Guardian of the Stone

by Amity Grays

  The priest’s eyes grew somber. “Like man, destiny cannot see her way in the dark.”

  “Which means?”

  The priest smiled. “It is not the fabric of time which leads destiny. It is the fabric of man.” He pointed toward the cabin. “As long as there are men such as those inside…” He turned back, placing his hand over Dane’s heart, “as long as there are soldiers of courage and conviction. Destiny will always see her way.” He patted Dane’s chest, then again started walking. “We fight the fight of the ages. We fight for the light.”

  Dane looked toward the cottage where inside Edeline now sat beside her father, listening to stories she would not carry past the morrow. “I’m falling in love with her,” he confessed.

  “As I believe she is with you,” the priest said. Looking up into the heavens, he smiled. “Have faith, young man. I have a feeling your paths will never again veer far.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  THEY LEFT EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, traveling under the thick blanket of darkness and mist. They would be there, the Dogs, waiting, watching. Their numbers would be great, their advantage immeasurable. The only hope for Edeline and Dane was that their wits would be the wiser and their cause blessed.

  For the most part, they traveled under the cover of forest. By now their foes would have gathered enough reinforcement that their own much smaller party wouldn’t stand a chance in an open field. But still there were times their only choice of paths took them straight through the long, flat plains. It was then they’d say their prayers, put their faith in God, and move carefully across the valleys.

  By nightfall they arrived high upon the cliffs of Harfleur. The wind had just begun to whip with the promise of another upcoming storm, and rain fell steady from the sky. Wrapping her arms around her father, Edeline begged. “Come with us.”

  Squeezing her tight, Omont bent to place a kiss atop her head. “This is my world, Edeline. I must stay. There are things I must do, things I must see are done so that your world never changes.” His eyes watering, he ran his hand lovingly across her cheek before fisting the hand and placing it over his heart. “Know you are here, with me, forever. I love you, Edeline, more than you could possibly know.”

  From the stories she’d been told, she knew her father was an honorable and brave warrior, but on his face tonight sat only worry and sorrow.

  Tears mixed with rain to fall like a stream down her face. “I love you, too.” Like he had done, she ran her hand across his wet cheek, fisted it, and placed it over her heart. “Forever.”

  “You’ll wait for the signal?” Lucas asked Dane for assurance.

  “We’ll wait. When I’m sure it’s safe, we’ll run toward the cliffs and hide within its shadows.” Looking to the sky, he noted the fierce clouds in the distance. “It shouldn’t be long before the storm takes its shape. Can you keep them running long enough?”

  “We can,” Lucas said with confidence, “as long as it takes.”

  Taking Lucas’s hand in his, Dane patted his arm in farewell before looking toward the others. “I’ll never be able to thank you. But believe me when I say I will never forget you. None of you.”

  “Nor we you,” assured Lucas, stepping away from Dane to take Edeline into his arms.

  “Take care of my Edeline,” Omont said, stepping forward to take Dane’s hand. “That will be thanks plenty.”

  “I will, that I promise you. I will guard her with my life, with everything I have.”

  Hemart’s eyes filled with tears as he approached Edeline. “I will miss you, Edeline, as I miss your father.”

  “And I you, Hemart.” Finding the goodbyes every bit as hard as she’d imagined, she closed her eyes tight and embraced the giant of a man. “My father speaks of you so fondly. I know he misses you terribly.”

  Hemart held her a moment longer, obviously reluctant to let her go, but then, with a heavy sigh, he released her and moved forward to Dane. “You are the finest of soldiers, my friend. It has been my honor.”

  “The honor has been mine.” The truth of Dane’s words sat apparent in his solemn expression as he took the knight’s hand in his.

  Taking Edeline into his arms, Roncin looked to Dane. “You take with you the real treasure. Make no mistake its value.”

  Dane glanced her way and nodded. “Its value is unmistakable.”

