A Dark Guardian (10 page)

“I thought you might want this back,” Hugh said as he handed her the dagger.

She gasped and reached for the weapon. “I thought I had lost it.”

“John found it and brought it to me this morn.” She smiled and cradled the dagger to her chest. “Thank you.”

“’Twas made for a woman to use. Keep it with you always.” With a nod she tucked it against her leg to hide in the folds of her skirt and hurried from the armory. By the time she reached her chamber, she knew she was going to get that adventure she craved. And it would start tonight.

Life was turning around for her. At least she thought so until she spotted the small blue stone sitting in the middle of her bed.

She glanced around the chamber to see if anyone was there. Her excitement vanished like the early morning mist to be replaced with gnawing fear and apprehension.

With feet dragging, she walked to the bed and stared down at the extraordinary rock.

It was just like the others in the Druid ruins, only smaller, no bigger than the size of a child’s palm. She knew without touching it that it would be warm and as smooth as her mirror. It had disappeared out of her chamber the night she brought it home from the Druid ruins over a month ago when she had placed it on her bed to change for supper.

And now it had returned. Mysteriously.

She backed away and fumbled for the door latch. Once it opened she continued to back out of her chamber and closed the door. She leaned her head against the wood and sighed. There was only one thing to do. Tell Hugh. But would he believe her?

It was a chance she had to take.

She pushed away from the door and hurried toward the armory, but the men were no longer there. When she retraced her steps and was about to enter the hall, she found Theresa blocking the doorway.

“Where have you been?” Theresa asked in a low voice.

Mina wasn’t fooled. Theresa may be acting as though she really didn’t want to know, but in fact, if given the chance Theresa would rip the hair from Mina’s head to find out.

She decided honesty would be best. “I am looking for Hugh.” Theresa lifted her hand and examined her nails. “You know he is only paying attention to you because he pities you.”

“I know.” And the truth of it stung deeper than any barb Theresa had thrown in years.

“He has asked that you not embarrass him again. He is too noble to tell you himself, so he sent me.”

Mina fought to keep from showing Theresa just how hurt she was. So, he had been mortified that she had walked in on his bath. Why hadn’t he told her himself?

Because you daft fool, he didn’t wish to hurt you. He saw how awful Theresa and
[_Bernard were to you, a gentleman like him wouldn’t do such a thing. _]

__

“Thank you for letting me know,” Mina said and tried to walk past Theresa, but her sister didn’t move.

“I’m warning you now. Hugh is mine.”

Mina met Theresa’s gaze. “I have no need of him.” Theresa laughed, her eyes shooting flames of hatred. “I’ve seen the way you watch him. Given half a chance you would throw yourself at him.” Had she been that obvious? The shame of it washed over her. Hugh hadn’t been about to leave the tub to kiss her. He had been reaching for his towel to cover himself.

How could she have been so stupid? She blinked rapidly to fight the tears that threatened to spill down her face.

“Ah, I see I was right,” her sister said with a laugh. “You’re emotions are easy to read. Maybe if you weren’t so apparent you might find a man interested in you. They like to be led along, you know.”

“Nay, I wouldn’t know. Move so I can leave,” she demanded. For the briefest of moments, she saw Theresa’s eyes flare in surprise.

“I will let you pass when I am done with you.”

“Then be done.”

Theresa laughed and took a step down to come even with her. “Remember, Mina.

I can have any man I want. I took your betrothed, didn’t I? I am loved here, and you are pitied. Do not try to make yourself better than you are. Everyone knows their place.” With that Theresa spun on her heel and stalked off. Mina slumped against the wall. Her sister’s word had cut deeper than she had thought. When would she learn?

She forgot about finding Hugh and telling him of the stone. All she wanted was some time alone to let the tears fall unheard.

After sneaking out of the castle unseen, she walked to the postern door in the bailey. She slid the bolt free and glanced around to make sure no one watched her before she slipped away.

Hugh looked around the bailey for Mina as they readied it for the trap, but he hadn’t seen her since she left the armory that morning. She hadn’t come to the hall for lunch either, but Bernard told him that wasn’t unusual. But when Darrick lost her, Hugh couldn’t dispel the knot of worry that had formed.

