The Magic by Virginia Brown

Author:Virginia Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks Inc.
Published: 2019-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“WILL IT WORK?” Sir Brian glanced from the brightly-costumed youth to Rhys. “Even if he gets inside Glynllew, there is no assurance they won’t kill him.”

Biagio made a familiar gesture. “Pah! I will entertain them so well they will reward me with good wine and loose women.”

“Partake sparingly of the first, and leave the last alone,” Rhys said curtly. “Failure will be fatal for more than just you.”

“An unnecessary reminder, grim knight,” Biagio muttered. He deftly tossed a dagger into the air, followed swiftly by two more, juggling them agilely before catching them one by one by jeweled hilts. Then with a flourish, he made them disappear in the blink of an eye. He smiled at the astounded Brian. “‘Tis magic.”

“‘Tis foolery. Look in his sleeves,” Sir Robert suggested, but Brian refused.

“Nay, ‘tis best not to get too close to evil,” said the Irish knight with a dark frown.

Rhys ignored him. He turned to Elspeth, who perched on the cart tail and watched with an expression he could not interpret. “Will he succeed, goodwife?”

“He is adept at trickery, so has more chance than most,” she replied, her English bearing traces of a Salfordshire accent. “But he is also adept at empty boasts.”

Eying Biagio, Rhys wondered if he should reconsider. While word had come earlier that the soldiers he had hired weeks ago had finally reached Wales, their numbers were still unequal to the garrison inhabiting Glynllew. Trickery would earn them time to reconnoiter and concoct an effective assault plan. It would also lessen the danger to Sasha.

“Can he find the maid?” Rhys asked abruptly.

“Aye, if she is willing to be found, he will do so.”

Rhys studied the older woman. Doubt lay in her words, but he could not place the cause. Gray-streaked brown hair tucked beneath her cap; blue eyes met his gaze calmly, forthright and unafraid. “You think she went willingly?” he asked.

“Do you?”

“I vow, I do not know what to think. She confounds me,” he admitted.

Elspeth shook her head. “Nay, my lord, it is doubtful Sasha went willingly to the men who hold her, but she may not be willing to endanger Biagio by letting him find her. It is not the first time the two of them worked at odds to escape consequences of their exploits.”

“Elspeth frets too much,” Biagio interrupted. “Age addles her mind.”

“Not as greatly as youth addles your judgment,” she retorted. “There is not time enough to recount your foolish schemes that near ended in disaster.”

Sir Robert intervened. “Recount your plan, young master, so that we may be prepared for possible difficulties.”

Shrugging, the youth flung a sulky glance at Elspeth. “‘Tis simple enough. I present my talents to the constable for the castle’s entertainment. Once I am inside, I determine the strength of the force and search for Sasha.”

“Did you not forget an important part of the plan?” Sir Robert asked mildly.

“Oh, aye. I am to poison the wine.” He smiled at Brian’s exasperated curse. “Not a fatal potion, alas, but one to render ineffective all those who drink.

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