The Morningstar

Chapter 4

Shaxx drew his dagger from its sheath and placed his left hand on the door handle. He took a deep breath and barged the wooden door open.

To his surprise it was empty "huh" shaxx said to himself.

"Shaxx is everything ok" Evaline inquired

Shaxx looked at her "no this building here should have scouts from the third company"

"If there are no scouts that's a good thing right?" Evaline was puzzled by shaxxs reaction

"No" shaxx returned to sky and mounted her "it means the third company has been recalled" shaxx whipped the reins slightly causing sky to burst into a swift gallop across the unguarded bridge "we ride for castle Morningstar, now hold on its going to get rough"
Shaxx clutched the reins of sky with one hand and wrapped his other arm across Evalines waist to keep her secure.

Shaxx and evaline rode for half day nonstop sky was unphased by this type of journey however evalines stomach growled and she was struggling to hold on around shaxxs waist.

"Shaxx my stomach hurts can we get something to....." Evaline looked ahead to see something only her books and maps could only dare to describe.

Castle Morningstar it was known for being impenetrable due to its unique location. It was located on an island located on the land however this island was not surrounded by water it was surround by a drop of at least two hundred meters. And if that didn't frighten invaders  enough the thirty foot tall walls were adorned with arrow slits. And the towers that guarded the entrance stood at forty foot tall.

"Castle Morningstar I never thought we could build such a unique structure on natures flaws" Evaline was stunned

"My ancestors saw an island surround by a drop and knew its strategic value" Shaxx dismounted sky and walked to the edge of the treacherous cavern

"How do we get across the draw bridge is raised?" Evaline dismounted and almost fell over

"Careful Evaline I'll get you something to eat soon, but the next bit is going to be a little harder for me" Shaxx drew his axe from the loop on his belt and threw it at a rusted chain "BACK UP" Shaxx tugged skys reins and got her to a safe distance and suddenly *BANG* the draw bridge fell making a path accessible "huh I was expecting more of a fight from the chain" shaxx said

"Well I say we should be happy m'lord because the portcullis is raised as well so no struggling to get it" she smiled at Shaxx

"I guess you are right, this means Rodrick has been here" Shaxx walked across the draw bridge holding skys rein

Evaline followed suit "and who is he m'lord?"

Shaxx tied skys reins to the stables located inside the walls of castle Morningstar "an old friend.....no he's a brother to me"

"Ahhh I remember the ex kings guard leader" she studied the court yard of the castle and yawned

"Ex? He is the leader of the kings guard" he looked at Evaline curiously

"Well the king said he was too affiliated with the old king so he order Rodrick to surrender his title as kings guard" she looked back at Shaxx "oh you didn't know did you?"

"Richard is dead..." Shaxx looked to the floor

"I'm sorry m'lord" evaline looked at shaxx with sadness in her eyes.

Shaxx nodded and walked up to the bridge connecting the two towers that protected the entrance and placed his hand on an iron wheel and turned it slowly letting the portcullis down "death comes for us all my lady, now follow Me" Shaxx descended the tower and crossed the court yard to the keep which was as intimidating as the defending walls.

"What's In here?" Evaline was excited to explore these ruins even though she had no energy to even walk

"Me and Rodrick had a plan that we would one day stage the third company from this castle however finding the funds necessary was impossible it would cost too much to man this castle and restore it too it's former glory" Shaxx opened the large spruce doors to the keep and climbed a set of stone stairs avoiding the main hall "so instead I refurbished a single room" he reached the top of the stairs which lead to a hallway with three doors on the right side of the wall.

He moved a large cupboard away from the wall at the end of the corridor revealing a secret oak door. He opened the door and Evaline ,who had been trailing his steps, looked in shock as she saw the contents of the room.

A large bed was located in the centre of the bed and to the left was three suits of armour one female two male, too the right was a wall of weapons from all over the world that Evaline had only read about

"This is amazing" she walked in and slumped on the bed

Shaxx leant In the door way and a slight smile
Lit his face up "there's a bathroom as well I fixed up and judging by the heat of the keep Rodrick recently cleaned it up and changed the coals"

"BATHROOM" she smiled with glee and jumped up "where is it"

"Walk out and first door on your left" he moved out the way and Evaline rushed out and went to the bathroom, Shaxx followed her and walked over to a chest of drawers resting under a mirror

"towels are In here and a fresh change of clothes as well, me and Rodrick had this supplied for all people just in case" Shaxx took a towel from the chest of drawers and stripped completely shocking Evaline

"I...um maybe I should wait till you're done" Evaline looked away flustered

"No baths big enough for both of us, hell it's big enough for ten people" Shaxx walked down the two steps and into the hot water and sat down and sighed

"Could you look away m'lord" Evaline asked whilst untying her tattered maid dress

Shaxx obliged and looked up at the mosaic on the ceiling, it depicted a battle between a small legion of centurions against the natives of norsia.

Evaline sat down in the bath opposite shaxx and covered her breasts "thank you m'lord"

Shaxx looked down at her "wash yourself I've seen blood and guts before don't be a lady around me" he washed his hair and face

Evaline smiled slightly it felt nice that she could be around someone who didn't want to use her "the mosaic what battle is it because that armour the soldiers are wearing is outdated?"

Shaxx looked back up at it " i do not know my best guess would be a war that the republic started whilst expanding their borders in norsia" he looked at her "you seem interested in history?"

She giggled a little "being in a castle your whole life begins to make you obsess with the world outside the stone cold walls, so I read lots of books In the kings...late kings library, he even let me read some forbidden texts" she smiled slightly but she was hurt from the passing of king Richard

"The world is vast and books only tell the perspective of the victor and it's often a twisted one" Shaxx leant back and relaxed

"History is unfortunately written by the victor but both sides of the story have bias" Evaline looked at Shaxx and saw his chest was scarred with wounds from his time in the army. "How long were you in the army?"

Shaxx sighed "you're a very curious woman but I shall oblige and tell you" shaxx looked at her his purple eye glinting In the slight sunlight that came from the southern window "since I was eighteen years of age, I was good with a sword and small time bounty hunting wasn't bringing in enough money"

She giggled at shaxxs remark and smiled "I didn't know you were a bounty Hunter"

"No one does other than Rodrick, I did some questionable things back then, but I left the army at twenty eight, a few months ago actually" Shaxx stood up and grabbed his towel

Evaline quickly turned and covered her eyes
"Baths all yours you know where the clothes are and once you'll done will talk plans" he walked off drying himself