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before he moved past him and down the stairs.   For long moments Gabriel stayed in the tower by himself.   Before, the Shields had been invincible because they had cared for no one but themselves.   Gabriel couldn’t help but wonder just how different things would be now that his brothers were more concerned with the lives of their wives than the deaths of the creatures.
    He turned and walked to the window, which was nothing more than an arrow slit in the stones.   His eyes scanned the frozen ground of Stone Crest, hoping against hope that he would see something or find some way to save the men that were his family.
    Yet, there was nothing.
    Just as with his memory – blank.
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    Mina twiddled her thumbs as she sat before the great hearth and contemplated her new guest.   She still wasn’t sure what had happened in the chamber with Jayna, but Mina was sure of one thing: she had felt the despair, loneliness, and revenge.
    A shadow moved near her, then leaned over her to kiss her cheek.   She turned her head and smiled up at her husband.   That’s when she saw the despondency in his beautiful brown eyes.   “Hugh?”
    He sighed as he took his chair beside her.   “We know what we’re fighting.”
    “That’s good, though.”
    “Maybe.”   He dropped his head back and reached for her hand.   His warm fingers closed over hers and Mina felt a chill go through her.
    “Hugh, please.”
    “The Gargoyle is back, and so is the Harpy.”
    She sucked in a breath and gaped at him.   “Nay.”
    He slowly nodded as he closed his eyes.   “Aye, my love.   Val and I saw the Harpy while Cole and Gabriel saw the Gargoyle.”
    “Do the others know?”   She knew she must tell the other Chosen soon so everyone could prepare.
    Hugh nodded.   “I’m sure my men are telling them.”
    Though he had said nothing, Mina knew her husband worried for their people.   They had lost so many when the Harpy and Gargoyle last had attacked them.
    She squeezed his hand.   “We’ve prepared our people.   Everything will be fine.”
    He opened his eyes and turned his head toward her.   A small smile played on his lips.   “You sound so sure.”
    “You aren’t the leader of the Shields for nothing, my lord,” she said with a smile.   “You’ve kept your men alive all these years, and together we’ll save our people.”
    He lifted her hand and kissed it as he rubbed his thumb over her skin.   “Enough of this for now.   Tell me what you needed me for earlier.”
    Mina took a deep breath.   “We’ve a guest.”
    “A guest?” Hugh repeated and sat forward.   “Who?”
    “A woman.   She says she’s a traveler.”
    “But,” he prompted.
    Mina shrugged and rose to pace before the hearth.   “When I walked her to her chamber, I caught a glimpse of something.”   She wrung her hands as she searched for the right word.   “It was as if I felt her emotions so clearly.”
    “And what were they?”
    “Despair.   Seclusion.   Revenge.”   She turned to face her husband and watched as he rose and came towards her.
    “Do you think she’s here to hurt someone?”
    She shrugged.   “I’m not sure.   She seems nice, and the others really enjoyed her company.   She just...seems so lonely.”
    “What was her story?   Why is she traveling alone?”
    “She told us that her parents died when she was young and was raised by a uncle that beat her.   She ran away as soon as she could and has been on her own ever since.”
    “And you believe her?”
    Mina chuckled.   “Shannon and Elle did because they come from a time where that is possible.   However, Nicole and I knew better.   The possibility of a young woman such as Jayna surviving on her own on these years without something happening to her are near impossible.”
    “Exactly.   So, what is she hiding?” Hugh asked as he pulled her into his arms.
    “She also claims she’s a peasant, but all you have to do is