughly, utterly upswept in her soft voice and the expression on her face. “When was that?”
    Her hazel eyes were fixed on him. “When I told him I did not want to marry the Welsh prince.”
    His gentle expression didn’t change. “Do you still object to marrying me?”
    Penelope shrugged, a vague gesture. She seemed to