  “We can wait no longer,” warned Father Michael, covering his head with a long draping veil. Dressed in Edeline’s skirts, he had to lift them high as he pulled himself atop the waiting mare.

  “I pray this works,” Omont said. Now dressed in Dane’s attire, he mounted the mare behind the priest.

  Roncin glanced their way. “It is convincing enough from a distance. We will let them get no closer.”

  The hope was that their enemies would fall for the mirage and follow them away from the high cliffs to the cliffs which lay below.

  Watching the three knights move back toward their mounts, Edeline’s heart nearly crumbled. They had come to mean so much to her in such a short period of time. She would miss them. She would miss Omont. She would even, in a strange way, miss this world that would have been hers, if only things would have been different.

  A comforting hand gently took hers. As the men mounted their horses, she turned to find Dane’s eyes full of compassion as well as their own personal sorrow.

  “Let the Lord bless you and keep you safe,” called the priest before he and the others waved their goodbyes and shortly after disappeared into the hills.

  Escaping from somewhere deep within her soul, a painful sob burst into the night. She wavered, the pain of it nearly taking her to her knees. She loved them—all of them. And they were about to risk their lives so that she might live.

  Wrapping his arms around her, Dane pulled her tight to his chest, offering her the support and comfort she so badly needed.

  “It hurts,” she said. And it did, more than she could have imagined.

  “I know.” He kissed her gently. “I know.”

  Above the anguished cries of the brewing storm, shouts rang from the hills above.

  Staying hidden, Edeline and Dane watched as the forest came to life. The clamoring of metal echoed through the trees as the army of Dogs moved swiftly out of hiding. Out of the shadows, they burst forward into the night, the hooves of their horses pounding against the forest’s floor, causing the ground to shake and the earth to rumble like a violent rolling thunder making a break from a tortured sky.

  Grunts and cries echoed all around them as the army of the fallen swarmed down the hillside in pursuit of their prey.

  They were everywhere—the Dark Army—countless in number, fierce in might. The knights had warned her of their numbers, but still she was amazed.

  “Dane.” Looking his way for reassurance, she saw her own disbelief reflected in his eyes.

  “They’ll be all right,” he reassured, but it was too late. She’d seen the fear on his face and knew he was every bit as worried as she.

  “We must go,” he said, taking her hand and leading her forward.

  Up the steep hillside they hurried, straight past the shadows which had housed the damned. Dressed in nothing but black, they blended with the night, their steps nothing more than another secret lost in the dark.

  It felt to Edeline as though they’d been running uphill for hours by the time they reached the mountain’s top.

  “We’re nearly there, Edeline,” Dane said, gently moving his hand against her cheek. “Are you all right to go on?”

  Tired and beat, still she nodded. The exhaustion helped distract from her fears, while the aches helped dull her sorrow.

  Once more Dane took her hand in his. Down the darkest paths of the forest they moved until finally they reached the forest’s edge. There, before them, lay a wide open field of grass and beyond that, jagged cliffs and a turbulent sea.

  It was a gloomy yet breathtaking kind of beauty. An endless and amazing pool of dark blue lay topped with tumultuous waves
turning to white at their crests before diving back into the ocean. The glory of the sea was echoed in the sky above, as black, thick clouds of the approaching storm rolled toward them, creating a blanket which covered the light from the moon and stars above. Darker, more ominous clouds, rolling as though fisted, followed closely behind, seemingly pushing forward the blanket as they made their way across the night’s canvas.

  Looking up and down the rock face which separated the forest from the sea below, they saw no one.

  “We’ll need to move fast and stay as low as we can,” Dane said, studying the path ahead.

  Edeline glanced out toward the long field of grass, its tall, thick blades, pushed by the growing wind, leaned toward them up the hill. It was high, but it wouldn’t entirely cover them.

  “We’ll be all right,” Dane assured, looking back and recognizing her concern. Then, ducking low, he pulled her out of the woods and into the open.

