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“At what time?”
“Six.” She hoped Stasio would go along with her plan if they met up with him first.
“Who are you after?” Cadfael asked.
“Gareth, wanted for crimes in New York,” Jasmine quickly said.
“Know this: Gareth’s real name is Anarawd,” Cadfael said. “If you speak of his name to the local Welsh League, they will only know him by this name. We dispatched him a half hour ago.”
Jasmine’s jaw dropped. Then she clamped her mouth closed. She hated that she was always too late!
“Prove it,” Pierre said.
Cadfael smiled, but his smile was born of contempt and his hand was resting on the hilt of his sword again. “If you wish to join him, be my guest.”
“I’m not a rogue,” Pierre said, his eyes flashing with anger.
“What would you call displaying your wicked canines at me, if they’re not a rogue’s actions?” Cadfael didn’t seem to be a man who could be easily riled, which made him more dangerous.
Llewellyn glanced around the castle and he stopped looking, his eyes widening. She turned to see what had caught his attention and saw Stasio and two of his male friends watching them from a distance.
“Speak of the devils,” Cadfael said, looking in the direction Llewellyn was watching. Then he turned his attention back to Pierre and Jasmine. “You would do well to leave this place and never come back.”
“But—I’m with—” Jasmine started to say before Cadfael interrupted her.
“Which I intend to verify.” And then Cadfael gave Stasio and the others a dark smile.
6
“Those are Gareth’s brothers,” Stasio warned Levka and Arman. It could be a good thing or a very bad thing. He wasn’t sure which way this was going to go.
“Yeah, and they’re headed this way,” Levka said.
“She mentioned you,” Arman told Stasio. “Jasmine. She told them about you and now they’re out to get us instead.”
“Just listen to what they have to say,” Levka cautioned. “Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Arman folded his arms. “We don’t have swords to fight them. And using our teeth in a public place isn’t a good idea.”
“Pierre was foolhardy to show his off in a threatening manner,” Stasio said. “I’m surprised they didn’t kill him right there. No one would have blamed them.” But Stasio thought Arman was right. Jasmine mentioned him, maybe believing he was from here and could smooth things over with the hunters.
Gareth’s brothers knew Stasio and his friends had tried to overthrow the old regime. They would know they were rogues and had every right to put them down.
“Don’t do anything to antagonize them,” Levka said.“Ruric, Caitlin, we have a situation. We’ve run into Gareth’s brothers. They’re hunters,”he told Caitlin, sharing his comments with all of them.
“Do you want me to join you?”Ruric asked.
“No, if this ends badly, I want you to take Caitlin and flee. We’ll meet up with you someplace else.”This time Levka shared his communication with only the guys, leaving Caitlin out of it.
Stasio figured Levka thought Caitlin wouldn’t leave with Ruric if she knew Levka would be in a fight and could be wounded badly or die.
“Just let me know when, if we need to leave suddenly,”Ruric said.
Then they all went silent as the armed Welsh warriors joined them.
“Why are you here?” Cadfael asked Levka, though he cast a sly glance at Stasio.
“Here to see our homeland and keep out of trouble,” Levka said.