“How could you lose her?” he asked Darrick.

Darrick shrugged. “I don’t know. I saw her talking to Theresa and then she was gone.”

“Where did she and Theresa talk?”

“Mina was coming up from the armory as if she were looking for us.”

“Did you check the armory?”

Darrick raised an eyebrow in agitation. “Of course. She wasn’t there. I’ve checked everywhere.”

“Even her chamber?”

“I knocked, but she didn’t answer.”

Hugh relaxed. “She’s there, she just didn’t want to see anyone.” He called to Gabriel and told him where he and Darrick were headed. Hugh took the stairs three at a time and didn’t slow until he reached her chamber. He knocked, and, as he expected, she didn’t answer.

“Mina,” he called out and opened the door. “’Tis Hugh.” He threw the door open and found the chamber empty except for the blue stone on her bed.

“By the saints,” Darrick said as he came to stand beside the bed.

Hugh didn’t want to believe what the stone signified, but it was difficult not to. It was as if he had been blindsided. Again.

He didn’t want to believe Mina had something to do with the stone and the creature, but it was hard to think otherwise, especially with what was sitting on her bed.

“She did tell us that she took a stone,” Darrick said as he walked to the bed and looked at the stone.

“And she said it was stolen,” Hugh pointed out.

The evidence was damning, and for the first time since he had answered the Fae’s call he hated what he did.

“We must find her,” he said and walked from her chamber.

Darrick quickly caught up with him. “Don’t condemn her until you’ve spoken with her.”

“In all the time we have done this, when have your instincts ever been wrong?” Darrick lowered his eyes. “Never, but there is always a first time for everything.”

“Then pray that this is the time.”

“Hugh!”

He turned from the stairway and saw Gabriel run into the hall.

“Come quick,” Gabriel called.

Mina would have to wait.

Mina lifted her face to the warm sun. The Druid ruins had always soothed her, and today was no different. She sighed and ran her hand over the ancient, cool stones.

“I wish the Druid’s were still here,” she whispered.

“But they are.”

She whirled around and found the Fae, Aimery, behind her. “I don’t think I will become accustomed to you appearing out of thin air,” she said and righted herself on the stone.

He smiled, and his extraordinary blue eyes twinkled. “You will.”

“Does that mean you will be around for awhile?” He laughed and sat next to her. “All you have to do is call and I will answer.”

“I’ll have to remember that.” His presence lightened her mood. “Were you serious about the Druids?”

“I’m always serious where the Druids are concerned.”

“Then why did they leave here?”

He looked over the ruins. “They were driven away. Humans are fickle creatures and are easily swayed to believe there is evil when in fact, there is none.”

“And blind to the evil in front of them,” she finished.

“Exactly.”

“’Tis comforting to know the Druids weren’t completely driven away. I would like to meet one some day.”

They sat in silence for a moment until he turned her head towards him. “Tell me what troubles you?”

She tried to smile and looked away from his eyes that probed too deep. “You have better things to do than worry about the affairs of a mere human.”

“Actually, the Fae and Humans are connected in ways that cannot be explained.

We need you as much as you need us.”

“Then why is it that humans don’t believe you are real?”

“That is the way we wish it. Long ago, when we roamed this realm, there were humans that wanted power, namely our power. They didn’t comprehend that it isn’t something we can give.”

“And your immortality? Is that also true?”

“Ah,” he said and raised both eyebrows. “That is something they coveted more than our power.”

“Is it something you can give?” She didn’t know what compelled her to ask.

He tilted his head to the side, his light blonde hair glistening in the sunlight.

“What do you think?”

“I think, like your power, it is something that is distinctly yours.” He smiled and winked. “’Tis becoming late. You missed lunch.”

“I’m not ready to return.” She turned away from him, not wanting him to see the turmoil within her.

“Theresa and Hugh will still be there when you return. This little reprieve is just that. You cannot run away from it forever.” She covered her face with her hands. “Just for once I wanted a man to reject her.

