A Dark Guardian (26 page)

“Exactly,” Aimery said.

“What happened to them?” Mina asked.

Aimery looked down and sighed. “They didn’t survive.”

“How did you discover this?” Hugh asked.

“We have our ways,” Aimery said with one side of his mouth raised in a rueful smile. “However, not all died. Twelve infants were sent from that realm. Six boys and six girls.”

Hugh rose to his feet at the information. “Where were they sent?”

“Here.”

Hugh was sure his ears had heard wrong. “Here?”

“Here,” Aimery repeated. “But to different times.”

“What has that to do with us?” Gabriel asked.

Aimery walked to the window. “It has everything to do with you.”

“I think you had better explain,” Hugh said. “Nothing you have told me lately has made sense.”

“When does it ever,” Cole muttered under his breath, but loud enough that everyone still heard.

Hugh narrowed his eyes at him and turned back to the Fae. “Aimery?” The Fae issued a long, deep sigh. “We don’t know where all the children went.

In fact, we don’t know where any of them are, but we think maybe they could tell us something that could stop the destruction of this realm.”

“Maybe? You want to search out these children on a maybe?” Hugh asked.

“It is all we have to go on.”

“And how are we to know that they would give us any information?” Gabriel questioned. “They were infants when they came to this realm. How would they know anything?”

Aimery arched his brows as he gazed at Gabriel. “I would not have brought you this information if they weren’t able to give us something to aid us in stopping this realm from being annihilated.” He turned his attention to the others in the chamber. “Those children weren’t brought to this realm by mere chance. They were sent here for a reason.”

Cole drummed his fingers on the back of the chair. “I agree that they may give us some information, but there aren’t enough of us to look for the children as well as what we’re doing.”

“This I know,” Aimery said. “But you won’t be looking for children. By our calculations they are all grown now.”

“Well, that makes it easier,” Gabriel grumbled. “I suppose we could stop every man and woman we come across and ask if they were born of this realm or were sent here.”

Hugh noticed that Aimery didn’t comment. “What are you keeping from us?”

“I don’t know if all of our information is true or not,” Aimery hedged.

“Just tell us.”

“The men are dead,” he said after a moment. “It is how we know the children were distributed throughout the times.”

Gabriel shook his head in irritation. “All six of them?”

“Unfortunately. None of them knew what they were, and we had no idea they were even here, so they didn’t think twice about volunteering for wars.” Cole began to laugh. “Are you telling me all six of them died in wars throughout history? That not one of them is in the future?”

“All but one died in war.”

“And the other?” Hugh asked.

“He died in a duel over a woman.”

Mina had sat and listened with interest. She had no idea why Aimery wanted her to hear this, but she found it fascinating. “You travel through time don’t you? Can’t you just go back and save these men from their deaths?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Hugh said sadly.

Aimery smiled at her. “We cannot alter the past, present, or future.” She looked at the men. “Isn’t that what you’re doing now?” Gabriel laughed. “She does break it down rather simply.”

“We wouldn’t be here if the creature wasn’t here,” Hugh said. “’Tis a matter of righting what is being altered.”

“Oh,” she said feeling more foolish than she had in years.

“It was a good question though,” Hugh said.

She bit her lip and hastily looked down, but not before she noticed Aimery watching her. She had no doubt that he knew what was going on between her and Hugh.

“What about the women?” Cole asked. “How are we supposed to find them?” Aimery once again looked out the window. “Our information says that they have a mark that will distinguish them.”

“What kind of mark?” she asked.

“’Tis a symbol of their realm, though we don’t know much about it, we do know that it has three sides and is ringed.”

“And if we find one of these women what are we supposed to do with her?” Gabriel asked.

“Call to me,” Aimery said. “It’s very important that we find them. I must go.”

“Wait,” Hugh said, but the Fae had already departed.

Mina knew the three men were irritated at what little information they had gotten.

“At least he told you something that could help.”

“Always just bits and pieces. Just once I’d like to be told everything,” Gabriel said.

Cole stood and put the chair against the wall. “Think of it as a puzzle. I like puzzles.”

