A Warrior's Heart (Shields) (4 page)

The woman’s smile never faltered as she stared at Jayna.
 
“My name is Elle, and as I’m sure you have guessed, I’m not from here.”

Jayna licked her lips.
 
This woman was obviously a lady and would be able to get her close to Gabriel, therefore completing her mission early. “Thank you,” she finally said.
 
“I’m Jayna.”

Elle’s smiled widened.
 
“What a pretty name.
 
It’s so feminine and strong at the same time.
 
Come, Jayna,” she said and held out her hand.
 
“The others are anxious to meet you.”

Jayna 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, but Jayna 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 Jayna.”

Jayna 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, but similar to Elle’s, Jayna 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.”

Jayna 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 Jayna found herself sitting between Mina and Elle.
 
Trenchers of food were brought and placed in front of them.
 
The smell of the warm food made Jayna’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 Jayna.

“Not at all,” Jayna assured them.
 
“I do apologize, but it was my stomach you heard.”

Shannon grinned at Jayna before she threw Nicole an ‘I told you so’ look.
 
“They’re used to me eating a lot, Jayna, so don’t hold back.”

“You have such an unusual accent,” Jayna said after she had swallowed her first delicious bite.
 
“Where are you from?”

She didn’t miss Shannon trading a look with Elle.
 
Both women became very focused on their meal, letting Jayna know they were hiding a secret.

“It’s very far away across the seas,” Shannon finally answered.

But Jayna 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.
 
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.”