I know that is awful of me, and I shouldn’t wish for something that petty, but ‘tis the truth.” She lowered her hands and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Aimery took a deep breath. “The one thing I learned about humans is that most are vengeful and vindictive, but those emotions usually come because someone has something they want.” He turned to look at her. “You have something your sister wants.”

She laughed. “For a moment there, I believed the things you said, but you are showing you are as daft as I.”

“I am far from daft. Can you not think of something you have that your sister might covet?”

“Everything I have ever wanted or had is hers,” she said unable to keep the sadness from her voice. “Even our brother preferred her to me.”

“I want you to remember something,” he said as he rose. “Not everything is as it seems. Look beyond what you see with your eyes.”

“What?”

He smiled then. “You’re smart, Mina, you will understand my words soon.” And with that he was gone.

“Soon?” she said and looked around her. “Can’t I understand them now?” But there wasn’t an answer.

Hugh followed Gabriel as he ran down the hallway. He turned the corner and found Cole standing beside a door with his sword drawn.

“What happened?” he asked Cole.

“I’m not sure.”

He walked past Cole into the chamber and came to a halt. Theresa was on the floor, her sleeve ripped and a gash on her forehead. He knelt beside her and gently rolled her onto her back. She moaned softly.

“Lady Theresa,” he called, but she didn’t waken.

He picked her up and carried her to the bed where Gabriel had already gotten out his herbal bag and shifted through the medicines within.

“Tell me what happened?” Hugh told Cole.

“I waited down the hallway, out of sight, just like you told me,” Cole said. “I heard her scream, and I came running to her door. I called out, but she kept screaming.”

“Did you hear anyone else?”

Cole shook his head. “I tried to open the door but found it barred. It didn’t budge when I put my shoulder to it.”

“So how did you open it?”

“That’s the strange part,” Cole said, his blue eyes clouded with worry. “I heard something shatter and then silence. After a moment, the door opened on its own.”

“Magic,” Hugh said. “Did you sense anyone or anything?”

“Just

Theresa.”

“The wound is light,” Gabriel said as he dabbed at her forehead.

“Good,” Hugh said and raked his hand down his face.

“Where are Mina and Bernard?” Cole asked.

Hugh had hoped Mina’s presence, or lack of it, wouldn’t be noticed. “Bernard is in the bailey. Mina is missing.”

All eyes turned to him. “Darrick and I found a blue stone in her chamber.”

“I have a hard time believing it was her,” Darrick said.

“We’ll know when we find her,” Hugh said. “Cole, keep watch on Theresa.” Hugh left the chamber and walked to the bailey. It was time he found Mina.

Mina couldn’t stay at the ruins once Aimery left. His words kept repeating in her mind, and the answers were as elusive as the Druids. With her peace shattered, there was no reason for her to stay.

She began the walk back to the castle, but she was in no hurry to return. It wasn’t until she noticed the sun lowering in the sky that she knew more time had passed than she had realized.

The gate was closed so she had to get back inside through the postern door, except when she tried to open it, she found it locked.

Panic welled up inside her. She didn’t want anyone to know that she had been gone, but now that she was locked out, she would have to alert the entire castle to let her in. Then she would have to answer questions as to where she had been and why she had left.

She laid her head on the cool stone of the castle wall in despair.

“So. We find you at last,” said a deep voice.

Her heart stopped at the voice she was coming to know, laced with such coldness it could have frozen her on the spot. She gradually raised her head to find Hugh and Bernard staring down at her from the castle wall.

“Where have you been?” Bernard shouted down at her.

She licked her now dry lips and pulled her eyes away from Hugh. “At the ruins.”

“Unlock it,” Hugh said over his shoulder.

In a matter of moments, she heard the bolt slide free and the door opened. She found Darrick holding the door for her, but he wouldn’t meet her eyes.

Exactly what was going on? What was wrong with her going for a walk? She wasn’t a prisoner.

She stepped into the bailey and found it deserted except for a few chickens wandering around. The closing of the postern door behind her was like a door closing out the sun. She squared her shoulders and walked toward the castle when Bernard called out to her. There was nowhere for her to run that he couldn’t find her. It was better to face him now.