“Good. Then you can figure this one out. Oh, and remember we don’t have a lot of time,” Gabriel said, annoyance clear in his deep voice.

“Enough,” Hugh said. He turned to Mina. “Tell me what happened at the monastery. Why did you go back?”

She hadn’t come to speak about that. She had come to talk to him about…she really didn’t know. She had just wanted to have a word with him.

“Bernard wanted to look inside. I’m not sure what stopped me from telling him it had already been searched by you and Gabriel.”

Gabriel stood close to her. “It could be because you’re still becoming used to having a brother acknowledge you. It will take awhile to trust him.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” She raised her gaze to Hugh. “Do you think that’s why I did it?”

Hugh shrugged. “I don’t know. ‘Tis a plausible reason.” She tamped down her feeling of disappointment and continued. “When we came to the monastery I didn’t want to…nay, that isn’t right. I couldn’t go in. I have never felt so cold and scared and helpless in my life.”

“Evil,” Cole said. “That’s what you felt. Evil in its purest form.” She shivered just thinking about it. “Regardless, I never want to feel it again.

Bernard didn’t seem affected. He walked through the gates and into the ruins while I waited in the forest.”

“And that’s when you heard something?” Hugh asked.

She nodded and stood because she couldn’t stand to sit and be stared at a moment longer. She walked to the window and leaned back against it so she could see all three men.

“I had this strange feeling that someone watched me, but when I turned around there was nothing. I began to imagine all sorts of things,” she admitted while trying to hide her embarrassment.

Gabriel nodded. “That happens to all of us.”

“When I heard the twig snap, I jumped up to see what caused it. That must have been when Bernard walked from the ruins. I never heard him, and when he touched my arm I screamed.”

“And then we came,” Cole said.

“Aye,” she said. “’Twas nothing.”

“Oh, it was something all right,” Hugh said. “No one feels evil for nothing, Mina.

Remember that for future use. There was something, or someone, there.” A chill ran down her spine at his words. “You’re scaring me.”

“You need to be scared. Evil is a dangerous minion. Do you have any idea how many of the Shields there once were? Several hundred of us. Now it is down to just us five.”

She saw the pain in Hugh’s dark depths and wanted to wrap her arms around him.

“I didn’t know.”

“You couldn’t have,” he said and took a deep breath. “We’ll have to return to the monastery.”

“I felt nothing when I took Mina,” Gabriel said. “Even you were there Hugh.

Did you feel the evil?”

“Nay, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something there now.” Mina had a sick feeling in her stomach. “You aren’t going now are you?” She cast a glance out the window. “’Tis getting late.”

“She’s right,” Cole agreed. “The villagers need to be told to stop celebrating and get ready for the night.”

Mina watched as Hugh’s eyes came to rest on her. His gaze was unreadable, and she had the impression he had closed himself off.

“I’ll go,” he said. “You and Gabriel take care of the villagers.”

“Nay,” she, Gabriel, and Cole shouted.

She walked to Hugh. “You shouldn’t go out there alone. You need someone to watch your back.”

“Are you worried about me, my lady?” he asked softly.

“You know I am. Too many people have died needlessly. As you told me just recently, your men need you.”

Cole came to stand beside her. “As long as I’ve known you, Hugh, you’ve never done anything rash. Don’t start now.”

“It’s going to take all three of us to get the villagers inside,” Gabriel said.

“Besides, I want my shot at this creature for taking Darrick.” Mina waited one heartbeat, two, and then three before Hugh finally nodded. She sighed in relief and silently thanked God.

“I’ll wait,” Hugh said. “Until first light. Then I ride out.”

“They won’t listen,” Mina said to Cole. “I’ve tried everything, but they truly think the creature is gone.”

“Bernard is the only one who could make them get into the castle,” Hugh said as he joined them.

“Then were is he?” Gabriel asked.

“Mourning. He agrees with the villagers.”

Mina couldn’t believe her ears. “Surely you jest. Regardless if he agrees or not, he should get them inside before nightfall just in case.”

“I concur,” Hugh said, “but your brother does not.”

“Then I’ll talk to him.” She turned to go find him when Hugh’s hand snaked out to halt her.

