by Grant, Donna
She focused on her meal as the women began to talk again. The conversation turned to their men and what they were hunting. Jayna kept quiet as she savored her hot meal, the warmth of the nearby fire, and the friendly conversation. But she didn’t intrude on the talk. Instead, she listened and learned much more than she ever anticipated.
It seemed Gabriel was part of a group of warriors, but warriors of what, Jayna didn’t know. When she was finally finished, she leaned back in her chair as the conversation quieted.
“Feel better now?” Mina asked.
Jayna nodded, feeling a little out of place next to such a gracious, beautiful lady of the castle. Mina had an aura around her that spoke of steely resolve and a gentle heart. In other words, she was the kind of woman Jayna knew would defend her loved ones to the death.
“The meal was delicious, aye,” she said. “I appreciate your hospitality and your kindness. I will leave now, my lady,” Jayna and started to rise.
Mina put a hand on her arm to halt her. “Please sit,” she said softly. “I haven’t seen you around Stone Crest before. From where do you hail?”
Jayna had known this question would come, and she was prepared for it. “Nowhere and everywhere. I travel, taking what work I can in exchange for a warm meal and a dry place to sleep.”
“An odd thing to hear a woman doing,” Nicole said, her Scottish accent thickening a bit. “You must be able to defend yourself if you’re still alive.”
Jayna smiled as she pulled a dagger from the sleeve of her gown. The women smiled and laughed as they watch Jayna replace the weapon. “I learned very early on that the world was a cruel place, and if I wanted a place in it I must be able to defend myself.”
“Who taught you?” Elle asked.
“My parents died when I was very little which left me in the care of my drunken uncle who cared more about his sword than he did anything else. When I was about sixteen summers he went into a rage and beat me. I waited until he passed out, grabbed one of his daggers and some food and left. I’ve been on my own ever since.”
Jayna hated lying to them, but she didn’t have a choice. She had to sound sympathetic to them or they wouldn’t believe her.
“How awful,” Mina said sadly.
Shannon did a very unladylike snort. “I would have killed him.”
“I can’t imagine what you’ve been through,” Elle said and placed her hand atop Jayna’s.
Nicole sat forward to get Mina’s attention. “Mina, isn’t there some place she can stay for a while? It’s terribly cold out and Jayna has no place to go.”
Jayna watched as Mina chewed her lower lip.
“I must speak with Hugh first,” Mina said. “You know what is going on, and I don’t want to do anything until he arrives.”
“Very true,” Elle agreed with a nod. “I can’t believe I forgot.”
Jayna hurriedly rose to her feet. “Thank you, my ladies, for everything. However, I wouldn’t want you to put yourselves in any kind of trouble with your husbands. I’ll be on my way.”
“Nay,” Mina said and as she stood with Jayna. “I cannot let you leave, not in this weather. There’ll be more snow soon.”
Jayna looked down to hide her smile. She swallowed and slowly raised her gaze to meet Mina’s. “I would not wish for you to argue with your husband.”
“Let me talk to him first,” Mina begged. “He’ll wish to speak with you before allowing you to stay, but I’m sure he’ll welcome you.”
“Are you at war?” Jayna asked.
The women exchanged glances before Shannon answered. “In a manner. Precautions must be taken, though I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course.” Jayna found herself curious at just what was going on. She had no doubt she would know the answer before the end of the night.
Mina stepped around her chair and smiled to Jayna. “Come with me.”
Since she didn’t have much of an option, Jayna followed Lady Mina as her gaze swept the great hall from side to side. It was an impressive castle. Its sheer size would intimidate the most virile of men.
As Mina left the great hall and began to ascend the stairs, Jayna glanced over her shoulder to see the other ladies talking quietly with their heads together as if their lives depended upon some secret.
Jayna nearly laughed aloud at that prospect. She had once been a grand lady in charge of a great house, and she remembered quite vividly how frivolous her life had been.
