Page 53

“Too many,” Gethin said, eyeing the horseshoe. “Between you an’ me, I’ll be glad when they’re gone. With the extra ’orses they bring in and the repairs that suddenly ’ave to be done right away, I can barely keep up.”

“Does the royal family entertain often, then?”

“Often enough. The last time was right afore Prince Anarawd was to marry.” He shook his head. “If you saw ’em goin’ to the graveyard, I daresay you ’eard what ’appened then.”

“I heard mention of the prince’s death, but I have yet to speak to anyone who was in the castle when it happened.”

“Owain Gwynedd’s brother, Cadwaladr, was behind it,” Gethin said, thrusting the horseshoe into the fire with a little more force than necessary. “Middle of the night, it was. But the groom, Dai, was up. Not knowin’ what ’ad ’appened in the castle, ’e readied the ’orses for the two men Cadwaladr ’ad commit the murder. Course, some people are sayin’ Dai should ’ave sensed somethin’ was amiss because their tunics were stained with blood.”

Leif raised his eyebrows. This was new information. “How did you learn that?”

“Well, the tunics were found, weren’t they? And there was no hidin’ the bloodstains.”

“Where did they find them?”

“In the forest.” Gethin withdrew the horseshoe from the heat and made a few final adjustments to it before dipping it into a bucket of water. Steam hissed.

“Who found them?” Leif prompted.

“A couple of lads from the tref. They were out catchin’ rabbits and came upon a badger set. They knew better than t’ disturb the badger, but one of the lads saw somethin’ red and gold stickin’ out of the ’ole and used a stick ’e found lyin’ about to pull it out.”

“Mayhap the very same stick used to push the tunics into the hole,” Leif said.

Gethin inclined his head. “That could be. But the villains should ’ave known better than t’ ’ide ’em in a badger set. Anyone could tell you that a badger would never tolerate somethin’ like that blockin’ its tunnel.”

“You think the animal pushed the tunics most of the way out?”

“Must have.” Gethin set the horseshoe on the table beside three others. “Else ’ow would the boys ’ave spotted ’em?”

How, indeed? Unless the men had made a halfhearted attempt at hiding the tunics with the hope that the clothing would be found.

“What did the boys do with the tabards?”

“Why, they brought ’em t’ the castle.”

“You wag your tongue faster than an old woman, Gethin.” At the gruff voice, Leif swung around to see a gray-haired man with a dirt-smudged tunic glaring at the blacksmith.

“Don’t tell me you don’t spend ’alf the day talkin’ to ’orses, Dai.”

Dai. Leif studied the man more carefully. Was this the groom who’d seen the escaping murderers?

“Horses only listen,” Dai said. “There’s never any reason to worry about them twisting your words.”

Gethin grunted. “You worry too much.” He inclined his head toward Leif. “This ’ere’s Luc. ’E’s yet another man needin’ ’orseshoes.”

Dai’s suspicious expression remained. “I feel that we have met before. Where do you hail from?”

“The coast,” Leif said, sticking to the response he’d given to Elis. “North of here.”

“I’ve lived in that area,” Dai said. “Have you heard of Bryn Eithin?”

The name was vaguely familiar, but Leif could not place it. “I cannot say that I have.” His horse nickered, and he seized the distraction to change the subject. “Do not allow me to slow your work. I told Gethin that I would happily wait until he has finished with the castle’s horses.”

A trumpet sounded from the castle entrance, and Gethin cursed. “You’d best bring the mare over straightway, Dai. The royal party’s returnin’ and there’ll be no gettin’ ’er out of the stable once all those riders fill the courtyard.”

The trumpet notes were replaced by the pounding of hooves hitting the hard-packed road beyond the curtain wall. Dai did not hesitate. He crossed the courtyard and had the stable doors open in an instant. Leif eyed the distance between the blacksmith shop and the entrance, his tension mounting. There was no escaping unseen now, not with the road filled with dignitaries and guards. His only viable option was to stay out of sight until the courtyard and road cleared.

Chapter 23