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foul creature that Hell spat out would attack.

    “Did Aimery say where we’re headed?” Val asked.

    But before Hugh could answer Aimery appeared next to him. “You will be going to the future,” the Fae said.

    None of them thought much about that. Hugh himself had been brought forward from 1036. Traveling through the realms of time was something that occurred often in their line of work.

    Roderick rose from his seat by the hearth. “Where exactly?”

    “To a place called Texas.”

    That
got everyone’s attention.

    “I’ve never heard of this place,” Hugh said. “In what realm is it in?”

    “This one,” Aimery said. “Just nine hundred years from now.” Val whistled softly as he placed the dagger he had been sharpening back in his boot. “Then I suppose Roderick and I had better prepare. When do we leave?”

    “Immediately,” Aimery said. “Ride to the woods. I’ll meet you there.” And with that he was gone.

    It didn’t take Roderick and Val long to gather their few belongings. Hugh and the rest of his men walked to the bailey to see their friends off.

    After brief good-byes and Godspeeds, Val and Roderick rode their horses through the open gate toward the forest. Hugh didn’t know if he would ever see them again, but he sure hoped he would. These men had become friends. Family even.

    They had lost men before, and they would again, but he refused to believe he would loose either of them. Val had seen much while fighting for the Romans and Roderick was immortal. They would survive.

    He turned to follow Cole, Gabriel, and Darrick into the castle when he spotted Mina atop the steps. He stopped when he came to her.

    “I won’t ever see them again, will I?” she asked.

    “I honestly don’t know.”

    She looked past him. “I wish them well.”

    He waited until she entered the castle before he followed. They had wasted most of the morning instead of preparing for the creature. The sooner they killed this one the sooner they could meet up with Val and Roderick.

    His men and Mina waited in the hall for him. “Tell me about your trap,” he told Mina as he sat down.

    “It didn’t work,” Bernard stated as he walked to the table. “That was proven last night.”

    “What was proven last night was that you told the men to return here,” Darrick said. “You left your sister to die.”

    Bernard’s pasty faced flushed with anger. “’Tis she the creature wants.”

    “How do you know that?” Hugh asked. “Did the creature tell you?”

    “Don’t be ridiculous,” Bernard hissed and reached for a goblet a serving girl handed him.

    Hugh’s gaze flickered to Mina to see her eyes downcast. He couldn’t tell if she was angry or embarrassed. “Then how do you know?” he asked Bernard again.

    “It only makes sense.” Bernard drank deeply and slammed the empty goblet on the table. “’Twas she who let it loose. That creature will trouble us until he has her.”

    “We don’t know who let loose the creature.” Bernard laughed. “Do you think I would believe the word of a traveler? A Shield,” he said with contempt lacing his voice. “I am lord here.”

    “Frankly, I don’t care what you believe,” Gabriel stood and began to unsheathe his sword.

    “Gabriel,” Hugh said softly in warning. It would do them no good to kill the lord of the castle, regardless of whether Bernard was a pompous pain in the arse or not.

    To his relief, Gabriel resumed his seat though he kept his gaze on the baron.
    Hugh knew there would be trouble unless they could convince Bernard to help them.

    “Don’t you want to see your village free of the terror that hangs over you?” he asked the young baron.

    “Of course I do,” Bernard answered without raising his gaze from his goblet.

    Hugh rose to his feet and walked toward Bernard. “Then aid us instead of hindering us.”

    “But Theresa said I shouldn’t allow you to help,” he said and looked at Hugh, his bloodshot eyes