“I know you don’t wish to tell us who you really are,” Mina said softly as she turned to the left and walked down a long hallway. “My husband, Hugh, will ask, and you can rest assured that he would never tell your secret.”
Jayna clasped her hands in front of her as she followed Mina. “Not even to you?”
There was no mistaking the slight tightening of Mina’s smile. “If you ask him not to, nay, he will not. Hugh is a man of his word.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I think you are more than what you say. By your speech and bearing, I’d say you are a lady.”
Jayna sighed and stopped walking. Had she been so ready for friendship that she had let down her guard? She watched as Mina turned to stare at her. “Anyone can act like a well-bred lady.”
“Not anyone,” Mina said with a soft smile. “Keep your secrets for now, but follow me so that you can rest.”
Rest. Jayna hadn’t truly rested in...too long to remember. Ever since that awful day that had changed her life forever she had refused to relax until Gabriel was dead.
Then she could think about her future.
Jayna was so lost in thought she didn’t pay attention to where Mina led her. As she chided herself, Jayna scanned the deserted hallway and glanced over her shoulder.
“If you keep to this hallway, you’ll find the stairway leading to the great hall,” Mina said.
Jayna narrowed her eyes. How had Mina known what she was thinking? Jayna didn’t respond to her comment. Instead, she touched the dagger hidden up her sleeve.
Suddenly, Mina stopped at a doorway and gestured inside. “I hope this is suitable.”
Jayna walked into the room and gazed at the hearth and a fire that was being stoked by a servant. Above the hearth was a large tapestry depicting a knight leaving his wife for battle. On the other side of the room stood a bed with thick blood red fabric that she could pull around the bed to ward off the chill. There was a small table with two chairs, a chest near the bed and a few pegs on the walls.
“This will do perfectly,” Jayna said as she walked to the roaring fire. “I appreciate your hospitality.” And she meant it.
“Would you care for a bath?”
Jayna blinked and moved her gaze to Mina. “It wouldn’t be too much trouble?”
Mina laughed. “We have a bathing chamber that I can take you to whenever you would like.”
“Why are you being so nice? You don’t know me.”
She folded her hands together and regarded Jayna solemnly. “I’m nice because you are in need. However, I can honestly say that if you hurt anyone at Stone Crest, I’ll kill you.”
And Jayna knew she would. She had never met a woman like Mina, a woman who was not only graceful and kind but had steel running through her. She hated to admit it, but she genuinely liked Mina.
“Should I worry about you?” Mina asked.
Jayna turned and walked to the table as she contemplated the tapestry. “I didn’t come to Stone Crest to harm you.”
“What do you fear, Jayna? There is great sadness in your hazel eyes. Sadness and fear. Burdens that a lady such as yourself should never know.”
Jayna took a step away from Mina. “Fate has a way of forcing herself upon us. I was dealt my Fate.”
Mina sighed and briefly closed her eyes. “Revenge won’t heal the pain within you.”
Shaken, Jayna put a chair between her and Mina. How did Mina know just what to say to prick the sturdy stone walls she had built around herself? How did Mina know
about her pain and fear? About her revenge?
Jayna knew she hid those emotions well. To the world she appeared a woman on her own, ready for whatever life threw at her. No one had ever known the deep despair that sometimes overwhelmed her, or the longing she had for her family and her people. No one.
Until now.
“I’m sorry,” Mina said suddenly. “I’m not sure what came over me just now. It was as though I could feel your pain. Or someone’s pain.” Her gaze studied Jayna as if she were trying to decipher if what she had felt was real or not.
“No apologies,” Jayna said. “I think I’d like to rest for a while.”
“Of course. I’ll return in a couple of hours to check on you.”
Jayna waited until the door closed behind Mina before she closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Killing Gabriel might not be as easy as she first thought. Not as long as Mina was around.
Chapter Five
Gabriel stopped his horse in front of the ancient monastery and stared at the crumbling stones.
