mixed together. The sight of Angela serving beers irritated him, but there was nothing he could do about that right now.
Stay focused, he told himself. Find that old bastard.
The front door opened and two men staggered in to Merlyn's Bar. The younger one--a redhead guy with a ruddy face--lost his balance, slipping down on one knee. His older companion helped him back up, slinging an arm around the redhead's waist before hauling him to standing and glancing over at Toby and Gabe.
Both men looked into the eyes of Gwydion and felt rage stir inside them.
The old wizard only grinned slyly and turned back to the young man he supported. Toby watched him help the drunk move to a bar stool before nodding to Gabe. His son began cautiously inching their direction.
"What a pretty red-headed lass ye are!" The young man's Irish lilt was loud and boisterous as he spoke to Angela. "Being a red head myself, I have a weakness for it in women. I'd sure to love to take ya back to my place, see if your hair is red everywhere."
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Easy there lover boy," Angela laughed. "I think you've already had a few too many. Where were you before you came here?"
"At the pub, of course. It's just 'round the corner." The young man smiled appealingly and held out his hands. "But they didn't sell the finest brew in the land like you serve up here."
Toby couldn't help wonder where "just 'round the corner" was. Merlyn's Bar was located at the end of long, tree-lined road.
"Still, I don't think I can serve you. We have rules about that stuff." Angela turned to her attention on Gwydion. "You as drunk as this one?"
"No ma'am," he answered. "I'm just taking care of him."
"Well, if getting him drunk as a skunk was your mission, I'd say he's well taken care of."
"A man like me has many missions."
"A woman like me has little time to hear about them. What do you want to drink?"
"A Guinness, please."
Angela went to get the beer and Gabe took the opportunity to slide behind the bar. As she came back in, he took it from her.
"I'll handle this customer," he said, roughly. "You go sit back down."
"O-o-okay." Angela frowned at his tone, but didn't question him. "I've got to go to the ladies room anyway."
As she walked away, Toby moved behind Gwydion.
"I told you to leave." Gabe spoke softly, but his voice dripping with anger. "You should have listened."
"No, it's you that should have listened." Gwydion chuckled. "And Toby, you can stop breathing down my neck. I know you're behind me."
"Get out, Gwydion," Toby said, "before it gets ugly."
"Oh, it's too late for that. I’m glad you're here for the demonstration. Maybe this will convince you something needs to be done about the banshee you let warm your bed." Gwydion turned to the younger man. "Daniel, it's time for you to complete the little project you agreed to help me with. Tell these gentlemen where you are from."
"From here of course!" The young man peered up at Gwydion's face. "Where else?"
"And where is here?"
"Are ye daft man? Dalkey is the name of our village."
"Would that be Dalkey, Ireland?"
"You know it as well as I. You come into the McCloud's Pub every week. Don't see how you could forget that!" Daniel rubbed his red, rimmed eyes. "You need ‘ter lay off the Guinness, old man."
"How long have you lived in Dalkey?"
"My whole life. Whole generations of me family were born and bred there."
"And your family name? What is that?"
Toby groaned inwardly, already certain he knew. Gwydion's plan was easy to see now. Thinking fast, Toby readied a time spell to slow everything down if things got ugly.
"O'Grady. My folks have all been O'Gradys."
Jacqueline's clan--the people she was meant to provide guidance for at the time of their death.
"Thank you for your help, Daniel." Gwydion smiled and held out his hand. "I hope this doesn't hurt too much."
A knife materialized on Gwydion's palm and quicker than the average mortal could see he plunged it straight into Daniel's chest.
Toby began to chant a spell, but Gabe was faster.
All around them, the sounds of the bar stopped abruptly. People were frozen in time, beers to their lips or mouths open in mid-laugh. Though Toby was accomplished at creating the same sort of spell, he had to admit Gabe's was much faster and more effective.
"Nice try," Gwydion said. "But you're still too late for young, Daniel here. Your spell