Page 106 of Lord of Fortune
Penn looked conflicted, his gaze moving down the lane toward what she assumed was the man’s cottage—it looked like what the innkeeper had described. “I’m not sure I want to take the time. We need plenty of time to walk to the falls, search for—and find—the heart, and get back before nightfall.”
They could wait until tomorrow. That would give them one more night. However, they were both eager to find the heart. This was the culmination of their journey together.
Culmination meant the end. A lump lodged in her throat, and she struggled to swallow past it. Perhaps theyshouldwait…
Before she could voice her concern, Penn took a step toward the lane. “Let’s visit him. When I came here in my youth, we started at Ystradfellte, which is north of here, so he may have useful information. We’ll be brief.”
And they were on their way.
It was a short jaunt to the cottage where Penn knocked on the door. The man who opened it was squat and thick. Not fat, but well muscled. He reminded Amelia of a less grizzled version of Egg.
“Good afternoon,” Penn said. “We’re going to walk to Sgwd yr Eira, and the innkeeper said we should visit with you first.”
The man looked up at Penn, scrutinizing him for a moment before inviting them inside. “Come in, come in.”
Penn glanced at Amelia. “We shouldn’t stay long.”
Mr. Hughes waved his hand as he led them to a sitting area. “You’ve plenty of time to walk there and back before nightfall.” He turned to face them. “Unless you’re planning to spend some time at the waterfall?” Something about the question struck Amelia as odd. It wasn’t an innocuous query but gave her the impression he was searching for information.
Her hackles rose, and she paused just behind Penn, then reached out to touch his arm.
The older man’s gaze flicked toward Amelia’s movement. She withdrew her hand as Hughes stuck his out toward Penn. “I’m David Hughes.”
Penn shook his hand. “Penn Bowen, and this is my, er, wife.”
Hughes’s eyes widened briefly. “Mr. Bowen! Well, of course I’ve heard of you and your illustrious father.” He bowed to Amelia. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Bowen. What brings you to the waterfall?”
“We’re on our honeymoon trip,” Penn said smoothly. “I visited here in my youth, but we came from the north.”
Hughes nodded. “Ah, from Ystradfellte.” He peered at them with a bit of skepticism, and again Amelia’s senses pricked. “You’re a treasure hunter, Mr. Bowen. Are you certain you aren’t looking for something? The Heart of Llanllwch, perhaps?”
Penn took a step back so that he was even with Amelia. “Who are you?” he asked in a low, fierce tone.
“I’m a bit like you,” he said. He turned his attention squarely on Amelia. “Is there a chance you’re related to Jonathan Gardiner? You’ve a bit of the look of him—it’s your eyes.”
Amelia edged forward in surprise and anticipation. “You knew my grandfather?”
Now it was Penn’s turn to touch her arm. He moved closer to her side.
“I did,” Hughes said. “You are not the first people to search for the Heart of Llanllwch. And you won’t be the last.”
“But my grandfather didn’t find it,” Amelia said.
Hughes’s gray brows shot up. “Didn’t he?”
“That one was fake,” Penn said flatly. “And he didn’t find it here, but near Carmarthen, which I think you know. You’re a member of the Order. Don’t deny it. I know you watch over the Thirteen Treasures, and that’s what you do here, isn’t it? You’re one of their watchers.”
“Very astute of you, Mr. Bowen, but then I would expect nothing less. Indeed, I’m a tad surprised it took you that long.” His eyes glowed with mirth, but Amelia wasn’t amused. What was this man about?
“Help me understand,” she said. “How did you know my grandfather?” He’d doubted that the Order truly wanted to protect the treasures, and yet he’d apparently met one of their watchers.
“He went to Carmarthen looking for the heart. I used to live there. When he found it, we let him take it.”
“The fake, you mean,” Penn said.
Hughes gave him a pointed look. “Yes, that’s why we let him have it. We hoped it would stop others from looking for the real one.” His expression softened as he looked to Amelia. “You appear confused. Let me reassure you. Your grandfather was on a quest to find the heart, but more importantly, to find answers. He grew to understand what the Order was about and even agreed with our purpose. For that reason, he was given the dagger to keep it safe.”
Amelia tried to make sense of what Hughes said. It was wonderful to know what had happened, but it didn’t help her confusion regarding her grandfather. “Was he part of the Order?”