“It was never much to look at,” Cole said quietly.
“Nay. Strange that a holy place would call to the creatures.”
Cole dismounted and dropped his horse’s reins. “I thought that myself. Once holy, always holy.”
“Right,” Gabriel answered as he too dismounted and went to stand beside Cole. “Evil such as these creatures shouldn’t be able to touch a place such as a monastery.”
“Hmmm,” Cole said as he scratched his chin. “A question in need of answering. Shall we look inside?”
Gabriel grinned as Cole cocked an eyebrow before walking through the arched stone gateway of the monastery. Gabriel’s eyes scanned the top of the monastery as he recalled when he, Hugh and Cole had knocked the stone gargoyle off the roof.
Just as before, remnants of the monks could be seen in the statues of gargoyles at the top of the monastery used to ward off evil. Holy or not, the monks were also superstitious, not that Gabriel could blame them after everything he had seen while a Shield.
“I wonder,” Cole said, “if the Fae hadn’t given Hugh the clue that the gargoyle could be killed while it slept, would we have won that day?”
Gabriel turned to his friend and shrugged. “I like to think everything happens for a reason.”
“I agree. I just can’t help thinking Earth would’ve been destroyed ages ago if the Fae hadn’t been here to help. Without us, the evil would win.”
Gabriel knew that Cole was bothered that the Chosen hadn’t figured out how to destroy the Great Evil yet. “Shannon and the others are strong and intelligent. They’ll figure it all out.”
Cole nodded absently and walked into the monastery. Gabriel followed. Instantly, the musty smell of disuse assaulted Gabriel. The entry was large with ceilings that soared high above them. Balconies looking down into the entry could be seen from every floor above them.
Bookshelves that had already been knocked over were now crushed, the books nothing more than dust after the two battles that raged within the holy walls.
“I don’t smell evil,” Cole said as he picked his way through the debris.
“Me, neither.”
Just as Gabriel was about to turn and leave, he spotted something oozing off a fallen bookcase. “Cole,” he called out as he squatted down to get a better look at the nearly clear, thick substance.
“What did you find?” Cole asked as he knelt beside Gabriel. “Well. That’s interesting. What do you suppose it is?”
“I don’t have any idea.” Gabriel reached out and touched it, then rubbed it between his finger and thumb. “Its almost sticky and easily pliable.” He leaned down to sniff his fingers. “There’s no smell to it.”
Cole stood and looked around the chamber. “Whatever it is, it’s left its mark on the place.”
Gabriel rose and followed Cole’s gaze to see other spots throughout the chamber. “It’s clear, so we might have overlooked it. I wonder how many other spots this substance can be found throughout this place.”
“Let’s find out,” Cole said with a smile as he unhooked his double-headed war axe and started toward the doorway that would lead him to the chambers below.
Gabriel turned and made for the stairs leading to the floors above. He had gone about twenty steps when he encountered another puddle of the clear liquid. He decided to take the chance and venture on the roof to see if any of the substance was up there as well.
When he stepped out on to the roof he unsheathed his sword, preferring it over his bow for the time being. His eyes scanned the surroundings. The tree limbs were laden with snow and the forest was unusually quiet.
Out of the corner of his eye Gabriel saw movement. He spun around with his sword raised only to encounter...nothing. He could have sworn he had seen something.
He slowly lowered the sword and walked around the roof with slow, measured steps. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Someone, or something, watched him.
Suddenly, a loud whoosh sounded behind him. Gabriel spun around and blinked.
“It cannot be,” he whispered.
The evil laughter echoed around the silence of the forest. “Oh, but it is,” the gargoyle said as it hovered above him. “You didn’t honestly think you’d be rid of me with just a little shove, did you?”
“Gabriel,” Cole shouted as he ran out onto the roof, then skidded to a halt. “By the gods.”
“Be warned, Shields,” the gargoyle said as he flew higher. “Your time is at an end.”
