Christian still held his sword at ready, but made no moves to attack.

The newcomer was almost as tall as Christian. He had long black hair that flowed around his broad shoulders. In truth, she’d never seen hair so long on any man. His skin was a darker tan than most Europeans. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he was Saracen.

But his eyes were so pale that at first glance, they looked white. They were as startling in their mercilessness as they were in their color.

“Phantom,� Christian said in a low tone. “Are you friend or foe this night?�

“If I were foe, Abbot, you’d be dead now,� he said in an accent that was definitely Norman.

In one fluid motion, Phantom wiped his bloody dagger on his thigh before he tucked it into his black sleeve.

“Mercy, mercy!� the hostel owner said as she entered the room and saw the deadman on her floor. She rushed to the girls, then herded them out of the room.

Phantom turned his cold, eerie gaze to Adara who stiffened instantly. There was something very chilly and frightening about this man. And at the same time, there was something eerily familiar about him, but she was most certain that had she ever met this man before, she would definitely recall it.

“What have we here?� he asked with a note of excitement in his voice.

Christian placed himself between them. “She’s no concern of yours.�

A slow, wicked smile spread across Phantom’s face. “Is she your concern?�

“Aye.�

He inclined his head almost respectfully to them. “Then you’re right. She’s none of mine.� He bent down and hoisted the deadman up onto his back.

Adara was awed by his strength as he stood up and headed for the door.

“What are you doing?� she asked him.

He shrugged even with the weight of the other man on his shoulders. “I figured the good wife and her daughters wouldn’t want me to leave her place in a mess.