Page 77

Bypassing his usual routine of posing for the screaming women, he simply headed for the bathhouse with Christos, Aurelius, and Galan in tow. Cam and Brody remained behind, watching Ayr and his son up above and their reaction to Titus’ departure. As soon as Titus left, they left.

But neither Cam nor Brody had a good feeling about that.

“Get word tae Clegg that Ayr is still here,” he said. “I dunna understand why the sentries havena located the man and his son and escorted them out. They were here, in plain sight, and I’m sure they were in the lists, too. Why not toss them out?”

Brody wasn’t quite sure, but he had a suspicion. “More than likely because it would bring many unanswered questions tae see a pair of spectators bodily removed from the lists,” he said. “Mayhap Clegg is simply waiting for the moment when there willna be a thousand witnesses around. He doesna want tae upset his guests, guests he depends on for his income.”

That made sense to Cam, but he still didn’t like it. “Possibly,” he said. “Find Clegg and tell him where we saw the pair. I’ll see ye back in the village.”

With that, the men parted, but there was a sense of trepidation in the air. Without knowing for certain that Ayr and his son had been seen leaving the Ludus Caledonia, or had been physically removed by Clegg’s sentries, there was always that fear of the unknown.

If they couldn’t see them… where were they?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The rain was pounding by the time the last of the patrons were leaving the Ludus Caledonia, traveling down the hill on the water-slicked road. The storm was churning overhead, lighting up the night sky, which made those who worked at the Ludus Caledonia extra vigilant in making sure everyone got out safely.

The exit, and there was only one way in and out, was heavily manned, as was Caelian Hill and some of the areas where stores or things of value were kept, like the stables. With all of the sentries focused on these areas, it made it easy for Ambrose and Conan to slip over to the edge of the warrior’s village and hide in a copse of trees.

And there, they waited.

It had been an hour, at least, if not more. They sat amidst the wet branches and foliage, waiting for that one brief and shining moment when Titus would come into their view.

Provided he didn’t enter the encampment another way.

That was always a possibility.

“Do ye think they’re still looking for us?” Conan asked quietly as the rain gently pelted him. “The guards, I mean. Do ye think they’re still looking?”

Ambrose was hunkered down, wet and miserable, but he ignored it. He had a greater purpose in mind that superseded his personal comfort.

“Aye,” he answered. “Soon, our carriage will be the only one left, so they’ll assume we’re still here.”

“They’ll be looking for us in earnest, then.”

Ambrose knew that. “I’m not leaving before I have a chance tae speak with Titus,” he said. “I know I can convince him tae come with us.”

Conan wasn’t so sure. Now that he’d seen Titus fight, he wasn’t sure about anything any longer. He looked at his father, seeing how determined the man was. When his father took on this mood, nothing could convince him otherwise.

“I’m still not sure how,” he said after a moment. “If we’re honest with ourselves, it wasna as if Titus had a good life at Culroy. He was a prisoner and treated like one. Those times werena kind tae him. He’ll look at us and be reminded of those years, Da. The man dinna like us.”

Ambrose’s hawk-like gaze was focused on the encampment of small stone cottages. “He’ll forget about his dislike when we offer tae help him,” he said. “I told ye that, lad. We can convince him that we will help him take revenge on his father.”

Conan snorted. “Da,” he said slowly. “I dunna know if ye really saw the man fight tonight, but I’ll tell ye now that he doesna need us. Somewhere in the past seven years, Titus became a world-class warrior.”

“I saw.”

“Did ye truly see? Did ye see the way he destroyed a man twice his size?”

Ambrose looked at him. “I saw everything,” he said. “He’s the best warrior I’ve ever seen, but if he has any chance at revenge against Hugh, then he’ll need an army behind him. My army.”

“That’s what ye’re offering him?”

“That’s what I’m offering him.”

Conan was eager to wreak havoc on Hugh Stewart with any given chance, but he was starting to think that his father might be delusional. The Titus they saw tonight wasn’t that same frightened boy his father seemed to think he was. He seemed to think he could still manipulate Titus into doing his bidding.

But Conan wasn’t so sure. Still, he shut his mouth because, at some point, his father would start calling him a coward, or worse, and Conan didn’t want to get into it with him. Not now. He’d sit tight and let his father do what he needed to do.