  Running faster than she would have imagined possible, they made their way across the open field. She wasn’t certain if it was the fear or exertion which raced her heart and stole her breath. Either way, she was relieved when they finally reached the cliffs.

  Looking past her toward the field behind them, Dane made sure they weren’t followed. Satisfied with what he found, he turned to study the rock barrier before them.

  “Stay close against the wall,” he said, letting loose her hand and motioning for her to follow.

  The wind, having picked up speed, beat against the rock’s surface, its frightful moans bellowing through the deep crevices which ran throughout the large, towering, granite walls. Heavy gray clouds now rolled in clusters over the protruding stone edges of Harfleur, as the piercing roars of thunder rumbled from its turbulent sky.

  She and Dane moved slowly across the rugged terrain, leery of the many hazards which could be lining the steep path. As they pushed forward toward the rock’s towering front, violent bursts of wind whistled in from the coast, winding around the earth’s hard, jagged edges and slapping cold wisps of moistened air against their faces.

  Slowly they made their way around the enormous wall. Dane pulled her close beside him, leading her around the corner and straight into the storm.

  Thin, narrow crannies lined the rock’s face. Peeking inside each, Dane finally turned toward Edeline and nodded. Stepping into the opening, he pulled her in behind him. Two steps forward and the path took a sharp right and suddenly stopped.

  A small hollow nook, barely big enough for two, would be their shelter.

  “We’ll be safe in here until it’s time to go,” he said, leaning back against the rock and pulling her into the warmth of his arms.

  She shivered, neither from the cold which sat heavy all around them nor from the damp which now weighted down their clothes, but rather from the fear for those she loved who were still out there.

  “I can’t believe what they did for us.” Laying her head against his chest, she closed her eyes and absorbed the comfort. “Do you think they’re all right?”

  “My money’s on our friends. They know what they’re doing. They’re clever men and incredible warriors. Don’t underestimate them.”

  “There were so many,” she fretted, remembering the enormous army. She’d never forget the haunting sounds of their pursuit or the vision of her father and the knights as they bravely lured them away.

  Tears filled her eyes as reality struck—she would never know what happened to them.

  “God is with them. He’s greater than any army, regardless of their number.”

  “They are such amazing men. It’s hard to believe my father was one of them. It’s not that he isn’t noble. He is. But I’ve simply only known him as a peaceful man.” Still clinging to his tunic, she leaned away from the warmth of his chest to look into his eyes. “Dane, why do you think he never told me?”

  “I’m sure he was merely protecting you. Nothing he could have said or done would have changed what was or what had passed. Whatever he did or didn’t do, he did it based on his love for you.” Dane cupped her face, holding her still to look into her eyes. “I met him before I left. His only concern was for you. He loves you. He is and always will be your father.”

  “I know,” she said, leaning back against his chest. “I’m ready to go home.”

  The wind was picking up speed and whipping viciously into the crevice, its harsh chilling fingers nipping at their flesh. But as of yet, the clouds had not unleashed the electric storm they held inside.

  Dane moved her behind him and then peeked out around the stone wall.

  “Is it time?” she asked, not sure what answer she was hoping for.

  “Soon, Edeline, very soon,” he assured, stepping back around the corner to draw her back into his arms.

  She nuzzled against him as he bent to kiss her cheek.

  “What is it like—the portal?”

  “It’s loud and…hard to describe. Perhaps a bit nauseating. But don’t worry, we’ll pass through quickly.”

  “We have to jump?”

  “Yes, and there can be no hesitation. It would probably be best if you close your eyes and put your trust in me.”

  “I will. I believe I’ll have to. I don’t think I could do it on my own.” She cuddled against him. “I’m so glad it was you they sent for me. Do you think, perhaps, it was always meant to be?”

  He smiled, leaning down so that their heads touched. “I’m beginning to think destiny played a heavy hand in it all.” Gently brushing his lips across hers, he seemed to drift away. “I hope it has. I hope…” Lifting himself away, he stared into the darkness.