“He won’t see you. The knight’s death has upset him greatly. He almost wouldn’t see me.”

She sighed and looked at the castle to see Theresa standing in her window looking down at them. Her sister wore an evil sneer. “Did anyone search her chamber for the stone?”

Hugh stood beside her and raised his gaze. “The entire castle has been searched, including Theresa’s chamber. Why?”

“I think she has something to do with it.”

“But she was attacked,” Cole pointed out.

“True,” Mina agreed as she turned to them. “But she could have staged it.” Gabriel shook his head. “If it had been a man, aye, I would agree with you, but I cannot see a woman doing it.”

“Why?” Hugh asked. “Do you forget so easily how I was deceived before by a woman?”

Mina’s stomach rolled at his words. He had been duped by a woman. “D…did this woman control the creature?”

His eyes came to light on her. “Aye.”

She put her hand on her stomach as it became queasy. So much made sense now.

Why he couldn’t take her word of innocence and why he trusted his instincts.

Her lungs refused to give her air. He would never believe her, she realized suddenly. She had foolishly thought he would come to understand that she couldn’t possibly control the creature because she didn’t have the stone.

Yet, they hadn’t found the stone to prove her innocent.

“Mina?”

She raised her eyes to him. “You still think I’m guilty. All this time, I thought you believed I was innocent, regardless of what the evidence proved. I foolishly assumed that you were allowing me to look for the stone with you so I could prove my innocence.” Her feet took a step away from him as the truth dawned on her.

“You kept me with you to keep an eye on me. That if I was with you, I couldn’t control the creature.”

The tears came quickly, and she didn’t bother wiping them away as they coursed down her face. “You used me.”

Hugh stood silent as Mina pieced everything together. He yearned to tell her that she was wrong, but in truth she was very much correct.

He didn’t stop her when she turned and ran into the castle. Part of him wanted to run after her and comfort her, but the logical part of him knew it was for the best. He needed to distance himself from her, and it was the perfect time to begin.

“Did I ever tell you what a fool you were,” Cole said furiously.

He looked at his friend. “Every instinct I have says ‘tis her. Should I ignore that?”

Cole walked stiffly away. Hugh turned his gaze to Gabriel.

“You didn’t have to use her,” Gabriel said.

“I didn’t,” Hugh said softly as Gabriel too walked from him.

It was useless, Hugh realized several hours later. The sun had begun to set and the villagers had not heeded their words. No matter how hard he, Gabriel, and Cole coaxed, begged or ordered, the people continued to celebrate and drink to the now dead creature.

“They’ll

be

slaughtered,” Cole said tersely.

“There’s nothing we can do other than help them into the castle once the creature comes,” Gabriel said.

Hugh grunted. “If they’re not too drunk to run.”

“Good point,” Gabriel said.

Cole looked at them. “Now what?”

“We make sure the castle is ready. We have only an hour at the most.” But no one in the castle would listen without Bernard there to give the order. The food, wine, and ale flowed freely, and it hadn’t taken anyone long to become drunk.

“By the gods,” Gabriel hissed.

Hugh sighed and sat at one of the empty tables. “It was all in vain then. We’ve done nothing to prevent them from dying.”

“There’s nothing we can do,” Cole said as he sat. “Not unless we pick them up and bring them inside, but they do outnumber us, and I don’t think they would stay here unless we chained them.”

Hugh put his head in his hands. “What did we fail to notice? There must have been something we missed today. We could have killed it.”

“If we had found it,” Gabriel said. “It isn’t your fault the creature wasn’t found.

We didn’t have much to go on.”

“For all we know, it could have flown past the forest,” Cole said. “We’ve had tough assignments before, Hugh.”

“True,” he agreed. “But not one such as this. Those creatures had been able to be killed.”

His men were silent after his words.

“I sure wish Val and Roderick were here with us,” Cole murmured.

And Hugh couldn’t agree more. “We could use the extra hands.” His eyes went to the stairs hoping to find Mina, but he hadn’t seen her since she had run from him in the bailey. Maybe he should go and check on her.

“There you are,” Theresa said as she slid into the seat next to him. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”