by Donna Grant
“Excuse me,” a soft, feminine voice said from beside Danielle.
She turned her head and saw the woman from below standing beside her.
“Forgive me,” the woman said, her accent different than any Danielle had ever heard. “I don’t mean to intrude, but you look so lonely up here. Would you like to join me and my friends below?”
Danielle found that she was afraid to speak. The woman was so beautiful and poised and elegant that Danielle knew she would look crude and inept in front of this woman. At one time, Danielle had been the most graceful of women, but times had a way of changing people.
She finally shook her head and began to turn away when a hand touched her arm.
“Its cold,” the woman said again. “Come inside and warm yourself by the fire for a bit.”
A WARRIOR’S HEART
Donna Grant
17
Danielle hadn’t realized she was shivering until that moment. She had been concentrating on Gabriel so hard that everything else had ceased to exist. Just then her stomach rumbled.
The woman’s smile never faltered as she stared at Danielle. “My name is Elle, and as I’m sure you have guessed I’m not from here.”
Danielle licked her lips. This woman was obviously a lady and would be able to get Danielle close to Gabriel, therefore finishing her mission early.
“Thank you,” she finally said. “I’m Danielle.”
Elle’s smiled widened. “I’ve always loved that name. It’s so feminine and strong at the same time. Come, Danielle,” she said and held out her hand. “The others are anxious to meet you.”
Danielle wasn’t sure what she had gotten herself into. She knew how catty women could be at times, but Elle seemed genuinely friendly, and, God help her, she needed a friend.
She took Elle’s hand, and together they walked down the stairs to the bailey and then into the great hall where the other women were already seated at one of the tables.
“Elle, you did it,” said a woman with hair so black it nearly shown blue and a thick Scottish accent.
Another woman with strawberry blonde hair only nodded as she smiled. “I knew she would. She’s very tenacious.”
Elle laughed and came to stand at the head of the table. “Allow me to introduce to you, Danielle.”
Danielle felt four pairs of eyes on her and began to grow nervous. One slip with these women and she would be kicked out of Stone Crest and her one chance to kill Gabriel would be gone.
“Good morn,” she said.
“I know you won’t remember their names, but I’ll introduce you,” Elle said. “To my right is Nicole who is from Scotland. Beside her is Shannon.”
“Hello,” Shannon said.
An accent different from Nicole’s Scottish accent but similar to Elle’s, Danielle noted. She made a mental note to remind herself that Shannon had the wavy brunette hair and soft brown eyes.
“I’m Mina,” said the woman with strawberry blonde hair and the most unusual blue-green eyes. “I’m mistress of Stone Crest, and I would like to welcome you to my home.”
Danielle swallowed and pushed back the hood of her cloak so that everyone could see her. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Elle pulled her to the table, and Danielle found herself sitting between Mina and Elle. Trenchers of food were brought to the table and placed in front of them. The smell of the warm food made Danielle’s mouth water and her stomach grumble loudly.
“Was that your stomach again, Shannon?” Nicole asked.
Shannon laughed. “I can’t help it that I like to eat, but, as a matter of fact, it wasn’t.”
“I think we might be frightening our guest,” Mina said and slid a glance at A WARRIOR’S HEART
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Danielle.
“Not at all,” Danielle assured them. “I do apologize, but it was my stomach you heard.”
Shannon grinned at Danielle before she threw Nicole an ‘I told you so’ look.
“They’re used to me eating a lot, Danielle, so don’t hold back.”
“You have such an unusual accent,” Danielle said after she had swallowed her first delicious bite of roasted pork and wild onions. “Where are you from?”
She didn’t miss Shannon trading a look with Elle. Both women became very focused on their meal, letting Danielle know they were hiding a secret.
“It’s very far away across the seas,” Shannon finally answered.
Danielle wasn’t fooled. She knew they were keeping something from her, but it wasn’t like she didn’t have secrets of her own. She almost laughed aloud when she imagined their faces if she told them she wasn’t even from their time.
She focused on her meal as the women began to talk again. The conversation turned to their men and what they were hunting. Danielle 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 had ever anticipated.