Gabriel leaned against the side of the roof and let out a breath. “You did see it, aye?”
“Aye,” Cole said, his mouth twisted with anger. “At least we know what we’re fighting.”
“And how to kill it,” Gabriel reminded him.
Cole laughed. “If this is all the Great Evil thinks will stop us, he’s wrong.”
Gabriel straightened and sheathed his sword. “What did you find below?”
“More of the substance. You?”
“The same. I followed it up here and that’s when I encountered the gargoyle.”
“Let’s return and tell Hugh. He and the others should’ve returned to Stone Crest by now.”
Gabriel nodded and followed Cole back into the monastery and down the stairs. Again he felt as though someone watched him, but no matter how hard he looked, he didn’t find anyone.
He ran outside and hurriedly mounted. With one last look to the skies, Gabriel whistled to his horse and set out at a run to Stone Crest.
By the time he and Cole pulled their mounts to a halt inside the bailey, Hugh, Val and Roderick were making their way towards them.
“We know what we’re fighting,” Cole said as he jumped to the ground.
Hugh nodded. “As do we.”
“I can’t believe it didn’t die the first time,” Cole continued as he walked around his horse to the other Shields.
Gabriel dismounted and patted his horse on the neck as the stable boys came to get the horses.
Val ran a hand down his face. “I never thought to see it again. We’ve never had to fight the same creature twice.”
“At least the gargoyle is easy to kill,” Cole stated.
“Gargoyle?” Hugh repeated.
Gabriel narrowed his gaze as he looked to his leader. There was something in Hugh’s tone that didn’t bode well. “Aye. The gargoyle.”
“You must be mistaken,” Val said. “It’s the Harpy that’s returned.”
“Nay,” Cole said. “I saw the Gargoyle with my own eyes and heard it speak. It said that our time was running out.”
Hugh raised his hand for quiet. When they were all looking at him, he lowered his voice and said, “I know what I saw, and it was a Harpy.”
“Be that as it may, it was the Gargoyle that we saw,” Gabriel said.
Hugh nodded. “All right. Let’s compare. What I saw was a creature with wings that clanked so loudly as they beat that you could hardly hear yourself think.”
“Nay,”
Cole said. “Ours had wide, thin wings.”
“The creature we saw had the face and upper body of a beautiful woman with long flaming red hair.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Our creature had a hideously shaped face with a long snout and red, beady eyes.”
Hugh cursed as he paced before them. “You describe the Gargoyle, yet I know we saw the Harpy.”
“By the gods,” Val muttered. “We’re not fighting one creature, but two.”
The men looked to each other, then as one turned toward the castle. They must talk privately, not in the middle of the bailey were anyone could overhear them.
Yet, they didn’t get farther than the great hall before Mina stopped Hugh.
“I must speak with you,” she called out to him.
“Can it wait?”
She hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Aye.”
Hugh gave her a small smile before he hurried up the stairs to one of the tower chambers that they used when needing to discuss something privately. It was well away from the rest of the castle, and situated so that they could hear someone coming up the stairs.
“What are we going to do?” Roderick asked once they were in the tower chamber.
Hugh sank onto one of the chairs, his head in his hands. “Aimery will have to be notified immediately. We’ve battled both creatures, and we know how to kill them.”
“I hate to say it,” Gabriel said, “but I highly doubt that both creatures have come back the same as before.”
Val sighed. “Meaning they won’t be as easy to kill.”
“That’s my thought,” Gabriel said with a shrug. “It makes sense if you think that every creature we’ve battled has gotten stronger and more deadly with each one we’ve killed.”
“Gabriel’s right,” Cole said.
Hugh raised his head and steepled his hands in front of his face. “All right. We need to come up with a plan of action. Both creatures fly, which makes their attack on the castle most likely at night so we can’t see them. The Harpy we can hear coming by the clacking of her wings.”