  “Dane?” Reaching up, she took his face into her hands. “What is it?”

  Dark troubled eyes looked down into hers. “You mean a great deal to me, Edeline. I want you to know that. I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but I feel I know you well. You’re kind, honest, strong. It would be impossible not to have feelings for you.”

  They were beautiful words, words she’d longed for. They were also holding something back.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  It took a lot to trouble her soldier, and that’s what worried her the most. After having her world turned upside down, her beliefs shattered near to the wind, after everything they’d been through, what could be so terrible he couldn’t tell her?

  Leaning forward, she kissed his lips, kissed his cheeks. “I feel the same way about you, but I also trust you. Now trust me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  She kissed his lips once more, this time longer, taking her time to enjoy what they hadn’t before had time to. If the worst happened and she only had this one night, she wanted it to be in the arms of the man she loved. And she loved him, this soldier who had risked his life over and over to protect hers. She loved him not just for his courage and his strength, but for his very spirit. He was a good and honorable man, just like her fathers.

  Pulling her tight against him, he returned her kiss with passion, kissing her as though he adored her, kissing her as though he might never have the chance again.

  That’s when it hit her—that was exactly his fear.

  Dropping her hold, she stepped back into what little space she had. “No!”

  “Edeline?”

  “Why would you leave me?”

  Staring at her as if struck, he blinked, then reached for her. “I would never willingly leave you. I couldn’t. You mean too much to me.”

  It wasn’t what he was saying. It was what he wasn’t, those words that held his tongue but floated in the torment of his eyes.

  Her world was collapsing, and it had nothing to do with the storm, the portal, nor Heaven or Hell. There was much he was not saying. She knew it. She felt it. Things for them would never be the same.

  “Why are you leaving me?”

  “I will be there for you. I swear.”

  “But? There’s more, I know it. I want you to tell me.” She had been wandering through this ancient world in a bit of daze.
Nothing seemed real, yet everything seemed possible, including love and happily-ever-after. But they were heading toward home, and reality was starting to reappear through clearer more focused eyes. They’d only known each other three short days. In truth, she knew very little about him. He might care for her. In fact, she was certain he did. But he could very well be tied to another.

  Stupid! The thought had never crossed her mind. Had they ever discussed it? No…no, there hadn’t been the time. She should have asked. She should have at least considered the possibility. But she hadn’t. Her inexperience and emotional dependency had blinded her to the possibility.

  The damp stone behind her suddenly grew uncomfortable. A single sharp sob broke free as she lowered her eyes away from his and moved to step past him. “I never thought to ask if you were taken. You should have told me. You should have said…something.”

  He reached for her hands, but she pulled them away.

  “Edeline, it’s not what you think.” His face was troubled and uncertain. “There’s something I need to tell you. I just…God, I just don’t know how.”

  She bit into her trembling lips, certain he was about to tell her he belonged to another.

  “It will be hard to understand, but I need you to—” Dane suddenly stopped and stepped back to look out into the storm, undoubtedly eager to escape the discomfort of the moment and plunge back into the portal. He stood silently for a moment studying the dark, his forehead wrinkling into a frown.

  “It’s all right. You don’t have to expla—”

  He moved his finger to his mouth in a shushing motion before quickly looking back out into the dark.

  The pain was too much. Her heart ached, and being so close only made it worse.

  “If it’s time to go, let’s just do this,” she blurted, slipping past him into the short and narrow exit.

  “Edeline, no!” Dane reached for her arm, but she pulled away and ran out into the storm.

  The wind whipped her hair violently out of its loose hold, sending it flying in a mad array around her head. The roar of the wind was as loud as the raging howls from the sea. Unprepared for its brutality, she was pushed back against the stone wall. Steadying herself, she looked into the threatening sky. Still there was no lightning—no key to passage.