It seemed Gabriel was part of a group of warriors, but warriors of what she didn’t know. When she was finally finished, she leaned back in her chair as the conversation quieted.
“Feel better?” Mina asked.
Danielle nodded, feeling a little out of place next to such a gracious, beautiful lady of the castle. Mina had an aura around her that bespoke of steely resolve and a gentle heart. She was the kind of woman that Danielle 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,” Danielle 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?”
Danielle 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. “You must be able to defend yourself if you’re still alive.”
Danielle smiled as she pulled a dagger from the sleeve of her gown. The women smiled and laughed as they watched her 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 and 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.”
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Danielle 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. Her blue-green eyes held sympathy as she stared at Danielle.
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 Danielle’s.
Nicole sat forward to get Mina’s attention. “Mina, isn’t there some place she can stay for awhile? It’s terribly cold out and Danielle has no place to go.”
Danielle watched as Mina chewed her lower lip.
“I must speak with Hugh first,” Mina said. “You know what is going on, and I do not want to do anything until he arrives.”
“Very true,” Elle agreed with a nod. “I cannot believe I forgot.”
Danielle hurriedly rose to her feet. “Thank you, my ladies, for everything.
However, I would not to impose on you in any way nor put yourselves in any kind of trouble with your husbands. I’ll be on my way.”
“Nay,” Mina said and as she stood with Daniell
e. “I cannot let you leave, not in this weather. There will be more snow soon.”
Danielle 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 with 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?”
The women exchanged glances before Shannon answered. “In a manner of speaking. Precautions must be taken, though I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course.” Danielle 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 Danielle. “Follow me.”
Since she didn’t have much of an option, Danielle 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.
Beautiful tapestries depicting battles as well as age old banners hung along the walls. Many different weapons were arranged amid the tapestries and banners to create a regal atmosphere in the great hall.
As Mina left the great hall and began to ascend the stairs, Danielle glanced over her shoulder to see the other ladies talking quietly with their heads together as if their lives depended upon some secret.
Danielle 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 repeat your secret.”
Danielle clasped her hands in front of her as she followed Mina. “Not even to A WARRIOR’S HEART
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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 would say you are a lady.”
Danielle sighed and stopped walking. Had she been 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, Danielle. Follow me so that you can rest.”
Rest. Danielle 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.
Danielle was so lost in thought she didn’t pay attention to where Mina led her.
As she chided herself, Danielle 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.
Danielle narrowed her eyes. How had Mina known what she was thinking?
Danielle 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.”
Danielle walked into the chamber 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 is perfect,” Danielle said as she walked to the roaring fire. “I appreciate your hospitality.” And she meant it.
“Would you care for a bath?”
Danielle 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 Danielle solemnly. “I am nice because you are in need. However, I can honestly say that if you hurt anyone at Stone Crest, I will kill you.”
And Danielle 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.
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“Should I worry about you?” Mina asked.
Danielle turned and walked to the table as she contemplated the tapestry. “I did not come to Stone Crest to harm you.”
“What do you fear, Danielle? There is great sadness in your beautiful hazel eyes.
Sadness and fear. Burdens that a lady such as yourself should never know.”
Danielle 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 will not heal the pain within you.”
Shaken, Danielle 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?
Danielle knew she hid those emotions well. To the world she appeared a woman on her on, 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 Danielle as if she were trying to decipher if what she had felt was real or not.
“No apologies,” Danielle said. “I think I’d like to rest for awhile.”
“Of course. I will return in a couple of hours to check on you.”
Danielle 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.
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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 to the ground. “I thought that myself. Once holy, always holy.”
“Aye,” Gabriel answered as he too dismounted and went to stand beside Cole.
“Evil such as these creatures should not be able to touch a place 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 at him before he walked through the arched stone gateway of the monastery. Gabriel’s gaze 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 if we would have won that day.”
Gabriel turned to his friend and shrugged. “I like to think that everything happens for a reason.”
“I agree. I just can’t help thinking Earth would have 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 sighed and followed. Instantly, the musty smell of unuse assaulted him. 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.